Developer: Joy Manufacturing Co.
Publisher: Humble Games
Genre: Visual Novel
PC
King Louis XVI rules over France in the 1780’s. There is massive disparity between the ridiculously wealthy and the poor. Soon a great revolution will change everything.
Until then, it’s time to enjoy the lavish parties, gain power, and maybe fall in love on the way. In Ambition: A Minuet of Power, players take on the role of a social elite trying to navigate the tumultuous time. Specifically, a woman who is goes to Paris by her fiancé, only to find out that he has ran away after scorning some very powerful people. She is left with the house and a maid and an open road towards success or failure.
With many events to attend, tons of conversations to be had, and strategy, Ambition brings a lot to the table, making it a compelling and memorable experience that will grip visual novel fans until the very end. One of Ambition’s strengths is how many options it gives to the player. Many alliances can be formed. Many romantic options can be explored. Politics can be completely shaped by the actions of the player.
A big aspect of Ambition is balancing being an elite and while still keeping a low profile in the eyes of those with the guillotine. Players will attend tons of parties, which have timekeeping mechanics that limit how many people players can gossip with. Meters will go up and down based on the players actions. Most of the meters are based on how they are perceived. Players can “be good” at the party or cause some drama. Experimenting and roleplaying is a blast in Ambition. Whether you like to act as yourself or someone else, you will have a good time.
Like any visual novel, there are plenty of suitors available to the player. If the player doesn’t want to stay faithful to their absent fiancé, six men and women are there for the player to court. Romancing has more benefits than just love too. Getting close to the right individuals helps with influencing others. In Ambition, love is actually practical and is a tool for achieving goals.
I don’t want to spoil much because a lot of the joy in playing Ambition lies in discovery. Whether it’s meeting eclectic characters or uncovering some tea, every moment in Ambition has meaning. There are a few characters who don’t feel too dynamic, but they don’t ruin the entire experience. The discovery mechanics are also a bit too vague sometimes too. Sometimes it’s just not clear enough when an event is or what an action will do. It can be frustrating, especially for players who love having feelings of control.
Aesthetically, Ambition nails everything it is aiming for. The art style has the type of elegance that you would expect to see from the time period. The music also sounds like it was pulled straight from the 1700’s. I’m not a history nut so I can’t tell if something is missing, but everything at least feels like it is in place here.
Ambition isn’t for everyone, but if a player is looking for a visual novel that’s a change of pace, this could be it. Ambition is a nice break from what the genre typically looks like while still being faithful to the norms. Sure, the player might get the guillotine, but its worth it for the opportunity to chat with some elites.
Ambition
If you can avoid the guillotine, gossiping with elites is a great experience in Ambition.
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