Celestian Tales: Old North

55%
Game Brain Score Based on 272 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • music
Celestian Tales: Old North Game Cover
Celestial Tales is a beginner’s JRPG with all the good and bad things that implied by such a distinction. Buy it if you seek a somewhat pleasant diversion, but expect nothing spectacular or out of the ordinary.
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"Celestian Tales: Old North" is a turn-based RPG with a mature, moralistic storyline focused on six protagonists. Its hand-painted environments and memorable characters create an engaging experience, with decisions affecting future installments. Players explore the responsibilities of heroism in a beautifully drawn world.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

55%
Audience ScoreBased on 272 reviews
story135 positive mentions
grinding21 negative mentions
  • The game features beautiful hand-drawn graphics and a charming art style that evokes nostalgia for classic JRPGs.
  • The characters are well-written and have distinct personalities, making the story engaging and enjoyable.
  • The combat system is straightforward and encourages strategic use of skills and stamina management.
  • The game is very short, with a playtime of around 6-10 hours, leaving players wanting more content.
  • The choices presented in the game feel inconsequential, with little impact on the overall story or character development.
  • The pacing is uneven, with some chapters feeling like filler and the ending arriving abruptly without resolution.
  • story469 mentions

    The story of "Celestian Tales: Old North" is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its political intrigue and character-driven narratives, but criticizing its linearity and abrupt ending. While the game offers multiple perspectives through six protagonists, the overall plot remains largely unchanged regardless of the character chosen, leading to a sense of repetitiveness. Many reviewers express hope for future installments to expand on the story's potential, as the current installment feels incomplete and leaves numerous plot threads unresolved.

    • “The storytelling is rich and immersive, filled with political intrigue, moral dilemmas, and personal conflicts.”
    • “Set in a fantasy world, this game offers a classic RPG experience with a focus on storytelling and character-driven narratives.”
    • “The story is intriguing, the characters are well-written and developed versions of typical fantasy tropes, the combat system is turn-based, and the party is made up of more women than men.”
    • “Even still, I hung with it for a few hours until reaching a point where I had no idea where to go to trigger the next story event and didn't find it worth the time to keep hunting around.”
    • “The story is completely unfinished, and this feels like it should be 'chapter 1' in a long series of tales.”
    • “The story had so much promise, but it's so slapdash and rushed and worse left unfinished that you're just left with disappointment.”
  • graphics104 mentions

    The graphics of "Celestian Tales: Old North" are characterized by a charming watercolor and hand-drawn art style that many players find visually appealing, reminiscent of classic RPGs. However, some reviews note issues with clunky animations, limited depth, and a mix of pixelated and hand-drawn elements that can detract from the overall experience. While the artwork is generally praised, there are criticisms regarding the execution and technical aspects, such as navigation difficulties and lack of variety in environments.

    • “Fortunately, this is where the beautiful watercolor aesthetic pulls all the weight.”
    • “Visually, Celestian Tales: Old North has a charming and hand-drawn art style.”
    • “The entire character artwork is flawless, and I commend this team for their effort and time they used creating it.”
    • “The graphics really make it not fun to play.”
    • “The visuals can't decide whether they want to be retro or just bad.”
    • “Later on you realize that the 'walking graphic' and background graphic is really limited and it feels like a cheap version of a JRPG where you can't really move anywhere without hitting a wall; you want freedom, but you get none.”
  • music101 mentions

    The music in the game has received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many players praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional impact of the story. While some noted that the soundtrack is somewhat limited in variety, others highlighted specific tracks as exceptional, particularly in key moments. Overall, the music is described as beautiful and fitting for the game's aesthetic, contributing significantly to the overall experience.

    • “The soundtrack complements the game's atmosphere, enhancing the emotional impact of the story and battles.”
    • “The music is excellent and even makes use of a choir at points, which is a huge plus.”
    • “The introduction song to this game is one of the best that I've heard in years; it's fantastic.”
    • “The music is all right and is what you'd normally expect in fantasy RPGs, but I've heard much better soundtracks in other games personally.”
    • “At some points it really annoyed me because it was such a short loop which kept repeating itself (the music in the castle).”
    • “The soundtrack has comparatively few tracks you might expect from the usual genre fare where musical offerings span multiple disks and whatnot, but developers made good mileage with what they have.”
  • gameplay91 mentions

    The gameplay of *Celestian Tales: Old North* is characterized by traditional turn-based combat and a narrative-driven approach, featuring solid mechanics that allow for character customization and strategic decision-making. While the combat is generally enjoyable, some players find it lacks depth and variety, leading to a somewhat simplistic experience. Overall, the game offers a casual and engaging RPG experience, though its short length and limited gameplay elements may leave some players wanting more.

    • “One of the strengths of Celestian Tales: Old North lies in its narrative-driven gameplay.”
    • “The game's dialogue system and decision-making mechanics add depth to the narrative.”
    • “The combat mechanics are solid and satisfying, offering a good balance of challenge and strategy.”
    • “The gameplay and story are relatively dull, and the final boss has an immensely overpowered heal that means you aren't allowed as many options to strategize as you would have had for any other fight.”
    • “I found the majority of the gameplay pretty boring as a long-time JRPG lover due to the lack of depth in the fighting system, which looked like it had deeper potential but wasn't overly tedious or annoying due to the low level cap and small XP pool required little grinding to accomplish its tasks, which was nice.”
    • “There were really not many gameplay elements this game can offer.”
  • replayability29 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while players can experience the story through six different characters, many feel that the core narrative remains largely unchanged, limiting the incentive to replay. Some appreciate the unique perspectives and choices available, but others criticize the lack of a "new game +" feature and the repetitive nature of the gameplay, leading to a perception of minimal overall replay value. Overall, the potential for replayability exists, but it may not be compelling enough for all players to engage multiple times.

    • “This element of choice and consequence adds replayability and encourages players to explore different paths and storylines.”
    • “Replayability is high as you can experience the story through the eyes of six different characters, all with their own unique backgrounds and outlooks on life, not to mention the achievements that you can't get with just one playthrough.”
    • “They also have some unique cutscenes where they have to make certain decisions, and paired with how you can play different character compositions, it adds to replayability.”
    • “The replay value is minimal, as most of the story involves all six characters anyways.”
    • “It doesn't quite succeed in the attempts to offer replay value in the form of six character perspectives, but it's still a well-written narrative with charming visuals and an overall throwback RPG gaming experience.”
    • “There may be some minimal replay value in playing through each of the six characters, but the main storyline is the same and there's almost zero choices to be made.”
  • grinding24 mentions

    Overall, reviews indicate that grinding in this game is minimal and often unnecessary for progression, with many players completing the game without extensive grinding. While some found the combat repetitive and tedious, the low level cap and small experience requirements meant that grinding could be avoided, making the gameplay less burdensome. However, a few players expressed a desire for more depth and engagement in the grinding mechanics, suggesting that it could enhance the overall experience.

    • “It's not really tedious, anyway.”
    • “I maxed out my characters (level 30 is the top) 7 hours in with no grinding or detours.”
    • “There's no grinding.”
    • “I understand some JRPGs do this, but they also have an option for difficulty when you're trying to go for story and not sit there grinding the hardest monsters for hours on end.”
    • “Lastly, grinding is turning out to be a necessity.”
    • “I used to be happy to spend hours grinding in RPGs, though I'm a little less enthusiastic about it now when my gaming time is so limited due to a full-time job and two other part-time jobs.”
  • character development13 mentions

    Character development in "Celestian Tales: Old North" is generally praised for its depth and storytelling, with main characters experiencing significant growth and learning about their world. However, some players note inconsistencies, citing that character development can feel abrupt or insufficient, particularly in the DLC. Overall, while the game features distinctive character designs and engaging dynamics, opinions vary on the execution and pacing of character growth.

    • “Overall, Celestian Tales: Old North offers a compelling RPG experience with a strong emphasis on storytelling and character development.”
    • “The main characters have their own quirks, but they all receive the much-needed character development as they learn more about the world they live in.”
    • “I like the dynamic between the different character personalities, and I can see a lot of character development just within the first few hours of play.”
    • “Character development is done after the first few level ups.”
    • “Any character development that does happen does so suddenly and without proper explanation as to why they're having these changes of heart.”
    • “- lack of character development.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by witty dialogue and engaging character dynamics, with players appreciating the varied and funny personalities of the six characters. However, some find the humor can be immersion-breaking, and while the characters are enjoyable, the game's short length limits deeper character development. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted touch to the engaging story and gameplay.

    • “In particular, I enjoyed that because you could play any of the 6 characters, the story unfolds with a form of group dynamic rather than a 'leader + whoever has a useful/funny line' way.”
    • “They are varied, funny, and have some depth (but the game is too short for any real character building).”
    • “Also, the game does have its share of witty dialogue and humorous pokes to keep you going even on the slower scenes.”
  • stability6 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is characterized by occasional glitches and bugs, though they are generally not severe enough to significantly impact the player's enjoyment. Some users noted specific issues, such as unresponsive menus and cutscene hang-ups, but most agree that these problems are manageable and likely to be addressed in future updates.

    • “The game is kind of buggy, but I never really had any issues with it aside from the menu being unresponsive at times and the movement glitch in Astori's house. Otherwise, no major issues that ruined my experience.”
    • “Plus, near the release, the game is riddled with glitches.”
    • “Kinda buggy at times; sometimes pressing 'A' to fast through cut scenes causes them to hang permanently.”
  • atmosphere5 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is richly enhanced by a complementary soundtrack and handpainted art that effectively captures its medieval setting, evoking a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic JRPGs. While the visuals and music create a captivating storybook aesthetic, some players feel that the overall experience may lack substance, akin to a beautifully presented but small portion of food.

    • “The use of hand-painted art here is a bold move, and one that suits the medieval setting of this atmospheric RPG very well.”
    • “The atmosphere/style of the game is definitely in tune with JRPGs of old.”
    • “The soundtrack complements the game's atmosphere, enhancing the emotional impact of the story and battles.”
    • “Adding to the atmosphere is high-quality music, which blends seamlessly with the visuals to invoke a storybook aesthetic.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    Players find the game emotionally engaging due to its well-developed characters and evolving relationships, which foster a strong investment in their journeys. The soundtrack significantly enhances the emotional atmosphere, although some feel that certain background music could be improved for smoother transitions. Overall, the game leaves a lasting emotional impact on its audience.

    • “The characters are well-developed and their relationships evolve over the course of the game, making players feel emotionally invested in their journey.”
    • “The soundtrack complements the game's atmosphere, enhancing the emotional impact of the story and battles.”
    • “I felt emotional ever since completing this game.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game is criticized as being exploitative, with users labeling it a "cash grab" and noting a lack of substantial content or advertising to justify any potential future purchases.

    • “Do not buy this game, it is a cash grab!”
    • “Even if there perhaps are some later, they are obviously so sparse, they're hardly worth mentioning let alone prime advertising.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

55% average critic score

Buy Celestian Tales: Old North

Play time

10hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
7-11hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs

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