Robot smashing catharsis game Virtue and a Sledgehammer is out next week, but there’s an experimental visual novella prologue you can play right now

The makers of Virtue and a Sledgehammer have released a free prologue ahead of the full game’s launch next week. Called Virtue: Prologue, it takes a different approach: an experimental visual novella about the feelings and conversations surrounding a first love, rather than the main game’s action and sledgehammer combat.

The prologue uses some assets from the full game and experiments with text and mouse interaction. It contains flashing images that may pose a risk to people with photosensitive epilepsy, and the article says there appears to be no option to reduce them. Players can access it through Pantaloon’s Playbill website, which requires an email sign-up.