Beacon Pines is an interactive visual novel for Nintendo Switch. Use branching paths and a compelling story to keep players engaged. Let’s find out if this is a story worth telling.
From the start, it’s easy to see that Beacon Pines is a sophisticated game. It starts with a well-voiced narrator. Her voice is full of enthusiasm and paves the way for engaging stories. The story itself unfolds via a literal book that zooms in and out at key moments. The characters on screen pause at these points and become like actors in a play. We are warned from the beginning that the ending is unknown. It is the player who must help write it.
You play Luka, a 12-year-old boy (actually a kind of deer) at the beginning of summer vacation. He joins his best friend Rollo (a fox, I think) on a seemingly harmless investigation of their hometown. But something sinister is afoot in Beacon Pines, and the two prepubescents become embroiled in a dangerous conspiracy of greed and deceit.
As you might have guessed from the deer and fox duo, the town is made up of animal villagers. This will give you a bright tone that betrays the darkening event. Along the way, you’ll encounter many townsfolk, from the smart young cat Beck to the unsure, wolfish mayor.
The plot involves the disappearance of the town’s founder years ago. This coincided with an event known as the “Bad Harvest”, in which all the town’s crops perished. A spooky new business has popped up in town, ready to sell a new type of fertilizer. Sometimes it’s clear who the bad guys are, but many villagers act suspiciously and continue to speculate. There are plenty of moments that give you goosebumps when danger approaches.
Gameplay involves exploring the town and its surroundings. It’s a near-linear experience to achieve your current goals. You have the option to interact with people and things along the way, and doing so is highly recommended. Charms emphasize a single word, such as ‘Tickle’, ‘Chill’, ‘Cry’ or ‘Exciting’. At regular intervals, you can choose the next word in the story and branch the story in one of several directions. Therefore, the more charm you have, the more options you have.
These branching paths primarily lead to Luka’s fate. Like a choose-your-own-adventure, you can flick back to his one of the previous paths. Try a different enchanting word and the story will branch out in a whole new direction. This is a thrilling progression that will lead you to your ultimate goal. Can you find the best ending?
A distinguishing feature of Beacon Pines is the music. A great score accompanies the story, and each scene is accompanied by a sparkling piano. These crescendos in the more intense scenes create an immersive experience – cue those goosebumps! In fact, the overall style is outstanding. Colorful characters and a well-constructed world are a joy to interact with.
Overall, Beacon Pines is a compelling choose-your-own-adventure tale with multiple branching paths. A variety of characters, excellent graphics and score, and an overall story about a town in crisis combine to create a wonderfully addictive game.
