 | This article contains too many or overly lengthy quotations. (June 2023) |
| VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action | |
|---|---|
 Logo and main character Jill from the story trailer | |
| Developer(s) | Sukeban Games Wolfgame (Vita) |
| Publisher(s) | Ysbryd Games (Vita, Switch, PS4) Wolfgame (Vita) Playism (Japan) Limited Run Games (Vita, PS4, Switch) |
| Designer(s) | Christopher Ortiz |
| Programmer(s) | Fernando Damas |
| Artist(s) | Christopher Ortiz |
| Writer(s) | Fernando Damas |
| Composer(s) | Michael Kelly |
| Engine | GameMaker Studio |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Simulation, visual novel |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action (stylized as VA-11 HALL-A; sometimes simply Valhalla) is a 2016 visual novel developed by Venezuelan studio Sukeban Games and published by Ysbryd Games. The game was initially released for Microsoft Windows, OS X, and Linux on June 21, 2016, and ports were later released for PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch, with the Vita port developed by Wolfgame and published by Limited Run Games. The game puts the player in the role of a bartender at the eponymous VA-11 Hall-A, a small bar in a dystopian downtown which attracts interesting customers. Gameplay revolves around making and serving drinks to patrons while listening to their life stories.
VA-11 Hall-A contains nonlinear gameplay, and the game's plotline is influenced by the drinks the player makes and how the customers react to them. There are no dialogue options in the game, and making different drinks is the only way to influence the direction of the story. VA-11 Hall-A features a diverse cast of characters who are average people as opposed to heroes, with developers noting how they were based on the types of side characters that are never fleshed out in movies. Over time, the player begins to know the characters well enough to infer what drinks they want, resulting in an intimate experience.
VA-11 Hall-A was originally developed for the Cyberpunk Game Jam of 2014; however, Sukeban Games liked the concept so much that they eventually turned it into a full game. The original prototype is downloadable for free on the game's official website, and players who pre-ordered gained access to a playable yet separate prologue. The game features a retro-futuristic look based on cyberpunk media, PC-98 games, and anime-inspired visuals, and the writing drew on the developers' own experiences of living in a poorer country. The original planned release date of December 2014 was moved back multiple times due to delays, including when the developers changed the game engine. VA-11 Hall-A garnered pre-release critical acclaim, and post-release reception was mostly favourable, with positive reception directed at its premise, cast of characters, writing, and music. However, some reviewers perceived the game's dialogue as awkward and the gameplay as repetitive. A sequel, N1RV Ann-A, was scheduled for a 2020 release[3] but has since been delayed indefinitely.[4]
- ^ "VA-11 Hall-A for PS4 and Switch launches May 30 in Japan". Gematsu. March 7, 2019. Archived from the original on March 7, 2019. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
- ^ "In Case You Missed It: VA-11 HALL-A Is Coming To Nintendo Switch (And Playstation 4)". Sukeban Games Official Webfront. October 18, 2018. Archived from the original on December 24, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
- ^ "Announcing Cyberpunk Bartender Action N1RV Ann-A – SUKEBAN GAMES OFFICIAL WEBFRONT". 18 September 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-11-18. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
- ^ "N1RV ANN-A IS BEING DELAYED AND HERE'S WHY". December 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-01-10. Retrieved 2021-01-17.