VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action

 PC
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. RPG Site
    Jan 2, 2018
    70
    VA-11 HALL-A is inherently flawed yet it's still a wonderful personal cyberpunk tale. Even with the writing being lackluster at times, I find its cast to be pleasantly unforgettable. I often think about them, Glitch City, and my dreams of the future living through its soundtrack as I listen to it outside of the game. It was worth diving in and have a fascinating peek into that view. And I'd love to return to it anytime.
  2. Jeuxvideo.com
    May 15, 2021
    65
    To prepare an excellent Visual Novel cocktail, we particularly need a very good writing quality, varied narrative paths and the ability to transport ourselves to a world with a unique atmosphere. On these points VA-11 Hall-A is very convincing. But where the recipe turns sour, it is in the inability of the game to renew its gameplay and its sequences.
  3. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Sep 14, 2016
    60
    Story-rich interactive book, reading which you could feel the irresistible taste of “not play, just watch” Is it good or is it bad? It is up to each of you to decide. [Issue#266]
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  5. Hardcore Gamer
    Jul 19, 2016
    60
    In any case, VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action is still worth a look for the colorful characters it brings to the table and that’s something it gets just right.
  6. PC Gamer
    Jun 22, 2016
    60
    What Valhalla is trying to do is interesting, but playing it is boring. The dialogue drags, the main bartending mechanic is tedious and the day-in, day-out repetition becomes frustrating quite early on.
  7. games(TM)
    Aug 24, 2016
    50
    An imperfect cocktail. [Issue#177, p.84]
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  1. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    Jun 21, 2016
    I like the idea of Valhalla and some presentation gripes aside, I like its execution. It’s no great revelation but a pleasant surprise, and being a mundane bystander going about their day instead of the plot-critical centre of the universe is an under-explored concept.

Awards & Rankings

99
#99 Most Discussed PC Game of 2016

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 194 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 155 out of 194
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 194
  3. Negative: 17 out of 194
  1. weirdcryo
    Jun 25, 2016
    0
    Great quality in the art, sound and writing but I'm not sure you can call this a "game", your interactions are minimal and there are not riskGreat quality in the art, sound and writing but I'm not sure you can call this a "game", your interactions are minimal and there are not risk at all.
    I feel bad because there is a lot of quality for a indi game but this is more of a story than a game and there are better options if you are looking for a story more complex, quality, etc.

    If you like sitting there reading and clicking now and then for story that develops on its own you are going to love this, if you are looking for a real game look somewhere else.    … Full Review »
  2. foy
    Jun 22, 2016
    10
    Comfycyberpunk bartending cocktail with anime as the lemon thing people put on their cocktails. I honestly have no idea what those things areComfycyberpunk bartending cocktail with anime as the lemon thing people put on their cocktails. I honestly have no idea what those things are even called.… Full Review »
  3. angryjedi
    Jun 22, 2016
    10
    I’ve been waiting to play the full version of this for quite some time now, ever since the very early demo enraptured me with its snappyI’ve been waiting to play the full version of this for quite some time now, ever since the very early demo enraptured me with its snappy writing, strong characterisation and wonderfully distinctive take on the dystopian future setting. And I’m delighted that the full version has, so far, surpassed all my expectations and hopes.

    VA-11 Hall-A is kind of hard to pin down. At heart, it’s basically a visual novel, but rather than making binary choices that filter you off down one of several discrete routes, the choices you make as protagonist Jill when going about her daily life at home and at work affect what happens next in the story, including the characters you encounter, how Jill gets along with her clients and co-workers and how everyone reacts to the events unfolding in the backdrop.

    Interestingly, VA-11 Hall-A presents its overarching narrative almost entirely from the perspective of Jill behind the bar and in her apartment. Significant things happen in the world, but you don’t see them directly; instead, you tend to see the people involved immediately before and/or after the events, or read about them on the news web pages and forums the morning after. Sometimes whether or not you dosed them up with alcohol before the event in which they were involved has an effect, too; prepare to feel guilty if that happens!

    To give too many examples would be to spoil the experience, so I’ll leave it at this: VA-11 Hall-A does a much better job of almost any visual novel I can name at making its world feel “alive” and like the actions you take actually matter, rather than simply picking a route through the story. There’s nothing wrong with the latter approach, of course, but this way of doing things helps keep the people who expect a bit more in the way of traditional “gameplay” happy as well as those of us who are along for the ride primarily from a narrative perspective.

    To sum up: great writing, wonderful characterisation, superb music and a glorious, beautiful PC-88 style aesthetic (with perfect pixel aspect ratio even scaled up to 1920×1080) makes for an absolutely lovely, unconventional and entirely memorable game.

    I adore VA-11 Hall-A and pray with all my heart that it sees the success it deserves.    … Full Review »
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