Epiphany City
- November 8, 2021
- David Elliot
- 5h median play time
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Get on itch.io StoreEPIPHANY CITY is a cute & clever puzzle-adventure where you turn paintings into real life objects to manipulate the world in clever and imaginative ways. Follow Lily Parks, a girl who's given up on the world, as she outwits the worlds most powerful superhero and inherits his powers, leaving it up to her to save the world. Features: Unique picture frame mechanics that emphasize thinking…
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Windows
Reviews
- Charming art style and engaging music that enhances the overall experience.
- Clever puzzles that encourage outside-the-box thinking, providing satisfying 'aha!' moments.
- Heartfelt story with relatable characters that resonates emotionally, making for a memorable experience.
- The game is quite short, with some players feeling it lacks depth and replayability.
- Certain puzzles can be obtuse or frustrating, leading to moments of confusion and potential soft locks.
- The introduction is lengthy and may deter players, with some mechanics introduced late in the game feeling jarring.
- story139 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game's story is a blend of emotional depth and whimsical charm, focusing on the protagonist Lily's journey through personal struggles and growth, often resonating with players who have faced similar challenges. While some found the narrative predictable or overly simplistic, many appreciated its creativity and the heartfelt moments it delivered, despite occasional tonal inconsistencies and a rushed conclusion. Overall, the story is engaging and well-integrated with the gameplay, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its sometimes cheesy execution and heavy themes.
“The story is unique and interesting as well.”
“I enjoyed the story, and I think anyone who has ever gone through a hard time will resonate with it.”
“The art speaks for itself, and the story is well-paced with a pretty surprising and satisfying conclusion.”
“The story is cliche and makes light of some pretty serious topics.”
“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 generally.”
“The story from the intro, Lily trying to raise money for her mother's surgery, would have made for a much better story for the actual game than the 'trying to prove yourself to the asshole hero' story that we got.”
- gameplay59 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily puzzle-based, featuring a mix of creative and straightforward mechanics, though it can be frustrating due to some obtuse design choices and a lack of intuitive guidance. While the early game offers engaging puzzles, the final act shifts dramatically to less enjoyable quick-time events and combat mechanics that feel disconnected from the rest of the experience. Overall, the game showcases unique puzzle elements and a charming aesthetic, but suffers from pacing issues and a disappointing conclusion that detracts from its initial promise.
“A very good puzzle game with a very unique style, and very good gameplay considering it's made by only one developer.”
“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.”
“Fun, cute art style, and cool concept for the gameplay!”
“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.”
- music38 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 8 % 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, contributing to a relaxing atmosphere, while some noted that it effectively amplified key moments in the gameplay. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, making it a recommended aspect for fans of indie puzzle games.
“The music is nice to hear throughout the game.”
“The music is so beautiful~~ I hope you also enjoy the game!!”
“The music really helped amp up some of the scenes.”
“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.”
- graphics35 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming and cute art style that many players find delightful, enhancing the overall experience. While some reviews mention that the visuals can feel simplistic or reminiscent of mobile games, the aesthetics are generally praised for their ability to complement the engaging puzzles and story. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's whimsical tone, despite some criticisms regarding animation quality and resolution options.
“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.”
- humor29 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mix of charming dialogue, clever writing, and dark comedic elements that can sometimes feel forced or out of place. While many players appreciate the funny moments and emotional depth, some critique the attempts at dark humor as lacking nuance. Overall, the game is described as entertaining and heartwarming, with a strong comedic presence that enhances the puzzle-solving experience.
“Charming characters and funny humor.”
“The writing was probably the most surprising thing; I expected some humor and fourth wall breaking, but I absolutely didn't expect it to be so solid and emotional.”
“Funny writing with dark humor that contrasts the tone really well, making memorable moments.”
- emotional27 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Epiphany City" is characterized by a heartwarming journey centered on a relatable protagonist, Lily, who navigates themes of hope and resilience. While the game features poignant moments and clever writing that resonate deeply, some attempts at humor and pacing issues can detract from its emotional impact. Overall, it offers a blend of wholesome storytelling and creative puzzles, making it a touching experience for players seeking an emotional narrative.
“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.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has been criticized for causing slow and stuttering movement, making even basic actions like walking feel cumbersome and frustrating for players.
“This makes even running feel slow and stuttering, and in a game where movement is so common, it makes just walking across a room feel like a hassle.”
“The optimization is so poor that it feels like I'm playing in slow motion, which completely ruins the experience.”
“I constantly experience frame drops and lag, making it frustrating to navigate through the game world.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game has limited replayability, as it can be completed quickly and lacks elements that encourage players to return for additional playthroughs.
“However, the game doesn't take that long and there's virtually no replayability.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to play again.”
“The lack of varied outcomes makes replaying the game feel redundant.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report experiencing occasional glitches that contribute to confusion, indicating that stability issues may affect gameplay.
“Unfortunately, there are a few times where the confusing part is due to glitches.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it hard to enjoy the experience.”
“I encountered several bugs that disrupted gameplay and caused frustration.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly in the final quarter, which relies heavily on repetitive quick time events that lack challenge and engagement. While some moments are humorous, the overall experience is marred by a cheesy plot and uninspired gameplay mechanics.
“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, which made the gameplay feel more like a chore than fun.”
“The amount of grinding required to progress is overwhelming, and it detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
