Brilliant Shadows: Part One of the Book of Gray Magic
- November 2, 2015
- Ithaqua Labs
- 7h median play time
Get on Steam"Brilliant Shadows: Part One of the Book of Gray Magic" is a visual novel starring Veronica Ashmar, a new graduate necromancer who receives a mark with no match during the pairing ritual. She must then uncover the origin of her mark and solve the Mountain's greatest magical mystery. The game is approximately 57,000 words long and offers 3 different endings based on player choices, with an estimated 3-6 hours of gameplay.
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Reviews
- The artwork is beautiful and unique, providing a refreshing visual experience.
- The voice acting is well done, adding depth to the characters and enhancing the overall narrative.
- The story is engaging with interesting characters, and it effectively explores themes of love and identity, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community.
- The plot can feel rushed at times, especially towards the ending, leaving some character arcs underdeveloped.
- Choices in the game often lack significant impact, making the narrative feel more linear than expected.
- Some dialogue feels modern and out of place in the medieval fantasy setting, detracting from the immersion.
- story378 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of "Brilliant Shadows" is generally well-received, praised for its engaging plot, character development, and beautiful art. While some reviewers noted pacing issues and a rushed beginning, the narrative is described as captivating with unexpected twists, strong world-building, and relatable characters, particularly the LGBTQ+ representation. Overall, it is considered a solid visual novel that leaves players eager for its sequel, despite some critiques regarding the depth of choices and the romance subplot.
“The compelling story was well written while also thought provoking and that was coupled with some wonderful sound quality and absolutely fantastic illustrations.”
“Brilliant Shadows has a compelling story, good world building and a great cast of characters.”
“The story really pulls you in and the twist at the end is not something you are likely to see coming.”
“The storyline in this game is the worst I've seen in a pretty long time; it starts out really well, but goes further and further downhill as the game goes on.”
“Eventually your character is simply alone and miserable, and as a conclusion to this terrible story, the only two other lesbian characters in the game are revealed to be bad guys, and your character has to kill them.”
“Overall, the story is nothing special; its plot is a collection of clichés that have been overused so often that there is no way to take them seriously anymore.”
- graphics60 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received high praise for their unique and beautiful art style, which stands out from typical visual novels by avoiding conventional anime influences. Reviewers noted the vibrant and detailed artwork, effective use of color palettes, and expressive character designs that enhance the storytelling experience. While some mentioned that animation could be improved, the overall visual presentation is considered polished and engaging, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
“The game employs beautiful artwork, both colorfully vibrant and more dark and ominous when the narrative dictates it; moreover, this is also skillfully portrayed in the different emotional states the characters go through.”
“Amazing artwork, diverse and lovable characters, and a magical universe that is so detailed and new.”
“But it instantly caught my attention with really polished production values for that kind of game - the artwork is detailed, pleasant to the eye with a good mix of earthy and vibrant tones and manages to vary enough to make it look like it's not all taking place in one white hall room.”
“Devoid of even the most basic attempts to emulate a medieval or feudal culture beyond cliché visuals and terminology, I couldn't help but think of cheap, printed-on Halloween costumes.”
“At times it gets confusing with the dialogue and POV (although that may just be me). However, I do have to applaud the artwork.”
“The character artwork is animated and expressive (again, within the limitations of the medium - the horse riding sequence really could've used a separate character model) and the style fits the setting of the story.”
- humor40 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its effective blend of humor and drama, featuring numerous laugh-out-loud moments and a captivating storyline. Players particularly enjoyed the voice acting, witty dialogue, and the inclusion of a hilarious blooper reel, which added to the overall entertainment value. Many reviewers noted that the humor was well-balanced with emotional depth, making for a memorable and engaging experience.
“It's completely hilarious and highly entertaining to listen to.”
“The scenes after the ending were just hilarious!!!”
“I normally don't buy visual novels, but the voice acting and hilarious dialogue made this game one of my favorites.”
- music38 mentions
- 79 % positive mentions
- 16 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in "Brilliant Shadows" is consistently praised for its beauty and immersive quality, enhancing the overall experience of the visual novel. Many players noted the soundtrack's ability to captivate, with some even using it as background music for other activities. Overall, the combination of great music, art, and voice acting contributes significantly to the game's appeal, making it a standout feature for many reviewers.
“Also the music is awesome and at one point I even just had the game open just so I could listen to it while doing other things...”
“Fantastic endings, characters, music, and art.”
“Brilliant Shadows is an interesting visual novel with great music and an even greater story.”
“As far as options go, there are the basics like sound and music volume.”
“I can't comment on the voice acting/music since I was secretly playing it at work and therefore had it muted, but I'm sure they're also good, given the quality of everything else in the game.”
- emotional16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game delivers a rich emotional experience, skillfully blending humor and drama to evoke a wide range of feelings, from laughter to sadness and anxiety. Its vibrant and dark artwork enhances the emotional depth of the characters, who are portrayed as multi-faceted and engaging. While some transitions may feel abrupt, the overall narrative promises an emotional rollercoaster that resonates with players.
“The game employs beautiful artwork, both colorfully vibrant and more dark and ominous when the narrative dictates it; moreover, this is also skillfully portrayed in the different emotional states the characters go through.”
“This game took me on a four-hour emotional ride, leaving me laughing, damn near crying, feeling anxious, and excited for more.”
“Rather than just being a cheap wish fulfillment fantasy, there are some truly interesting emotional dissections at play; the characters are wonderfully multi-faceted.”
- character development6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is highly praised, with users noting that the protagonists are well-designed and contribute to a fun and engaging story. The beautiful art style enhances the overall experience, showcasing the talent of the artist in bringing the characters and their backgrounds to life.
“A fun and engaging story with great character development.”
“From the character designs to the backgrounds, the art style is also beautiful to look at, and speaks of the artist's talent in presenting this world and the people who live in it.”
“Love the character designs, especially the protagonists.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its smooth optimization, with a fast-paced plot that flows well and maintains good suspense without any noticeable stuttering. The performances of the main characters enhance the experience, contributing to an overall enjoyable and engaging gameplay without any cringe-worthy moments.
- gameplay2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay in visual novels is often minimal or non-existent, which shifts the focus heavily onto the narrative, making it crucial for the overall experience.
“Typically, a visual novel has no gameplay, and this places an extreme burden on the narrative.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is characterized by a tense and dramatic tone, where the protagonist faces repeated setbacks in her pursuit of love, creating a sense of dread and uncertainty. Despite the challenges, her resilience adds a layer of emotional depth to the experience.
“Deliciously juicy drama but no clear indication of 'will you get the girl or not'. In fact, there is this dread-inducing atmosphere as you feel the character's hopes and dreams scatter multiple times, but she picks herself up time and time again.”
“Deliciously juicy drama but no clear indication of 'will you get the girl or not'; in fact, there is this dread-inducing atmosphere as you feel the character's hopes and dreams scatter multiple times, but she picks herself up time and time again.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its high replayability, complemented by appealing art, excellent music, and strong voice acting, making it an engaging visual novel experience.
“Overall a good visual novel with a large amount of replayability, good art, great music, and good voice acting.”
