Light Fairytale Episode 1

About

In "Light Fairytale Episode 1," players navigate an underground world ruled by a dark empire, controlling protagonist Haru and his skilled companion Kuroko. This Japanese-style RPG aims to recreate the immersion and emotion of 90's era JRPGs, offering a self-contained adventure that serves as the series' start. Characters are well-developed, and combat system is turn-based, promising a nostalgic experience with modern touches.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

+14

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 154 reviews

story33 positive mentions

monetization7 negative mentions

The game features charming graphics and a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic JRPGs, particularly Final Fantasy VII.
The story and character designs are engaging, with a lighthearted tone and humorous dialogue that adds to the overall charm.
The game successfully captures the essence of turn-based combat, with a simple yet enjoyable battle system and fun mini-games.

The game is very short, with a playtime of around 2-3 hours, which many players feel does not justify the price.
The combat system lacks depth and variety, with limited magic options and equipment, making battles feel repetitive.
There are technical issues, such as clunky controls and a lack of customization options, which detract from the overall experience.

story
112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
68%
3%
The story of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its charm and character designs, while others criticize it for being generic and simplistic. Although the narrative is engaging and has potential for future development, the episodic format leaves some feeling unsatisfied due to its short length and lack of depth. Overall, players are hopeful for more substantial storytelling in upcoming episodes, despite the current limitations.
- “I love the rich storyline and character design.”
- “The soundtrack is amazing and, together with the anime in the credits, it really draws me into the story.”
- “An absolutely wonderful game, I love the story and the characters.”
- “The story is very generic, but I do like the character designs.”
- “It's basically just a retro turn-based JRPG with the usual visual novel style exposition that JRPGs rely on because they could never work out how to narrate their story through the medium of the game itself.”
- “The story is charming, but not extremely deep as of this episode.”
graphics
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
26%
6%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the stunning visuals, charming art style, and effective use of a modern graphics engine that evokes nostalgia for classic JRPGs. The artwork, including cute chibi characters and beautifully designed environments, enhances the overall aesthetic, making it a standout feature of the game. While some noted minor issues with gameplay, the graphics consistently impressed, often being described as superb for an indie title.
- “Surprisingly gorgeous visuals, this one-man team has released something special indeed, a genuinely enjoyable - albeit frightfully short - first episode in a planned series of four.”
- “The graphics of the environments are stunning, even better than some so-called AAA games out there, as for the story seems quite funny and that ol' good classic dystopic future.”
- “Graphics are absolutely superb.”
- “Visuals: it has anime inspired visuals, again like above its not mind blowing but its above average”
- “It does a pretty good job of capturing the feeling of final fantasy 7 (at least, how I remember it from playing it decades ago) - though that includes the good as well as the bad; though the aesthetics are cool, the combat is boring and largely unstrategic and sometimes it's hard to tell where the exits are in a room/screen (though the AR goggles help, when you can remember to use them).”
- “This game bleeds FF7-Midgar visual aesthetic, and Kuroko and Haru are essentially Tifa and Cloud at age 15.”
music
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
39%
7%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack as amazing and atmospheric, often drawing comparisons to classic titles like Final Fantasy VII. While some find the music catchy and integral to the game's emotional impact, others describe it as forgettable or repetitive. Overall, the soundtrack is generally considered a strong point, enhancing the visuals and story.
- “The soundtrack is amazing and, together with the anime in the credits, it really draws me into the story.”
- “The music in this game is not just good, it's bloody amazing and so catchy!”
- “The soundtrack adds so much atmosphere to the game and affected my mood during different scenes and locations in the game.”
- “The music is very forgettable.”
- “Repetitive music.”
- “Music is alright, but somewhat unremarkable.”
gameplay
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
65%
8%
The gameplay is characterized as a classic turn-based JRPG experience, reminiscent of titles like Final Fantasy VII, featuring simple mechanics and a focus on storytelling rather than depth in combat or exploration. While the graphics and art style are praised, many reviewers note the gameplay lacks innovation and can feel linear, with limited progression and exploration options. Mini-games provide some variety, but overall, the gameplay is seen as standard and may not satisfy those seeking more complex mechanics.
- “Great classic turn-based JRPG gameplay and storytelling in a modern graphics engine.”
- “The gameplay is exactly what you would expect from a classic JRPG style game.”
- “The graphics and gameplay are charming.”
- “Battle systems could use more depth, but I'm playing for the story, not the game mechanics.”
- “Limited battle mechanics, simple story.”
- “The mechanics are... flawed but alright.”
character development
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
43%
14%
Character development in the game is noted for its appealing and cute character designs, which are consistently praised across reviews. While the storyline is described as generic, the combination of engaging character aesthetics and enjoyable narratives contributes to an overall fun gaming experience.
- “I love the rich storyline and character design.”
- “Cute character designs and good stories also make the game very fun to enjoy.”
- “I also liked the character design and the music.”
- “The story is very generic, but I do like the character designs.”
monetization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of this title has been criticized for misleadingly presenting a demo as a full game, which detracts from genuine developers and misleads consumers. Users express frustration over the developer's attempt to charge high prices for what is essentially an advertisement for a failed Kickstarter project, raising concerns about ethical practices in game marketing on platforms like Steam. Overall, this approach is seen as harmful to both gamers and the gaming community.
- “It's an advertisement/demo for a failed Kickstarter (that they still want your money for).”
- “While it might seem like an innocuous mistake, publishing demos and advertisements as if they are full games is misleading and in some ways harmful.”
- “The developer does not dispute that this is not a game, and is only a demo, yet persists in scamming gamers exorbitant prices for this failed advertisement.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its humor, featuring enjoyable conversations, funny dialogues, and amusing achievements that contribute to a lighthearted and entertaining experience. Players appreciate the blend of humor with a visually stunning environment, making it a standout in the JRPG-like genre. Overall, the comedic elements are a significant highlight, enhancing the game's appeal.
- “I enjoyed the conversations very much; there are some Easter eggs here and there and many funny situations.”
- “This is a funny and shiny JRPG-like adventure; I say JRPG-like because JRPGs are supposed to be longer.”
- “The game is funny, cute, and overall amazing! 10/10, can't wait to see episode 2.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
83%
Players note that while some grinding is necessary to extend gameplay, it can become tedious, especially in repeated playthroughs where dialogue remains largely unchanged. The absence of experience grinding is disappointing for those who enjoyed it in previous titles, and while battles are visually appealing, they can feel slow, particularly for players who prefer to grind for experience points.
- “The second playthrough was largely tedious since 99% of dialog is identical.”
- “It feels good and it looks good, although I think it would be nice to have the option to speed up regular attacks - sometimes the battles can feel rather slow, especially if you like grinding for experience points.”
- “That's a bit sad for me as the part I enjoyed most in FFVII was grinding materia growth.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its captivating aesthetic and exceptional soundtrack, which significantly enhances the player's mood and immersion across various scenes. While movement controls may feel restrictive, they are seen as a necessary compromise to maintain the overall ambiance. The anime elements further contribute to the game's incredible atmosphere.
- “The soundtrack adds so much atmosphere to the game and affected my mood during different scenes and locations in the game, and don't even get me started on the anime...it's incredible!!!!!!”
- “It's got a great aesthetic, OST, and a classic atmosphere.”
- “+music, atmosphere”
- “Movement control makes me feel bad (I understand because moving too fast would just ruin the atmosphere).”
- “The soundtrack adds so much atmosphere to the game and affected my mood during different scenes and locations in the game.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users report that the game's optimization is solid, with no performance issues or frame rate drops noted. The basic art style contributes to its low demand on system resources, ensuring a smooth experience for players.
- “Performance: No problem so far.”
- “Performance: The basic style means it isn’t very demanding; I have never encountered any FPS issues at all.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
50%
While the graphics are praised, the game is reported to have significant bugs affecting overall stability, though some users noted the absence of glitches.
- “There were no glitches from what I can tell.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes.”
- “I experienced consistent performance throughout my playtime.”
- “The graphics are really great, but the game itself is still really buggy.”