Across the Grooves (2020)
Nova-Box
Across the Grooves is an interactive graphic novel for PC/Mac/Linux, set in a magical-realism universe, where your decisions affect the destiny of Alice, the main character, drastically changing her reality and allowing her to explore alternative destinies by modifying her past.
About the story
Alice lives an uneventful life. She’s in a long term relationship, has a stable office job and a nice apartment in the center of Bordeaux. One day, Ulysse, her ex-lover, comes back into her life through an old vinyl record she receives in the mail. When she puts it for a spin on turntable, she is thrown back into her own past, forced to relive old events. When she comes back to the present, her reality has changed. Determined to bring her life back on track, Alice packs up and embarks on a hunt across Europe, following the tracks of Ulysse while trying to uncover the origins of the record. However, her journey gradually turns into a quest of self-discovery as she explores new parallel realities each time she puts the needle in the groove.
Platforms
Linux Mac Switch PCGenres
Adventure Indie Visual NovelThemes
Fantasy Mystery
Languages: English and 1 more
| Interface | Audio | Subtitles | |
|---|---|---|---|
| French | |||
| English |
Media
Critic Reviews
Nintendo Life
By Ollie ReynoldsWhen it comes down to it, Across the Grooves is a nice take on the visual novel genre.
Use a Potion
By Use a PotionI was pleasantly surprised by just how much I enjoyed Across the Grooves, with its emotional and intriguing tale keeping me hooked in until the very end. Add to that some fantastic artwork and music that always fit the vibe of each scene perfectly, and it’s easy to see that Nova-Box have something special on their hands here. I have no doubt that the visual novel setup of Across the Grooves won’t be for everyone and there were occasional moments where the story could fall a little short of the mark, but for the most part it offers a fascinating narrative that I really enjoyed being a part of.
WayTooManyGames
By Leonardo FariaThis is a game that won’t solely be enjoyed by visual novel enthusiasts, but anyone who loves music and any story directly related to classic bands and occultism. It’s the rare case of a visual novel that features a bit of something for everyone.
FingerGuns
By Rossko KenistonIt’s one of those games I never really knew I needed until it came along and thankfully, exploring the story of Alice through her headphones was as cleansing and as wondrous as I had hoped it would be. The music is wonderful, the art style is remarkable and the story wants me to keep going back and discovering what may happen if I chose the left option instead of the right. Did I do right by that character? Was I listening correctly when I made *that* choice? Across the Grooves is stacked full of decisions that leave question marks on your conscience.
