Beacon Pines Reviews

Wow, what a terrific way to design a game! The mechanics are an important reason this game succeeds, coupled with an exceptional, heartwarming — and yes, creepy — story. It's all perfectly narrated and has adorable graphics. The story is so engrossing, you'll think you've been playing for twice as long, and at the end, probably wish it [b]was[/b] twice as long. Extra kudos for terrific character development. Beck's so relatable, and Dawn was wonderful. The "real" ending was unexpected but very satisfying. I'll probably come back to this in a few years for a replay. I didn't get the chance to see every possible outcome. It's worth visiting again for storytelling this good.

Extremely hooking story, with twists that took me off guard despite watching a playthrough of it a couple years ago. A very polished Visual Novel, with minor gameplay elements-- as well as quality of life improvements, such as the turning points which, despite making you replay parts of the game, still makes it feel like you're progressing every time you mess up, and with each new charm you find. (adorable art for the charms too!) If you're looking to get yourself lost in a vibrant world, as well as the characters and their antics for a bit, this game is for you!

5/5 I don't say this often, but this is a perfect game. It is very reminiscent of games like Little Misfortune and Night in the Woods, telling the story of a down-on-his-luck kid who gets pulled into something so much bigger than himself. Beacon Pines is utterly heartwarming, with a really moving story, an incredible soundtrack, and gorgeous art. I'd also be remiss not to mention how good the voice acting in this was. The narrator was really engaging, and has a real talent for rousing emotions just through her voice. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this, though I do have to mention that it isn't really a choice-based game in the traditional sense. It's more of a game where you make choices, and to get the full story you have to go back and redo things differently in order to get the complete picture of events. I wouldn't really call it choice-based personally. Regardless, I highly recommend Beacon Pines for anyone interested in emotionally driven stories.

Wonderfully wholesome narrative wrapped within a cute art style and adorable characters. This is a narrative-driven game with minimal game play but the game mechanics are surprisingly unique. Similar to the other Choose Your Own Adventure-esque games, you get to explore different options based on your choices. If you're an overthinker like I am and you have a tendency to save scum to get to all the possible endings - this game will hold your hand and help you explore everything without making you feel like you lost any progress. I loved that aspect especially! The presentation was wonderful. I know some people disliked the style the narrator chose but personally it felt like a warm hug at the end of a long work day. I found the narrator's voice very soothing and calming. What I really loved are all the characters. Despite having a short run time, Beacon Pines evoked emotion and nuance in the form of the characters. I really loved seeing the branching paths that their lives could take with a singular word or action. Beck is my personal favorite among the three but I grew to love Rolo's wit and charm and Luka's resilience and creativity. One character's story line surprised me with the depth of emotion it contained. I like the semi-creepy vibe the town had and each of the different paths. I didn't expect that certain scenes or choices would turn out the way they did and it was a welcome addition to make the quaint little town more alive. It also helped set the stage for certain elements to become more believable. I played the demo before the game was fleshed out; loved it before and loved it still. If you enjoyed Little Miss Nightmare, Fran Bow, or Night in the Woods, you'll probably enjoy this game. Play this when capitalism has exhausted you and you're looking for an emotional pick-me-up. Highly recommend this game!

This game sucker punched me with the dark themes it had in the narrative starting out! (In the best way.) The writing was wonderful, the artwork incredibly charming, and the gameplay itself was smooth and enjoyable. It's a quick game to get through, but replaying is for sure part of the draw. I'd love to see more games in this "universe." One of my favorite cozy horror games for sure.

This was so much fun. The art was gorgeous. The story was intriguing and engaging - very interesting piecing together the mystery with the diverging timelines. Got a bit teary in parts which speaks to how well the game draws you into the story and connects you with the characters.

A sweet game with beautiful hand-drawn scenes that otherwise justifies the price tag. It runs really well and the game is generally cohesive even if it feels more like a visual novel for juveniles. Not for everyone but if you like the Night In The Woods kind of 'game'/visual novel, this is a good fit for you.

This was just lovely! I wish it had been longer, but I absolutely adored every minute of it. The story was gripping and engaging, and the whole game was a feel good emotional joyride, with great twists and I especially love how emotionally invested the narrator was in the story. It was perfect. Additionally, the animation was gorgeous! I wholeheartedly recommend this to everyone. Perfection!

Overall, this was a great game, and I really enjoyed it! Pros: The art is gorgeous and the story is fun! I like the fishing mini-game and the dining mini-game, too! The characters have cute designs, and the music is good as well. The game has a funny sense of humor. I laughed at [spoiler]a curse word[/spoiler] being a charm and then being used in [spoiler]a little (insert curse word)[/spoiler]. The plot is also interesting, and I like the different endings and turns we get to see when we choose different Charms. The plot twists were a delightful surprise, ones that you could figure out right before they happened so that you can have an 'aha' and not a 'duh' moment from figuring it out too early. The [spoiler]humming got me right in the feels; music truly is the path to the soul[/spoiler]. I really enjoyed the emphasis on friendship. Flaming chicken coop for the win! I was left wondering if... [spoiler]through some really weird and twisted time loop, those two in the hazmat suits (in the branch where Iggy and Luka are exploring Old Beacon Pines) were older Luka and older Rolo? The jaunty, energetic way one of them acted really put me in mind of the latter, but perhaps that's me overthinking it...[/spoiler] Cons: The storyteller's voice is a bit demeaning at times, like she's talking to kindergartners. There's also a fair amount of times when the storyteller is overly dramatic, to the point where it feels like silly acting on a stage rather than genuine. [spoiler]The storyteller's hammy sniffling at the end of the game really ruined the vibe of the scene of planting the tree at the grave. A poorly placed interruption before an anticipated emotional scene.[/spoiler] I 99% like this game, and the majority of the 1% of the game I dislike is the storyteller. There are a few scattered spelling/grammar errors in the game but not enough to hinder it. Would have loved if this game had a log to access recent dialogue.

This game had amazing music, story line, and lovable characters! Each time I play I end up crying but the tears are worth this plot twisting video game!