VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action Reviews
Overall, I enjoyed VA-11 HALL-A way more than I'd anticipated. It's a visual novel with a lot of heart, a heartwarming and emotional story, and some great aesthetics. It's also super cheap, so the relatively short play-time isn't so bad. I'd recommend giving it a go, even if you're not usually into VNs.
Thanks to its fantastic storytelling VA-11 Hall-A is a highly engaging experience wrapped in retro aesthetics. Some may argue that its simplified gameplay being subservient to storytelling does little to make it a game in the modern, mainstream sense. However, it succeeds in presenting a slice of life in a dystopian future and drives home the point that not every video game has to have you as its central character. They can just be as fun with you serving its heroes copious amounts of alcohol.
The visual novel VA-11 HALL-A arrived on Nintendo Switch, mixing drinks and changing lives with great characters and tons of style.
With an unforgettable cast of characters, VA-11 HALL-A provides one of the warmest story driven experiences in a video game.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
A short and sweet game about mixing drinks and changing lives.
Even when crammed into tiny handheld, VA-11 HALL-A is still an excellent game with an even better story about how everyone has a story.
A fascinating visual novel about a bar in a cyberpunk dystopia and all the characters that wander in to share their stories. Time to mix drinks and change lives.
I had low expectations for VA-11 HALL-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action. I anticipated a bartending simulator with a simple narrative but I was mistaken. Yes, you're a bartender and the game is a narrative-driven title but the deep and complex characters along with the well-crafted cyberpunk universe provide a soothing yet exciting environment. Each character has their own personalities whether it's an editor looking to kill time or a working man trying to find meaning in life. VA-11 HALL-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action excels at providing an invigorating adventure full of interesting characters while elaborating on its own cyberpunk world.
Va11ha11a is a really odd game. Not because it’s bad, or particularly weird per se, but because I have nothing to really draw a parallel to for comparison. Yes, there are visual novels with gimmicks, but those normally culminate in something, whether it be snagging a girl or unraveling a magical conspiracy by fighting with giant mechs using anthropomorphic books (yes that’s an actual example). Va11ha11a, on the other hand, is perfectly content to just be as it is, which is something I can say is rather novel to find. You aren’t going to find much action here, but the company certainly kept me coming back for more.
"Shaken, not stirred."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
If you like choose-your-own-adventure style books and like to explore all the options, then VA-11 HALL-A is a perfect choice. You will be hard pressed to find a better narrative-driven form of entertainment this year.
Despite the quantity of visual novels readily available for the PlayStation Vita, VA-11 HALL-A easily stands out among the rest for one simple reason: it is mundane. Yet that distinction is something unique and drives the relationships in the game — something you just won't want to rush through. Bolstered by an excellent soundtrack and stylistic art choices, VA-11 HALL-A should be a must-buy for indie lovers and VN junkies alike.
VA-11 Hall-A is a unique experience that borrows some design elements from games in the past, such as Carmen Sandiego, that features solving problems through natural dialogue with ambiguous clues. The additional narrative to it is captivating at times, though some dialogue can get way too long in the tooth. The additional money-making motivation and customization options help to sell the experience a little further beyond its initial design.
VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action is a unique experience that's literally a book in game form. Mixing drinks and changing lives proves to be a blast as you interact with many interesting characters. There's loads of reading to do here but as long as you're ready to read a novel while you play, this is one book, er, game that you won't want to put down.
Overall, VA-11 HALL-A on the Switch is a marvelous port that works far better than I ever expected it to. The new controls may take some getting used to, but after a few minutes tinkering with them I found they came pretty naturally, and overall the game has kept the charm and likeability that drew me to it back in 2016. Gameplay may get a bit stale after long sessions of play, but for small relaxing wind-down sessions at the end of the night, you'll find no better place to be than in Jill's head during yet another shift at the bar.
Give this game a try you won't regret it.
VA-11 Hall-A offers no challenge. Its not a game you will remember for its controls or its multiplayer, but you will remember the experience, and if you ask me. That's worth it.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Though light on traditional gameplay, the stories you encounter in this strange world are worth listening to
The mix of bartender simulator, interesting characters and clever writing makes VA-11 HALL-A a little gem, especially if you like games that are not your typical an have a lot to say. It is best savored in a smooth way... Like a whiskey on the rocks in a bar.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Valhalla is a dark and moody dystopic game with an infectious underlying optimism. It’s comfort food, a relaxed experience welcoming you with soothing music, cooly-colored visuals, casual conversation, and a calm sensation. This, mixed with its brilliant approach of telling a story through the experiences of its characters, makes it a smart and inventive new take on the science fiction visual novel.