★★★★☆
When I finished Milky Way Prince: The Vampire Star for the first time, I sat in silence for half an hour contemplating what I’d just experienced while the main menu music played in the background – Sean Davies, Finger Guns
★★★★☆
What this game does best is challenge what it means to be a visual novel and use that base to take the player on a journey that pulls from your own experiences in life – Nikki, Smiles & Tea
★★★★☆
A truly independent game: by subject, by approach and even by its rough and imperfect nature. Something that does not diminish Lorenzo Redaelli's merit of being able to transform a personal and complex experience into something universal by relying on one of the most "intrusive" means of expression, video games. – Andrea Peduzzi, IGN [in Italian]
★★★★☆
"The creative and emotional crescendo of Milky Way Prince is almost baffling [...] because of its ability to deal with things so human and common and yet so absent in traditional videogame mechanics: love, sex, idealization, the desire not to be alone and to find someone who makes us feel complete. – Claudio Cugliandro, EveryEye [in Italian]
★★★★☆
Through the choice of one of the five senses, the player attempts to establish a relationship of submission or domination with Sune, and reveals the most emblematic and problematic side of this relationship. A deeply dark side that has nothing to do with sex per se, but with the abusive psychological power balance that a relationship, like the one narrated in Milky Way Prince - The Vampire Star, is capable of producing. – Fabrizia Malgieri, Gamereactor [in Italian]
★★★★☆
A visual novel like I have never experienced. Not only does the plot stir me up, the stylish realization also casts a spell on me audiovisually. [...] Thank you Lorenzo Redaelli for showing yourself so openly by telling this story and for allowing me to witness this experience! – Tobias Idinger, Welcome to Last Week [in German]
★★★★☆
Many of the choices I selected were what I would have actually chosen in real life, and, ironically enough, many of the same results happened. I kept trying to ‘fix’ the other person and it backfired horribly, or I would purposefully give them space, only for them to think I was ignoring them and didn’t care [...] I was like “shit, this is really accurate”, and that is an incredible moment of immersion. – Zahi Abu Ramadan, Link Cable Gaming
★★★★☆
Milky Way Prince - The Vampire Star is not for everyone, indeed some may find it very disturbing [...] it is a game that stands out from the rest, an artistic visual novel determined to make us understand how difficult it can be to help the people we love. – Manuel Muttarini, Ayrion [in Italian]
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Milky Way Prince – The Vampire Star is such a thrill to play. Like many visual novels, it utilizes the medium to enhance its dark, riveting story. It feels like it offers something entirely new through its uniquely and strikingly stylish visuals. I’d even go as far as to say it’s absolutely the most stylish visual novel I’ve ever played. – Natalie Flores, FanByte
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It’s rough, I had to take breaks between chapter to go hug my cat. But it is a beautiful game: It explores its themes in a way that is unique, thought-provoking, and jarring. [...] You are kept on edge, uncertain, afraid, but wanting to push forwards, to push through, to help Sune. – Zahra, Zed Games
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I initially rejected the game: I thought video games shouldn’t deal with this topic, I thought that no one should say that sometimes living with someone who suffers is hard, sad and exhausting. I was ashamed of these thoughts and I didn’t want to discuss them. Playing Milky Way Prince, I grew grateful for the existence of this game: I really needed to see these feelings represented and depicted as valid, I really needed to think that maybe talking about them is fine, even necessary. – Matteo Lupetti, Gayming Magazine
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Milky Way Prince – The Vampire Star is artful and expressive proof that video games are becoming more and more accepted as a medium for serious topics. Lorenzo Redaelli and his team have created a wonderful and disturbing work of art that won't let you go even after it ends. – David Riegler, Radio FM4 [in German]
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Milky Way Prince – The Vampire Star tells the story of two boys in a dysfunctional, abusive relationship with respect and realism [...] while the dark and sometimes frightening plot may be difficult to handle, it’s truly a compelling and thought-provoking story with a unique presentation. Be warned: this astronomically tragic story is not one you will soon forget. – Sebastian Stoddard, Popzara
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I don't know how [the author] managed to display so clearly the discomfort and the addiction of a love story touched by mental illness... but the only possible explanation is that a certain type of personal sensitivity, at the service of a undeniable talent, was the spark to deconstruct the unfathomable folds of a highly unstable sentimental relationship and put it into gameplay. – Roberto Turrini, Gameplay Café [in Italian]
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As a fan of storyline games, this is by far one of the most interesting I’ve seen. The game mechanics work very smoothly, and the different details that hint towards later outcomes (the life of a star poster for example) leave room for theorizing which is what I love in a game. – La Quita, Just Us Girls
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My first experience with this game was awesome and I still have goosebumps even while thinking back at it. [...] The different endings and plot lines, the small secrets and the different choices really add a lot of replay value to the game, and even after you’re done with one ending or a lot of them, you’ve still got a ton of room for theory crafting, analysis, and speculation, so the game doesn’t end when you’re done with it... – Magiwastaken, Indiecator
