Changeling
- January 30, 2019
- Steamberry Studio
"Changeling" is a single-player romance simulation game with an intriguing story and spectacular graphics. As Nora, a normal girl who discovers a world of supernatural creatures, players will uncover secrets from their past and reconcile with their twin brother in a dangerous supernatural world. The game features a good soundtrack, wholesome story, and the chance to romance six love interests, with over 40 unique endings in approximately 25-35 hours of gameplay.
Reviews
- Engaging and well-written story with rich lore and diverse characters.
- Unique art style that enhances the storytelling experience.
- Relatable and strong protagonist with a great sense of humor and personality.
- Some routes may feel repetitive with shared scenes and dialogue.
- Limited variety in the music, which can become repetitive over time.
- Certain endings may feel abrupt or lacking in closure.
- story147 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its rich world-building, engaging character arcs, and multiple unique routes that offer distinct narratives and endings, enhancing replayability. While many players appreciate the depth and humor in the storytelling, some critique certain routes for feeling rushed or lacking in romantic scenes. Overall, the narrative is described as compelling, with a blend of supernatural elements and relatable character development that keeps players invested throughout.
“The story is richly detailed and I've definitely enjoyed the bits of folklore woven throughout it.”
“Each route has its different story and plot, but it's still kept together by a cohesive central conflict.”
“The multitude of choices, the expansive story, the realistic characters, and detailed writing bring several different plots together to make something truly beautiful.”
“Story is dull and mostly not that interesting (skipped my way halfway through to at least finish one route).”
“Choices didn't matter, only for getting different character endings, not for the story.”
“Most scenes feel like they're just there to fill the story with something, they don't contribute anything to the story - and strangely, those who do are way too short.”
- graphics36 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful and unique acrylic-brush style artwork, featuring diverse character designs and varied backgrounds. While some players noted that the art style can be jarring at first, many found it grew on them, enhancing the overall experience with its charm and polish. Despite occasional critiques regarding character expressions and the presence of distracting text, the visuals are generally considered stunning and integral to the storytelling.
“Beautiful acrylic-brush style artwork with varied backgrounds and diverse character designs (both ethnic and fashion).”
“The visuals are gorgeous and the story was interesting from start to finish.”
“Plus the art style is absolutely beautiful and unique!”
“The art style somehow made my brain first assume this game would be unpolished or amateur, but I'm glad I gave it a fair try because it's well-written and very polished.”
“The art style is jarring at first, as it's so dissimilar from other games like this, but it grows on you quickly.”
“While I wasn't super keen on the artwork at first, the character sprites really are very pretty, though the CGs can occasionally be a little wonky.”
- music31 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally appreciated for its ability to set the tone and enhance the atmosphere, with some tracks being described as lovely and touching. However, many users noted the limited variety of music, leading to repetitiveness that can detract from the experience over time. While some found the soundtrack enjoyable and fitting, others felt it did not always align with the game's darker themes, resulting in mixed reviews overall.
“Lovely music that helped set the tone and gave clues as to which choice may lead to a good or bad ending.”
“The music is really pretty and not at all intrusive to play, and all in all, I am really, really impressed with the storytelling and quality of the game.”
“Great storyline, well written, fleshed out characters, beautiful art and music, plus plenty of content!”
“The only critiques I have is that the music doesn't have much variety, so it becomes repetitive quickly.”
“My one complaint is there seem to be only a handful of music tracks, and after a while, it gets repetitive.”
“Pretty much the only negative that I can point out at this stage is the music; it can get a bit repetitive.”
- humor22 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing, witty banter, and relatable characters, particularly the protagonist, Nora, whose snarky and assertive personality resonates with players. Many reviews highlight the balance of comedy and drama, with laugh-out-loud moments and endearing interactions between characters, making the overall experience light-hearted and enjoyable. While some humor may feel forced at times, the game's ability to evoke genuine laughter is a standout feature.
“The game is also funny and I found myself laughing out loud many times, something rare for me as I don't find things funny very easily.”
“Changeling is brilliantly written and often hilarious, with a sassy main character and some seriously cute love interests.”
“There's a good mix of comedy and drama across the game, and while some routes are heavier on drama than others, none are absent at least a few chuckles... and some had me laughing out loud.”
- emotional9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotional depth, with a touching soundtrack and serious themes that elevate it beyond typical teen romance. Players form strong attachments to the characters, experiencing a range of emotions through snappy dialogue and complex storylines, particularly in the middle and late routes. Overall, it offers a heartfelt journey that resonates deeply with players, making it highly recommended for those seeking a compelling narrative.
“The music was simple, but I found it very touching.”
“You will get emotionally attached to the characters.”
“Late routes: William and Ewan (deep lore and emotional roller coasters galore! The end of Ewan's route feels like a nice, triumphant end to the game in general.)”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily focused on narrative rather than complex mechanics, with players appreciating the engaging writing and story progression. While some mechanics received criticism, the overall experience is deemed satisfying, especially for fans of visual novels and otomes, offering substantial playtime that justifies its price. Players can enjoy a streamlined experience without the need for stat management or intricate gameplay elements, allowing for an immersive reading experience.
“Overall, if you just want a 'should I play or should I skip,' I'd say that if you are a fan of visual novels and otomes, certainly go for it as this is one of the good ones and the amount of gameplay you get certainly fits the full price.”
“One of my only complaints involves some of the mechanics.”
“Gameplay-wise, each playthrough should take a minimum of four hours (this of course assumes a very fast reading speed).”
“What I especially liked gameplay-wise in this route is that if all the good choices are made, the main character does not need to solve any riddles at the end of it.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability due to multiple outcomes and routes, though some players may find it tedious without a guide. However, others note that the repetitive plot and dialogue limit its overall replay value.
“The artwork is simple and attractive, as is the background music. There are plenty of opportunities to find different outcomes, so the game has a lot of replayability.”
“There's a lot of replay value; utilizing a guide would be ideal if you're trying to get onto specific routes and endings.”
“It's a great game but has very little replayability because the plot stays the same and a lot of the dialogue does too.”
“The artwork is simple and attractive, as is the background music, though you could find it tedious if you don't turn it down low as there are plenty of opportunities to find the different outcomes, so the game has a lot of replayability.”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Character development is praised for its depth and quality, featuring well-written interactions and diverse character designs that enhance the overall experience. The beautiful artwork complements the narrative, showcasing varied backgrounds and ethnicities, which adds richness to the characters' stories.
“The detail, character development, and interactions are just so well written.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful choices that impact character growth throughout the game.”
“The interactions between characters are often repetitive and fail to evolve, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be potentially tedious, especially with repetitive tasks, but appreciate the simple and attractive artwork and background music. The game offers numerous opportunities for different outcomes, contributing to its replayability.
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game demonstrates strong stability, running smoothly without any noticeable glitches, lagging, dead ends, or crashes.
“First the basics: it runs well; no glitches, lagging, dead ends, or crashes were noticed.”
“The game maintains a smooth performance throughout, ensuring a seamless experience without interruptions.”
“I appreciate how stable the game is; I haven't encountered any bugs or issues that disrupt gameplay.”
“The game frequently crashes, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I experienced constant lagging, which ruined the overall experience.”
“There are numerous glitches that disrupt gameplay and lead to frustrating dead ends.”