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. CGMagazine
    Jun 20, 2016
    100
    VA-11 Hall-A is a funny, thought-provoking, and sometimes tragic work of art, with truly original gameplay and a beautiful aesthetic unlike anything else on the market.
  2. Pelit (Finland)
    Oct 12, 2016
    91
    When she pours, she reigns. The Venezuelan bartender visual novel stands amongst the best modern anime styled story games, even compared to the Japanese contemporaries. [Sept 2016]
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  3. Destructoid
    Jun 23, 2016
    90
    VA-11 HALL-A is a damn fine video game, and that’s the bottom line.
  5. Games Master UK
    Sep 6, 2016
    88
    Nothing here frustrates. [Sept 2016, p.75]
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  6. 4P.de
    Jun 4, 2019
    83
    Listening to well written dialogue and mixing drinks while meeting interesting characters - this is a little storytelling gem.
  7. CD-Action
    Oct 14, 2016
    80
    Imagine a visual novel where instead of dialogue lines you choose liquid content of the glass. Despite a tad too simple gameplay the VA-11 Hall-A sucks you in with amazing atmosphere and a moving, relatable story. [10/2016, p.48]
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  8. Games.cz
    Aug 11, 2016
    80
    Interactive novel and bartender simulator-in-one that attracts players and doesn´t let them leave until they are full of the existential doubts.
  9. Shacknews
    Jul 28, 2016
    80
    Valhalla is a dark and moody dystopic game with an infectious underlying optimism. It’s comfort food, a relaxed experience welcoming you with soothing music, cooly-colored visuals, casual conversation, and a calm sensation. This, mixed with its brilliant approach of telling a story through the experiences of its characters, makes it a smart and inventive new take on the science fiction visual novel.
  10. Meristation
    Jul 18, 2016
    80
    A warm visual novel about the small but important things of life, full of humanity and great characters. Original, well written and highly enjoyable.
  11. Twinfinite
    Jul 18, 2016
    80
    VA-11 Hall-A isn’t a game for everyone, and that’s fine. The simple mechanics, pixel-heavy look, and not-so-interactive story aren’t supposed to cater to every audience. If you’re a fan of story-first games with a minimal challenge and simple gameplay, it’s a great experience.
  12. The Escapist
    Jul 14, 2016
    80
    It's a really highly polished experience with a lot of secrets to be found, coupled with a story that pulls you along with strong characters.
  13. Game Informer
    Jul 3, 2016
    80
    Even though you may have to wince through a few conversations, VA-11 HALL-A sells its cyberpunk atmosphere with great presentation, including an exceptional soundtrack and cool character art.
  14. We Got This Covered
    Jun 29, 2016
    80
    VA-11 HALL-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action excels through relatable characters and stories that are worth listening to, even if its gameplay aspects can appear to be non-existent or tedious.
  15. Kill Screen
    Jun 21, 2016
    80
    At its core, VA-11 Hall-A is the rare cyberpunk story that has heart, and even goes so far as to give its female characters agency in their own lives. It’s a story where we, the player, take the backseat, and soak it all in. Just like a good book.
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In Progress & Unscored

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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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