Enigmarella
- February 28, 2022
- Metal Dragon Studio
Get on Steam"Enigmarella" is a single-player Adventure game that offers a splendid story set in a nautical steampunk universe. As Alice, an orphan forced into an arranged marriage, players will experience a fully voiced, immersive journey with masterfully rendered art and an original soundtrack. With multiple paths, 16 endings, and choices that truly matter, Enigmarella is a tale of romance, friendship, fate, mystery, and strange medical experiments, starring the rebellious anti-heroine Alice Rahner.
Reviews
- The game features an intriguing plot with a well-developed world and complex characters, particularly the protagonist Alice, who stands out with her unique personality.
- The voice acting is stellar, with professional quality that enhances the immersive experience, and the musical score complements the atmosphere beautifully.
- The artwork is visually stunning, with impressive character designs and backgrounds that draw players into the steampunk setting.
- The game lacks essential UI features such as a back step or load option from within the story, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- Some players found the narration and dialogue awkward, particularly the protagonist's behavior, which felt forced and inconsistent with her background.
- The endings are abrupt and lack closure, leaving players wanting more resolution and additional content to explore.
- story29 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story is praised for its intriguing concept, engaging characters, and well-executed narrative, with many players appreciating the balance between story and choices. While some felt the pacing left them wanting more depth and exploration, the overall execution, voice acting, and visuals contributed to a captivating experience. The narrative effectively combines elements of mystery and character development, making it a standout in the visual novel genre.
“The story is engaging from the very first moment, well thought out and although a few twists might be foreseeable, most of them are not and keep adding layers of interest and depth to the game.”
“It is a solidly written story with no narrative conflict between the different branches, good-to-beautiful visuals, excellent soundtrack, well-rounded characters, and very well-balanced reader interaction levels.”
“The story got me hooked from the very first choice, and before I noticed, three whole hours had passed!!”
“It was either 'you're my friend' or 'I am being bitchy and you are my nemesis' towards the same characters throughout the story.”
“I'm noticing a pattern with many of these visual novels; just when you start to get interested and somewhat invested in the characters, the story is almost over.”
“Overall, the story and execution didn't leave me curious enough to want to bother restarting and trying to create other endings.”
- music11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many reviewers noting its quality and ability to enhance the overall experience without overshadowing the voice acting. While some found it unremarkable, others praised it for setting the mood and being a standout feature, suggesting that it deserves to be available for separate purchase. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a solid complement to the game's narrative and visuals.
“It's very clear that a great deal of thought and talent was applied to the musical score.”
“The music is great, sets the mood perfectly, and stands out on its own.”
“Endings, characters, and music combine perfectly with each other; everything tied perfectly with the fine-tuned programming that lets the player explore this world through Spunky's eyes.”
“I can't say I was wowed by the music - but it didn't distract from (or overwhelm) the voice acting - much more important.”
“It's very clear that a great deal of thought and talent was applied to the musical score.”
“General expectations for a game of this price would also include a gallery of CGs or a music soundbox or some little 'extras'.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beauty and immersive quality, with many reviewers highlighting the excellent artwork and perfect lighting that enhance the steampunk atmosphere. The visuals contribute significantly to the overall experience, making it easy for players to engage with the story and characters. Some users expressed a desire for additional scenes to further showcase the impressive graphics.
“It is a solidly written story with no narrative conflict between the different branches, good-to-beautiful visuals, excellent soundtrack, well-rounded characters, and very well-balanced reader interaction levels.”
“The artwork is beautiful, and the lighting is perfect, pulling you deeper into an immersive experience where you can quickly suspend disbelief, which I consider essential when playing a game or watching a movie.”
“Though not a game I would normally have played, the concept intrigued me, the graphics looked very good, and the steampunk atmosphere convinced me to go ahead and play it.”
“The graphics are lacking.”
“I can't say much about the art style because I honestly haven't been paying much attention to it.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Gameplay in this early access game is hindered by an autosave feature that activates upon exiting to the menu, which can disrupt player progress if quick saves are used. Additionally, users report missing basic mechanics in the UI and several bugs that impact overall gameplay and replayability, along with occasional mismatches between voice audio and script text.
“On the downside, and remember this is still listed as an early access game on Steam, there are some basic mechanics missing from the UI in this game and a few bugs that affect gameplay and replay.”
“Third, there were a few spots that didn't really affect gameplay, where the voice audio tracks didn't match up with the script texts.”
“Autosave happens on exit from in-story gameplay back to the menu whether you want it or not, so if you use quick save to check an option and then want to go back to it, you're going to be disappointed.”
“On the downside, and remember this is still listed as an early access game on Steam, there are some basic mechanics missing from the UI in this game and a few bugs that affect gameplay and replay.”
“There were a few spots where the voice audio tracks didn't match up with the script texts, which, while not directly affecting gameplay, was still noticeable.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's steampunk atmosphere and high-quality graphics effectively draw players in, even those who may not typically engage with visual novels. This unique setting enhances the overall experience and intrigue of the game.
“Though not a game I would normally have played, I have played few visual novels, and I've generally enjoyed the few that I have. The concept intrigued me, the graphics looked very good, and the steampunk atmosphere convinced me to go ahead and play it.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users note that while the game shows great potential, it suffers from occasional glitches during transitions that require refinement to enhance its stability.
“There are a few glitches in transitions that need some TLC and polish so that the game can shine with all the potential it really has.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it frustrating to progress.”
“I've experienced several bugs that disrupt gameplay and hinder the overall experience.”
