Vengeful Heart | Switch Review
I adore visual novels. To be able to convey an emotional, deep narrative reminiscent of a book through the format of a gaming experience is an incredible achievement. Salmon Snake’s Vengeful Heart was a powerful, brutal, yet hopeful tale that I won’t forget anytime soon. It is guaranteed to make you uncomfortable in some form or fashion, but it imparts an important message that is relevant to our world as it is right now.
We the People
Vengeful Heart places you in the shoes of Josephine Lace, an engineer working for the largest water company in the year 20XX. The world has now become segregated into areas for the lower, middle, and upper classes, and water is the largest commodity. Nepthys, the organization that Josephine is employed at, owns the majority of the world’s water and is hellbent on forcing out the lower classes by cutting off their water supply and charging them exorbitant fees to avoid eviction.
Josephine is determined to fight the system and ensure that everyone receives water, which places a target on her back. She joins forces with a kind doctor, a hardened war vet, an advocate from the local university, and a tough older man to take down her employer. Of course, this isn’t a smooth journey and horrible events occur during their mission. Some of what happens is particularly dark and hard to stomach, which could trigger some players. It does add a realistic layer to the experience, though, and I’m glad they weren’t afraid to go that far.
Silver Linings
I loved Josephine and her friends and quickly became attached to all of them. The side characters are placed in a gray area, allowing you to come to your own conclusions about their choices and actions. That being said, there is only one choice you make during the entire game, but it’s a major one. It completely alters your ending, and it’s a difficult decision. There are two different finales, so it’s well worth replaying to see how both unfurl.
The dialogue is expertly written, and runs the gamut all the way from humorous, deathly serious, to heartbreaking. There were some typos, but nothing that detracted from the story too much. The graphics are inspired by PC-98 visuals, and the backgrounds are pleasant to look at. The character models are more akin to the modern visual novel style, with each remaining mostly static besides the occasional facial movement or crossing of the arms.
The Final Fight
Vengeful Heart is an impactful visual novel that isn’t afraid to make you uncomfortable to drive its message home. The story is excellently crafted, the visuals pop, and the main group of characters are all relatable and feel like they could be flesh and blood humans. I thoroughly enjoyed my 7 hours with this title, and highly recommend playing through a second time to see the other ending.
This review is based on a Nintendo Switch copy of Vengeful Heart provided by Jaleo PR for coverage purposes. It is also available on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.
Vengeful Heart
$9.99
Pros
- Hard-Hitting Story
- Unique Visual Style
- Believable Characters
Cons
- Will Make You Uncomfortable In Some Fashion
- Certain Topics May Be Triggering
