The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty Reviews
The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty is a fascinating, challenging, and compelling story that uses its form as a visual novel to tell a story about normal, flawed, and vulnerable people.
The Hungry Lamb is an engaging tale of right and wrong set in a bygone era. The unique story will keep you invested as you navigate the pathways to one of many conclusions. With lovely visuals and plentiful options, this is a visual novel that truly stands out.
Dark visual novel inspired by traditional Chinese art with modern animation
I typically give visual novels with poor localisations 1/5. After all, the exclusive point of the game is to share a story and if the localisation is bad it has failed in that task. The score I’m giving The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty should highlight just how disappointed I am by the localisation, because this could have very easily been one of the most powerful stories in video game history.
The Hungry Lamb is a heavy game, a portrait of a desolate historical period, and without many restraints when it comes to portraying the cruel reality of the time. Naturally, this means that the game is not for everyone, after all, it requires a very strong heart to endure the harsh themes addressed by the story in general. However, the game is worth the mental effort, there is a beautiful message in the game that is conveyed through excellent writing, with a pleasant reading pace.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty is a dark visual novel set in ancient China. It tackles some harsh subjects, so I can't recommend it to all, but those who can stomach it will be greeted with a satisfying narrative of redemption. The pacing isn't the best in the first half, but the art and voice acting help elevate the story. What's left is a story I'm glad I experienced, problems and all.
The Hungry Lamb delivers a solid narrative with well-developed characters and excellent voice acting. The themes are historically accurate, showcasing the developers' knowledge and love for their country's history. However, it's clear that this visual novel may not be for everyone, as it contains themes like cannibalism, human trafficking, and even a child-adult flirtation scene – something entirely unnecessary. That said, the story is good, but if you're interested, proceed with caution and keep the heavy themes in mind.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty had me in a daze upon finishing the game, but with the ending I have reached, I cannot complain. Sure, when I think back to this game, the first thing that presents itself in my brain is the memory of how uncomfortable I felt, but underneath all that, I believe that the mystery and horror elements that exist everywhere else in the game made this an experience I will not regret.
The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty is a curious, unsettling and compelling journey that explores an issue that, unfortunately, won't stop existing in our world. Even with a few caveats, this is a title worth checking out.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
I feel The Hungry Lamb is for a specific audience, though I can’t quite align with whom that might be. It’s not thrilling enough to land in constant VN recommendations, it’s got uncomfortable relationships which will put most people off, and the endings never hit the high note that satisfies everything.