Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog

Release Date: February 19, 2025

Adventure, science fiction, point-and-click, in space, 2D, visual novel, indie games, space ships, singleplayer

7.8

OpenCritic

98%

Steam

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An adventure game with visual novel elements, set in a retrofuturistic style. In Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog we play as a security officer, working on the titular Gun-Dog spaceship. Our main job is to deal with an unknown assailant who's hunting down the crew. An important part of the game is also to get to know other crew members and their intentions.

Story
Gameplay
Graphics and sound

Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog is an adventure game with noticeable elements borrowed from the visual novel genre. It was developed by independent Space Colony Studios from Wales.

Story

Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog transports us to a retrofuturistic universe. In the year 214 of the planetary calendar, which is 4 years after the end of the great conflict, a fragile peace reigns in the Solar System. The character we embody is assigned to the Gun-Dog patrol ship and sent to the edge of Jupiter's Space to investigate mysterious signals coming from this area.

Our protagonist (male or female) gets entangled in a high-stakes intrigue. As a security officer of the titular ship, they will have to ensure the safety of the crew and save them from an unknown attacker. The situation is complicated by the fact that paranoia and conspiracies are beginning to spread among the team members, which increases the risk of rebellion. How the story of the Gun-Dog crew later unfolds largely depends on our decisions.

Gameplay

The main source of inspiration for Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog were science fiction adventure games, created for the NEC PC-98 computer. Although we watch the action from the first-person perspective (FPP), the game does not allow us to move freely around the ship's deck. Instead, it offers separate screens showing the places and situations in which our character and their interlocutors find themselves.

We get to know the individual crew members better during the game. Our crew includes the charismatic Captain Bartermew, the cheerful Lieutenant Cassandra Quinn, or even the assertive Mackenzie Cathays. Each of them has a unique personality and history, as well as their own quirks, and our actions and decisions determine how our relationships with them will develop.

The fact that there are two-faced people among them is not insignificant. Hints about who we are really dealing with must be sought "between the lines". We need to carefully familiarize ourselves with the statements made by various people and look for hidden intentions in them (however, we must be careful not to fall into paranoia ourselves).

The game also allows to interact with various objects.

Graphics and sound

The graphic design of Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog is maintained in a manga, pixel art style. The gameplay unfolds to the accompaniment of a chiptune soundtrack straight from the 8-bit era.

Videos and Screens

[1:01] Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog - Release Date Trailer

7.8

OpenCritic Rating

Game is Recomended by 75% of Critics. There are 17 Critic Reviews.

OpenCritic

Siliconera: 8 / 10 by Cody Perez

Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog is a brilliant start to what is possibly going to be a lengthy and stunning visual novel adventure series. The art style is incredible, the pacing never wastes too much time, and the cast is smartly small to give enough focus on each

Full Review

TheSixthAxis: 7 / 10 by Aran Suddi

Stories From Sol: The Gun-Dog is a decent visual novel, and a good opening salvo for what is supposed to be the first entry to a wider universe. While most of the story is self-contained, there are major plot points left open to be resolved in later releases. The different visual styles all look good, the story is fine if familiar, and you can get through it in an afternoon.

Full Review

Loot Level Chill: 9 / 10 by Lyle Pendle

Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog is a wonderful sci-fi throwback, with classic point and click gameplay and a whole lot of charm.

Full Review

98%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Very Positive (132)

STEAM

User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

Art and Visuals: The pixel art and character designs are highly praised, with many users noting the nostalgic style reminiscent of 80s and 90s anime and PC-98 games. The ability to switch between different graphical styles adds to the appeal.
Engaging Story: The narrative is described as captivating, with a mix of mystery, intrigue, and emotional moments that keep players invested. Many reviewers appreciated the branching paths and the impact of player choices on the story.
Character Development: The characters are noted for their distinct personalities and development throughout the game. Players felt a connection to the crew, with some characters evoking strong emotional responses.
Soundtrack: While opinions vary, many users enjoyed the retro-inspired soundtrack, feeling it complemented the game's atmosphere.

The main cons of the game

Short Length: Several players expressed disappointment over the game's relatively short playtime, typically around 5-12 hours, and felt it left them wanting more content.
Cliffhanger Ending: The game concludes on a cliffhanger, which some players found unsatisfying, as it leaves many questions unanswered and sets up for a sequel without resolving the current story arc.
Pacing and Plot Issues: Some reviewers mentioned pacing issues, particularly in the beginning, where the story felt slow or tedious. Additionally, a few found the ending abrupt or lacking in resolution.
Limited Gameplay Mechanics: While the game is a visual novel, some players desired more interactive gameplay elements beyond dialogue choices and item usage, feeling it could benefit from additional mechanics.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

Character Voice Acting: A common request was for character voice acting to enhance immersion and engagement during the narrative.
More Detailed World-Building: Players expressed a desire for deeper exploration of the game's universe and lore, feeling that the setting could be fleshed out more.
Expanded Choices and Endings: While players appreciated the branching paths, some felt that the choices could have a more significant impact on the story and outcomes, suggesting a need for more varied endings.
Improved Sound Design: A few users noted that the music and sound effects could be more varied and polished, as some tracks became repetitive over time.

Summary

Overall, "Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog" received a positive reception for its art, story, and character work, but also faced criticism for its length, pacing, and the desire for more depth in gameplay and world-building.

Summary generated on: March 17, 2025