Fatal Twelve Reviews

a roller-coaster of emotions

Reviewing (mostly) every game (or DLC) in my library, part 269: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆☆☆☆ (5/10) I bought [i]Fatal Twelve[/i] mostly for the LGBT aspects, and while that aspect delivered some genuinely sweet moments, the game overall left me pretty conflicted. The concept is really intriguing, and the introduction gave a good first impression for the most part. Unfortunately, everything past that point turned into a major letdown. The mystery of solving everyone’s names, deaths, and regrets rarely felt satisfying because most characters just outright tell each other their secrets. The story relies heavily on deus ex machinas to prevent the protagonists from solving anything themselves—and this problem becomes more prominent as the game progresses instead of being confined to the early chapters. It's a game that shows flashes of brilliance—particularly in its characters and visual design—but ultimately struggles with pacing, mystery mechanics, and narrative payoff. 🌸[b] Pros:[/b] [list] [*] Intriguing concept and solid introduction that hooks you in. The core premise of [i]Fatal Twelve[/i]—a death game where participants must learn everyone else’s names, deaths, and regrets to survive—feels fresh and full of potential. The initial chapters do a good job setting up the mystery, creating tension, and introducing a varied cast of characters with believable motives. That initial hook really pulled me in and gave me high hopes for what was to come. [*] Lovely art style and thoughtful visual presentation enhance immersion. The game’s aesthetic is polished and appealing, with the soft pastel color palette lending the story an almost dreamlike atmosphere. The user interface is clean and unobtrusive, and also offers some great options. You can reread a summary of each weak, as well as brush up on information about each character. Plenty of save slots, too. [*] Strong character writing. Even though the story struggles with pacing and mystery, many of the characters come across as well-rounded and relatable. Their personal regrets and motivations are given room to breathe, and I did feel bad when they died. The character work is where the game often shines, offering glimpses of real depth beneath the narrative’s flaws. [*] Achievements bugged on Mac, which is disappointing for completionists. For players on Mac, the game’s achievement system is currently broken. I believe the devs tried to fix this after looking through the Steam Forums, but it's a (small) problem for me. [/list] 🙃[b] Cons:[/b] [list] [*] Mystery-solving mechanics feel shallow and unsatisfying due to lack of actual deduction. A major disappointment is how rarely the player gets to actively piece together clues or solve puzzles themselves. Instead, characters tend to simply reveal their names, deaths, and regrets directly. This took me away from the suspense and made the mystery feel more like exposition dumps. [*] Frequent reliance on deus ex machinas weakens narrative stakes and immersion. The plot often resorts to convenient resolutions and offscreen reveals to prevent protagonists from independently solving mysteries or facing consequences. While the story started off rather grounded, plots involving a certain young boy was just ... bad. [*] Significant pacing issues seriously undermine the sense of urgency and stakes. The death game unfolds over 12 weeks, but many of these “weeks” contain days where little or nothing of note happens. This slow pacing seriously diminishes tension, as it’s hard to feel the threat of impending death when characters often prioritize mundane concerns like work, school, or simply being tired over life-saving discussions. Like? You are going to [i] die [/i] soon. Why are you still going to school? [*] The protagonist's, Rinka's, obliviousness to obvious romantic cues feels so frustrating. While the slow-burn pining is a highlight for fans of the genre, Rinka's persistent cluelessness about what’s happening around them quickly becomes grating. Everyone but the protagonist seems aware of the romantic tension! Even her friends! Her love intrest isn't super subtle about hiding her attraction, either. How clueless could you be? [/list]