Hollywood Visionary

Reviewing (mostly) every game (or DLC) in my library, part 190: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆ (8/10) [i]Hollywood Visionary[/i] completely caught me off guard—in the best way. I expected a short, quirky sim about making a 1950s movie, but what I found was a heartfelt, politically-charged, character-rich narrative wrapped in a surprisingly tight gameplay loop. Despite being one of Choice of Games’ older titles, it still holds up thanks to strong writing, nuanced choices, and an unexpectedly powerful emotional core. 🎬 [b]Pros:[/b] [list] [*] You really do get to make your own movie—and it matters. The game lets you choose your film’s genre, themes, casting choices, director, and production focus (technical polish vs. star power, for example). These aren’t cosmetic choices either: they ripple through your budget, PR, critical reception, and how your story ends. The process of developing the film feels interactive and alive. Balancing your artistic vision with financial survival and industry politics is genuinely satisfying and more involved than you’d expect from a purely text-based game. [*] Stat management that’s actually fun, not overwhelming. You’re not just a director—you’re a businessperson, a boss, and a public figure. You have to manage your reputation, charisma, technical skills, people-pleasing abilities, and financial oversight. The stat system is clear, flexible, and feels like a puzzle where your build shapes how people treat you. Will you win people over with charm? Or barrel through with intimidation? Success is rarely guaranteed, but you always feel like your choices matter and reflect your playstyle. [*] A shockingly sharp and grounded Red Scare subplot. Just when you think you’ve settled into a fun Hollywood production sim, the game pivots into heavier territory: the McCarthy-era blacklists, HUAC hearings, and political paranoia. This storyline is woven into your relationships, your film, and your personal ethics. You’ll have to make decisions about loyalty, safety, and survival in a climate where being different—or simply principled—can cost you everything. It’s not preachy or melodramatic; it’s quiet, realistic, and unnervingly relevant. And it elevates the whole game. [*] Romance options that feel natural and earn their space. I believe there's only three, the Actor, Grip, or your assistant (and an option to romance the Actor and Grip!). However, they’re not overly dramatic, but they do feel meaningful—especially since the world around you doesn’t always make space for love, especially LGBT love. They react to your choices as well. If you ignore your assistant, you can't romance them. Betray a trusted friend, and the Actor will break up with you. [*] Your niece adds emotional grounding to the glitz. One of the most touching elements of the game is your relationship with your young niece. Whether you play a parental role or take a step back, your choices impact her growth, outlook, and future. She’s more than just a side character; she becomes a reflection of the values you’ve modeled. It’s a small but meaningful thread that anchors the story in something personal beyond ambition and fame. [*] Clean, confident writing with meaningful choices throughout. Despite being an older Choice of Games title, the writing is refreshingly polished. There are little to no typos, and the prose strikes a balance between era-appropriate flair and clear emotional tone. Dialogues feel natural. Scenes rarely overstay their welcome. And most importantly, the choices feel like they’re shaping your story . [*] Quietly inclusive with strong LGBTQ+ identity support. The game lets you define your gender identity, pronouns, and romantic interests freely, without fanfare or awkwardness. It’s baked into the story’s structure rather than treated as a “feature.” The way it handles being gay or trans—especially in a 1950s setting—is refreshing affirming, and subtle in a way that reflects the period’s risks without reducing you to a stereotype. [/list] 🎥 [b]Cons:[/b] [list] [*] The ending feels a bit rushed, especially after such a strong build-up. For a game that gives you this much control over your choices and stats, the finale can feel sudden. Important emotional and narrative arcs—like the political fallout or the success of your film—wrap up quickly, sometimes in just a few scenes. t’s not bad, but it feels like the final act needed more time to breathe and reflect the complexity of your decisions. [*] Can be tough to get the exact ending you’re aiming for. Between the overlapping systems (stats, money, relationships, production decisions), it’s sometimes hard to know what exactly leads to a "successful" or fulfilling ending. If you didn’t carefully min-max or replay certain scenes, you might end up with an unsatisfying outcome that doesn't feel earned—even if you made strong narrative choices. It’s a little opaque in that sense. [*] It shows its age as an early Choice of Games title. Compared to newer CoG releases, [i]Hollywood Visionary[/i] lacks some quality-of-life features and mechanical nuance. There’s no visible stat-testing feedback, no detailed relationship breakdowns, and the UI is basic. If you’re used to the more complex or dynamic scripting of newer IFs, this one might feel slightly dated. But its strengths in writing and structure still carry it. [/list]

A great experience, worthy of multiple playthroughs. While the writing may not have been entirely immersive for the time period, I appreciated the dive into real world historical politics, with regards to queerness and censorship in the film industry.