A Rose in the Twilight
- April 10, 2017
- Nippon Ichi Software, Inc.
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam"A Rose in the Twilight" is a puzzle-platformer game where players control a girl named Rochelle who has the power to manipulate time and a giant monsters' shadow. The game is set in a grim, abandoned castle where Rochelle must solve puzzles and uncover the dark past of the castle's inhabitants. Through its atmospheric art style and challenging puzzles, players must navigate Rochelle's unique abilities to progress through the game's narrative.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
PlayStation
Playstation Vita
Reviews
- The game features a unique storytelling approach, presenting its narrative through collectibles and character expressions rather than dialogue, which enhances immersion.
- The art style is charming and beautifully crafted, with a dark yet cute aesthetic that complements the game's atmosphere and themes.
- The puzzles are engaging and varied, often requiring creative thinking and offering a satisfying challenge, especially in the later stages.
- Boss fights lack checkpoints, making them frustratingly difficult as players must restart from the beginning after any mistake.
- The game's pacing can feel slow and tedious, which may detract from the overall enjoyment and lead to moments of boredom.
- Some puzzles can be overly precise or convoluted, leading to frustration, especially when combined with the character's fragile nature and fall damage.
- story80 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story in "A Rose in the Twilight" is conveyed primarily through collectibles, memories, and character expressions rather than dialogue, creating a unique narrative experience that is both dark and emotionally impactful. Players appreciate the game's aesthetic and music, noting that the storytelling is engaging and less vague compared to the developers' previous title, "Firefly Diary." Overall, the narrative is described as bittersweet and haunting, with a strong emphasis on themes of loss and tragedy, making it a compelling aspect of the gameplay.
“The story, music, and concept are great and extremely memorable.”
“Overall, an engrossing platformer filled with some tricky puzzles and with a somber and sad story.”
“A great platform/puzzle game overall, with cute characters doing cute interactions with a nice dark background story and challenging puzzles.”
“The story is largely explained through collectibles and flashback-like cutscenes rather than dialogue, which is an interesting choice.”
“The story is dark, and your understanding of it is gained by reading notes or watching memories that you find throughout your adventure.”
“I'm assuming this is a stylistic choice to match the 'mood' of the story, but it sucked any 'fun' out of it.”
- graphics40 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful, hand-drawn art style and atmospheric aesthetic, which effectively complement the emotional narrative. While many reviewers appreciate the cute and gothic visuals, some note that the graphics can feel underwhelming compared to newer titles, and there are occasional technical issues that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the art style is a significant highlight, drawing players in with its charm and unique design.
“The art team made an amazing work of making a really memorable and beautiful art style, as well as amazing character designs.”
“The art style and the music work perfectly in harmony to completely immerse you into the game's world.”
“A charming puzzle-platformer with a gothic aesthetic.”
“The movement is clunky, the puzzles are convoluted, the graphics are underwhelming even compared to older, cheaper games.”
“A rose in the twilight has very pretty visuals and music, but literally zero diversity in its visuals and music, making the 'awe' factor wear off fast.”
“Cute graphics definitely gave that Nippon feel, but cute/nice graphics don't always make a good game in my book.”
- music39 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in "A Rose in the Twilight" is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the game's melancholic and fairy tale-like ambiance. While some tracks stand out as memorable, others may feel repetitive, yet the overall composition is noted for its ability to complement the gameplay and evoke a sense of emotion throughout the experience. Many reviewers recommend the game for its beautiful soundtrack, which adds depth to the puzzles and story.
“The soundtrack is incredible with a melancholic atmosphere to it, probably the best part of the game.”
“The art style and the music work perfectly in harmony to completely immerse you into the game's world.”
“The music is good, picture and animation are ok, and puzzles not original.”
“A Rose in the Twilight has very pretty visuals and music, but literally zero diversity in its visuals and music, making the 'awe' factor wear off fast.”
“I can't justify paying for this game at full price, knowing that in windowed mode, the game crashes, and if your resolution is not set right, the game crashes, you adjust the music or background sound the game crashes.”
“Lastly, something that surprised me about this game, as well as The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince before it, is the music.”
- gameplay36 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by unique mechanics centered around color and time, offering a mix of engaging puzzles and atmospheric storytelling, though some players find certain puzzles frustrating and the overall pace slow. While the game introduces fresh mechanics in each level, some feel that these elements are underutilized or poorly explained, leading to moments of confusion. Overall, the gameplay is described as simple yet charming, with a cute art style and a haunting atmosphere, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its slower tempo and occasional tediousness.
“From the different atmospheric levels, beautiful story to the distinguished red-gray/black art style, unique gameplay mechanics to the cuteness of Rose... it felt like a journey overwhelmed with emotions and memories, which you were happy to be on, but regretted as soon as it came close to the end.”
“The gameplay and controls are easy to understand, but the stages make very good use of them and the game never gets stale.”
“Working with color and time is one of the game's core puzzle mechanics.”
“However, some of the puzzles can be frustrating and the game mechanics can be off-putting to some.”
“Extremely tedious puzzles that make poor use of the mechanics.”
“There is no change in pace throughout the entire game, only one quick boss at the end of the whole game, no mini bosses, no genuine diversity in the gameplay and no sense of progression.”
- atmosphere21 mentions
- 76 % positive mentions
- 10 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beautiful and haunting qualities, combining a unique art style with a melancholic soundtrack that enhances the emotional journey of the gameplay. Reviewers note the game's ability to create a delightful yet creepy ambiance, effectively contrasting the cuteness of its visuals with darker themes. Overall, the atmospheric elements contribute significantly to the immersive experience, making it a standout feature of the game.
“From the different atmospheric levels, beautiful story to the distinguished red-gray/black art style, unique gameplay mechanics to the cuteness of rose... it felt like a journey overwhelmed with emotions and memories, which you were happy to be on, but regretted as soon as it came close to the end.”
“It is a very beautiful, delightfully creepy and atmospheric puzzle platformer.”
“If you're in for the style, atmosphere and cuteness, then 'A Rose in the Twilight' wouldn't disappoint you: it boasts some outstanding animation work, well-tuned soundtrack and grand visual composition.”
“Cutesy puzzle-platformer game with a dark atmosphere (how dark though depends on your perspective).”
“A rose in the twilight has quickly become one of my favourite games, I recommend it to anyone who is a fan of puzzle-platformers and a dark atmosphere.”
“-same foreboding atmosphere and music as before.”
- emotional7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its enchanting characters and a heartwarming yet bittersweet story that resonates deeply with players, often evoking strong feelings and even tears. The simple yet effective storytelling, combined with solid gameplay, creates a hauntingly immersive experience that leaves a lasting impact. Overall, players appreciate the emotional depth and artistry that contribute to a touching narrative.
“The main ones, the rose and the giant, were enchanting to play with. I really enjoyed it, especially after learning the full story, which makes fighting the bosses all the more heartbreaking.”
“This game almost made me cry.”
“Pretty solid gameplay, a heartwarming but bittersweet tragedy of a story, and haunting immersion the moment you start. A Rose in the Twilight gave me the fuzzies.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky and accidental comedic moments, such as the protagonist Rose's clumsy falls and faceplants, which add a charming and darkly funny element to the gameplay. While the game features some brutal scenes, the overall tone balances humor with artistic storytelling, making for a unique experience that elicits laughter amidst its darker themes.
“Also, some achievements are quite funny, and you are likely going to get them by accident. Something that made me laugh when I first saw it was how Rose has next to no skill at landing. If the fall is even slightly high, she falls face-first into the ground, which was kind of adorable in a weird way. Speaking of which, gravity is lethal; don't underestimate a fall, or you will likely die.”
“This was a wonderful little game: artistic, dark, and funny. Every time you throw Rose with the giant and she faceplants, it brings a smile, along with a good story.”
“It's not a horror game, but it has some genuinely funny moments!”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be monotonous and tedious, often feeling like a punishment rather than an engaging challenge. The puzzles are criticized for being overly repetitive and not effectively utilizing the game's mechanics, contributing to a frustrating experience.
“While the idea is neat, there's something about the pacing that's deliberately monotonous and tedious, to the point that it felt like a punishment to play.”
“Extremely tedious puzzles that make poor use of the mechanics.”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is highlighted by its memorable and beautiful art style, complemented by charming character designs. However, some reviews suggest that the depth of character development may be lacking, with the focus primarily on aesthetics rather than narrative or growth.
“The art team did an amazing job creating a memorable and beautiful art style, along with stunning character designs.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
“Despite the charming visuals, the characters remain one-dimensional and fail to evolve throughout the game.”
“There is little to no growth in the characters, which makes the story feel stagnant and unengaging.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game prioritizes simplicity in its UI and storytelling, yet manages to deliver emotionally impactful performances through effective animation and illustration, showcasing commendable optimization in its artistic presentation.
