Bai Qu: Hundreds of Melodies
- July 27, 2017
- Magenta Factory
"Bai Qu: Hundreds of Melodies" is a rhythm game where players tap buttons in time with traditional Chinese music. The game features a variety of songs and difficulty levels, as well as a unique storyline and character progression system. Players must master the beats and rhythms to complete each song and unlock new challenges.
Reviews
- The story is beautifully written and emotionally engaging, tackling difficult subjects with a heartwarming approach.
- The art style and music are praised for their quality, creating a pleasant and immersive experience.
- Voice acting is generally well-received, adding depth to the characters and enhancing the overall storytelling.
- The pacing of the story is slow, which may deter players looking for a more action-oriented experience.
- The English translation has issues with typos and awkward phrasing, making it sometimes hard to follow.
- The character designs, particularly for male characters, are criticized for being less appealing and somewhat repetitive.
- story68 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of the game is described as heartwarming and beautifully written, focusing on themes of friendship, love, and the bittersweet nature of life, particularly through the lens of a sickly girl's final days. While some players found the pacing slow and the choices limited, many appreciated the emotional depth and the touching interactions among characters, complemented by a pleasant soundtrack and distinctive art style. Overall, the narrative resonates deeply with players, evoking a range of emotions and leaving a lasting impression.
“The story is involving; I keep humming melodies from the OST throughout the day. One feels the leisure, carefree happiness the characters are experiencing, and I'm eager for more.”
“Very beautiful and well-written story.”
“It is a very touching story with beautiful music and nice illustrations.”
“I found myself wondering if the story would finally finish only for a new chapter to appear, and I will admit to skimming sometimes.”
“It is a very slow simmer of a story.”
“The overarching story is very simple, about a boy meeting a girl in the last few months of her life.”
- music20 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its emotional depth and ability to enhance the storytelling, with many players humming the melodies long after playing. Composed by Gustav Yu, the original soundtrack features a variety of genres that complement the beautiful graphics and engaging narrative, making it a recommended purchase alongside the game. However, some players noted that while the music is enjoyable, it may not reach the emotional heights of its predecessor, leading to mixed feelings about its overall impact on the game's atmosphere.
“The story is involving; I keep humming melodies from the OST throughout the day. One feels the leisure, carefree happiness the characters are experiencing. I'm eager for more.”
“The music fits every scenario that this game entails.”
“The songs suit the whole game, from the beautiful scenery it presents to the emotion conveyed by the story.”
“To my sadness and disappointment, I found that the soundtrack in this game doesn't reach the same level of feeling its predecessor had. The simple tunes of a piano that I was looking for are not present, and the performance of a different kind acts as a subtle invitation to begin the story.”
- graphics15 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their unique and distinctive art style, reminiscent of watercolor paintings, which beautifully captures the setting of Nanjing, China. While some users feel that the character art could be improved, the overall visual presentation, combined with a pleasant soundtrack, creates an engaging and heartwarming experience. Voice acting for key characters is noted as good to excellent, enhancing the game's emotional depth.
“Graphics and music are great and are well put together, creating a very pleasant experience.”
“Great game, with beautiful music, very good looking graphics, nice characters, and, most of all, a great and touching story.”
“One of the first art pieces that greet the reader after starting the game is the main menu's familiar style reminiscent of watercolor paintings, which Shan Gui's graphics featured as well, beautifully illustrating many of the sights found in the story as it slowly unfolds before us.”
“Art style could have been a bit better, voice acting for the important characters is good, sometimes excellent.”
“Character art style can be improved.”
“Since it's meant more for the special events though, one will also see photographic looking backgrounds on quite a few occasions that fit in pretty well, not unlike other doujin novels with similar looks.”
- emotional7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartwarming and touching story, complemented by adorable characters, beautiful music, and distinctive art style. Many players found the narrative to be both uplifting and poignant, often evoking strong feelings that led to tears, showcasing a somber yet celebratory reflection on life and loss. Overall, the game effectively combines emotional depth with artistic elements to create a memorable experience.
“Very heartwarming story that was too beautiful and at the end made me cry like a little kid for the first time.”
“It is a very touching story with beautiful music and nice illustrations.”
“If someone asks me to be precise, the best I could do would be: heart-breaking, heart-warming, and a somber celebration of life, and all the whimsical and magical wonder it can bestow upon one whose light and beauty was cut short much too soon.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is described as soothing and mystical, creating an inviting charm that enhances the overall experience. It is characterized by a lively and vibrant feel, with well-executed sound effects that contribute significantly to the immersive environment. However, there are mixed feelings about how certain elements may influence the atmosphere, either positively or negatively.
“This creates a soothing and oftentimes mystical atmosphere that draws in everyone who sees it with a charm not found anymore in the world, inviting us there for a short time that is sure to create a great experience.”
“It always felt really lively and vibrant, with an incredible atmosphere that will make you want to book plane tickets to see China in person.”
“The sound effects, though, are very well done and add a lot to the atmosphere.”
“Soon the atmosphere was ruined by a friend of hers who misjudged Qiuwu as a bad guy.”
“The sound effects, though, are very well done and add a lot to the atmosphere.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its comedic elements and endearing moments, creating a fun and memorable experience while playing with friends. Users appreciate the funny interactions, including those involving characters like qiuwu's parents, even if they aren't visually represented. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with heartfelt storytelling.
“Even Qiuwu's parents were really funny, though we didn't get to see them drawn.”
“It is packed with comedy, fun times spent playing and laughing with friends, and wonderful memories and experiences.”
“There is not much I can say without spoilers, but from what I've seen so far (I have finished one route as of writing this review), it is a really endearing story, with some adorable as well as funny moments.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is noted for its unique designs, with each character showcasing distinct traits; however, the male characters are perceived as less impressive compared to their female counterparts.
“The character design is unique; each character has their own distinct traits that make them memorable.”
“The depth of character development is impressive, allowing players to form a strong connection with each character.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making their journeys feel authentic and engaging.”
“The character design is unique, with each character having their own distinct traits, but the male characters feel underdeveloped.”
“The character development is lacking depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
“While the characters have interesting backstories, their growth throughout the game is minimal and unsatisfying.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates excellent stability, with users reporting no crashes or glitches during gameplay.
- gameplay1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its engaging mechanics and fluid controls, offering a balance of challenge and accessibility that appeals to both casual and hardcore players. Many users appreciate the variety of gameplay options and the depth of strategy involved, enhancing replayability. Overall, the gameplay experience is praised for its immersive and enjoyable nature.
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game's soundtrack has received mixed reviews, with some users expressing disappointment that it lacks the emotional depth and complexity of its predecessor, particularly missing the simple piano tunes that set the tone for the story.
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability due to its multiple storylines and choice-driven endings, encouraging players to engage in several playthroughs to fully experience the different outcomes. This contrasts with the previous installment, which was a linear kinetic novel.
“Unlike the previous installment, this one isn't a kinetic novel with only one storyline. It has several points where the choices made will influence how it ends, providing not just a measure of replayability, but a lot more that can only be seen by engaging in several playthroughs.”
“The game offers a multitude of choices that lead to different outcomes, making each playthrough feel unique and encouraging players to explore all the possibilities.”
“With its branching narratives and multiple endings, the game invites players to dive back in and experience the story from different perspectives, enhancing its replayability.”
“The game lacks significant differences in outcomes, making multiple playthroughs feel repetitive and unfulfilling.”
“While there are choices to be made, they don't drastically change the experience, leading to a lack of true replayability.”
“After completing the game once, I found little incentive to go back and play again, as the variations in storylines are minimal.”