Epiphany City
- April 12, 2022
- Cameron Ladjevardi
- 5h median play time
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Get on itch.io Store"Epiphany City" is a puzzle-based game with a unique mechanic that allows players to manipulate the world using a magical picture frame. Players help protagonist Lily fulfill a Sacred Prophecy and save the world, while enjoying a diverse and expressive cast of characters through hand-drawn portraits. The game features unique puzzles that encourage thinking outside the box.
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Reviews
- The game features a charming art style and well-scored music that enhances the overall experience.
- The puzzles are clever and provide a satisfying challenge, encouraging players to think outside the box.
- The story is emotional and relatable, resonating with players who have faced personal struggles, making it a heartfelt experience.
- The game suffers from a rough start with a lengthy and somewhat depressing introduction that may deter some players.
- Some puzzles can feel obtuse or inconsistent, leading to frustration rather than enjoyment.
- The final act of the game shifts to quick-time events and timed puzzles, which can feel jarring and detract from the overall gameplay experience.
- story274 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game's story is a blend of emotional depth and whimsical elements, focusing on the protagonist Lily's struggles and growth as she navigates personal challenges and a fantastical world. While some players appreciated the heartfelt narrative and character development, others found the writing uneven, with moments that felt forced or overly simplistic. Overall, the story is engaging and resonates with themes of resilience, though it occasionally veers into predictability and cliché.
“I really enjoyed the story element for this game, and loved to see the creativity on display from the devs. Looking forward to seeing what comes next from them.”
“The art speaks for itself, and the story is well-paced with a pretty surprising and satisfying conclusion.”
“It's an emotional story that focuses on Lily, who is a relatable protagonist that you root for, but has complexity in her actions despite the game being a relatively simple story.”
“The story is cliche and makes light of some pretty serious topics.”
“Overall, very poor dialogue and storyline; the ending of the game is completely different from the main game, mechanically speaking, and none of the characters are very likable.”
“The characters are insufferable, really unlikable, and the story feels like it's trying to beat you and the main character down from the start and constantly throughout, despite the saccharine aesthetics and tone.”
- gameplay114 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 83 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily puzzle-based, featuring a mix of creative mechanics and straightforward challenges, though it can be frustrating due to some obtuse system designs and a lack of intuitive guidance. While the first three-quarters of the game are engaging, the final act introduces jarring mechanics, such as rhythm-based combat and quick-time events, which detract from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the game offers a charming story and unique puzzle elements, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate its artistic style and narrative.
“Gameplay is puzzles mostly and occasionally QTEs, but the puzzles are really well thought out and pretty unique.”
“The gameplay, while simple, does a good job of connecting the story from start to finish, and while the puzzles won't test you strongly in the puzzle field, it does a good job of mixing up solutions from problem to problem so that it isn't a cakewalk, and makes you appreciate the unique puzzle elements when playing with the environment.”
“Very creative puzzles, has a unique mechanic that I've never seen in any other game.”
“The gameplay is not very demanding and is actually pretty frustrating at times, not due to difficulty but by the system mechanics being obtuse by design.”
“The entire last act is a huge letdown gameplay-wise.”
“The gameplay changes completely, turning into a bad rhythm-based combat game with no consequences for failure.”
- music74 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its beauty and emotional depth, enhancing the overall experience and complementing the charming visuals and engaging story. Many players found the soundtrack to be calming and elegant, with standout tracks that resonate well with the game's themes. However, some reviews noted that certain pieces felt generic, though the majority appreciated the music's ability to create a relaxing atmosphere and elevate key moments in the gameplay.
“The visuals are gorgeous, the music is amazing, the characters are charming, and the writing is both engaging and hilarious!”
“The music really helped amp up some of the scenes.”
“Like I said in my initial review, the story is a lot more emotional and moving than I expected, combined with the gorgeous music I was really immersed in the narrative.”
“Music was generic, puzzles were generic, plot seemed super interesting at first but then just got more generic as it went on. I don't even think any backstories were at all explained in the game, and you have to go to their website for the full backstory.”
“I apologize to the composer for not remembering any of the music.”
“- don't remember much from the soundtrack.”
- graphics70 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming and adorable art style that many players find delightful, though some critiques mention that the visuals can feel simplistic or reminiscent of mobile games. While the aesthetics are generally praised for their cuteness and suitability for the game's narrative, there are mixed opinions regarding character designs, with some describing them as unlikable or poorly animated. Overall, the visuals contribute positively to the engaging puzzle mechanics and enjoyable gameplay experience.
“The art style is fantastic and the story keeps you locked in.”
“The visuals are gorgeous, the music is amazing, the characters are charming, and the writing is both engaging and hilarious!”
“The art style and music were both beautiful, and all in all, this game made for a very relaxing afternoon.”
“The aesthetics and feel of the game seem like a mixture of RPG Maker and GoAnimate/free animation software, as some of the adults, especially police officers, look like children cosplaying and just weirdly chibi, resembling that ghastly free animation site or software.”
“Pretty bad graphics/animations; it's essentially a mobile game. It doesn't even have a 1080p option from what I saw, with the default being windowed.”
“The game overall felt like a particularly long flash game, especially with the art style.”
- humor56 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mix of clever dialogue and dark comedic elements, often leading to both laughter and emotional moments. While many players found the writing engaging and funny, some criticized the forced humor and tonal inconsistencies, feeling that certain attempts at dark humor fell flat. Overall, the game is described as a charming and humorous experience, with memorable moments that resonate emotionally.
“It has a nice sense of humor about it, and it's clearly a passion project.”
“The visuals are gorgeous, the music is amazing, the characters are charming, and the writing is both engaging and hilarious!”
“I find myself chuckling at the dialogue and bursting out in laughter at some other comedic aspects (you'll see!).”
- emotional54 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
"Epiphany City" is praised for its heartwarming and emotional journey, particularly through the character of Lily, who embodies relatable complexity. While the game features poignant moments and clever writing, some attempts at humor and emotional depth may fall flat, leading to an underwhelming climax. Overall, it offers a wholesome experience with a mix of humor and heartfelt storytelling, making it a recommended choice for those seeking a casual yet emotionally engaging game.
“Epiphany City was one of the most heartwarming games that took you on quite the emotional journey of a girl who lost all hope and struggled to fight for a chance when opportunity gave her a second chance!”
“It's an emotional story that focuses on Lily, who is a relatable protagonist that you root for, but has complexity in her actions despite the game being a relatively simple story.”
“Like I said in my initial review, the story is a lot more emotional and moving than I expected, combined with the gorgeous music I was really immersed in the narrative.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized for causing slow and stuttering movement, making even basic actions like walking feel cumbersome and frustrating. This issue significantly detracts from the overall gameplay experience.
“This makes even running feel slow and stuttering, and in a game where movement is so common, it makes even just walking across a room feel like a hassle.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is noted for its short duration and lacks significant replayability, making it less appealing for players seeking extended engagement.
“However, the game doesn't take that long and there's virtually no replayability.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users report that the game experiences occasional glitches, which can lead to confusion during gameplay. Overall, stability appears to be a concern for some players.
“Unfortunately, there are a few times where the confusing part is due to glitches.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly in the final quarter, which relies heavily on quick time events that feel repetitive and lack challenge. While there are humorous moments, the overall experience is marred by cheesy writing and a lack of meaningful engagement.
“The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the story.”
“I found myself doing the same tasks over and over again just to level up, which became incredibly tedious.”
“The grind is so excessive that it overshadows any enjoyment I might have had from the gameplay.”
