Ef: The First Tale.
- October 18, 2019
- minori
Get on Steam"Ef: The First Tale" is a visual novel that tells the story of Hiro Hirono, an aspiring manga artist, and Miyako Miyamuira, a free-spirited young woman he meets on Christmas Eve. The game features over 1000 CGs, full voice acting, and a soundtrack by TENMON. It is the first part of two tales that follow different characters and their interconnected lives.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a beautifully crafted romance story with deep character development and a rich atmosphere, enhanced by stunning visuals and a captivating soundtrack.
- The narrative structure is unique, intertwining multiple love stories that are interconnected, providing a profound and philosophical experience.
- Despite its slow start, the game sets up for an impactful latter tale, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of slice-of-life drama.
- The first tale feels incomplete on its own and may not engage all players, as it primarily serves as a prologue to the more compelling latter tale.
- The game suffers from some outdated elements, including a mediocre translation and a lack of quality-of-life improvements, which can detract from the overall experience.
- Some players may find the pacing slow and the initial stories too benign, leading to a perception that the game lacks excitement.
- story23 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story of the visual novel is praised for its emotional depth and character development, particularly in the first chapter, though it is noted that the full experience requires reading both the first and latter tales. While the pacing is slower, many reviewers appreciate the storytelling quality and production values, comparing it favorably to other works in the genre. However, some mention that the narrative can feel incomplete without the second part, and there are minor issues like spelling errors that detract from the overall experience.
“With some of the best visuals of any adventure game, especially for the time, the story makes you feel and understand the sights of this fictional town named Otowa.”
“A truly timeless fairy tale - if you're looking for a strong storyline, beautiful CGs (even considering the age of the game), and real character development, this is the visual novel for you.”
“If there is one thing that I believe this visual novel does wonderfully, it is its storytelling.”
“This is only the first half of the story; the first tale has two stories set within it.”
“I'm leaving the same review for both ef - the first and the latter tale as they are one story which should be experienced all at once, and in my opinion it made no sense to release it in two separate parts originally.”
“It wasn't just dark to be dark; I think Yuuko's backstory could have been a lot less disturbing and not particularly affected the story as a whole.”
- music8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beautiful and atmospheric quality, enhancing the immersive experience and complementing the stunning visuals. The soundtrack, featuring violin and piano, is noted for its vibrancy and seamless integration with the game's mood, making it a standout element that many players consider a favorite aspect. Overall, the high production values contribute to a melodramatic storytelling experience that resonates with players.
“With beautiful art, stunning lighting, and an incredibly atmospheric set of music that melds you into the beauty of the mundane world around you, it's a truly immersive experience that burns the sight and world into your memory.”
“I love the soundtrack; it just felt so beautiful to listen to and enjoy the nice vibrant music that was showcased.”
“The violin and piano tunes really fit with the atmosphere that was presented; no song felt out of place.”
“The soundtrack has to be one of my favorite things about the game.”
“The violin and piano tunes really fit with the atmosphere that was presented; no song felt out of place.”
“With beautiful art, stunning lighting, and an incredibly atmospheric set of music that melds you into the beauty of the mundane world around you, it's a truly immersive experience that burns the sight and world into your memory.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised as a masterpiece, characterized by beautiful art, stunning lighting, and a captivating musical score that enhances immersion. Reviewers highlight how these elements work together to create a memorable and enchanting experience, seamlessly blending with the game's world.
“It was a masterpiece of atmosphere-building.”
“With beautiful art, stunning lighting, and an incredibly atmospheric set of music that melds you into the beauty of the mundane world around you, it's a truly immersive experience that burns the sights and world into your memory.”
“The violin and piano tunes really fit with the atmosphere that was presented; no song felt out of place.”
“Instead, the first tale's strengths come in the atmosphere.”
“The violin and piano tunes really fit with the atmosphere that was presented; no song felt out of place.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning visuals and beautiful art style, capturing the rich aesthetic of the early 2000s. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke emotions through its depiction of the fictional town of Otowa, making it one of the most visually impressive adventure games of its time.
“With some of the best visuals of any adventure game, especially for the time, the story makes you feel and understand the sights of this fictional town named Otowa.”
“The art style for EF is honestly beautiful and it has to be one of the most gorgeous looking visual novels from the early 2000s that I have seen.”
“Gorgeous art style that has that rich 2000s feel.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users praising its graphics and smooth performance, while others report issues such as frame rate drops and long loading times. Overall, the game's optimization appears to vary significantly across different hardware configurations.
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its strong storyline and impressive character development, making it a standout visual novel that remains engaging even with its age.
“A truly timeless fairy tale - if you're looking for a strong storyline, beautiful CGs (even considering the age of the game), and real character development, this is the visual novel for you.”
