The Healer's Blade

This was a fun grimdark story. Overall the prose was well done, though maybe a bit inconsistent at times. There were a few instances of exposition at times that, if trimmed, may have allowed more suspense to ripen into grander reveals. A little more subtlety might have done when exploring the themes and motivations for certain characters, as well, to add more unpredictability and reflection on the player’s part. Some of the choices could also have been clearer. Overall these are minor criticisms though, as the writer displays a lot of potential here, and their work will only continue to excel!

The zombie/fantasy world was very cool and unique, and I was interested in most of the lore. The characters were relatively well written given the length of the story.

There is a great deal of enjoyment to be derived from this highly self-contained experience, especially given it’s few major contrivances as regards the type of story it’s telling. The descriptions are wonderfully vivid, and although I was not initially convinced by the dynamic between Calder and Lenore at the beginning of the story, I certainly was by the end, largely because the choice design predominantly shaped this aspect of the story. That said, I think the nature of the disease at the heart of the story could have benefited from even more visceral description, though I acknowledge that this may simply come down to personal preference 😉

I enjoyed the story. The writing was so good that it sometimes made me feel a bit uneasy because the story involves elements of body horror.

I was immersed from the start and wanted to know what would happen next. The choices in the beginning didn’t feel too important, but I still enjoyed taking the relationship with the girl in a kinder, more empathetic direction.

The choices closer to the end felt more meaningful and I was worried a few times that I’d made the wrong one! However, the game ended on a hopeful and satisfying note.

This well-written story takes you into an immersive world, with perfectly designed characters, well-portrayed interactions, tough battles, and morally challenging choices. Truely a story that takes you in and makes you think and doesn’t forget to let you sympathise with and relate to the characters.