Summary
Vampire Therapistis much more than just a visual novel video game. Developed and published by Little Bat Games, the unique tale is as much an educational tool as it is a game, through offering a focus on mental health and teaching about cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). As players take on the role of an immortal vampire named Sam who has a penchant for introspection and a good heart, they learn the ins and outs of therapy techniques and how to spot cognitive distortions in their own thinking as well as others, while enjoying a fun story.
Many video games offer difficult themes, likeBaldur’s Gate 3choices that might tread the line, which can often spark some introspection and deeper thoughts if a person chooses to think about it.Vampire Therapisttakes a different approach, bylooking at the aftermath of some choices and the mental health cognitive distortions that happen in a person’s brain. Its vampiric theme offers a chance to look at these hard themes from a distance, allowing a separation between the fictional story and the real-world applications of the CBT methods. Similarly, the vampire undercurrent adds a bit of levity in parts to help break up serious conversations.
Vampire Therapist Should Not Be Entered Into Lightly
WhileVampire Therapistdoes open the game with a screen warning of potential triggers regarding historical violence and oppression, there is much more than that for players to be aware of. This game does not shy away from difficult topics and offers realistic depictions of how people might feel about them. Things such as addiction, suicide, narcissism, religion, sex, guilt, death, and many more equally heavy topics are frequent themes throughout the game. Throughout the story there are also many explicit sexual themes used and strong language, which is not for the faint of heart.
It isvitally importantthat a player pays close attention to their own feelings and stays grounded in the real world while playingVampire Therapist.
Vampire Therapistlooks at these heavy topics from a therapeutic angle by teaching the cognitive distortions that can be associated with these difficulties, and can be a method of helping someone come to terms with their own situation, but should not be the only method of therapy used. It is vitally important that a player pays close attention to their own feelings and stays grounded in the real world while playingVampire Therapist, and not be afraid to turn off the gameand have some time to ponder when things get too triggering. These themes can bring up personal trauma with all the feelings associated with them, and it is easy to have these oppressive thoughts sneak up on a person.
The Story Of Vampire Therapist Is Heartfelt
Sam, the main character of the story, is a vampire who has had a difficult past. Though wracked with his own guilt, he has a thoughtful mind which allowed him to come up with his own ideas of what he would later learn were cognitive distortions. After he comes into contact with a much older and wiser vampire named Andromachos, he takes on the role of student while also working as a therapist to other vampires. Andromachos teaches Sam, and the player, about cognitive distortions and helps guide Sam not only in his therapy work, but also through dealing with Sam’s own heartache regarding his past.
As a therapist, Sam meets several times with a series of clients who each come to him with very different problems plaguing them.Rather than fixing their problems, Sam listens to them and helps to point out the errors in their thinking, which in turn can help them to discover new ways to look at the world and think of themselves. Sam truly wishes to help others and make the world a better place through guiding vampires and mortals alike in their mental discourse with themselves.
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Gameplay Is Simple, Despite Some Glitches
There are very simple game mechanics inVampire Therapy, as is typical for a visual novel.The only choices that a player makes are typically in determining which type of cognitive distortion is being shown and when.To keep things from becoming too overwhelming, before meeting with a client, players choose only five cognitive distortions to watch for in each session, with one being pre-picked by Astromachos.
One notable exception to this gameplay is when Sam is asked to meditate. Players are taken to a separate screen where they are to hold down a button to inhale, release to exhale, and get rid of intrusive thoughts. This portion of the game has somesignificant glitches likeBaldur’s Gate 3. However, they’re not as fun or playful - with clicks often being unresponsive and needing to try a few times before it will register. Additionally, there is little guidance here, and a tutorial would have been helpful.
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Vampire Therapyhas some truly incredible voice acting, helping to make the still framed visual novel even more immersive. Unfortunately, while reviewing, there were numerous situations where the voice acting did not line up with the typed words. This was never a large difference, with the sentiment always being the same, but did take away from a bit of the immersion that the voice acting was otherwise adding.
A Unique Way To Teach Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT is a commonly used method of therapy in the world today, with many therapists utilizing its methods. While there is much more to CBT than what is taught inVampire Therapist, the game does serve as a wonderful tool for teaching people about many cognitive distortions. Although Andromachos calls Black & White Thinking by the name Nosferatu Thinking, otherwise all the terms are actual terms from the real world.
Players get a simple lesson on the terms as Andromachos teaches them to Sam, and then are tasked with recognizing the distortions in action during therapy sessions, with gentle correction when wrong choices are made. Sam also has a journal accessible to players which can go over the definitions again.Through this process of learning and application, players can gain a better understanding of the cognitive distortionsso that they are then able to apply them to their own thinking outside the game.
Final Thoughts And Review Score
3.5/5 - Very Good By Screen Rant’s Review Metric
Overall,Vampire Therapycan be a fantastic tool for those wishing to learn more about cognitive distortions and how to better control their own thoughts. The ideas are never presented in a harsh manner, with a gentle tone always being held by Andromachos. Players need to be wary of their own personal triggers that the game can hit upon, and pay attention to how they are feeling throughout their time with Sam, and not be afraid to step away and have some quiet introspection when needed. Truthfully, the game would benefit from a subtle warning appearing before certain themes are presented, and perhaps the opportunity to skip past them.
Teaching the basics of cognitive distortions through the lens of a vampire cowboy and a club full of goths is an impressive way to handle things. There are glitches in the game, but nothing game-breaking. As long as one is conscious of their own mental health and is not afraid to face some dark and heavy themes,Vampire Therapistis a true gem from a mental health standpoint and asuccessful educational game.
Screen Rantwas provided with a Steam code ofVampire Therapistfor the purpose of this review.
