Game: Casting Hearts
Genre: Visual Novel
System: itch.io (PC, Windows)
Developers | Publishers: npckc
Age Rating: not rated
Price: US $3.00
Release Date: March 21st, 2022
Review code used, with many thanks to npckc.
Casting Hearts is a short visual novel with a lot of heart. Players get to witness a short story about love and magic between two people who are far away from one another on a very important day.
The Story and Gameplay
Majoram and Ginger are in love, but can’t see one another in real life because of a magical pandemic. This doesn’t stop them from wanting to celebrate Ginger’s birthday together, so they contact one another through a crystal ball. Majoram has a lot of surprises planned for her lovely lady, but it may take more magic than she has to get it right.
There are several choices that players get to make during the game, from the type of magical cake to make to what magic they should try next. Depending on what players choose, the ending will vary.
The Pros and Cons of Casting Hearts
Players get to experience a beautiful little visual novel story with at least two different endings. It’s a quick tale with a lot of heart and adorable artwork. I felt deeply for both Ginger and Majoram; there are many people who I didn’t get to see over the course of the last few years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was touching and beautiful and cute and fun.
There aren’t really any cons to Casting Hearts except that it is too short! I will be playing this game through a few more times just to make sure that I get all the dialogue options between Ginger and the adorably anxious Majoram.
Conclusion
I loved this little game deeply. It was a good exploration of anxiety, of love, of distance, and the feeling of separation. Majoram and Ginger both are beautiful little characters; Majoram seems willing to do anything for her girl and Ginger is so sweet as she accepts all of her lovely little gifts. This is the perfect little visual novel tale for anyone who loves the genre!
Final Verdict: I Like it a Lot.
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