An Octave Higher

About

An Octave Higher is a single player action game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Kidalang and was released on March 27, 2015. It received positive reviews from players.

Fall into the magically complicated world of Overture as the three main characters embark on an adventure that will shake their lives and the world around them. Will they fan the flames of the growing revolution, or will they be the key to extinguishing it?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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80%

Audience ScoreBased on 207 reviews

story104 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

The game features a captivating story that explores complex themes of class struggle and ideology, making it thought-provoking and engaging.
The art style and music are beautifully crafted, enhancing the overall atmosphere and immersion of the game.
The characters are well-developed, with distinct personalities and arcs that evolve throughout the narrative.

The pacing can be uneven, particularly in the second half, where the story shifts dramatically and may leave players feeling unsatisfied with certain endings.
Some players may find the dialogue overly verbose, with excessive exposition that can detract from the flow of the story.
The lack of voice acting and limited choices may disappoint those expecting a more interactive experience typical of other visual novels.

story
375 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
69%
3%
The story of the game is set in a captivating steampunk world, exploring themes of class struggle and magic through the perspectives of three main characters. While the narrative has moments of intrigue and emotional depth, many players found it marred by plot holes, underdeveloped characters, and a lack of meaningful choices, leading to a sense of frustration and disappointment with the overall execution. Despite its flaws, the game offers a rich setting and engaging writing that can resonate with fans of visual novels, especially those who appreciate complex storytelling and character dynamics.
- “The story is curious - it starts off being about an unorthodox student project to fix a piano magically, then takes a left turn into bigger things going on in the world, especially in the story routes where one of the protagonists loses his hands and casting ability with them, then organizes the proletariat to rise up and seize the magical means of production.”
- “A compelling story about a broken piano, the lives of three people connected to it, magic, and the social class of a world full of nobility and magic wielders.”
- “This is a fantastic game with a fantastic story.”
- “Things like this that had no valid reasoning or explanation made the story less believable for me, and ultimately took me out of the experience and made it difficult to enjoy the story.”
- “The story itself is another matter.”
- “This game has the most loose ends I've ever seen in any story; so many things are just dropped as we move onto the next part of the story.”
music
111 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
40%
5%
The music in the game is predominantly classical, which many players find calming and fitting for the narrative, enhancing the overall atmosphere. While some reviews note that the soundtrack can become repetitive and lacks variety, others praise its quality and emotional depth, making it a strong aspect of the game. Overall, the music is generally well-received, contributing positively to the storytelling experience.
- “The music being classical, another thread to the story, is also a nice change from more synthetic soundtracks.”
- “The soundtrack is one of the strongest points of this visual novel, but happily, it's not its only strength.”
- “The music is soothing.”
- “Honestly, it got annoyingly repetitive after a while and the songs didn't always fit the tone of the scene.”
- “For a game that so heavily references music, it was a little disappointing.”
- “For a game with music in the title, there is practically nothing about music in this game.”
graphics
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
41%
7%
The graphics of the game have received positive feedback for their charming art style and vibrant visuals, with many reviewers praising the exceptional artwork and character designs. While some noted that the backgrounds and certain character depictions could be improved, the overall aesthetic is considered engaging and well-suited to the game's steampunk fantasy setting. Overall, the visuals are described as a highlight, contributing significantly to the immersive experience of the visual novel.
- “Let's start with the good: the art style is very charming, the world seems vibrant and interesting.”
- “The artwork is marvelous with hints of fanservice, but it doesn't detract from the story in the slightest.”
- “An octave higher is a gorgeous visual novel with beautiful artwork, gripping plot, endearing characters, and an enthralling setting.”
- “The aesthetics are those of a steampunk, but everything else is your standard fantasy with people farting spells right and left.”
- “Main characters are drawn quite well, but the background could be better, especially the people in the background. You don't buy this game for graphics; it's a novel.”
- “Graphic - the worst part.”
humor
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is a blend of sophisticated writing and relatable moments, featuring both hilarious dialogue and thoughtful commentary on serious themes. Players appreciate the clever use of cultural references and Easter eggs, which add an extra layer of enjoyment, while the balance of tragic and funny elements contributes to a unique and engaging experience. Overall, the humor is well-crafted, making players laugh while also prompting deeper reflection.
- “I thought the game was going to be lovely, lighthearted, funny, and soft.”
- “The dialogue can get pretty hilarious often enough as well.”
- “It is tragic, funny and gives you a sense of hope through each of the endings.”
emotional
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to deliver profound and heartbreaking experiences, particularly through its multiple endings, with the true ending being especially impactful. Players report a deep emotional connection to the story and characters, with some expressing intense feelings of hatred and sadness, underscoring the narrative's complexity and depth. Overall, the game is praised for its compelling storytelling and emotional weight, making it a standout in the visual novel genre.
- “The most touching visual novel I have ever encountered.”
- “Just make sure to get the true ending; otherwise, you won't be able to enjoy the emotional punches this story throws out.”
- “It's one of the most tragic and heartbreaking endings I've ever seen.”
gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The gameplay in this visual novel is primarily focused on reading and making choices, which some users find limited and arbitrary, especially in the early stages. However, the introduction of a mechanic allowing players to choose for three different characters adds a unique twist to the traditional format. Overall, while the gameplay is straightforward and lacks complexity, it offers a relaxing experience complemented by excellent storytelling.
- “The affection mechanic that's implemented is not new to visual novels, but there's a surprising twist.”
- “+ new mechanics: unlike the traditional visual novel you can decide the choices of 3 different characters, giving a new dimension to the tree of choices.”
- “This gives gameplay a relaxing and calming effect, which in turn causes the hours of playtime to quietly float by.”
- “Gameplay: 3 out of 10”
- “This is a visual novel, so I know the only 'gameplay' is reading and picking an option.”
- “There is no additional gameplay element beyond the game being a visual novel, so don't look for that kind of thing.”
character development
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while some characters, particularly Frederic, show notable growth, much of the potential for deeper storytelling is undermined by a generic plot and a lack of resolution. The artwork and character designs are praised, but the overall character arcs feel incomplete, with significant moments often overshadowed by abrupt narrative choices.
- “I was delightfully surprised by the character development Frederic had towards the end, as well!”
- “The character development is not forte as everyone is fleshed out, with some very well used adagio to convey a mature approach to the themes.”
- “Character designs are good too, but one thing is so bad: this game has no proper ending, and it's so sad.”
- “[spoiler] A character dies right as significant character development happens.”
- “After a 5-year timeskip, you will only see character development with the one character whose life was destroyed.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
Overall, the game offers limited replayability, primarily due to its short length and the necessity of obtaining all endings to enhance the experience. While the story is engaging and the fast-forward option aids in revisiting content, many players suggest it may not justify a full-price purchase, making it a better option when on sale. However, the presence of multiple endings does provide some incentive for replay.
- “The story is great and replayable; fast forward is a great option to get through old content.”
- “Several different endings give an octave higher decent replayability, and the game's use of classical music is spot-on.”
- “I have currently only played this game once, but it definitely has replayability.”
- “All in all, the game was enjoyable to play once, but I don't think it has a lot of replay value, nor would it be worth it to buy at full price.”
- “It's a bit of a short game overall and has limited replayability aside from getting all the endings, so it's tough to warrant buying this for the full price, but it's a good pickup when on sale.”
- “Several different endings give decent replayability, but the game's overall experience feels limited.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
40%
20%
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by its beautifully hand-drawn backgrounds and well-timed piano music, creating a visually and audibly pleasing experience. The unique blend of industrial themes with magical elements further enriches the overall ambiance, appealing to fans of both genres.
- “The music consists of piano set pieces, a few from well-known artists, and the hand-drawn backgrounds look beautiful and provide an immersive atmosphere to the game.”
- “Atmosphere is so unique, and fans of industrial times mixed with magic will be satisfied.”
- “The developers also did a good job in timing the music with the events or even leaving it out completely, giving it an even better atmosphere.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect somewhat tedious, particularly due to the skip feature that still requires displaying images and sounds, prolonging the replay process for achievements. While the combat dialogue can feel repetitive, it is seen as a thematic element that enhances the magical backdrop of the game.
- “The skip feature is also a bit tedious, with every image and sound still needing to be displayed, so it takes a while to replay to get all achievements.”
- “The combat dialogue may seem tedious, but it just ties into the background theme of magic.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users report occasional freezing issues, with the game sometimes freezing for a few seconds during play.
- “Sometimes the game freezes for a couple of seconds.”
- “The game frequently experiences stability issues.”
- “I often encounter crashes that disrupt my gameplay.”