Oath

Good stories usually feature a few characters that manage to impress the readers and be memorable enough to stick with them for years to come, as is the case with the great literature classics. However, even video games have this power sometimes, depending on how talented the writers are and how relatable the story is, or at the very least interesting.

Oath is an interactive visual novel in which you get to witness the aftermath of a war between two nations and play the role of a boy by the name of Laslow. Since the game is interactive, you can make certain choices every now and again in order to influence the ending. It sounds better than it actually is, on the other hand, because there are only two possible outcomes.

The story takes place in the fictional kingdom of Nohr, where two countries have been at war for quite some time. However, they decide to make peace after enough blood has been spilled, which is where the main character comes in. Hence, he has the chance to return home or not, and it all depends on how you handle his choices and which ending you want to see.

Most of your choices are not very complex, on the other hand, given the fact that you can choose yes or no. Granted, they seem to steer the story on way or the other, but it would be nice to have more than two standard options. It’s also impossible to concentrate on knowing certain characters and making conversation with them, since the game forces you to follow a very linear path.

Lastly, the graphics are not bad at all, but don’t expect anything too memorable either. Most of the backgrounds are pretty standard and not very detailed, especially since the characters occupy a big portion of the screen at any given time. Speaking of which, the character design is certainly nicer than everything else, although these too feel a bit too ordinary for some reason.

In the end, Oath’s greatest strength is the fact that it’s pretty short and you can finish it in one sitting. In fact, you can actually play through both endings and experience the story in its fullest without having to sacrifice a few hours of your life.