Epiphyllum in Love
- March 16, 2020
- #workshop
"Epiphyllum in Love" is a narrative-driven game where you help an enchanted epiphyllum cactus find love. Solve puzzles and make choices in a charming 2D world to uncover the cactus's story and shape its romantic destiny. Along the way, discover the beauty and diversity of Mexican culture and mythology.
Reviews
- The game features a unique and captivating story that explores themes of memory and human relationships.
- The character designs and artwork are well-done, making it easy for players to connect with the characters.
- The music enhances the emotional atmosphere of the game, contributing to a memorable experience.
- The narrative feels rushed and contains plot holes, particularly regarding the protagonist's memory issues.
- There are several minor translation errors and typos that can disrupt the flow of the story for English readers.
- The game does not run in the background, which can be inconvenient for players who multitask.
- story54 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story is centered around a boy who chooses to forget his memories to avoid regrets, leading to a complex narrative that intertwines themes of memory, love, and human existence. While the concept is praised for its depth and philosophical undertones, many reviewers noted issues such as a rushed narrative, plot holes, and a lack of character development, which detracted from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the emotional atmosphere and endearing characters were highlighted as strengths, making it a thought-provoking, albeit sometimes confusing, journey.
“As with the other novels of the trilogy, the story's concept is certainly unique, involving memory and its importance in the human personality/soul.”
“A very beautiful story of dramatic love mixed with philosophy!”
“At the very beginning, I thought it was a normal romantic story, but the more I advanced, the more the incomprehension set in. The story begins to seem very complex, and I must admit that I had difficulty understanding the philosophy of this visual novel, but I did well to hold until the end, because at the end, we understand everything. The author tries to convey messages and encourages us to reflect on various aspects of life and what it means to be human!”
“It suffers, however, from a rushed narrative and plot holes.”
“For those reading the story in English, there are quite a few minor translation and typo mistakes, with a few areas in the story where the narrative gets lost in translation.”
“The story isn't going many places and feels too much like the targeted audience are 12-16 year olds... I am 24 and I didn't enjoy it much.”
- music14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the kinetic novel is praised for effectively enhancing the emotional atmosphere, particularly during dramatic moments, with an overall rating of 8/10. While the original soundtrack is memorable, it is noted to be less impactful compared to other titles in the genre. The combination of beautiful art and music contributes significantly to the overall experience, despite some minor translation issues.
“The OST brings out the atmosphere of the story, especially during the dramatic moments; you can feel all kinds of emotions just by listening to it.”
“The music is great, and since the game is a kinetic novel, you don't have to do anything besides read and click to advance.”
“The music sets the atmosphere very well without being overwhelming; we understand the circumstances, even if the translation sometimes seems a little strange in context.”
“The music is decent but lacks variety, making it feel repetitive over time.”
“The soundtrack does not enhance the experience as much as I hoped; it often feels out of place.”
“While the music fits some scenes, it can be overly dramatic and detracts from the overall narrative.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this visual novel is minimal, primarily consisting of clicking to advance the story. While the plot features intentional complexity, particularly with its amnesia theme, players may find it either engaging or confusing, leading to varied ratings between 7 and 9 out of 10 based on personal preference.
“The plot progresses and sorts of loops with the amnesia theme playing out. Take note of the duration or the time span of things as you play through the game. It is confusing, but it is an intentional mechanic for the entire story.”
“In a visual novel, there is no gameplay to speak of other than clicking.”
“The gameplay is essentially non-existent, as it relies solely on clicking through text.”
“The plot development is confusing and loops around the amnesia theme, which may frustrate players who prefer more straightforward gameplay.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their nice artwork and audio, contributing to an overall appealing visual and auditory experience.
“The graphics and design are stunning, showcasing incredible attention to detail.”
“The artwork is beautiful and complements the audio perfectly.”
“The visual design is impressive, creating an immersive experience.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is significantly enhanced by its original soundtrack, which effectively conveys a range of emotions during dramatic moments without overwhelming the player. While the music complements the narrative well, some users noted that the translations can occasionally feel out of place.
“The OST brings out the atmosphere of the story, especially in the dramatic moments; you can feel all kinds of emotions just by listening to it.”
“The music sets the atmosphere very well without being overwhelming; we understand the circumstances, even if the translation sometimes seems a little strange in context.”
“The music sets the atmosphere well without being overwhelming; we understand the circumstances, although sometimes the translation seems a little strange in context.”
“The original soundtrack enhances the atmosphere of the story, especially during dramatic moments; you can feel a range of emotions just by listening to it.”
- stability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users report excellent stability, noting that the game runs smoothly without any bugs.
“No bugs at all, runs great!!!”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players note that the game begins with a wholesome and relaxing tone, but this shifts dramatically to a darker atmosphere around the midpoint, creating a stark emotional contrast that persists until the end.
“The start of the game is pretty wholesome and, dare I say, even relaxing, but suddenly, somewhere around the middle, it became pretty dark until the end of the game.”
- character development2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is highly praised, receiving a score of 9.5/10, with intricate interactions between main and subplots that culminate in a satisfying conclusion. However, the complexity and foreign nature of the scenarios may make it less relatable for some players, as the narrative primarily unfolds from the protagonist's perspective.
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