Developer: Rascal Devworks
Genres: Indie game, Adventure game, Role-playing game, Casual game, Adventure
Platform: Microsoft Windows
Publishers: Rascal Devworks, Wings
Engine: Unity
You awaken surrounded by freshly deceased bodies, their blood running freely down your skin. So, what happened to them? Did they kill each other? Did they murder themselves? Why? And most importantly, who are you? Rascal Devworks produced and published Sigh of the Abyss, a dark fantasy visual novel, which was published by Wings. Set in the Renaissance, you play as an Envoy, a half-mortal, half-monster created during a violent ceremony.
After you awaken, two women, Sylas and Maranè, rush to your aid. You immediately realize that you did not lose your memories—instead, you had no memories to lose. As soon as you opened your eyes, you were born an Envoy. As the two women take you to their safe place, you quickly realize that you possess powers of the body, mind, and spirit. You are to unleash the Darkest Hour and destroy the False Sun. Now you just need to figure out what that means. And thus your story begins.
You awaken.
Let me begin by mentioning that this visual novel much exceeded my expectations regarding length. It took me at least fifteen hours to complete one route, and I consider my reading pace above average. There is a lot of story in Sigh of the Abyss, and the content does not disappoint.
Sigh of the Abyss has an enthralling start. While you don’t know much, you’re not completely lost. You were created through a ritual, and you now have powers. Literally. You are given seven skill points to spend in physical prowess, shadow magic, and enthral mind. Were you granted superhuman power and agility? Are you able to control the shadows that roam the world? Or can you delve so far into the brains of others to shape them into your own puppet? It is entirely up to you.
Certain options are made available to you because of your skills.
Eventually, you will be offered options for how to apply these skills. They will be locked or unlocked depending on how many skill points you allocate. Personally, I enjoy the locking feature. Instead of guessing whether things will go wrong because you don’t have enough, you simply won’t be able to employ that talent.
Returning to the smaller details, under the settings menu, you can choose whether to display which dialogue options reveal a character’s approval or disapproval. There are romance toggles that allow you to choose between romancing men, women, both, or neither. Whatever is turned off, that gender will not flirt with you. I adore these little creatures. Personally, I appreciate knowing what my speech choices are doing, and anyone who wants to enjoy the story without the romance is welcome to do so. That individual will never be me, therefore I’ll get deeper into the relationship later.
Wonderful descriptions.
You can choose your name, but not your appearance or gender. You’ll be a lovely woman throughout this playthrough—and I mean that. Sigh of the Abyss’ graphic style is Renaissance-inspired, which wonderfully reflects the game’s time period. The characters are all eye-catching, and their subtle motions during discussion build the tone. With detailed descriptions, magnificent settings, and immersive noises, it’s difficult not to feel as if you’re right there with the characters.
Throughout your playthrough, you will be presented with choices, as is the case with all visual novels. Some of these options are dependent on your sense of humor, sometimes known as your personality. There are four different humors, and while I’m not sure if your personality type influences anything other than how you respond, that’s not a terrible thing. I’m not a fan of forced personalities, therefore I appreciated this system. While many of the options are limited and rarely change, they allow you to create the personality you desire. Does the choice between holding the door open and passing through it first affect the outcome of the story? Well, no. However, having the option is still beneficial. There are additional non-personality options that are important, so keep that in mind when playing!
You can switch between romance alternatives.
Now for my favorite part: the romances. Sigh of the Abyss offers five romance options: three men and two women. Each love interest is stunning, with their own individual personality, and while I wanted to get to know them all, I chose Sylas. As I already stated, this game is extensive, so I only got to play through one route. While I cannot speak for the others, the romance with Sylas was fantastic.
This game is not entirely voice-acted, but the portions that are do stand out. Sylas in particular delivered a spectacular and dramatic performance. Her voice conveyed every emotion, from wrath to sadness to pure, unabashed love.
Beautiful background art.
At first, I was concerned that the togglable romance tokens I discussed previously were not working. It seemed like I was approaching Sylas, making her blush, and flirting with her, yet none of the possibilities were romantic. But then they began to appear, and I realized that I couldn’t flirt with her right immediately. It made the romance and budding relationship seem more natural. I also like how, as the main tale unfolds, even after you’ve established your romance, people continue to comment on it. While my relationship with Sylas progressed nicely, I wish there was a method to track where you were with each character in terms of romance and approbation. Occasionally, I felt compelled to romanticize another character. Some dialogue options did not have the romantic heart next to them, but when I picked them, a tense, romantic description appeared straight away. I had to return a couple times. It also felt strange that I just chatted to a couple folks twice, but the romance options came across so strongly. Aside from the romance, I would have preferred to see more in-depth friendship opportunities. The characters are so well-written and fascinating that it’s a shame we didn’t get to spend more time with them.
Another thing to observe is that the transition to the ends is relatively simple–which isn’t always a bad thing. You are cautioned that your decision will affect the outcome, and each option is clear. Nonetheless, I went with what I believed to be the perfect finish and was pleased with how much was left. Finally, during my playing, I noticed that while I tried to keep on one path, my character would frequently deviate from it in her dialogue selections. However, everything eventually came together nicely.
CGs to gather, of course!
Sigh of the Abyss is a visual novel that I had been looking forward to for a long time, and it was well worth the wait. Its gorgeous sights, passionate voice acting, original plot, and unforgettable romantic routes will have me coming back.
Review Overview
Gameplay: 84%
Controls: 82%
Aesthetics: 89%
Content: 83%
Accessibility: 80%
Value: 82%
Overall: 83%
CAPTIVATING!
Summary:
“Sigh of the Abyss” takes players deep into a hauntingly beautiful environment, delivering a mix of exploration and story-driven adventure that is both eerie and charming. The gameplay combines deep storytelling with mild puzzle components to entice players into the dark, moody landscapes. The controls are typically fluid, albeit some scenes may appear slow-paced. Aesthetically, the game shines, with beautiful designs and evocative soundscapes that evoke mystery and appeal. While it might use more content variation, it’s an enjoyable experience for aficionados of atmospheric games and great storyline.