ENIGMA:
- November 15, 2016
- Uzumeya
- 20h median play time
Get on SteamA visual novel with multiple endings set in a fantasy world. "Enigma is a mystery visual novel where you discover the secrets of Enigma, a worldwide epidemic, and a forest on a lonely island that bears its name."
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a compelling story with emotional depth, exploring themes of friendship, love, and mortality, which resonates with players.
- The artwork is beautifully done, with many stunning CGs that enhance the storytelling experience.
- The game offers a variety of endings (19 in total), providing players with a rich experience and encouraging multiple playthroughs to uncover all the narrative paths.
- Many players found the routes and endings to be confusing and lacking clear logic, making it difficult to progress without a guide.
- The music and sound design were criticized for being bland and generic, failing to enhance the atmosphere of the game.
- Some characters felt underdeveloped, and certain plot points remained unresolved, leaving players with unanswered questions by the end.
- story164 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story is a poignant exploration of life, death, and human connections, centered around a dying man named Chester and his interactions with the island's residents. While the narrative is primarily serious and emotional, it features a mix of dark, humorous, and spiritual moments, with multiple endings that enrich the overall experience. Despite some criticisms regarding pacing and a lack of voice acting, the storytelling is praised for its depth and character development, making it a memorable and impactful journey.
“Enigma tells a story that stuck with me for quite some time after finishing all the endings.”
“It’s such a beautiful, tragic story about hope and despair, life and death.”
“In the end, Chester and Envirio drew me to this story, but I wound up falling in love with all of the characters, and it's painfully wonderful the hope this story gives you...and what it does to it.”
“The story is simple and easy to understand; however, it lacks details in several parts.”
“This game is a prologue to a story that hasn't been written yet or doesn't exist.”
“By the time you get there, the novel itself feels overused not only on assets but also on plot events; it's clear that the author is running out of ideas by this point.”
- music62 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its beauty and ability to enhance the storytelling, while others find it bland and generic. Many players appreciate specific themes and the overall atmosphere created by the soundtrack, though there are calls for a more extensive music gallery and additional tracks. Overall, while the music is often described as fitting and immersive, it lacks variety and depth in certain areas.
“The music is beautiful and adds perfectly to the often bittersweet situations.”
“The melancholy tale and haunting, beautiful soundtrack really help to immerse you in the world.”
“I’m really glad the soundtrack is packaged in with the game, though I would have happily bought it separately if it were not.”
“No voice acting, and the music is bland and generic with relatively little variety, sometimes failing to set the pace with the story's plot.”
“The music starts off as rather reserved, not grabbing your attention, until key parts of the plot come into play.”
“Too bad the mini-OST doesn't have more tracks aside from the opening and ending themes, nor does the game itself seem to have a music mode.”
- graphics26 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics in Enigma are generally praised for their vibrant and beautiful art style, though some users note that the resolution is relatively low and occasional glitches occur. While the visuals are described as good but not exceptional, they effectively complement the game's intriguing story and emotional depth. Overall, the artwork is a standout feature, enhancing the overall experience despite minor issues.
“The art style is amazing and very vibrant.”
“The story is great and the artwork is simply beautiful.”
“Amazing graphics, organic dialogue, intriguing story, what more do you want?”
“Artwork is relatively well drawn, though of rather low resolution.”
“Art work is okay, not really my cup of tea but I'm not complaining.”
“Sometimes the game does glitch out, and the graphics do sometimes repeat themselves.”
- emotional24 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Enigma is praised for its emotional depth, offering a rich tapestry of experiences that range from joy to sorrow, horror to warmth. Players report being moved to tears multiple times, with the narrative's contrasts and character interactions creating a powerful emotional roller coaster. While some noted translation issues, the overall impact of the story and its breathtaking art left a lasting impression, making it a beautifully bittersweet experience.
“It's a beautiful visual novel that's sweet, funny, horrifying, violent, sad, and just... it's an emotional roller coaster.”
“It gives you a heartwarming story that will make you smile and make you cry at the same time.”
“It was disturbing, heart-wrenching, bittersweet, and simply beautiful all at the same time.”
- humor12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of funny moments, such as the laundry scene by the river, and more serious, often disturbing themes. While players appreciate the lightheartedness found in certain routes, particularly Ignis's, the overall tone is described as an emotional roller coaster that balances humor with sadness and horror. Many reviewers noted that the game evokes a wide range of emotions, including laughter and tears, making it a complex experience.
“I like Ignis's route the most because it's mature and still provides cute, funny moments.”
“It's a beautiful visual novel that's sweet, funny, horrifying, violent, sad, and just... it's an emotional roller coaster.”
“All in all, this game had me laughing, smiling, uneasy, disturbed, and tearing up—all more than once.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- -10 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the novel is widely praised for its beauty and immersive quality, enhanced by captivating music and a rich background setting. Despite the absence of voice acting, reviewers feel that the established atmosphere is compelling enough to engage players deeply. Overall, it is described as breathtaking and integral to the storytelling experience.
“The atmosphere it creates is wonderful.”
“Beautiful music and background atmosphere.”
“Little did I know that it would take my breath away with its music, atmosphere, characters, and fabulous storytelling.”
“The game lacks voice acting, which is surprising given the atmosphere it tries to establish.”
“The absence of voice acting detracts from the immersive atmosphere the game aims for.”
“While the atmosphere is intriguing, the lack of voice acting makes it feel less engaging.”
- character development4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Character development in the game primarily revolves around the interactions and effects of the main character, Chester, on the other characters, rather than his own growth, as he is already portrayed as a complete individual. Additionally, the character designs received positive feedback, enhancing the overall experience.
“The character designs were quite nice as well.”
“The main character, Chester, is already complete; it is his effect on and interactions with the other characters that are at the root of the character development here.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay offers a rich experience, with players reporting around 10-20 hours of content depending on exploration and reading speed, providing ample opportunities for thoughtful engagement. The game is praised for its beauty and solid mechanics throughout this duration.
“Exploring all options will grant you probably 20 hours of gameplay - and considerable food for thought.”
“This game is just beautiful and offers a solid 10-15 hours worth of gameplay (depending on your reading speed).”
