VED

VED is a narrative-driven fantasy RPG set in the world of Micropolis, where industrial and magical ideologies clash. Players navigate moral choices that shape their journey, recruiting characters aligned with lawful or chaotic paths to influence branching storylines. Featuring turn-based Japanese-style combat, hand-drawn visuals, and an atmospheric soundtrack, this graphic novel-inspired adventure prioritizes player agency and storytelling over complex mechanics.

VED: Review

VED, a story-driven RPG developed by Karaclan and published by Fulqrum Publishing, is a game that has been a long time in the making. With a development cycle spanning over a decade, VED has evolved from a 2D Souls-like platformer into a full-fledged Japanese-style RPG (JRPG) with a unique teleporting system, turn-based combat mechanics, and rogue-lite elements. The game’s legacy is one of perseverance and artistic vision, making it a standout title in the indie RPG genre. However, does VED’s lengthy development cycle translate into a polished and engaging experience, or does it fall short of its ambitious goals? This review will delve into the intricacies of VED, examining its development history, narrative, gameplay mechanics, world-building, and overall reception to provide a comprehensive analysis of its place in video game history.

Development History & Context

The Studio and Creators’ Vision

Karaclan, the development studio behind VED, is comprised of three brothers from Lithuania: Garri Babadzhan, Vladimir Babadzhan, and Raisa-Dovlieta Babadzhan. Their collective vision for VED was to create a game that was not only fun but also a work of art. The studio’s goal was to blend stunning hand-drawn art with a deep, branching narrative and innovative gameplay mechanics. The Babadzhan brothers’ artistic backgrounds are evident in every aspect of VED, from its visual design to its intricate level layouts.

Technological Constraints and Evolution

VED’s development journey began in 2012 as a 2D Souls-like platformer. Over the years, the game underwent significant transformations, migrating through several game engines and evolving into its current form as a 3D JRPG. This evolution was driven by the studio’s desire to push the boundaries of what was possible with their artistic vision. The technological constraints of the era required the team to adapt and innovate, resulting in a unique blend of 2D and 3D elements that set VED apart from other games in the genre.

The Gaming Landscape at the Time of Its Release

VED was released in November 2024, a time when the RPG genre was dominated by large-scale, high-budget productions from major studios. In this competitive landscape, VED’s hand-drawn art style and unique gameplay mechanics offered a refreshing alternative to the polished, photorealistic graphics of mainstream RPGs. The game’s focus on narrative-driven gameplay and player choice also set it apart from the grind-heavy, number-crunching battles that characterized many contemporary RPGs.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Plot and Characters

VED’s narrative revolves around Cyrus, a young hero who arrives in the city of Micropolis in search of a new life. Cyrus discovers an ability to teleport between two interconnected worlds: the familiar world of humans and a magical realm filled with floating islands, strange creatures, and dangerous monsters. As Cyrus explores these worlds, he becomes entangled in a complex web of factions, each with its own agenda and ideology.

The game’s plot is non-linear, with player choices leading to irreversible consequences and alternative endings. This branching narrative structure allows for a high degree of replayability, as players can explore different paths and outcomes based on their decisions. However, the execution of this narrative structure is where VED falters. The story suffers from poor event cohesion, wonky translation, and an inability to clearly place the lore of the world. This results in a narrative that is often confusing and disjointed, making it difficult for players to become fully invested in the story.

Dialogue and Themes

VED’s dialogue is melodramatic for most of the game, with characters often using run-on sentences or sudden transitions that fail to capture the nuance of genuine dialogue. This lack of coherence and natural flow detracts from the overall narrative experience, making it difficult for players to connect with the characters and their motivations.

The game’s themes revolve around the duality of magic and reality, as well as the consequences of player choices. However, these themes are not explored in depth, and the game’s narrative struggles to convey their significance in a meaningful way. The lack of emotional resonance in the dialogue and character development further compounds this issue, resulting in a narrative that feels shallow and unengaging.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Core Gameplay Loops

VED’s core gameplay loop revolves around exploration, dialogue choices, and turn-based combat. Players navigate Cyrus through a series of nodes containing exploration, conversation, or combat elements. The game’s unique teleporting system allows players to shift between 2D planes, progressing to the next branching narrative, exploration, or combat point.

The game’s combat system is turn-based, with players controlling Cyrus and strategically navigating a battlefield separated into four quadrants. The efficiency of each ability is determined by Cyrus’s current position, adding a layer of tactical depth to the combat. Players can also opt to enhance their powers or hamper foes at the start of each fight, creating a layer of resource management using energy.

Combat and Character Progression

Combat in VED is quick and efficient, with most information being presented clearly. The game’s unique positional mechanics add a strategic element to the battles, as players must consider not just what actions to take but also where to take them. However, the lack of variety in enemy types and abilities can make combat feel repetitive and unengaging over time.

Character progression in VED is limited, with players earning new abilities and upgrades through exploration and combat. The game’s village-building system allows players to construct structures that unlock new skills and abilities, providing a reason to explore thoroughly and engage in battle. However, the lack of depth in the character progression system may disappoint players looking for more complex customization options.

UI and Innovative Systems

VED’s user interface is clean and intuitive, with large text and clearly defined icons. The game’s unique interactive events system imposes curses or blessings on the hero, which may last until the end of the game. This system adds an element of unpredictability to the gameplay, as players must adapt to the consequences of their choices.

However, the game’s UI and innovative systems are not without their flaws. The lack of customization options for text size or colour contrast reduces overall accessibility, even though all dialogue is subtitled to help hearing-impaired players. The absence of broader accessibility features may turn off players who seek more personalized alternatives.

World-Building, Art & Sound

Setting and Atmosphere

VED’s setting is a dual-world environment, with the harsh, industrial city of Micropolis contrasting with the ethereal, magical vastness of the floating islands. The game’s art style is hand-drawn, with each frame feeling like a brushstroke that immerses players in the bright surroundings. The fluidity of character movements enhances immersion, drawing players further into the narrative.

The stark differences in art style between the two worlds underscore the emotional stakes of player choices. The dreary design of Micropolis reflects its citizens’ hard realities and struggles, while the magical world’s lush, vibrant colours evoke a sense of wonder and enchantment. This visual dichotomy helps player immersion and reinforces the story’s thematic undercurrents.

Visual Direction

VED’s visual direction is a testament to the Babadzhan brothers’ artistic vision. The game’s hand-drawn art style is stunning, with intricate details and fluid animations that bring the world to life. The game’s use of 2D and 3D elements creates a unique visual aesthetic that sets it apart from other games in the genre.

However, the game’s visual direction is not without its flaws. The lack of unified mythology and backstory can make players feel lost, as the world-building suffers from a lack of depth and coherence. The integration of player choices in the magical realm is less pronounced, leading to the sense that while the world is enchanting, it lacks the narrative weight that would genuinely engage players on an emotional level.

Sound Design

VED’s musical score is an eclectic mix of symphonic, folk, and hip-hop genres, creating a captivating auditory experience. The soundtrack adjusts nicely to the changing environments, offering a sad background during exploration and an adrenaline-pumping score during combat. However, the music’s thematic relevance occasionally falters, lacking the depth and variety required to properly engage players in the narrative.

The game’s voice acting is a mixed bag, with some performances lacking the emotional nuance required to bring characters to life. The variable delivery and bad dialogue undercut the emotional implications of critical interactions, leaving players yearning for a more consistent audio experience. The harsh, industrial city of Micropolis and the ethereal, magical vastness of the floating islands are the two distinct universes in which the game’s narrative takes place. Micropolis is depicted in muted tones, reflecting its citizens’ hard realities and struggles. This dreary design starkly contrasts the magical world’s lush, vibrant colours, where vegetation and fauna are brimming with life and enchantment. This intended visual dichotomy helps player immersion and reinforces the story’s thematic undercurrents.

Reception & Legacy

Critical and Commercial Reception

VED received mixed reviews upon its release, with critics praising its unique art style and innovative combat mechanics while criticizing its disjointed narrative and shallow character development. The game’s average critic score was 66%, with reviews highlighting its potential as a narrative-driven experience but noting its struggles with coherence and emotional resonance.

Commercially, VED was a modest success, with sales figures indicating that it found a niche audience among RPG enthusiasts and fans of indie games. The game’s unique visual style and innovative gameplay mechanics helped it stand out in a crowded market, but its narrative shortcomings may have limited its appeal to a broader audience.

Influence on Subsequent Games and the Industry

Despite its mixed reception, VED has left a lasting impact on the indie RPG genre. Its unique blend of hand-drawn art, turn-based combat, and narrative-driven gameplay has inspired other developers to experiment with similar mechanics and styles. The game’s focus on player choice and consequence has also influenced the development of other narrative-driven RPGs, with developers seeking to create more immersive and engaging storytelling experiences.

VED’s legacy is one of artistic vision and innovation, with its unique visual style and gameplay mechanics setting it apart from other games in the genre. While its narrative shortcomings may have limited its appeal, the game’s influence on subsequent titles is undeniable, and it will be remembered as a standout title in the indie RPG canon.

Conclusion

VED is a game that embodies the spirit of indie development, with its unique art style, innovative gameplay mechanics, and ambitious narrative vision. However, its lengthy development cycle and struggles with narrative coherence and emotional resonance have resulted in a game that falls short of its full potential. Despite its flaws, VED’s influence on the indie RPG genre is undeniable, and it will be remembered as a standout title in the canon of narrative-driven games.

In conclusion, VED is a game that deserves recognition for its artistic vision and innovative gameplay mechanics. While its narrative shortcomings may have limited its appeal, the game’s unique blend of hand-drawn art, turn-based combat, and player choice has left a lasting impact on the genre. VED’s place in video game history is secure, and it will be remembered as a testament to the power of artistic vision and the indomitable spirit of indie development.