The pop star is not what she seems...
Burn is the latest from Convict Games, a local (but not) developer based out of Australia and Finland. You may remember them from 2018‘s Stone.
Convict Games calls itself a “collection of artists breaking free to tell high impact stories” and that’s highly evident with Burn, a bite-sized visual novel that can be completed in about 15 minutes time. As the title says when you fire it up, it’s meant to be replayed — with 16 unique endings, its fun comes from delving into the life of pop star Nina Burn and separating truth from fiction… if there’s any difference at all.
Taking inspiration from those who made it, Burn revolves around its titular star, a Finnish performer star who’s either working with a lot of Australians, or like Pink found fame here. You watch as key moments play out in her life — her debut, her establishment, and her climax — making choices that certainly alter the course of the narrative.
Your impact is immediately apparent, as I started on scene 1A, then jumped to 1L, and finished at 1D of the debut phase, as an example. The key, really, is to chart Nina’s path in order to uncover new scenes and new endings to get the bigger picture.
It also should be noted that your choices not only dictate what scene is to follow, but also how Nina appears and how Burn‘s soundtrack presents itself to you. It’s a near little trick that helps to make each short, punchy playthrough unique.
The premise of Burn really taps into Convict Games’ strengths; where Stone has some very rough edges and some potentially frustrating gameplay, Burn is infinitely more simple to understand and play.
It admittedly features some pretty average voice acting — most notably one Aussie who is absolutely speed reading though his lines — but that feeds into the entire package, giving it a quaint, Twin Peaks-like vibe where you’re aware that something’s off, but you’re willing to go with it nonetheless.
If you’re interested in the weird and unusual, or just after something that’s different from the norm, it’s hard to go wrong priced at $8.99 AUD accordingly. Give Burn a go and help Nina sort her demons.
Burn is available now on Windows PC via Steam.
Burn was reviewed using a promotional code on Windows PC via Steam, as provided by the publisher. Click here to learn more about Stevivor’s scoring scale.
This article may contain affiliate links, meaning we could earn a small commission if you click-through and make a purchase. Stevivor is an independent outlet and our journalism is in no way influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative.
