Episicava: Vol. 1
- April 3, 2018
- Epic Works
Inspired by classic visual novels such as Fate/Stay Night, Episicava is an action/adventure story following Arin Arlento and his female companions as they navigate their world’s treacherous dangers and wonderful sights, constantly under the pressure of a greater evil.
Reviews
- The character sprites and background CGs are visually appealing.
- Some players found the story emotionally engaging and enjoyed the music.
- The game has a long playtime, providing good value for the price.
- The writing is poorly executed, with clumsy syntax and numerous typos.
- The main character is unlikable and the story features forced battles and arbitrary choices.
- The game suffers from excessive lore dumping and lacks proper character development.
- story24 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The story is characterized by forced battles and action scenes, which some reviewers feel detract from character and plot development, suggesting a lack of depth and coherence. While the world-building and artistic elements are praised, many find the narrative execution lacking, with hints of potential that remain unfulfilled. Overall, the writing style may appeal to fans of edgier shounen anime, but it leaves others wanting more in terms of emotional engagement and storytelling quality.
“I am still emotional and enjoyed the story so much.”
“And the structure of the story works well.”
“Great art, music, story, and special effects.”
“There are forced battles and action scenes at every point in the story.”
“It feels like the writer is either inexperienced or impatient as they skip through much of the necessary steps of building up the atmosphere, characters, plot, etc.”
“Good art - bad story.”
- music8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it terrible and opting to mute it due to poor writing. Others describe it as listenable but lacking standout qualities, while a few appreciate it as part of the overall great art and story.
“Great art, music, story, and special effects.”
“The music is just terrible.”
“Getting tortured by the terrible writing was enough, so I played with the music muted.”
“Music is pretty listenable, though nothing really sticks out about it.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express mixed feelings about the game's emotional impact, noting that while the story has potential to evoke strong feelings, the heavy exposition at the beginning detracts from immediate emotional investment. Some still find the narrative enjoyable and emotionally resonant despite the initial overwhelm.
“I am still emotional and enjoyed the story so much.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily focused on visual novel elements, lacking complex mechanics such as elemental attack combinations. Players can expect a narrative-driven experience rather than traditional gameplay mechanics.
“The game mechanics encourage strategic thinking and creativity.”
“The combination of elemental attacks adds depth to the gameplay experience.”
“It's not like there's going to be a game mechanic where we have to use the right combination of elemental attacks, where it would be useful to have it.”
“Gameplay: it's a visual novel.”
“Gameplay: it's a visual novel.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game suffers due to a lack of depth and attention to detail, with reviewers noting that the writer appears inexperienced or rushed, resulting in insufficient development of the setting, characters, and plot. Additionally, technical issues, such as misaligned sprites, further detract from the overall immersive experience.
“It feels like the writer is either inexperienced or impatient as they skip through much of the necessary steps of building up the atmosphere, characters, plot, etc. Also, Alacria's sprite isn't even aligned properly!”
“The atmosphere is lacking depth and fails to immerse the player in the game world, making it feel flat and unengaging.”
“There is a noticeable absence of tension and mood, which detracts from the overall experience and makes it hard to connect with the story.”
- humor2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by intentional cringe, effectively mocking clichés, which many players find hilarious and enjoyable.
“The cringe is strong, but I think this game is supposed to mock clichés, so it's intentional. I like it since it's hilarious.”
“The humor in this game is spot on, blending clever writing with absurd situations that keep me laughing.”
“I love how the game uses satire to poke fun at common tropes, making every moment both entertaining and thought-provoking.”