VED Review

VED Review

As someone who’s been on countless magical journeys through fantastical realms, I have to admit that VED left me feeling rather underwhelmed. The game’s art style is undeniably beautiful, reminiscent of a living, breathing painting that could easily grace the walls of an art gallery. However, the story and writing felt more like a hastily scribbled script than a well-crafted tale.


Each month, it appears there’s a fresh, distinct RPG journey available for gamers. This could be set in an established series such as Dragon Age or a novel, unprecedented title like Black Myth: Wukong. Players have had a rich tapestry of experiences to explore. This time around, the adventure takes shape as the hand-drawn RPG, VED, developed by Lithuanian creators Karaclan. VED claims to offer players an immersive tale brimming with magic. Unfortunately, while the game’s aesthetic is visually stunning, many other aspects of the experience seem underwhelming.

In this game, you’ll step into the role of Cyrus, a young character with extraordinary magical powers. As he uncovers these abilities, he finds himself thrust into an exhilarating tale that involves him honing his skills, battling formidable adversaries, and striving to save the world. The game offers engaging combat scenarios and distinct mechanics, but the narrative and writing could use some improvement, resulting in a somewhat forgettable adventure overall.

VED’s World is Beautifully Unique

To put it simply, while VED might have its flaws in storytelling, it certainly shines in other aspects. The game’s aesthetic and combat are quite engaging, offering an exciting experience. What sets it apart is its stunning hand-drawn art style. Each element appears as if it’s a painting, with characters moving and acting like pieces in a museum. This visual charm can captivate players, making them eagerly gaze at the screen for extended periods.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but share my excitement about the diverse worlds in this game. Instead of getting stuck in one monotonous setting, we’re treated to two entirely distinct realms, each with its own captivating visuals. The first is Micropolis, a city that’s gritty and grimy, teeming with gangs, warring factions, and characters who look like they’ve stepped right out of a villain’s lair.

VED’s Combat Can be Challenging Fun

VED Review

In this game, the battles really shine and that’s beneficial since players will be engaged in numerous fights throughout their journey. Upon landing on the enigmatic floating island realm, they should initially focus on enhancing their skills by boosting a charming Troglodyte village. Once they’re satisfied with their gear, they can venture forth to unravel this world’s hidden mysteries. To accomplish this, they’ll be able to transport between the diverse islands, each one offering unique perils or scenarios for them to conquer.

On some isles, you’ll encounter friendly characters for interaction, whereas others present unexpected scenarios where a 20-sided die roll determines the outcome. Depending on their actions, players may gain temporary advantages or disadvantages as they traverse this mystical realm. For those daring enough, various foes scattered across these islands offer challenges to be overcome. If they fail to vanquish the danger, they must return to the village and attempt the task anew. However, islands already conquered remain free of obstacles.

At the beginning of each battle, I get to choose from three different abilities to use against my foes. These powers can either boost their strength or weaken them, and if I pick the right one, I’ll earn extra VED points, acting as the game’s currency. If a fight seems too tough, I can always skip these powers, but I’ll miss out on the extra points. Even without them, I’ll still receive my regular reward if I manage to emerge victorious.

In this game, battles occur in turns, but with a unique twist. Players pick their attack and decide where to strike the monster, all while staying vigilant about the monster’s potential first strike. Unlike traditional games where players have a set selection of attacks, the player’s move options are influenced by Cyrus’ position. The game interface is divided into four sections, each representing different locations on the battlefield. Some moves will transport the player, while others keep them stationary. It’s up to the player to strategize based on these differences.

VED’s Story and Writing Leaves Much to Be Desired

In any role-playing game that focuses on storytelling, the tale itself should be captivating and engaging. Gamers prefer conversations that flow smoothly and a plotline that is coherent and consistent. Unfortunately, in the case of VED, it appears as though Karaclan is having trouble meeting these expectations across several key areas. As a result, rather than offering an unforgettable journey, the game often fails to impress.

The narrative revolves around a youthful character named Cyrus, who possesses the unique ability to transport himself instantaneously. Each time he does so, he arrives in a mystical land floating above the rest, known as the Island Realm. To navigate his way back home, he must navigate Micropolis, a city teeming with various factions vying for influence over its world. Consequently, the choices players make significantly impact the story’s progression, and each chapter closes by summarizing their decisions and highlighting the choices they overlooked.

That should make for an intriguing tale, yet nothing about it feels natural. The dialogue seems to flow weirdly, with it not sounding like how someone would talk. Characters speak in run-on sentences, they end conversations abruptly, there are many exposition dumps, and the script seems like it desperately needs edits. Karaclan has said that the entire thing was translated into English, and while that likely resulted in some of the awkward dialogue, the fact the entire story is like this dampens the overall experience.

As a gamer, I found that VED’s voice acting felt a tad unpolished at times. The dialogue didn’t always seem organic; it often sounded like someone was reading from a script instead of having a genuine conversation. This can sometimes hinder the game’s immersive quality and, at times, becomes a bit grating to listen to. Now, I understand that not every game requires Oscar-worthy voice acting, but if the characters had a bit more depth, it would have added significantly to my overall experience.

As a passionate admirer, I must admit that VED isn’t without its flaws, but it does boast some commendable aspects. The exquisite hand-drawn artistry is a visual delight, hinting at the game’s immense potential. Moreover, the combat, when handled with care, can be exhilarating, as one small misstep can lead to chaos. However, the narrative and dialogue seem to hinder the experience significantly, resulting in an underwhelming overall adventure.

The game “VED” can currently be played on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. For the purpose of this review, we received a PC code from Game Rant.

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2024-11-15 02:08