VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action

Played this game for the first time almost 10 years ago, forgot to leave a positive review. I have replayed it several times since then, it's a perfect read just before Christmas. I don't celebrate it personally, but it's a perfect excuse to replay this game. Very pleasing setting, atmosphere. Charming cast of characters that you can treat differently and see new interactions and dialogue. Insanely good soundtrack, Garoad recently posted a new album for the 10th anniversary, please check it out. I just adore this game and everything around it. It's a unique and memorable experience, by the time it ends I feel so attached to the characters and want to see them more. The sequel N1RV Ann-A is probably never coming out by this point, and I think that's okay. No need to milk this franchise if the writers don't feel like it anymore.

Drinks mixed, lives changed. Peak soundtrack, cozy gameplay, fun and deep story, did I mention peak soundtrack?

I got into this game late. As in, mere months ago late. Just in time for it to turn 10 years old, lol. But I also got this game exactly when I needed it. And maybe you need it, too. This game struck a very personal chord for me. Due to its cyberpunk setting and its implied high-octane-everything-is-happening-just-outside-the-bar nature, I expected the story to be some grand tragedy or the story of how Jill Stingray was secretly the most important person in the universe. Instead, I got exactly what I needed right now. A story about a queer woman whose life is falling apart as the world itself keeps moving, and how the only way to escape that pit of depression is to rely on the people you care about. I'm a trans woman (huge shocker) and I've screwed up a billion things in my life because I was too scared to just reach out for help. It's a fatal flaw of mine, I keep myself shut off emotionally and play the character of someone who seems like they have it all together, but in reality I can't sleep at night because I can't get over thoughts of "what if." I have pretty bad insomnia because of that. This game gave me a stupidly simple answer to that issue. One I've embraced before, mind you, I didn't get to age 22 unable to talk to people, but it's the answer I needed right now. "If you keep dwelling on your mistakes, you'll just keep making them." I'm not gonna spoil HOW the game tells you that, because I want you to buy this game, but believe me, IT TELLS YOU. Every character, every piece of dialogue, every joke, every sprite, is crafted with so much intent, you'll feel like you KNOW these characters. Sure, it's a cyberpunk hellscape outside, but in here? Well that's just your weird buddy Dorothy. Or your mortal enemy, streaming-chan. VA-11 Hall-A aka Valhalla is a game worth playing. If you are reading this review, sifting through the THOUSANDS of other positive reviews, wondering if it's worth buying, just get it already. This 10-year-old game feels like it came out yesterday. None of it feels outdated in any way that matters, it just feels human in a way that is sorely missed in so many other narrative-based games. Buy this game.