Flowers: Le Volume sur Hiver
- June 18, 2022
- Innocent Grey
Get on SteamIn "Flowers: Le Volume sur Hiver," Suoh Shirahane becomes the president of the Council of Nicaea and seeks answers about her missing partner, Mayuri Kohsaka. As winter arrives, Suoh faces challenges and relies on her friends for support. This visual novel from Innocent Grey offers lyrical writing and beautiful artwork, concluding the Flowers series with an emotional finale. Gameplay involves selecting choices for a personalized experience and reaching different endings.
PC
Windows
PlayStation
Playstation Vita
Reviews
- Hiver provides a satisfying conclusion to the Flowers series, wrapping up character arcs and mysteries that have been developed throughout the previous games.
- The game features stunning visuals, beautiful music, and excellent voice acting, contributing to an immersive and emotional experience.
- Despite some flaws, the character development and emotional stakes resonate deeply, making it a memorable journey for fans of the series.
- The plot is often confusing and filled with unresolved questions, leading to frustration for players who expected a clearer resolution.
- Many players felt that the character motivations were poorly explained, particularly regarding Mayuri's disappearance, which detracted from the overall narrative.
- The requirement to replay the game multiple times to unlock all endings was seen as tedious and unnecessary, impacting the enjoyment of the experience.
- story116 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of the "Flowers" series is described as emotionally rich and unique, weaving together complex character arcs and mysteries, though it suffers from occasional plot holes and confusing motivations. While some players found the pacing leisurely and the narrative meandering, many appreciated the depth and interiority of the characters, culminating in a satisfying conclusion that resonates with themes of growth and connection. Overall, it is recommended for those who enjoy yuri and emotional storytelling, despite its flaws.
“Le volume sur hiver, a grand finale to a beautiful saga filled with mysteries and blooming feelings, it truly, truly delivered the best conclusion to every character and flawlessly unfolded a story that was developing since printemps.”
“At the end, flowers winter story not only trumped my guess, but also displayed a sinful talent for pulling my heart in every possible direction.”
“This series is the best visual novel I have ever read, with the story, the character personality, and the visuals.”
“A gorgeously illustrated, voice acted, and written work, all in the service of a flimsy mystery story full of characters whose motivations make no sense.”
“On the other hand, I thought the plot meandered a lot, the drama was too far removed from logic at times, and the ending seemed so incredibly forced.”
“Mainly because the whole plot was a whole lot of nothing.”
- music50 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the "flowers" series is consistently praised for its beautiful composition, particularly the classical elements featuring piano and strings, which enhance the game's atmosphere and emotional depth. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, describing it as top-tier and integral to the storytelling, with some noting improvements in sound effects in the latest installment. While there are minor technical issues, such as music stuttering on the home screen, the overall reception of the music remains overwhelmingly positive, contributing significantly to the game's artistic quality.
“The flowers saga seriously has the best music composition I have ever heard; every song and instrumental from openings to BGM and credits is a top-tier masterpiece.”
“The music is perfect for setting the moods, and character development is true to who they've been through the previous games in the series.”
“Every aspect of the art and music feels classy and high quality.”
“But unlike autumn, which I found lacking a little something when it came to its music and sounds, I found this episode to outdo itself here.”
“Cons: the music stutters sometimes on the home screen; some letters do not appear correctly (r, n, j) in some dialog boxes.”
“Like all other flowers entries, the title screen music will glitch if you touch the settings; there are typos, and sometimes letters get cut out of the text box.”
- emotional22 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with many players expressing that it evokes a wide range of feelings, from sadness to joy, often leading to tears. The immersive writing and character development contribute to a deeply impactful narrative, making the conclusion of the series particularly poignant and fulfilling. Overall, players recommend the game for those seeking a heartfelt and emotional storytelling experience.
“It's so good it made me cry, that's no easy feat.”
“They're not only tears of sadness that the series I have come to love so dearly has inevitably come to an end, but also tears of happiness, of fulfillment that I have read such a beautiful and wholesome story about the girls who grew with the seasons.”
“Without going into spoilers, this is an extremely emotional conclusion to the whole series.”
- graphics18 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Flowers" are widely praised for their stunning watercolor art style and elegant visuals, which beautifully complement the narrative. The integration of classical music, particularly piano and strings, enhances the overall experience, creating a rich audiovisual atmosphere that elevates the storytelling. Reviewers consistently highlight the artwork as a standout feature, contributing to the series' status as a top-tier visual novel.
“Magnificent visuals, engaging story, and characters paired with a failed route system.”
“Music and art styles are really elegant.”
“This series is the best visual novel I have ever read, with the story, the character personality, and the visuals.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, characterized by captivating music and a charming energy that immerses players in a light yuri and mystery experience. While the plot may have some inconsistencies, the overall ambiance is described as lovely and engaging, reminiscent of other atmospheric titles like printemps.
“The music just works and the atmosphere - as expected from a flowers game - really pulled me in.”
“I think it's worth playing if you're into some light yuri and mystery and can disregard some plot holes for a genuinely great atmosphere.”
“Flowers is a lovely experience that's incredibly atmospheric, but you'd be better off not thinking too hard about the actual plot.”
- character development6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is particularly strong in the summer and autumn episodes, showcasing the growth and ongoing insecurities of the characters from previous games, which adds realism and depth. However, the winter episode shifts focus more towards the overarching story, introducing complex layers while still maintaining the essence of the characters' journeys. Overall, the development remains consistent with their established identities, enhanced by a fitting musical backdrop.
“While summer and autumn episodes are mostly noticeable in their character development, the winter episode gives much more importance to the story itself and its surprisingly numerous layers.”
“The music is perfect for setting the moods, and the character development is true to who they've been through the previous games in the series.”
“I like how we can see the character development of the girls from the past games. Even though they have grown, they still keep their insecurities, making the characters seem more realistic and revealing more information we did not know about them.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its humor and lovable characters, including previously disliked ones who have improved in this installment. Additionally, the intriguing mysteries contribute to the overall comedic tone, enhancing the player experience.
“It is humorous, all characters are lovable, and the mysteries are interesting.”
