Harmonia
- September 22, 2016
- VisualArts/Key
- 8h median play time
Harmonia is a mess of a visual novel that fails to make the reader feel for its characters or plot and likely should have been put back in the oven for a few months before releasing it on the world.
Get on Steam"Harmonia" is a single-player Science Fiction Simulation game with a sensational story, stellar visuals, and ingenious music. In a devastated world after a great war, an emotions-capable robot named Phiroid embarks on a journey to obtain its lost emotions and find its purpose among the remaining humans. This highly emotional experience explores themes of companionship, love, and the essence of being human.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Harmonia features a beautifully crafted story that explores deep human emotions, making it an engaging experience.
- The art and music are exceptional, enhancing the overall atmosphere and emotional impact of the game.
- Characters are memorable and relatable, with their development resonating well with players, leading to a strong emotional connection.
- The pacing is uneven, with a slow start that may deter some players before the story picks up.
- The ending feels rushed and lacks sufficient explanation, leaving some players unsatisfied with the resolution.
- Some characters may come off as one-dimensional, limiting the depth of their arcs and emotional impact.
- story232 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of *Harmonia* elicits a range of responses, with many praising its emotional depth and character development, while others criticize its pacing and predictability. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, it explores themes of humanity and emotions through a linear narrative that some find engaging and heartfelt, reminiscent of previous works by Key, particularly *Planetarian*. However, the execution has been described as uneven, with some characters feeling one-dimensional and certain plot twists being predictable, leading to mixed feelings about its overall impact.
“A very emotionally engaging story and I loved it.”
“Harmonia's story is one that, like key's other works, will have you feel numerous emotions and make you think.”
“With amazing storytelling and music, Harmonia really sets out to capture the reader's heart in a shorter-than-normal story length for a visual novel but, like Planetarian, key succeeds to impress regardless.”
“Personally, I think the writer tried a bit too hard to make Harmonia a heart-wrenching story; hence, the narrative when developing the conflict between characters feels forced and unnatural.”
“Everything about this visual novel's story is hollow, from the world to the characters, and it feels like it's trying too hard.”
“The story has potential, but the pacing is terrible.”
- music90 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in this visual novel is widely praised for its emotional depth and atmospheric quality, with many reviewers highlighting the contributions of renowned composers like Ryo Mizutsuki and Shinji Orito. The soundtrack effectively enhances the storytelling, with memorable tracks that resonate with players and complement the beautiful artwork. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, elevating the experience and leaving a lasting impression.
“The music is beautiful, and the artwork is gorgeous, but the story was rather disappointing.”
“The music is quite amazing, as expected of Key; there are some extremely strong tracks here that are very memorable and really good at setting the mood.”
“The one thing that consistently annoyed me about the music was that they waited until the very end of the game to use the main theme song with vocals.”
“The soundtrack is hit or miss.”
“Not that Orito's music in this game is bad, but it pales compared to Mizutsuki-san's softer, simpler tracks.”
- emotional47 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game has elicited a wide range of responses, with many players reporting intense feelings, including tears and heartache, particularly during key moments. While some found the narrative's emotional impact to be forced or predictable compared to previous works, others appreciated its heartfelt storytelling and immersive experience. Overall, the game is recognized for its ability to evoke deep emotional responses, despite some critiques regarding its execution and pacing.
“A very emotionally engaging story and I loved it.”
“The journey is more important than the destination here, and it is heartwarming and heart-wrenching in equally powerful doses.”
“It's short, but so emotionally moving.”
- graphics32 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their beauty and high production values, with many reviewers noting the stunning artwork and modern art style as significant highlights. While some mention that certain locations appear average compared to the character designs, the overall visual presentation is considered impressive, complemented by an exceptional soundtrack and voice acting. Despite a few criticisms regarding dated elements and text box size, the visuals are generally regarded as a strong aspect of the game, contributing to an engaging experience.
“The graphics are beautiful, although sometimes it's a bit annoying that the text box takes up the whole screen so you can't enjoy them.”
“It's also, like you would expect from this studio, very well-produced – it looks very good and sounds even better, with music being very climatic and voice acting impeccable.”
“As usual from key/visual arts, a good trio of story/sound/graphics.”
“Art style typical of Key, as if drawn by a child with crayon.”
“The characters are all drawn beautifully, but the same cannot be said for a lot of the locations; they seemed 'average' compared to the rest of the artwork.”
“Even when you put it next to older Eden*, which is closer to Harmonia both in scope and theme, you can see how much better Eden* is both in storytelling and visuals.”
- character development11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the depth and emotional investment in characters like Tipi and Riona, others feel that the initial focus on feelings detracts from substantial growth. The pacing is slow in the early acts, allowing for some development, but several arcs are criticized for feeling underdeveloped. Overall, the character designs are praised for their appeal, contributing to players' attachment to the characters despite some narrative shortcomings.
“With that being said, without spoiling the kinetic visual novel, I will say that it has a captivating storyline and while the surprise twist will not surprise anyone, what's important is the storyline is heavy into character development and you start to care about Tipi and Riona and wonder how this visual novel will end.”
“Character design follows the typical 'moe' style that Key is known for, though don't be fooled; the characters are designed this way so that you will grow attached much easier.”
“It's a bit short and in the beginning they focused more on the 'feelings', thus less character development.”
“Not enough time is spent on character development, so some arcs feel lacking, as if they shouldn't even exist.”
“The first few acts are slow and mainly for character development.”
- atmosphere9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its tranquil and immersive soundtracks, which effectively enhance the storytelling and emotional depth. Reviewers highlight the strong world-building set in a post-apocalyptic environment, where themes of human error and desolation are vividly portrayed. Overall, the combination of sound effects, illustrations, and introspective character development contributes to a compelling and memorable atmospheric experience.
“Imo, Harmonia's greatest strength was its world and atmosphere.”
“It has everything that Key is renowned for: introspective characters, atmospheric soundtrack, and writing.”
“The atmosphere that was built into that moment somehow vanished into nothingness.”
“They got immersive storytelling just right, backed by the astonishing apocalyptic atmosphere, presentation, illustrations, and soundtrack.”
“When you put it down on paper, the similarities are astonishing; both stories feature a post-apocalyptic world caused by human error, where the protagonist wanders a desolate earth, dealing with phenomena like acid rain from atmospheric pollution and attacks from roving bandits.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this kinetic visual novel is linear, offering a single route without player choices, which some players found acceptable given the engaging narrative. With an average playtime of 6-8 hours, the game delivers a compelling emotional story that keeps players invested, earning a strong rating of 9/10 for its storytelling despite the lack of interactive elements. Overall, it is recommended for its value and immersive experience.
“Gameplay: 9/10”
“As a whole, for the small price you pay for the game, I would definitely recommend it. The game seems to average about 6-8 hours of gameplay. I have played it twice, but don't let my time deceive you; I had no internet at first, so it didn't log the hours. The first playthrough was about 6-7 hours, with the second being a little longer (probably due to breaks), but it is 7 hours of great emotional storytelling you won't want to miss.”
“To be honest, this wasn't an issue as I could choose a new font with ease, and it had no effect on the gameplay. I could start the game straight after choosing with no issue.”
“Keep in mind this is a kinetic visual novel, so you will not be presented with options and there will only be one route. In this visual novel, there isn't any extra gameplay along with the story.”
“As a whole, for the small price you pay for the game, I would definitely recommend it. The game seems to average about 6-8 hours of gameplay, and while I have played it twice, don't let my time deceive you. I had no internet at first, so it didn't log the hours. The first playthrough was about 6-7 hours, with the second being a little longer, probably due to breaks, but it is 7 hours of great emotional storytelling you won't want to miss.”
- humor2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight a blend of drama and unexpected twists, with humor that some find lacking or unfunny. Overall, while the game attempts to incorporate comedic elements, it may not resonate with all players.
“The game is filled with unexpected twists and hilarious moments that keep you laughing.”
“I love how the humor is woven into the drama, making every scene entertaining.”
“The witty dialogue and comedic situations add a delightful layer to the gameplay.”
“The jokes fell flat and felt forced, lacking any real wit.”
“I expected a lot more laughs, but the humor was stale and predictable.”
“The attempts at humor were cringeworthy and often missed the mark.”
