Haven

...but instead it became a badly flawed gem. Long story short Quite linear adventure game, French production, great music, good screenplay, absolutely, above par story, cute graphics, loading screens ad nauseam, horrible level design and last but not least, painfully clunky controls (true pain in the a** if you are going to use keyboard&mouse, badly worse if you use keyboard&mouse and you play solo!!!). Long story long The Visual Novel is good, screenplay is good: I have really appreciated the various paradoxes, like the Ship of Theseus or the Chicken or the Egg, other than some talkings about freedom or anarchy and the differences between them. About the couple dynamics they are interesting even if they seemed to me having the same maturity of a '80s teenager, for me it was a quick reminder of the '80s movie La Boum... The music are absolutely the greatest feature of this game, Danger has done an excellent job here, they are so good that it worth to buy the game when in sale to also being able to buy its soundtrack. Unfortunately this isn't a Visual Novel and about the gameplay is really suffering, it reminds me a lot 1st or 2nd generation console (PS1 or a PS2) game, here there is a lot of wasted potential. Probably, at least I hope, the game has been designed to be played in co-op using 2 controllers, and the designers have totally forgotten that this game could be played solo using keyboard&controller. Level design is really done wrong, with a lot of hard to reach, and hard to see, places, but this game isn't about cliff hanging... The combat section reminds me a lot an RPG Maker game, but this isn't a jRPG. Finally loading screens ad nauseam are the sticky glue of this badly flawed gem. Actually this game is a 2 stars over 5, I put 1 star more just as encouragement...

Leave it to the French to make a game about two lovers - on a forbidden planet, no less. As a player, you follow the daily routine of the characters. And you learn how they deal with the usual challenges like cooking, cleaning, repairing their spaceship and slapping some sense into the local wildlife. The focus is on the interactions between the two lovebirds and the entire game is designed around that. It works surprisingly well. The soundtrack and visual design underscore the general feeling of the game. And the floating mechanic fits nicely with the theme of love and happiness. The combat and resource gathering may be considered repetitive and boring, but it is mainly a backdrop to the story. The story itself is rather predictable and ends on a melancholic note. If you like to see a cute couple doing cute things, this is the perfect game for you. If you want solid game mechanics and challenges, look elsewhere.

The narrative, the story telling, is really, really solid. The characters are great, they are not flawless which makes them much better. In the end, this is a very simple love story with a pretty disappointing conclusion. It has at least 2 endings, but they are not too satisfying. There are some unfinished arcs and it shows. Like, they run out of money or something. And in the end some things just don't make sense if you think about them. However, that doesn't change the fact that the path to get there is freaking amazing. The music is great, the visuals are beautiful, and the dub is... I don't know how to express it: Tier S. Really, really good. The lore around the world is interesting, like a futuristic dystopia (not 2020 style, more like... 1984 style). As a psychologist I can't stop appreciating the toxic romanticism implied in the game. Yes, I am guilty. I was raised by Disney cartoons, what can I do. One of the first movies I loved was the beauty and the beast. However, I think the developers don't sink too low in this kind of relationships where both parts are dependent from each other and try to make them as independent as they... managed. They take their own decisions and their own choices and in fact, you can choose an ending accordingly. It's not satisfying. But you can, if you want. One player alone can win the game, it's not too hard, but it would be much easier and more entertaining if you do it with other player. And I recommend that player to be your boyfriend/girlfriend/wife/husband/partner for life, whatever you have there. Your pillow won't work, it requires hands. The thing is, this is meant to be played by two people in love, that's pretty obvious. And it's totally worth it, believe me. If one of you is not used to gaming, don't worry, the game explains everything quite well and it's easy to play. So, very recommended.

The game is fun, cute, and super comfy, in the moments you're watching the couple interact. The gameplay itself ends up being repetive after a while tho I'd say this game is worth it if you want to see a couple being cute and solving their problem, the narrative is quite good. If you want for the gameplay, think twice... Could've been a great animated movie :P

Really grew attached to Yu and Kay over the course of their journey and watching their relationship evolve. As others have pointed out in their reviews, this is a pretty chill experience with a focus on narrative and exploration. There is a combat system, but it's pretty basic, and even the developers stress that it's a means to an end. That being said, I did have fun taming (I believe the term they use is "pacifying"?) various creatures throughout the world. The real stars are Yu and Kay, who are arguably one of the most well-developed and well-written couples in video game history. There aren't a lot of titles out there that convincingly engage with the topic of love and relationships. Haven is even more unique by virtue of the fact that Yu and Kay are already a couple when we first meet them. We get a glimpse into their daily lives, and the little moments that really make life and love meaningful. The characters have a great sense of humor, even when the odds are seemingly stacked against them. Music is fantastic and was composed by the electronic musician Danger. Really brings the whole experience together.