Ciconia When They Cry - Phase 1 For You, the Replaceable Ones
- October 3, 2019
- 07th Expansion
- 20h median play time
Get on SteamIn "Ciconia When They Cry - Phase 1 For You, the Replaceable Ones", the world has rebuilt after World War III with the help of advanced technology. However, this has led to the creation of the Gauntlet, the ultimate military weapon, making existing forces obsolete. The game revolves around boys and girls who have the potential to become Gauntlet Knights, but find themselves as pawns in the hands of more experienced and cunning individuals, forcing them to participate in deadly battles.
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Reviews
- Ciconia When They Cry features excellent worldbuilding and a diverse cast of characters, making it a compelling entry in the When They Cry series.
- The writing is strong, with engaging themes that tackle contemporary issues such as politics, war, and societal expectations.
- The production quality is high, with improved graphics, animations, and a solid soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- The game is priced at $40, which many feel is too high for a single phase that lasts around 10-20 hours, leading to concerns about value for money.
- Phase 1 ends on a cliffhanger with many unresolved questions, leaving players frustrated and uncertain about the future of the series.
- There is a significant amount of exposition and setup, which can make the pacing feel slow and at times tedious, detracting from character development.
- story338 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of "Ciconia: When They Cry" presents an ambitious and intricate narrative set in a unique sci-fi world, exploring themes of war, politics, and human experience through a diverse cast of characters. However, it is currently incomplete, with many players expressing frustration over the long wait for future phases and the lack of resolution in the first installment. While the writing is praised for its depth and complexity, some find the pacing uneven and the multitude of plotlines overwhelming, leaving the overall experience feeling disjointed at times.
“There's loads of story (I took around 40 hours my first read through (currently re-reading)), and expertly hidden hints that reveal just enough to give a sense of mystique of where the story will go while providing a sense of accomplishment.”
“Ciconia's story is incredibly compelling.”
“This story is quite phenomenal and started this new entry of the WTC franchise with an enormous and shocking bang.”
“It was already considered pretty pricey when we thought we were going to get a full story, but for a frustratingly unfinished one, even on sale, I can't recommend you buy it.”
“The story is unfinished, and it likely never will be finished.”
“As the first entry, this story simply did not deliver a tight and engaging hook compared to e.g. umineko.”
- music90 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in "Ciconia: Phase 1" has received mixed reviews, with many noting that while it features some standout tracks, it falls short of the extensive and memorable soundtrack found in "Umineko." Critics have pointed out the reliance on royalty-free music and a lack of variety, leading to a less impactful auditory experience overall. However, the music is still considered fitting and enjoyable, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere despite its limitations.
“The worldbuilding, characters, art, and music are phenomenal.”
“The music, while not as grand as umineko’s, still does a good job at setting the tone and does contain several standouts to match the atmosphere.”
“Just like umineko, this game has several fantastic tracks of music.”
“Some royalty-free music is actually better than some of the WTC composers' input.”
“Ciconia not only has less tracks, with around 33, but many of these are also royalty-free music, bringing the number of original tracks to something around half of what the Umineko Episode 1 OST was.”
“Here there's just a few memorable ones, with most being a bit generic-sounding compared to WTC's usually unique OST sensibilities, and not even approaching the highs and mayhem or terror of Umineko's or Higurashi's peak tracks.”
- graphics26 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received praise for their improved quality, featuring a distinct Ryukishi07 art style that boasts more texture, depth, and vibrant colors compared to previous titles like Umineko and Higurashi. While the character designs are expressive and detailed, some players noted that the integration of 2D graphics in a 3D environment is less effective here, and character animations are somewhat limited. Overall, the visuals enhance the storytelling experience, although the game contains graphic content that may not be suitable for all audiences.
“The new artwork is really great, that distinct ryukishi07 style but with more texture, depth, and color blends, and the photo filter backgrounds are now in all-new HD and absolutely gorgeous and vibrant.”
“The game's art style is beautiful, with a lot of detail in a vast roster of character art that matches their complex personalities.”
“Yes, this novel is very good, nice characters, nice plot, graphics and effects.”
“The 2D graphics in a 3D world don't work as well here as they do in 07th Expansion's library.”
“The character graphics can't even move, walk, and punch at the same time.”
“Mainly because of the story, it seems usual at first, with the graphics being little more enhanced from the previous games and without voice acting.”
- atmosphere14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Ciconia: When They Cry" is praised for its powerful and immersive quality, effectively setting the tone from the outset with well-crafted writing and unique character introductions. While the background music, though mostly royalty-free, is thoughtfully selected to complement the game's ambiance, it may not reach the grandeur of previous titles like "Umineko." The filtered-photograph backgrounds further enhance the warm, post-WW3 setting, creating a distinct atmosphere that differs from earlier entries in the franchise.
“Just like its predecessors, Ciconia: When They Cry has been written extremely well and manages to set a powerful atmosphere right from the beginning.”
“This, coupled with the filtered-photograph backgrounds, makes for an immersive and warm atmosphere of a post-WW3 world.”
“The music, while not as grand as Umineko’s, still does a good job at setting the tone and contains several standouts to match the atmosphere.”
“The only problem is that many BGM are royalty free; still, they were chosen with care and truly reflect the atmosphere of the game, so I wouldn't discard all of them.”
“The music, while not as grand as Umineko’s, still does a good job at setting the tone and does contain several standouts to match the atmosphere.”
“Completely different atmosphere from Higurashi and Umineko, not better or worse but different.”
- humor14 mentions
- 86 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted for its effective pacing, often juxtaposed with tension, creating moments of levity before climactic scenes. Characters like Naima and various quirky personalities contribute to the comedic elements, making the experience surprisingly funny at times, despite the emotional weight of the narrative. Overall, the humor is described as both clever and unexpected, enhancing the game's overall impact.
“Ryukishi07 has done an excellent job in pacing, matching tension with humor and a calm before a climax a number of times.”
“It's also surprisingly funny at times.”
“Akin to dueling blindfolded against a fencing master and part-time clown with a cruel sense of humor.”
“I was sobbing so hard by the ending (not funny, they ruined a holiday)”
“I was sobbing so hard by the ending (not funny, they ruined a holiday)”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay of [i]ciconia[/i] is characterized as a kinetic novel and visual novel, meaning there are no player choices or traditional gameplay mechanics involved. Players engage primarily with the story through text and visuals, with no interactive elements to influence the narrative.
“As for the gameplay, [i]Ciconia[/i] is a kinetic novel, so there are no choices presented whatsoever.”
“This game is a visual novel/sound novel which means there is no actual gameplay.”
“There is no gameplay category this time since there is no traditional gameplay.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its wholesome storytelling and character-driven moments, particularly in scenes like the monster cafe, which resonated with players. However, some found the repetition in dialogue to detract from the overall emotional engagement, expressing a desire for deeper character exploration in future phases to enhance the emotional impact.
“It feels like the background we were given on them in this phase is necessary and worth it; I anticipate really cool battles and emotionally and politically heated interactions further down the road.”
“I wish the main game was more about the characters themselves; those are the parts I liked more and found more interesting and emotional. In fact, my favorite scene was the monster cafe one; I'm wishing the next phases expand more on the characters like that.”
“Wholesome Christmas story.”
- character development6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in this game is generally viewed as lacking, with most reviewers noting that it is overshadowed by the story and setting, particularly when compared to previous titles by the same writer. While the main character receives some attention, secondary characters do not experience the same depth, leading to a less satisfying overall experience.
“The main criticism I have of this arc is that apart from the main character, the game lacks the strong character development the writer is known for.”
“The character development is by no means bad, but it definitely takes a backseat to the story and setting compared to previous games.”
“Some character designs absolutely suck and the soundtracks are not anything special except for a few that stand out.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, with a significant amount of exposition that detracts from character interaction. The content, lasting only 9-12 hours, feels uneven and is criticized for its post-credits unlock system, which adds to the overall grind. At a price point of $40, many feel it does not justify the experience.
“An interesting read, but a very tough buy at $40 USD—it's around 9-12 hours of content, and that content is a lot more uneven compared to past 'When They Cry' episodes, with an abundance of tedious exposition and a dearth of casual interaction between characters.”
“And the lighthearted skit scenes might have been better experienced during the interludes between chapters, readable at our leisure (like Higurashi) and not unlocked post-credits in tedious bulk.”
