<s>
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
:	I-Application
Cyberpunk	I-Application
Bartender	I-Application
Action	I-Application
(	O
stylized	O
as	O
VA-11	B-Application
HALL-A	I-Application
;	O
sometimes	O
simply	O
Valhalla	B-Application
)	O
is	O
an	O
indie	O
bartender	O
simulation	O
video	O
game	O
with	O
visual	O
novel	O
elements	O
,	O
developed	O
by	O
Venezuelan	O
studio	O
Sukeban	B-Application
Games	I-Application
and	O
published	O
by	O
Ysbryd	O
Games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
initially	O
released	O
for	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
,	O
OS	B-Operating_System
X	I-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
Linux	B-Application
on	O
June	O
21	O
,	O
2016	O
,	O
and	O
ports	O
were	O
later	O
released	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Vita	I-Device
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
,	O
with	O
the	O
Vita	O
port	O
developed	O
by	O
Wolfgame	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Limited	O
Run	O
Games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
puts	O
the	O
player	O
in	O
the	O
role	O
of	O
a	O
bartender	O
at	O
the	O
eponymous	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
,	O
a	O
small	O
bar	O
in	O
a	O
dystopian	O
downtown	O
which	O
is	O
said	O
to	O
attract	O
the	O
"	O
most	O
fascinating	O
"	O
of	O
people	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
contains	O
nonlinear	O
gameplay	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
plotline	O
is	O
influenced	O
by	O
the	O
drinks	O
the	O
player	O
makes	O
and	O
how	O
the	O
customers	O
react	O
to	O
them	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
features	O
a	O
diverse	O
cast	O
of	O
characters	O
that	O
have	O
been	O
described	O
as	O
"	O
average	O
non-heroes	O
"	O
,	O
with	O
developers	O
noting	O
how	O
they	O
were	O
based	O
on	O
side	O
characters	O
that	O
were	O
never	O
truly	O
fleshed	O
out	O
in	O
movies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
was	O
originally	O
developed	O
for	O
the	O
Cyberpunk	O
Game	O
Jam	O
of	O
2014	O
;	O
however	O
,	O
Sukeban	B-Application
Games	I-Application
liked	O
the	O
concept	O
so	O
much	O
that	O
they	O
eventually	O
turned	O
it	O
into	O
a	O
full	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
original	O
prototype	B-Application
is	O
downloadable	O
for	O
free	O
on	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
official	O
website	O
,	O
and	O
players	O
who	O
pre-ordered	O
gained	O
access	O
to	O
a	O
playable	O
yet	O
separate	O
prologue	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
features	O
a	O
retro-futuristic	O
look	O
based	O
on	O
cyberpunk	O
media	O
,	O
PC-98	B-Operating_System
games	O
,	O
and	O
anime-inspired	O
visuals	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
writing	O
drew	O
on	O
the	O
developers	O
 '	O
own	O
experiences	O
of	O
living	O
in	O
a	O
poorer	O
country	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
garnered	O
pre-release	O
critical	O
acclaim	O
,	O
and	O
post-release	O
reception	O
was	O
mostly	O
favourable	O
,	O
with	O
positive	O
reception	O
directed	O
at	O
its	O
premise	O
,	O
cast	O
of	O
characters	O
,	O
writing	O
,	O
and	O
music	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
has	O
been	O
described	O
by	O
its	O
developer	O
,	O
Sukeban	B-Application
Games	I-Application
,	O
as	O
a	O
"	O
cyberpunk	O
bartender	O
action	O
"	O
game	O
,	O
and	O
has	O
been	O
described	O
as	O
a	O
"	O
bartending	O
simulator	O
meets	O
a	O
visual	O
novel	O
somewhere	O
in	O
a	O
cyberpunk	O
dystopia	B-Application
"	O
by	O
TouchArcade	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
assumes	O
the	O
role	O
of	O
a	O
bartender	O
at	O
"	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
"	O
(	O
pronounced	O
Valhalla	B-Application
)	O
,	O
a	O
small	O
dive	O
bar	O
in	O
a	O
dystopian	O
downtown	O
said	O
to	O
attract	O
the	O
"	O
most	O
fascinating	O
"	O
of	O
clientele	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Set	O
in	O
the	O
year	O
207X	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
official	O
website	O
,	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
is	O
described	O
as	O
a	O
"	O
a	O
booze	O
em	O
 '	O
up	O
about	O
waifus	O
,	O
technology	O
,	O
and	O
post-dystopia	O
life	O
"	O
,	O
in	O
a	O
world	O
where	O
"	O
corporations	O
reign	O
supreme	O
,	O
all	O
human	O
life	O
is	O
infected	O
with	O
nanomachines	O
designed	O
to	O
oppress	O
them	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
terrifying	O
White	O
Knights	O
ensure	O
that	O
everyone	O
obeys	O
the	O
laws.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
find	O
out	O
about	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-As	I-Application
world	O
through	O
the	O
patrons	O
of	O
the	O
bar	O
and	O
a	O
selection	O
of	O
news	O
reports	O
on	O
their	O
in-game	O
tablet	O
computer	O
at	O
the	O
outset	O
of	O
each	O
day	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
are	O
no	O
dialogue	O
options	O
in	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
,	O
with	O
the	O
only	O
interactivity	O
being	O
making	O
clients	O
 '	O
requested	O
drinks	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
such	O
,	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
contains	O
nonlinear	O
gameplay	O
in	O
the	O
form	O
of	O
branching	O
storylines	O
,	O
though	O
it	O
is	O
dependent	O
not	O
on	O
traditional	O
choices	O
but	O
rather	O
through	O
the	O
drinks	O
the	O
player	O
prepares	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sukeban	B-Application
Games	I-Application
says	O
that	O
they	O
hope	O
the	O
book	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
a	O
requested	O
feature	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
prologue	O
,	O
would	O
make	O
the	O
bartending	O
"	O
feel	O
more	O
organic	O
"	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
allowing	O
players	O
to	O
experiment	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Designer	O
Christopher	O
Ortiz	O
noted	O
that	O
the	O
bartending	O
mechanics	O
in	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
were	O
made	O
to	O
deliberately	O
"	O
tease	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
mind	O
into	O
doing	O
things	O
out	O
of	O
the	O
box	O
"	O
,	O
as	O
opposed	O
to	O
"play[ing]	O
through	O
 [ it ] 	O
like	O
a	O
machine	O
,	O
always	O
serving	O
what	O
the	O
patron	O
want[s]	O
and	O
never	O
questioning	O
what	O
they	O
 [ are ] 	O
doing.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Much	O
of	O
the	O
details	O
of	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-As	I-Application
world	O
are	O
not	O
directly	O
told	O
to	O
the	O
player	O
,	O
but	O
instead	O
inferred	O
through	O
interacting	O
with	O
the	O
characters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
character	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
is	O
Jill	O
(	O
formerly	O
named	O
Gillian	O
during	O
development	O
)	O
,	O
the	O
bartender	O
at	O
the	O
eponymous	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
dive	O
bar	O
in	O
Glitch	O
City	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Jill	O
is	O
a	O
young	O
female	O
bartender	O
who	O
chose	O
to	O
forego	O
an	O
offer	O
to	O
work	O
at	O
a	O
research	O
institute	O
,	O
instead	O
finding	O
herself	O
to	O
be	O
better	O
suited	O
to	O
the	O
"	O
field	O
of	O
alchemy	B-Language
"	O
in	O
mixing	O
drinks	O
for	O
customers	O
at	O
a	O
dive	O
bar	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
"	O
odd	O
character	O
"	O
,	O
Ortiz	O
described	O
the	O
"	O
range	O
of	O
reactions	O
people	O
get	O
from	O
her	O
"	O
as	O
fun	O
,	O
since	O
some	O
strongly	O
disliked	O
while	O
others	O
praised	O
her	O
characterization	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
prototype	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
are	O
at	O
least	O
seven	O
different	O
endings	O
in	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
depending	O
on	O
how	O
well	O
the	O
player	O
gets	O
to	O
know	O
the	O
characters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
was	O
developed	O
by	O
indie	O
game	O
developer	O
Sukeban	B-Application
Games	I-Application
,	O
and	O
initially	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
,	O
OS	B-Operating_System
X	I-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
Linux	B-Application
platforms	O
on	O
June	O
21	O
,	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Vita	I-Device
port	O
was	O
developed	O
by	O
Wolfgame	O
,	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Limited	O
Run	O
Games	O
,	O
a	O
publisher	O
specialising	O
in	O
physical	O
versions	O
of	O
digital-only	O
titles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
later	O
released	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
and	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sukeban	O
is	O
also	O
considering	O
an	O
iPhone	B-Device
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
though	O
that	O
would	O
require	O
a	O
changed	O
interface	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
uses	O
the	O
GameMaker	B-Operating_System
:	I-Operating_System
Studio	I-Operating_System
engine	O
as	O
the	O
developers	O
felt	O
it	O
is	O
suitable	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
"	O
bunch	O
of	O
crazy	O
effects	O
"	O
and	O
is	O
also	O
easy	O
to	O
port	O
to	O
other	O
platforms	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sukeban	B-Application
Games	I-Application
is	O
also	O
open	O
to	O
collaborations	O
and	O
have	O
planned	O
upcoming	O
crossovers	O
for	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
prologue	O
of	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
was	O
originally	O
developed	O
for	O
the	O
Cyberpunk	O
Game	O
Jam	O
of	O
2014	O
;	O
however	O
,	O
Sukeban	O
liked	O
the	O
game	O
so	O
much	O
that	O
they	O
eventually	O
turned	O
it	O
into	O
a	O
full	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
original	O
game	O
jam	O
prototype	B-Application
of	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
is	O
available	O
to	O
download	O
for	O
free	O
on	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
official	O
website	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Additionally	O
,	O
a	O
"	O
redux	O
"	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
prologue	O
was	O
also	O
later	O
redeveloped	O
,	O
serving	O
as	O
a	O
free	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
update	O
for	O
the	O
full	O
game	O
;	O
it	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
February	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
who	O
pre-ordered	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
gained	O
access	O
to	O
a	O
playable	O
prologue	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
independent	O
of	O
the	O
main	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Vita	I-Device
port	O
was	O
the	O
first	O
to	O
be	O
announced	O
by	O
Wolfgame	O
at	O
the	O
Game	O
Developers	O
Conference	O
2015	O
;	O
where	O
another	O
trailer	O
was	O
also	O
shown	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
final	O
release	O
date	O
of	O
June	O
21	O
,	O
2016	O
for	O
the	O
Windows	O
,	O
OS	B-Operating_System
X	I-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
Linux	B-Application
versions	O
was	O
confirmed	O
by	O
Sukeban	B-Application
Games	I-Application
in	O
early	O
June	O
2016	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
final	O
trailer	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
also	O
released	O
at	O
the	O
same	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
Steam	B-Application
and	O
GOG.com	O
pages	O
were	O
launched	O
in	O
mid	O
June	O
,	O
alongside	O
a	O
blog	O
titled	O
The	O
Augmented	O
Eye	O
,	O
a	O
news	O
website	O
set	O
inside	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-As	I-Application
world	O
to	O
help	O
tease	O
the	O
game	O
and	O
give	O
details	O
on	O
its	O
premise	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sukeban	B-Application
Games	I-Application
had	O
initially	O
expressed	O
interest	O
in	O
porting	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
and	O
3DS	B-Operating_System
platforms	O
,	O
but	O
eventually	O
released	O
the	O
game	O
on	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
and	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
in	O
May	O
2019	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ortiz	O
said	O
that	O
Sukeban	B-Application
Games	I-Application
was	O
founded	O
when	O
he	O
and	O
Damas	O
started	O
a	O
blog	O
to	O
write	O
about	O
anime	O
and	O
video	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
majority	O
of	O
influences	O
for	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
come	O
from	O
old	O
PC-98	B-Operating_System
games	O
,	O
because	O
they	O
are	O
"	O
retro	O
"	O
yet	O
also	O
"	O
look	O
futuristic	O
"	O
;	O
especially	O
Redzone	O
's	O
X-Girl	O
:	O
Cyber	O
Punk	O
Adventure	O
which	O
served	O
as	O
the	O
blueprint	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
aesthetic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blade	B-Application
Runner	I-Application
,	O
Neuromancer	B-Device
,	O
Ghost	B-Application
in	I-Application
the	I-Application
Shell	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Bubblegum	O
Crisis	O
were	O
also	O
sources	O
of	O
inspiration	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
is	O
also	O
partly	O
inspired	O
by	O
Snatcher	B-Application
and	O
Policenauts	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ortiz	O
described	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-As	I-Application
composer	O
Michael	O
Kelly	O
as	O
"	O
a	O
big	O
,	O
BIG	O
Shin	B-Application
Megami	I-Application
Tensei	I-Application
fan.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
developers	O
grew	O
up	O
playing	O
PlayStation	B-Device
and	O
Super	B-Application
Famicom	I-Application
games	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
watching	O
anime	O
;	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
tries	O
to	O
"	O
make	O
players	O
feel	O
what	O
we	O
felt	O
when	O
playing	O
our	O
favourite	O
titles	O
back	O
then	O
"	O
,	O
says	O
Ortiz	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fernando	O
Damas	O
,	O
writer	O
and	O
programmer	O
of	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
,	O
added	O
in	O
an	O
interview	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
tries	O
to	O
make	O
the	O
player	O
"	O
feel	O
small	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
rather	O
than	O
guiding	O
them	O
through	O
the	O
basics	O
of	O
the	O
plotline	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
is	O
instead	O
thrown	O
into	O
the	O
middle	O
of	O
everything	O
and	O
only	O
given	O
the	O
means	O
of	O
piecing	O
together	O
what	O
is	O
going	O
on	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-As	I-Application
developers	O
come	O
from	O
Venezuela	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Damas	O
describes	O
Sukeban	B-Application
Games	I-Application
 '	O
titles	O
as	O
"	O
dramedies	O
"	O
,	O
or	O
a	O
fusion	O
of	O
drama	O
and	O
comedy	O
,	O
as	O
they	O
feel	O
it	O
is	O
something	O
the	O
game	O
industry	O
lacks	O
and	O
"	O
laughter	O
in	O
the	O
middle	O
of	O
despair	O
"	O
sums	O
up	O
their	O
experiences	O
of	O
living	O
in	O
Venezuela	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ortiz	O
and	O
Damas	O
noted	O
that	O
,	O
compared	O
to	O
these	O
real-life	O
experiences	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
when	O
a	O
friend	O
had	O
to	O
jump	O
from	O
rooftop	O
to	O
rooftop	O
to	O
escape	O
the	O
protests	O
in	O
San	O
Cristóbal	O
,	O
"	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
is	O
kind	O
of	O
tame	O
in	O
comparison	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Damas	O
explained	O
how	O
they	O
wished	O
to	O
create	O
a	O
more	O
"	O
optimistic	O
kind	O
of	O
dystopia	B-Application
"	O
,	O
where	O
the	O
player	O
is	O
just	O
"	O
a	O
normal	O
person	O
living	O
in	O
an	O
interesting	O
future	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Additionally	O
,	O
since	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
is	O
primarily	O
about	O
interaction	O
with	O
characters	O
,	O
the	O
objective	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
is	O
not	O
to	O
save	O
the	O
world	O
but	O
rather	O
to	O
become	O
a	O
part	O
of	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
70%	O
of	O
these	O
traits	O
are	O
not	O
mentioned	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
they	O
allow	O
the	O
developers	O
to	O
build	O
up	O
a	O
mental	O
image	O
of	O
the	O
character	O
which	O
helps	O
when	O
writing	O
about	O
them	O
,	O
says	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-As	I-Application
programmer	O
,	O
Fernando	O
Damas	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
"	O
Non-conformity	O
"	O
compared	O
to	O
traditional	O
archetypes	O
was	O
a	O
major	O
factor	O
in	O
how	O
Sukeban	B-Application
Games	I-Application
designed	O
its	O
characters	O
,	O
to	O
be	O
complex	O
and	O
"	O
not	O
defined	O
by	O
one	O
way	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
TouchArcade	O
noted	O
that	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
also	O
has	O
a	O
more	O
"	O
salacious	O
side	O
"	O
,	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
presence	O
of	O
sexually	O
suggestive	O
character	O
interactions	O
that	O
was	O
present	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
demo	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
help	O
with	O
this	O
relatability	O
,	O
many	O
of	O
the	O
characters	O
and	O
subplots	O
in	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
were	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
experiences	O
of	O
the	O
developers	O
themselves	O
or	O
people	O
they	O
know	O
,	O
since	O
"	O
We	O
want	O
the	O
characters	O
to	O
feel	O
as	O
real	O
as	O
possible	O
,	O
and	O
what	O
better	O
reference	O
for	O
real	O
things	O
than	O
reality	O
itself	O
?	O
</s>
<s>
Additionally	O
,	O
through	O
its	O
characters	O
,	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
challenges	O
traditional	O
viewpoints	O
on	O
affection	O
,	O
relationships	O
,	O
and	O
friendships	O
in	O
video	O
games	O
,	O
writes	O
Ana	O
Valens	O
of	O
Den	O
of	O
Geek	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
avoid	O
the	O
player	O
feeling	O
this	O
way	O
in	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
,	O
Sukeban	B-Application
Games	I-Application
made	O
the	O
friendships	O
between	O
Jill	O
and	O
the	O
other	O
characters	O
"	O
[	O
something	O
that's ]	O
come	O
to	O
be	O
"	O
,	O
instead	O
of	O
something	O
that	O
has	O
to	O
be	O
earned	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
received	O
positive	O
pre-release	O
reception	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Carter	O
Dotson	O
of	O
TouchArcade	O
found	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
to	O
be	O
"	O
kind	O
of	O
an	O
odd	O
one	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
certainly	O
something	O
unique	O
"	O
,	O
writing	O
that	O
"	O
I	O
'm	O
not	O
completely	O
sure	O
what	O
to	O
make	O
of	O
it	O
,	O
and	O
I	O
'm	O
interested	O
to	O
see	O
how	O
it	O
works	O
out	O
when	O
completed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
compared	O
it	O
to	O
Her	B-Application
Story	I-Application
as	O
something	O
that	O
could	O
"	O
prove	O
to	O
be	O
 [ ... ] 	O
very	O
cool.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
sentiment	O
was	O
echoed	O
by	O
Kyle	O
LeClair	O
of	O
Hardcore	O
Gamer	O
,	O
writing	O
that	O
"	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
sure	O
looks	O
great	O
and	O
has	O
quite	O
a	O
unique	O
hook	O
to	O
it	O
,	O
so	O
we	O
'll	O
be	O
sure	O
to	O
try	O
and	O
wet	O
our	O
whistles	O
with	O
it	O
when	O
it	O
comes	O
out	O
on	O
the	O
PC	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Graham	O
Smith	O
of	O
Rock	O
,	O
Paper	O
,	O
Shotgun	O
claimed	O
that	O
although	O
"	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
,	O
whose	O
punctuation	O
I	O
already	O
resent	O
having	O
to	O
type	O
,	O
is	O
skirting	O
with	O
genres	O
I	O
do	O
n't	O
care	O
about	O
:	O
anime-styled	O
visual	O
novels	O
"	O
,	O
he	O
found	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-As	I-Application
branching-style	O
plotline	O
to	O
be	O
more	O
engaging	O
that	O
an	O
average	O
"	O
linear	O
and	O
relatively	O
uninteractive	O
"	O
visual	O
novel	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	O
,	O
Paper	O
,	O
Shotgun	O
also	O
chose	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
to	O
be	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
best	O
games	O
shown	O
at	O
EGX	O
Rezzed	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-As	I-Application
announcement	O
,	O
Brandon	O
Orselli	O
of	O
Niche	O
Gamer	O
expressed	O
optimism	O
,	O
writing	O
"	O
I	O
'm	O
a	O
huge	O
fan	O
of	O
cyberpunk	O
fiction	O
,	O
and	O
I	O
feel	O
like	O
the	O
genre	O
is	O
severely	O
neglected	O
if	O
not	O
mishandled	O
in	O
the	O
gaming	O
industry	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
at	O
Sukeban	B-Application
Games	I-Application
seem	O
to	O
really	O
be	O
paying	O
close	O
attention	O
to	O
everything	O
they	O
possibly	O
can	O
within	O
their	O
game	O
's	O
fiction	O
,	O
and	O
it	O
shines	O
through	O
even	O
in	O
this	O
early	O
form.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Steven	O
Hansen	O
of	O
Destructoid	O
,	O
in	O
writing	O
about	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
,	O
observed	O
that	O
"	O
games	O
do	O
n't	O
always	O
need	O
to	O
be	O
bombastic	O
save-the-world-	O
'	O
em-ups	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
also	O
the	O
game	O
"	O
should	O
be	O
the	O
best	O
anime-inspired	O
bartending	O
sim	O
of	O
the	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
also	O
added	O
that	O
he	O
was	O
"	O
sold	O
"	O
and	O
compared	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
Catherine	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Salvador	O
GRodiles	O
of	O
Japanator	O
joked	O
that	O
he	O
looked	O
forward	O
to	O
the	O
"	O
glorious	O
date	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
special	O
joyous	O
day	O
"	O
that	O
is	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-As	I-Application
release	O
date	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Julian	O
Benson	O
of	O
Kotaku	O
wrote	O
that	O
"	O
Valhalla	B-Application
is	O
a	O
cocktail	O
of	O
game	O
genres	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
's	O
a	O
healthy	O
measure	O
of	O
Papers	B-Application
,	I-Application
Please	I-Application
,	O
too	O
,	O
with	O
you	O
having	O
to	O
perform	O
a	O
mundane	O
job	O
(	O
drink	O
mixing	O
)	O
by	O
following	O
a	O
complicated	O
list	O
of	O
tasks	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
 [ ... ] 	O
And	O
,	O
on	O
top	O
of	O
that	O
you	O
also	O
get	O
to	O
manage	O
and	O
decorate	O
your	O
bar	O
,	O
so	O
there	O
's	O
a	O
dash	O
of	O
Animal	B-Application
Crossing	I-Application
for	O
flavour.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Push	O
Square	O
's	O
Nicola	O
Hayden	O
added	O
that	O
"	O
gaining	O
cult	O
success	O
around	O
the	O
more	O
niche	O
areas	O
of	O
the	O
Internet	O
,	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
,	O
a	O
cyberpunk	O
bartending	O
simulator	O
,	O
has	O
managed	O
to	O
stir	O
up	O
quite	O
a	O
fuss.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Katherine	O
Cross	O
of	O
Gamasutra	O
,	O
while	O
not	O
giving	O
a	O
final	O
score	O
,	O
praised	O
Jill	O
's	O
character	O
as	O
not	O
being	O
a	O
traditional	O
protagonist	O
or	O
"	O
in	O
control	O
of	O
much	O
"	O
in	O
her	O
world	O
,	O
the	O
setting	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
"	O
delightfully	O
colorful	O
"	O
cast	O
;	O
and	O
that	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
successfully	O
"make[s]	O
magic	O
out	O
of	O
the	O
mundane.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Mike	O
Cosimano	O
of	O
Destructoid	O
awarded	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
a	O
score	O
of	O
9/10	O
,	O
referring	O
to	O
it	O
as	O
a	O
"	O
hallmark	O
of	O
excellence	O
"	O
and	O
complimenting	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
design	O
,	O
characters	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
"	O
connection	O
"	O
felt	O
between	O
the	O
player	O
and	O
the	O
protagonist	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Cecilia	O
D'Anastasio	O
of	O
Kotaku	O
echoed	O
this	O
sentiment	O
,	O
finding	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
to	O
be	O
"	O
wildly	O
impressive	O
"	O
and	O
a	O
"	O
brilliant	O
experiment	O
in	O
storytelling	O
"	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
"	O
a	O
must-buy	O
for	O
fans	O
of	O
interactive	O
fiction	O
,	O
stylized	O
retro	O
games	O
,	O
cyberpunk	O
and	O
girls	O
with	O
cat	O
ears	O
–	O
just	O
about	O
everybody	O
,	O
right	O
?	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
David	O
Roberts	O
of	O
GamesRadar	O
wrote	O
that	O
"	O
the	O
writing	O
[	O
in	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
]	O
is	O
genuinely	O
stellar	O
"	O
;	O
he	O
also	O
praised	O
the	O
cast	O
of	O
"	O
colourful	O
characters	O
"	O
and	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
replayability	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sin	O
Vega	O
of	O
Rock	O
,	O
Paper	O
,	O
Shotgun	O
received	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
generally	O
positively	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Caty	O
McCarthy	O
of	O
Kill	O
Screen	O
wrote	O
that	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
"	O
flips	O
the	O
atypical	O
ways	O
of	O
cyberpunk	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
lauded	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
story	O
,	O
which	O
"	O
has	O
heart	O
"	O
as	O
a	O
"	O
story	O
of	O
its	O
people	O
,	O
its	O
liliths	O
,	O
its	O
sentient	O
preserved-brains	O
,	O
its	O
talking	O
dogs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Zack	O
Kotzer	O
,	O
writing	O
for	O
Motherboard	O
,	O
compared	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
to	O
"	O
Ghost	B-Application
in	I-Application
the	I-Application
Shell	I-Application
meets	O
Cheers	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
added	O
that	O
what	O
makes	O
the	O
game	O
engaging	O
is	O
that	O
it	O
chooses	O
to	O
focus	O
on	O
"	O
one	O
very	O
specific	O
corner	O
"	O
of	O
a	O
complex	O
world	O
,	O
writing	O
"	O
sure	O
,	O
there	O
's	O
an	O
urban	O
war	O
brewing	O
outside	O
,	O
but	O
inside	O
this	O
 [ bar ] 	O
is	O
just	O
people	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
PC	O
Gamer	O
's	O
review	O
was	O
more	O
nuanced	O
,	O
opining	O
that	O
although	O
"	O
what	O
Valhalla	B-Application
is	O
trying	O
to	O
do	O
is	O
interesting	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
playing	O
it	O
is	O
boring	O
"	O
,	O
with	O
criticism	O
directed	O
at	O
the	O
repetitive	O
nature	O
of	O
gameplay	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
tone	O
,	O
which	O
leaves	O
a	O
"	O
strange	O
,	O
unpleasant	O
lingering	O
taste	O
in	O
your	O
mouth	O
"	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
oftentimes	O
unrealistic	O
dialogue	O
,	O
for	O
a	O
rating	O
of	O
60/100	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Much	O
of	O
these	O
sentiments	O
where	O
echoed	O
by	O
Kate	O
Gray	O
of	O
Eurogamer	O
;	O
she	O
also	O
praised	O
the	O
premise	O
as	O
interesting	O
,	O
but	O
lamented	O
that	O
"	O
Valhallas	B-Application
bartending	O
is	O
just	O
boring	O
"	O
,	O
with	O
not	O
enough	O
player	O
control	O
to	O
make	O
the	O
game	O
feel	O
creative	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
made	O
appearances	O
on	O
lists	O
of	O
the	O
most	O
anticipated	O
video	O
games	O
multiple	O
times	O
before	O
its	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
article	O
by	O
GamesRadar	O
staff	O
of	O
the	O
"	O
12	O
PAX	O
East	O
games	O
we	O
wish	O
we	O
were	O
still	O
playing	O
"	O
included	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
;	O
praise	O
was	O
directed	O
at	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
complexity	O
,	O
and	O
how	O
"	O
you	O
can	O
decide	O
to	O
give	O
the	O
customer	O
the	O
drink	O
they	O
ordered	O
,	O
flipping	O
through	O
the	O
recipe	O
book	O
and	O
dragging	O
ingredients	O
into	O
the	O
mixer	O
in	O
a	O
simple	O
minigame	O
,	O
or	O
you	O
can	O
screw	O
it	O
up	O
,	O
and	O
give	O
them	O
something	O
totally	O
different	O
"	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
"	O
wildly	O
different	O
directions	O
"	O
the	O
narrative	O
takes	O
as	O
a	O
result	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Similarly	O
,	O
Twinfinite	O
's	O
Matthew	O
Byrd	O
ranked	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
first	O
on	O
the	O
"	O
10	O
Anticipated	O
Indie	O
Games	O
You	O
Have	O
to	O
Check	O
Out	O
in	O
2016	O
"	O
,	O
writing	O
that	O
:	O
"	O
While	O
I	O
can	O
honestly	O
say	O
that	O
I	O
've	O
never	O
specifically	O
wished	O
for	O
a	O
cyberpunk	O
bartending	O
game	O
before	O
,	O
now	O
that	O
I	O
know	O
such	O
a	O
thing	O
exists	O
,	O
it	O
is	O
all	O
that	O
I	O
can	O
think	O
of.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Zach	O
Budgor	O
of	O
Kill	O
Screen	O
described	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
as	O
one	O
of	O
their	O
favourite	O
titles	O
at	O
Cyberpunk	O
Game	O
Jam	O
2014	O
,	O
describing	O
it	O
as	O
"	O
self-styled	O
'	O
cyberpunk	O
bartender	O
action	O
 '	O
with	O
detailed	O
art	O
and	O
an	O
LP	O
's	O
worth	O
of	O
bass-heavy	O
future	O
bangers.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
PC	O
Gamer	O
added	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-As	I-Application
playable	O
prologue	O
to	O
their	O
list	O
of	O
"	O
The	O
best	O
free	O
PC	O
games	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Upon	O
release	O
,	O
Thomas	O
Faust	O
of	O
IndieGames.com	O
labelled	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
the	O
best	O
game	O
of	O
the	O
year	O
,	O
adding	O
"	O
as	O
far	O
as	O
I	O
'm	O
concerned	O
,	O
the	O
rest	O
of	O
2016	O
can	O
go	O
home	O
now	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Faust	O
also	O
noted	O
that	O
the	O
slice	O
of	O
life	O
setting	O
of	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
its	O
characters	O
,	O
are	O
a	O
departure	O
from	O
more	O
conventional	O
video	O
game	O
settings	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Similarly	O
,	O
Gizmodo	O
UK	O
on	O
June	O
25	O
listed	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
as	O
their	O
top	O
recommended	O
video	O
game	O
for	O
the	O
week	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ana	O
Valens	O
of	O
Den	O
of	O
Geek	O
also	O
listed	O
VA-11	B-Application
Hall-A	I-Application
as	O
"	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
great	O
visual	O
novels	O
of	O
2016	O
"	O
,	O
again	O
praising	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
characters	O
and	O
"	O
powerful	O
"	O
writing	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
sequel	O
N1RV	O
Ann-A	O
was	O
announced	O
in	O
September	O
2018	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
,	O
and	O
PC	O
.	O
</s>
