Fault Milestone Two Side: Above
- September 8, 2015
- ALICE IN DISSONANCE
- 4h median play time
"Fault Milestone Two Side: Above" is a cinematic visual novel and sequel to "Fault Milestone One." With its new 3D camera system, players can experience the grand science fantasy story of Selphine and her companions in a more immersive and epic setting. However, the story picks up right after the first game, so playing it first is highly recommended to avoid spoilers. Please note that demo saves do not carry over to the full game.
Reviews
- The story is captivating and emotionally engaging, with well-developed characters that resonate with players.
- The visuals and art style have significantly improved, featuring beautiful backgrounds and dynamic camera work that enhances the storytelling experience.
- The soundtrack is exceptional, perfectly complementing the mood and atmosphere of the game.
- The game is relatively short, leaving players wanting more and feeling like it ends abruptly.
- There are no choices or branching paths, making it more of a linear experience that may not appeal to all players.
- Some minor translation errors and inconsistencies in character art quality detract from the overall experience.
- story1,060 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The story of "Fault Milestone 2: Side Above" is praised for its engaging narrative, character development, and emotional depth, building effectively on the foundation laid by its predecessor. While the pacing and world-building are improved, many reviewers express frustration over the incomplete nature of the story, as it ends on a cliffhanger and leaves several plot threads unresolved. Overall, the storytelling is described as captivating and immersive, with a blend of political themes and personal struggles that resonate with players, though some note that the lack of interactivity may detract from the experience.
“I read the story, it felt like a trip through a faraway land and culture, and when it ended there's that bittersweet feeling after a holiday trip.”
“The story is captivating and keeps you on the edge of your seat most of the time.”
“The story, the characters, the lore, they are worth every penny.”
“Do not buy this visual novel, the story will never be finished!”
“30 euros for a total of 8 hours of reading, no choices and no replayability in a story that is unfinished.”
“Unfortunately, a story is only worth telling if it actually finishes.”
- music284 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its quality and ability to enhance the storytelling experience, with many reviewers praising the soundtrack as both beautiful and immersive. While the absence of voice acting is noted as a downside, the instrumental tracks effectively adapt to various scenes, creating an emotional atmosphere that resonates with players. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's overall presentation and enjoyment.
“This game doesn't disappoint in the presentation department - beautiful art, use of cinematography and music heightens the human drama that is being told.”
“Each track masterfully expresses the specific feeling that a scene is supposed to convey, and the OST is very catchy to boot.”
“The music is amazing and fits so well with the story it's kind of scary!”
“Only once did I feel the music go on for too long, and that wasn't as much a melody as it was ambience.”
“I don't know how to comment about the music, but I know when a background music is good and did their job well, and this novel background music did that both.”
“I heard the devs were going to make their own soundtrack for this game (as the prequel used songs from elsewhere), but haven't made sure of this.”
- graphics130 mentions
- 66 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics in this installment have received widespread acclaim for their stunning artwork and significant improvements over the previous title. Reviewers highlight the beautiful character designs, immersive environments, and enhanced 3D camera system that contribute to a more engaging experience. The visuals are complemented by a captivating soundtrack, making the overall presentation a standout feature of the game.
“Not only are the visuals even more breathtaking but the storyline that continues is just as impactful.”
“The artwork is absolutely outstanding, and really makes you want to view every inch of detail.”
“The graphics are some of the most beautiful I have ever seen in a game and the soundtrack is equally amazing.”
“The artwork quality has improved and more animations have been added, what really impressed me the most was the entire game restarted once as a show of Melano's powers.”
“It’s well worth playing this in fullscreen, as the default window doesn’t convey how high resolution the artwork actually is.”
“Graphically much improved from Fault Milestone One.”
- emotional111 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with many players describing it as a powerful and heart-wrenching experience that evokes strong feelings, including tears and deep connections to the characters. The narrative is noted for its improved pacing and intensity compared to its predecessor, delivering a rollercoaster of emotions through touching storylines and impactful moments. Overall, players find the game to be a compelling emotional journey that leaves a lasting impression.
“This game is an emotional roller coaster in the best way possible.”
“We end up discovering a lot of emotional moments, sad truths, and corruption throughout the story which will have you experience sadness and pity for some of the characters.”
“The ending credits scene is also very touching as Mil eventually succumbs to her illness and passes away, but Sol moves on to create his own farm and donates the produce to other residents.”
- character development50 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
Character development in this game is highly praised, with reviewers noting substantial growth for both returning and new characters, particularly the Harthager twins and Princess Selphine. The narrative effectively balances character arcs with story progression, allowing players to become deeply invested in the characters' journeys and relationships. Overall, the writing and character development are described as exceptional, enhancing the emotional depth and engagement of the visual novel.
“I recommend this game to any VN fans that love rich stories and character development.”
“The storytelling in this is completely amazing--no words can describe the beauty of the story and character development as a sequel.”
“The real plus to this game though is the character development; they are not just the awesome protagonists that we grew to love in the first game but they start to grow in such a way that will make you root for them even more than you had before (Selphine and Rune's relationship in particular is a highlight).”
“Despite the amount of characters introduced, we will focus on Sol, the port Sasary tour guide. He receives a significant amount of character development, and we can feel the impact from him more in the story later on since he's the main focus.”
“Ritona and Princess Selphine have been given more character development in this volume, although they still have the habit of emphasizing more of it for the newly introduced characters.”
“While Fault Milestone One spent most of its time detailing the history of the Zhevitz family and explaining the intricacies of the Fault universe, this one focused more on character development and the Harthager twins.”
- gameplay22 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as linear and completely kinetic, lacking choices or traditional gameplay elements, which may deter some players. However, it is praised for its improved mechanics, engaging story, and enhanced technical aspects like art quality and sound engineering. Overall, it appeals to fans of narrative-driven experiences rather than those seeking interactive gameplay.
“10/10, worth every cent paid and worth every hour of gameplay.”
“Compared to the first installment of Fault, this one really improved on mechanics, even to the point of crashing your game on purpose only to re-open to a really scary moment, only to laugh at it after clicking the 'undo' button.”
“On a more technical note, the art quality, sound engineering, and use of game/camera mechanics have all improved significantly.”
“Mechanically, the visual novel is linear.”
“Great visual novel, completely kinetic though, so don't expect any choices or real gameplay.”
“Get it if you want a great little science fantasy story and have played the first one; do not play if you don't like 'games' without gameplay or want a dating sim or fanservice.”
- humor10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by fun interactions and amusing moments, particularly highlighted by the antics of a young character whose extreme actions are both entertaining and engaging. While the game features a mix of funny elements within a deeper narrative, some jokes may fall flat due to the lack of vocal intonation, which could enhance their comedic impact. Overall, the humor is well-received, with new facial expressions adding to the comedic experience.
“No trash talking; fun interactions overall, with some jokes and funny moments.”
“It's a true masterpiece, that mixes tons of funny parts within a very deep and heart-moving bigger plot.”
“And the couple of new facial expressions for our main cast are hilarious.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its seamless integration of art, music, and sound effects, which together create a unique and immersive world. Reviewers highlight how the beautifully crafted soundtrack complements the dialogue and enhances the overall storytelling experience, making it essential for players to engage with it personally to fully appreciate its depth.
“The entire atmosphere it gave, the world that was built and developed, the characters breathing and interacting, it all seamlessly blended together to create something so unique that you have to experience it yourself to truly understand it.”
“The beauty of the soundtrack, it fits perfectly with the atmosphere of the dialogue.”
“Every little thing is connected in a way that creates an atmosphere of a perfect story.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is criticized due to its lack of choices and an unfinished story, leading to a limited experience for players. While some believe the plot has potential for future replayability, many find it challenging to revisit visual novels without significant breaks between playthroughs.
“There are many ways to approach the plot, making the game potentially replayable in the future.”
“Replayability: I find it challenging to replay most visual novels without having a significant gap between play sessions.”
“30 euros for a total of 8 hours of reading, no choices and no replayability in a story that is unfinished.”
“Replayability: although I find it hard to replay most visual novels without having a very large gap in between play times.”
“There's many ways to look at the plot, making the game replayable possibly in the future.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game is built using Ren'Py, which is known for suboptimal performance; however, this allows for compatibility with macOS and Debian systems, enabling a wider range of players to access it.