Necrobarista

As somebody who grapples with my mortality every day, Necrobarista helped me want to live each day to the fullest - lest my time be stolen away in the blink of an eye. And for a game to have that impact on a person, for a work of art to rattle the soul that thoroughly, is perhaps one of the highest forms of art that I can think of.

Necrobarista, is a stellar debut from Melbourne’s Route 59 Games, one that succeeds in pushing the artistic boundaries of the medium and has me eagerly anticipating what’s next for the studio. Brew your favourite cuppa and have a go, mate.

For anyone interesting in a wholly unique story that is almost guaranteed to sink its hooks into you, look no further than Necrobarista.

Necrobarista is a game-changer for the visual novel genre, using slick cinematic visuals to tell its story. This is a sophisticated story full of delightful, three-dimensional characters that is perfectly complements by the groundbreaking presentation of the experience.

Necrobarista is just a plain wonderful experience. The story is entertaining with powerful moments, the characters feel fleshed out and realistic (or as realistic as the plot allows for), and the presentation is stunning (although the character design may not be attractive to some).

I would be remiss if I did not take the time to properly talk about how glorious the soundtrack is. Every song is amazing; from the melancholy Confluence, the main theme, to my personal favorite track, the upbeat, slightly suspenseful Nostalgia Trip, which I have found myself humming daily since I first got my hands on this game. I don’t often get excited about video game music, but I’ve found myself listening to these tracks on loop while working on other projects; the music, much like the Terminal’s coffee, is to die for.

Necrobarista is what a good cup of coffee should be: warm, a little nutty and exactly what you crave. It leaves a lasting impression. Its characters are lovable and relatable; its story covers a deeply complicated topic with humour and charm; and the world is so well-crafted and intriguing that it could easily tell a thousand more stories. Add to that an excellent soundtrack and gorgeous art style, and it’s unlikely you’ll find another visual novel that compares to Necrobarista.

The story of Necrobarista isn't lost in its bold anime-inspired style and maximalist presentation. These elements mix and swirl together like a cup of damned good coffee.

Ultimately, Necrobarista reminded me of another Roger Ebert essay about his thoughts on life and death. In it he wrote, “What I am grateful for is the gift of intelligence, and for life, love, wonder, and laughter.” Necrobarista brings all of these things, with incredible style and panache. Like a good movie, I felt a little different after I played it, and to me, that makes it worthy of being called art…whatever that means.

In the end, my gripes are small and Necrobarista is a fascinating experience that I was both sad (and glad!) to see through to its end. It might seem strange to be happy when something great is done with, but many philosophies, from Zen Buddhism to the aboriginal beliefs held in Necrobarista‘s native Australia, acknowledge that transience and eventual passing is a key part of life itself. Everything moves on, most especially our physical selves. The insistence of staying past one’s time, be it as a spirit living on borrowed time or a game trying to become a part of an overstuffed daily routine, can feel toxic. It’s refreshing to play something that doesn’t want me to stay with it forever, and that’s the kind of passing I raise a nice cuppa to.

Necrobarista is a touching, emotional journey that features an excellently written and easily lovable cast of characters. While the “memories” within the game are frustrating to unlock, it wasn’t enough to detract from an otherwise excellent experience.

Necrobarista’s focus on death is approached in such a unique way that you can’t help but immerse yourself in its setting. You begin to feel as if you are a part of the group, which makes the idea of letting go so much harder. This is a visual novel experience that transcends traditional systems within the medium and is definitely worth your time. Some of the dialogue might go over your head, but this is an easy recommendation from me.

Necrobarista won't be everybody's cuppa coffee, but it's an excellent visual novel with strong writing and visuals.

Despite some technical issues, Necrobarista is a fresh take on visual novels world, and its style captivates the player: interesting direction and gorgeus art manage to create a mix in which the plot can arise with all its delicate topics. How difficult is to "go further" when you're already dead? Necrobarista tries to answer at that, and it's a very good answer.

How do you spend your last hours alive if you can’t visit your loved ones? How do you talk to someone who’s passing away and nothing can change that? Necrobarista is not really a game (you don’t get to make any decisions), but its simple, powerful story about death touched me to tears. [10/2020, p.70]

Necrobarista tells a meaningful story about relationships and the memories we create with the people around us. It’s heartwarming, poignant, and pulls at the heart strings in all the right ways. It has some minor issues, but they aren’t what stuck with me. Instead, I’m still thinking about the wisdom this game imparts.

Necrobarista is a creative game with an enticing story, but there are a lot of things I wanted to see that felt just barely outside its grasp. Even with its faults, Necrobarista is worthy of a playthrough. You will find that the journey through this gorgeously shot cafe, its accompanying musical score, and the eclectic group of patrons and employees will be more than enough to leave you a satisfied customer of The Terminal.

While the weak scenario and some other issues drag Necrobarista down, its 3D model animation and cleverly positioned text create a unique experience. In that sense, it’s no exaggeration to call this the beginning of a brand new era for the visual novel genre.

Necrobarista is an eclectic mix of things. It’s a character-driven musing on life and death. It’s a deeply Australian story written by Australians. It’s both funny and sincere. It’s one of those games that will stay with you long after it’s done, and it’s the kind of culturally-relevant artefact that gives it value beyond its scope as an entertainment product (though it’s certainly entertaining too).

If you want to choose your own adventure or replay this short interlude between life and death then you are probably out of luck. If you expect something even as interactive as the excellent VA-11 HALL-A, then find another bar. However, despite this Necrobarista is one of the best visual novels I have ever played and this dark and silky smooth blend of Otaku influenced story telling is worth a few hours of your time.

Coffee shop philosophy with a side of comedy banter, plated attractively.

If you’re an acolyte of the visual novel genre then you’re likely to have Necrobarista in your sights. Take the plunge – it’s worth it. For those curious about visual novels but put off by either the static-ness of the format or their usual anime aesthetics, Necrobarista will be unlike what you expect. With a keen eye for cinematography, a striking animation style, and an eccentric cast of off-beat characters, Necrobarista spins a great story in unique and stylish fashion.

Necrobarista may have changed since it was first seen, but the end result is still an engrossing visual novel that succeeds thanks to a cast of memorable and fun characters, a stylish and cool presentation, and a well-crafted story that hits all the right notes, providing a terrific tale of having to move on that has room for bits of both laughter and tears in your coffee. Despite a few hiccups along the way, it’s an adventure that was both worth the wait and visiting the Terminal for.

Necrobarista tells a very interesting story in an outstanding way, relying on an attractive art style. First-person exploration and secondary tales, however, prevent it from shining even more.

A distinct, cel-shaded and anime-inspired style isn't the only thing remarkable about Necrobarista. From its main story to the entertaining text adventures that paint between the lines of its more stylishly presented narrative, Necrobarista is an engaging visual novel from start to finish. Some minor complaints in how it executes unlocking additional text adventures does little to hold back the death-concerned coffee shop adventure.

Necrobarista tells a beautiful, heart-wrenching story of the human experience expertly told with dialogue that resonates more than once. I was enthralled by the world and enamoured with its characters, despite minor complaints with the polish of an otherwise impressive visual style. In crafting their 3D visual novel, Route 59 has gambled on a niche genre, eschewing more marketable mechanics and pursuing passion over potential profit. With a brew this good, you can be sure I'll be back for more.

It couches relatable stories in its highly individualistic setting, presenting it all with a mastery of varying tones so as to make its point without being reductive or mawkish. [Issue#350, p.98]

Necrobarista is a 3D visual novel. It is stylish, relaxing and mysterious. Direction and scenography are smart and evocative. The writing is overall good, but it lacks focus, with head hopping and a lot of filler sequences.

Almost anyone smitten by Necrobarista’s style will find more than enough to warrant its asking price, including a rather poignant denouement after three hours of play, but it risks frustrating anyone expecting more of a game and less of a film.

The actual gameplay aspects of Necrobarista aren't all that satisfying, but the game more than makes up for that by leaning into the "novel" part of the visual novel genre and crafting a bittersweet story about accepting death, learning to grieve, and moving on. That isn't to say the game slouches on the "visual" part either--its 3D cinematic style adds plenty of unspoken characterization and also better sells the witty writing with some excellent comedic timing. I can't help but feel like all the characters I fell in love with got to go on an awesome journey while I just had to sit there and watch, but the overall themes and storybeats still hit pretty hard as a passive observer.

Necrobarista is a nice looking visual novel packed with interesting reflections about life and death. However, story fails when it tries to empathize with the player.