An Octave Higher

About

"An Octave Higher" is a visual novel set in the magical city of Overture, where players follow the stories of Elise, Franz, and Frederic. The three, from different social classes, are brought together by a broken piano and a journey to mend it with healing magic, an impossible task. Meanwhile, rumors of a revolution against the magical status quo stir in the city. The game explores themes of faith, compassion, courage, and willpower as the characters work towards their goals amidst a background of political unrest.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 222 reviews

story118 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Engaging and well-written story that explores themes of magic, class struggle, and personal growth.
Beautiful artwork and a captivating classical music soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
Multiple endings that encourage replayability, allowing players to explore different character perspectives and outcomes.

The true ending and some other endings feel rushed and unsatisfying, leaving many plot threads unresolved.
Limited choices throughout the game, which may detract from the experience for players expecting more interactivity.
Some characters, particularly Frederic, are portrayed in a way that can be frustrating or unlikable, impacting player investment in their arcs.

story
433 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
70%
3%
The story of "An Octave Higher" is set in a richly developed steampunk world, exploring themes of class struggle, friendship, and revolution through the perspectives of three main characters from different social backgrounds. While the narrative is praised for its engaging writing and character development, it suffers from pacing issues, plot holes, and a lack of satisfying resolutions in some endings, leaving many players feeling that the story's potential was not fully realized. Overall, it offers a thought-provoking experience with multiple endings, though the execution may leave some wanting more.
- “The story starts harmlessly enough but gradually builds up to themes of revolution, liberty, and friendship.”
- “The story is very well written and features branching decisions peppered throughout the engrossing narrative, which is always a plus in any good visual novel.”
- “It tells a deeply compelling story about friendship, conflict, betrayal, and hope.”
- “The story is pretty deep, but it just ends at some point, without really a conclusion at all.”
- “There are too many times where I was taken out of the story because of its flaws.”
- “The story had so much potential... and fell so flat on its face.”
music
122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
39%
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 standout feature 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 with music in the title, there is practically nothing about music in this game.”
- “The music, while a bit lacking in variety, is pleasant and soothing.”
graphics
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
38%
6%
The graphics of the game have received generally positive feedback, with many praising the charming art style and vibrant visuals that blend elements of fantasy and steampunk. While some users noted that character designs and backgrounds could be improved, the overall artwork is described as exceptional and engaging, contributing significantly to the immersive experience of the visual novel. The combination of beautiful visuals and a fitting soundtrack enhances the game's appeal, making it a standout in its genre.
- “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.”
- “The overall graphics are bad, especially the font.”
gameplay
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
67%
17%
The gameplay is primarily focused on reading and making choices, typical of visual novels, but it features a unique mechanic that allows players to influence the decisions of three different characters, adding some depth to the experience. However, many reviewers found the gameplay to be simplistic and lacking in complexity, with limited choices and a straightforward user interface. While the storytelling is praised, the overall gameplay experience is considered standard and somewhat narrow.
- “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 is very narrow and simplistic.”
- “There is no additional gameplay element beyond the game being a visual novel, so don't look for that kind of thing.”
- “Sometimes, the choices can feel arbitrary and there aren't many for the first hour of gameplay.”
humor
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is a blend of sophisticated writing and relatable moments, featuring a mix of funny and serious scenes that provoke thought while providing laughter. Players appreciate the witty dialogue and memorable minor characters, alongside amusing easter eggs and cultural references that enhance the comedic experience. Overall, the humor is described as both tragic and hopeful, contributing significantly to the game's charm.
- “I thought the game was going to be lovely, lighthearted, funny, and soft.”
- “The dialogue can get pretty hilarious often enough as well.”
- “At one point, tongue-in-cheek humor gave me a chuckle.”
emotional
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players noting its ability to deliver profound and heartbreaking experiences, particularly through its multiple endings, especially the true ending. Many reviewers emphasize the game's capacity to forge deep emotional connections, with some describing it as the most touching visual novel they've encountered. However, there are mixed feelings about certain narrative elements, with some expressing disappointment over unresolved mysteries and perceived political themes.
- “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.”
character development
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the potential shown in certain characters, particularly Frederic, while others criticize the lack of a coherent narrative and the abruptness of significant developments. Many feel that the story's generic plot undermines the depth of character arcs, especially when pivotal moments are overshadowed by poor writing choices. Overall, while there are glimpses of strong character development, particularly in the second act, the execution often falls short, leaving players wanting more.
- “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.”
- “When I replayed the story and made the choice that sends the story off down a deep spiral, the writing and character development tanked.”
- “Some of the character development, themes, and morals of the story in the 2nd act are perfectly fine, but for me personally the bad parts are too frequent and obvious and let the plot down.”
- “After a 5 year timeskip, you will only see character development with the one character whose life was destroyed.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while it features multiple endings and decision points that can alter the story, many players feel that the limited content and short length diminish its long-term value. Achievements and collectibles add some incentive for replay, but the consensus suggests it may not be worth full price for repeated playthroughs.
- “The story is great and replayable; fast forward is a great option to get through old content.”
- “Also, the title has some nice options available and there are six different endings, so the replayability is quite high with this visual novel. There are Steam achievements and Steam trading cards to collect, as well as a basic and extended soundtrack.”
- “Several different endings give decent replayability, and the game's use of classical music is spot-on.”
- “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.”
- “You can make decisions in the story at 2 or 3 parts that will take the story down a different route to give the game some replayability, but other than that, it is just there for the achievements and for a different 'end slate'.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
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 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.”
- “The music consists of piano set pieces, a few from well-known artists, and the hand-drawn backgrounds look beautiful and provide an atmosphere to the game.”
- “Atmosphere is so unique, and fans of industrial times mixed with magic will be satisfied.”
- “The developers did a good job timing the music with the events, or even leaving it out completely, which enhanced the atmosphere.”
- “The backgrounds were visually pleasing and set the atmosphere well.”
- “...because of the music and art - classic and very befitting the atmosphere.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the visibility of the relationship points system, which makes replaying for different endings less tedious. However, the skip feature is criticized for being slow, as it still requires displaying every image and sound, and while combat dialogue may feel tedious, it is seen as thematically relevant.
- “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.”