Players follow Lu Yuan through important stages of his life and experience his growth trajectory from youth to maturity. It will take you to relive those decisions that you have never tried to make in reality, and feel the different life brought about by each choice.
The game's core mechanic revolves around the choices players make at key narrative junctures. Reviewers praise the intricate branching structure, which offers over a dozen unique endings determined by the player's decisions. As the story progresses, the consequences of these choices escalate, presenting players with increasingly difficult dilemmas that significantly impact the narrative. Many reviewers highlight that there is no perfect path, and even the best initial choices can lead to tragic or undesirable outcomes later in the game. This creates a strong sense of player agency and replayability, as players are compelled to explore different decision-making routes to see how the story unfolds.
Players describe the game as an interactive narrative product with a strong cinematic focus. The high-quality live-action footage and professional voice acting create a visually and auditorily compelling experience akin to an FMV game. Reviewers feel they are truly experiencing the character's life and becoming part of a play or movie. The visual and audio design is praised for enhancing the emotional resonance of the narrative, drawing players deeply into the story and characters. This cinematic presentation helps to create a sense of immersion and investment in the game's thematic exploration.
Beyond the narrative branching, reviewers appreciate the game's thematic focus on choices, survival in the entertainment industry, and the consequences of ambition and greed. Players are challenged to navigate the whirlpool of 'Vanity Fair,' where protecting oneself may come at the cost of helping others. The game's emphasis on creating emotionally profound stories and characters allows players to experience the ups and downs of life stories and gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of human nature and the entertainment industry.
The game's branching narrative structure and variety of possible endings are frequently cited as key strengths that encourage players to replay the game and explore different choices. Reviewers highlight that the choices made by the player truly matter, with each decision leading to significantly different outcomes and story developments. This sense of agency and responsibility for the character's fate is a driving factor in the game's replayability, as players are compelled to explore the various narrative paths and see how their choices shape the unfolding events.