Heaven's Grave

What age rating would you give  your game?

I got a review copy of the game, but all my thoughts are unbiased. My full review can be found here (it's long lol): https://sonicnancyfan.wordpress.com/2019/09/13/otome-review-heavens-graveblackcr...

I'll just copy pasta some highlights of the most important parts of my review, and add some more thoughts.

The game can be summarized really simply: walking>camping>catastrophe>repeat

All of the routes follow this format, which makes them feel very much the same. Now this has some downfalls and some benefits. The biggest benefit is that the player gets to see Arha and her guy interact almost constantly. This allows for character growth and for feelings to grow as well. The biggest downfall is that the same things keep on happening over and over again. Most of the game takes place on roads or in forests, so though there are a lot of backgrounds, they’re usually really similar (like multiple backgrounds of a forest), so we don’t even get a change in scenery that often. One town gets destroyed in one route, and in another route, a different town gets destroyed. But in the end, it's basically the same thing for the player since we have no connection to either town.

The characters sit at campfires so much, they actually have sprites for sitting down XD.

The endings are also all very similar. The good ends are similar to each other and the normal ends are similar to each other. Since there’s three guys, the events in the ends kind of triangulate among them, and even after only seeing one ending, I feared the others would be about the same, and yep, I was right

I didn’t really like any of the endings? XD I suppose it’s the nature of the game, but I wouldn’t consider any of the endings actually “good,” at least if I interpreted them right, and considering all the endings are basically the same, that made me not like any of the endings. I’m very much an “I want an absolute perfectly happy ending” person, so I went in knowing I probably wouldn’t like the endings that much, and the game is clearly not happy from the description, so I can’t fault it for its depressing endings.

Kien is the unspoken OTP. His route has the most romance, the most chemistry, the spiciest CG's, and sexual content. Tai and Suiza barely have any. Tai and Arha have some slight chemistry in their route, but Suiza and Arha really don't acknowledge their feelings until super far in. Kien's route feels the most like what you'd expect in an otome game route.

Arha has sass and doesn't take crap from people, which was great. I really enjoyed her as a character. All of the guys were fine. Tai's route felt the most boring to me since most of his drama was him feeling conflicted over not being able to take charge in such a terrible situation. Suiza's route was full of sass, which was nice, but it also wasn't very romantic. Kien's route sucked up all the romance and hoarded it, so I enjoyed his route the most, and I felt they had the most chemistry.

As for play order, I would recommend Tai>Suiza>Kien. This leaves Kien for last and starts you out with the most boring route. Plus, Tai and Kien’s routes share similarities in some parts, so breaking them up is nice.

If you enjoy apocalyptic stories or otome games that have a lot of plot (at the expense of romance), as well as don’t mind how sad it is, then this game would be great for you. For anyone who wants a light-fluffy game, first, the plot description should be enough to know it’s not lol. But I’ll confirm; it’s not. This game wouldn’t be for you. If you want your otome game to have happy endings (beyond the MC and her guy getting together), then this game also wouldn’t be for you. It is a great take on an apocalyptic story that isn't set in a future setting though. I don't see that very often. So if apocalyptic stories are your jam, then definitely check this out.

As someone who generally prefers my otome games to have a lot of plot (even at the expense of romance), but, also wants happy endings, there was only so much I could enjoy the game. All the guys were okay enough, the plot was fine, and some of the journey was fun, but much of the game was ruined by my dislike for all the endings.

So would I recommend the game? If you’re someone like me, then no. If you view a happy ending as needing more than just the MC and her guy getting together, then this game, and most depressing otome games, are not for you. But, if that doesn’t bother you, then there’s an interesting plot and fun characters set in an (eventual) apocalyptic world.

I enjoyed this game a lot and to show how much I enjoyed it I drew Suiza. I loved both Tai and Kien but Suiza's dialogue was always making me giggle so he won me over, but Tai is close behind I should draw one for him (and maybe Kien so he wont be left out). upsetting to know that Heaven's Grave isn't getting much attention as it is a great story. but ill gladly throw money at a kick starter for the next game. though hopefully your stuff will start to get some attention.  

I finally got around to write up my thoughts for this game. The short storyis that I loved it! It was well written with great characters and a compelling story. Arha was my favourite, so resourceful and strong despite all the crap that happens to her, and so refreshingly sassy sometimes:) Definitely one of the best main character of any game!

As for the gods they were all interesting and had a very realistic feel to them, their actons and reasoning seemed like how a god turned mortal would be like. But my favourite of the three after playing through every route is Kien. I always do my first playthrough in a similar way, picking the choices I myself would most likely do in that situation and I almost maxed Kien's points I learned after looking at the guide:). During their travels they really felt like a team, like two people working equally to succeed. Their romance was also nicely built up from the start, some of their interactions was so heartwarming:)

The plot and the writing hooked me at once, and I really liked the way it went with the quest and the gods. And despite it making sense in hindsight I did not see the twist coming by the end.  One thing I loved was that your choices in the game aren't always linked to romance points and when they are it's not always as strict as with other games. So that I could play Ahra as I wanted while still getting more than enough points was very relaxing and rewarding. All in all another great game from you and I'm looking forward to the upcoming games as well:D

mmm i can't find my steam key on the download page?

I played the demo and it was great! I added Heaven's Grave to my Steam wishlist and I'm eagerly waiting for release!

So quick question, I see everyone has a good/normal/bad end, but I only see 7 endings in the ending list.  Is that because every bad end is the same?

Sometimes you play a route that's so good you don't want to spoil it by playing another one. Kien was 110% that route. So many feelings. After this & loving all of TROS (secret ending killed me ngl) I think I might have to buy every visual novel you make now.  :)

I don't know how far a long I am exactly, maybe half way?  AND I JUST LOVE THIS SO MUCH.  Initially I didn't really like any of the gods except Kien, but they've all grown on me.  It's such a fantastic and well plotted story I'm racing through it at a rapid pace.  I love how much customization I have personality wise too (though it's something I'm rapidly beginning to expect rom your games after DDBS and TROS and now this one) and I just love it so much!

Normally I play through with a guide to get the perfect end right from the start but this one I was compelled to do a blind play through and I'm just really enjoying the whole journey.  I like how it's a bit more mature too, I love TROS and DDBS, but I like the darkness that HG carries, most visual novel games I've played are either straight up horror fests/complete grim dark angst machines or pure light and fluffiness and HG is striking a wonderful balance between them.

Thank you so much for your hard work, I'll probably report back after I've finished the other routes at least once but I just needed to yell how much I'm enjoying it.

I'm..SO IN LOVE WITH THIS GAME! My top concern when playing a game is being able to personalize my person and still have the characters accept me for who i am (unless I'm evil, muahahaha)

I JUST HAD TO COME HERE AND SAY THAT I LOVE TAI MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THIS LIFE 

ugh, I didn't even finish the game (or his route!) but he's too much and my feels are too much and UGH

hello, I hope it's ok to ask but will you also be adding this game to steam?

how many cg's are there for each route? love me some cg's! also how long is the game and each route?

I finished Kien's route and I gotta say, job well done! The story line is impeccable and I can't wait to try out the other routes. The character developlment and the emotion drawn out from the writing is nothing short of incredible! Thank you for creating such a beautiful game!

I don't usually bother to write reviews but I feel like doing so for this game. I just enjoyed it so much. I don't think I spoiled anything as I tried to keep it general as possible. Sorry that this ended up fairly lengthy.

The beginning before ending up on any guys routes was an interesting read. All minor characters were given distinct personalities despite their short appearances which made it easy to sympathize and gain some attachment with them. Being given a glimpse into the main character's life before she ends up surrounded by guys was refreshing. Usually, games like this jump right into being around the potential romantic partners without actually getting to see any part of their lives beforehand. Heaven's Grave is also one of the few visual novels I have played that actually gives opportunities to shape the main character’s personality as there are some choices that don’t have an effect on their relationships.

Arha, the main character, has a unique personality on her own. She is both rational and emotional, reasonable and unreasonable, selfless to a fault but still voices her frustrations, and overall just feels like an actual person. Throughout the story, depending on the romantic partner she ends up with, she grows in different ways. It is interesting to watch her be shaped without losing all of her original personality. She never ends up being a soft pushover that just lets the guys pull her around every which way. Arha, knows how to hold her ground. Honestly, she is my favorite main character out of any visual novel I have read so far.

Tai is like a big brother with a personality problem. He starts out arrogant but quickly becomes reliable, comforting and sweet, only to revert to his arrogance again. It’s a roller coaster ride. He and Arha have great chemistry as they are similar in that they both are caring and can lead others. They bounce off each other well, both making each other smile and laugh during the harder times. They are each other’s crutch when things become harder than hard. Tai’s romantic relationship with Arha feels the most natural and realistic out of the three routes because neither of them have to change much for it to work. They both still grew to be stronger and better versions of themselves in each other’s presence (Tai more than Arha).

Kien is a sweetheart with a lot of rough edges. He gives Arha the least hardest time of the three routes. He seems to develop feelings for Arha fairly quickly and treats her especially well from the beginning. Kien is a bit of a pessimist which sometimes clashes with Arha’s extreme optimism. That being said, he tends to ground Arha when she becomes a little unreasonable and she does the same for him. Together they go through a lot of hardships, more so than the other routes, but they both come out stronger and closer at the end. Kien can be fiercely protective when it comes to Arha, but she manages to keep him from overdoing it. Out of the three routes, Kien’s is the most romantic.

Suiza is self-centered with a soft side. Everything is about his comforts and his feelings for a good while. Since Arha is selfless to a fault, she and Suiza constantly butt heads. Suiza develops feelings for Arha first but can’t seem to get over himself enough to act like it. They have moments of peace that allow them to get to know each other and get closer but immediately go back to bickering. Both Suiza and Arha go through the most character development out of the three routes. Suiza softens up and Arha becomes harder. Suiza’s route has the least amount of romance of the three routes.

Personally, I enjoyed Kien and Tai’s routes the most. Kien is a lovable guy despite his faults and Tai seems to fit best with Arha overall. I can’t really pick a favorite out of the two as they were both equally good for different reasons. I still enjoyed Suiza’s route as well, I just wasn’t feeling the romance between him and Arha. It was obvious when Suiza started developing feelings for Arha but I never felt Arha really feeling the same. There were times when it felt like maybe she could start to develop those feelings but mostly it just felt like they were just good friends.I don’t expect tons of romance since there was a lot going on in Heaven’s Grave. I just feel that Arha and Suiza’s romance didn’t really develop while their friendship had a ton of development. I didn’t mind it that way but it made the ending of his route feel sort of rushed. It could just be me being weird. Overall, all of the story was a very enjoyable to read. The art was lovely too, especially the backgrounds.

Are there any plans for a Linux version ?

love the demo and just purchased the full game; but I keep getting an error and the game won't continue past the demo. I'm on windows, am I doing something wrong?

My review (no specific spoilers, just general impressions):

I just finished getting the good ends for all the characters, and I have to say I really enjoyed the game. The setting is very novel, and the premise of this game is very exciting to me. I liked the post-apocalyptic aspects and the fact that the game did not shy away from showing both the good and the bad in that situation.

Arha is a great MC, she is earnest in her devotion without allowing others to walk all over her. It might easily have become annoying if she had been too deferential to the gods she spent her entire life honoring, but the game manages to avoid that. I enjoyed her responses to the obstacles put in her way throughout the story.

I played Tai first, and I found his route enjoyable. I liked the tension between him and Arha that would come up when their ideals clashed. I also found myself thinking about when to show deference and when to stand up to him. At some points I wanted to give him a good slap, and it was gratifying to see his development over the course of the game. The part where Tai and Arha spend some time traveling with others felt a little long to me at times, though. Still, I enjoyed seeing how that arc wrapped up in the end.

Suiza is definitely my favorite. His snarky banter with Arha was fantastic, and I feel like perhaps he grew the most throughout the game. The supporting characters in this route are also awesome, and it was a lot of fun to read their interactions. I also loved the hair CGs in this route. :)

I played Kien last because I was least interested in him. His route is well-written and the conflict in it was especially tense. I felt genuinely upset at some of the things that happened during their journey. Kien isn't quite my type so I wasn't as much into him as the others, but that is all down to personal preference and not to the route itself.

I felt the small cast worked well in this game. I'm a sucker for two characters getting stuck with each other/traveling together, and there was definitely plenty of that. It allowed for a lot of relationship development.

The ending felt slightly rushed, especially with the small time skip at the end. I feel that things might have flowed better if we'd been able to see some of the immediate fallout after the climax? It wasn't bad, it just made me go: oh, I guess this is the end already?

On the whole, I definitely recommend this game. It is super well-written and easy to get lost in, as evidenced by the fact that I just spent all day playing it so I could finish all the routes. I truly appreciate the fact that the setting of this otome is different from the standard high school stuff you mostly get, and that it is more serious in its tone. Thanks so much for the wonderful game!

I really enjoyed the demo! But I am a little sad that Aki won't be an option though. I can't wait for this and the Thorns of War to come out!

loved the demo! can't wait for more!

Will it be available on Steam?

I hope you are doing well . :) loved what i played of the demo so far.

How has everything been going?

How's the game been coming along?

That cliffhanger was very well placed. So far, the music, writing, sprites, backgrounds, and even the font worked well for me. It's also refreshing to see a VN that's not set in school or have gimmicky characters. (I've played a fair amount of VN's, not all VN's, but they still pop up a lot.) I want to save up for the full version of this!

I am very excited for this game. I will have to wait a little while for my finances to allow me to get it, but I will definitely get it.

I do hope we get another mention of Aki. I know he is not a romance option, but since Chiyo managed to get away, I'd like to get a line later about his death.

Amazing work so far! The backgrounds and character sprites look beautiful. I'm looking forward to the full release! And I'll definitely be checking out The Rose of Segunda in the meantime. ✦

I enjoyed the demo a lot!  The sense of isolation for the MC was readily apparent, and I found the descriptions of the absurd crises exciting. The tension in the writing for both the scenes and characters really came through.  

One of my favorite things about your games is that they allow for the MC to respond in a variety of ways to give them a sense of personality, without it being a simple right/wrong choice for development of the narrative.  It helps me dig into a game and enjoy it to the fullest.

I'm looking forward to the completed game, and thanks again for getting it to work properly for Mac users!

I'm playing on mac, and get this message when I try to open the zip file: "Unable to expand "Heaven's_Grave-1.0-mac.zip" into (folder I'm trying to open it into). 

(Error 2 - No such file or directory.)  Do you have any suggestions? I haven't had this problem with other downloads of your game demos.

I'm not good at giving constructive criticism or anything, so i'll just say this. I loved the demo, and i can't wait to see the full release. Keep up the good work!

That demo was way too short. I absolutely loved it. I was immediately drawn in by the story, and can`t wait for the full release. ^_^ Will all 7 gods be romance-able characters? Or only three that you first meet? I see that only three is listed above, but I was curious if you had plans to add more if the game is popular enough. 

Can I just point out two small spelling errors that I happened to notice? 

 When Mistress Aya is talking about Yumi when they are first introduced, she says "Yumi is healthy as an ox, the best of her village, and am blessed she made the journey..." I believe it should be "...and I am blessed..."

The second is when the three gods appear. The MC is saying "...I imagine the priests at Great Temple in Otani will know if it." I believe that it should be "...I imagine the priests at the Great Temple in Otani will know of it." 

I just finished it and what I love the most about this game so far that I've seen is the MC herself! Which is so rare for me to say since protagonists in this sort of games tend to go to bland, annoying and/or overly-Mary Sue-ish, but this game's MC is anything but! I just love that she's strong enough to withstand all of the gossip and ill-remarks from the villagers and yet be compassionate to still care for them! And also the fact that she is clever to immediately deduced that the three were gods. I really like her!

And for the three gods, I can't really say much about them. I must admit, they were a little unsympathetic to the MC and the villagers' problems, but then again, they are gods, so I can't really fault them for that. I just hope they develop more as the story progresses.

A little thing I noticed also, since the MC was (spoilers) thrown stones at by the villagers and it clearly said that she was wounded and bleeding, I find it strange that she was fine the day later and no mentions of it were further made??? Is it a continuity error or was I missing something?

To sum it all up, I really enjoyed this demo and I can't wait for the full game! I wish you the best of luck!

It has been a nice introduction to the MC and her background, it also gives a fair characteristic choices dispite her profession as a temple keeper who is often associate with "too pure for this world" traits; which tends to be Mary Sue problem in some otome ^^;

 Although, sometime it's a bit cringe-worthy when I can't look to the NPC while I talk to them, and there isn't enough distinct separator for the God's speech (If I didn't pay attention to the name and their slight different reaction while speaking, I would never know which one is Tai and which one is Kien ^^; )

Anyway, it's worth for me to keep it in my waiting list ^^

THIS IS GOOD! It's nice to see side characters that give color to the story, it's those small details that makes  a story stand out. Keep the choices coming! I like that even if this is only the demo there's alot of things, us, the players can pick to slowly build the personality of our MC. JUST WHEN IT WAS GETTING GOOD YOU HAVE TO KEEP ME HANGING WITH A CLIFF HANGER ;;