Light Fairytale Episode 1

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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

Reviews

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 138 reviews

story30 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

The game is a charming homage to classic JRPGs, particularly reminiscent of Final Fantasy VII, with beautiful graphics and a nostalgic feel.
The storyline is engaging, with well-designed characters and a rich atmosphere that draws players in, enhanced by a fantastic soundtrack.
Despite its short length, the game offers a fun experience with enjoyable mini-games and a simple yet effective turn-based combat system.

The game is very short, with a playtime of around 2-4 hours, which many players feel does not justify the price tag of $10 per episode.
The combat system lacks depth and variety, with limited spells and equipment, making battles feel repetitive and simplistic.
The episodic format may leave players feeling unsatisfied, as the first episode feels more like a prologue than a complete game, with many unresolved plot points.

story
96 mentions
31 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally well-received, praised for its rich characters and engaging plot, though many players note its brevity, with most storylines lasting around 2-4 hours. While some find the narrative simplistic and the pacing uneven, others appreciate the charming art style and the potential for deeper storytelling in future episodes. Overall, the story is seen as a promising foundation for a larger narrative, with players eager to see how it develops in subsequent installments.
- “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.”
- “I got less than 5 hours out of it, was not given enough of the setting or plot setup to get fully invested, and while the game was enjoyable, it was not polished enough to make up for its short length.”
- “The story is short, and while it has promise, it feels more like a prologue than a complete episode.”
- “I hope that there is going to be some improvement in the upcoming episodes, since otherwise this attempt to make a Final Fantasy VII style game is a huge letdown: there is just nothing that stands out about this game: the generic protagonist and story, relatively empty maps, a very basic combat system, and managing your gear is irrelevant.”
graphics
43 mentions
67 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the stunning visuals, charming art style, and nostalgic aesthetic reminiscent of classic JRPGs like Final Fantasy VII. The indie game's graphics are described as superb, with a unique blend of modern and classic influences that enhance the overall experience. While some noted minor gameplay flaws, the attractive visuals and well-executed design consistently stand out as a highlight.
- “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.”
- “The art style is fun but still looks nice.”
- “Visuals: it has anime-inspired visuals; again, like above, it's not mind-blowing but it's above average.”
- “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.”
- “This game bleeds FF7-Midgar visual aesthetic, and Kuroko and Haru are essentially Tifa and Cloud at age 15.”
gameplay
35 mentions
26 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as a standard turn-based JRPG experience, drawing comparisons to classic titles like Final Fantasy VII, but lacking depth and innovation. While the combat mechanics are basic and the progression feels limited, the game features enjoyable mini-games and a charming art style that evoke nostalgia. Overall, it offers a familiar yet simplistic gameplay experience that may appeal to fans of the genre, despite its shortcomings in complexity and exploration.
- “There are a few mini-games that are actually fun and break the game's normal gameplay up a bit.”
- “The gameplay is exactly what you would expect from a classic JRPG style game.”
- “The graphics and gameplay are charming.”
- “It has strong FF7 vibes, which isn't bad, but it lacks some level of polish with the gameplay.”
- “Limited battle mechanics, simple story.”
- “The mechanics are... flawed but alright.”
music
34 mentions
50 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its ability to enhance the storytelling and atmosphere, often drawing comparisons to classic titles like Final Fantasy VII. While some noted moments of repetitiveness, the overall sentiment highlights a strong, catchy soundtrack that complements the game's visuals and narrative effectively. The soundtrack is considered one of the standout features, contributing significantly to the game's charm and emotional impact.
- “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!!!!!!”
- “The music in this game is not just good, it's bloody amazing and so catchy!!!!”
- “Great story, music, and characters.”
- “Repetitive music”
- “Kind of repetitive and annoying music and sounds”
- “Music is alright, but somewhat unremarkable.”
humor
7 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
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 stunning graphics and a quirky story, making it a standout in the JRPG-like genre. Overall, the comedic elements are a significant highlight, enhancing the game's charm and 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.”
character development
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Reviewers consistently praise the character development for its rich storyline and appealing character designs, highlighting the combination of cute aesthetics and fantastic background art that enhances the overall experience.
- “I love the rich storyline and character design.”
- “I really liked the character designs.”
- “Cute character designs, fantastic background art.”
grinding
5 mentions
20 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
80 % negative mentions
Players have mixed feelings about grinding in the game; while some appreciate the time investment for enjoyment, others find the lack of experience grinding disappointing, especially compared to previous titles like FFVII. Additionally, repetitive dialogue in second playthroughs can make the experience feel tedious, and the slow pace of battles may detract from the enjoyment of grinding for experience points.
- “The second playthrough was largely tedious since 99% of the dialogue 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
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its captivating aesthetic and impactful soundtrack, which significantly enhances the player's mood throughout various scenes. While movement controls may feel restrictive, they are seen as a necessary compromise to maintain the immersive experience. Overall, the combination of visual and auditory elements creates a classic and engaging atmosphere.
- “It's got a great aesthetic, OST, and a classic atmosphere.”
- “The soundtrack adds so much atmosphere to the game and affected my mood during different scenes and locations. And don't even get me started on the anime... it's incredible!”
- “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.”
stability
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
While the graphics are praised for their quality, the game is reported to have significant bugs that affect overall stability, although some users noted a lack of noticeable glitches.
- “There were no glitches from what I can tell.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or bugs.”
- “I experienced consistent performance throughout my playtime.”
- “The graphics are really great, but the game itself is still very buggy.”
- “There were no glitches from what I can tell.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is seen as a foundational element, with potential for growth, particularly in enhancing the combat system through additional orbs and abilities. Players express a desire for more complexity and variability in enemy encounters, suggesting that future episodes could benefit from improved grinding mechanics.
- “It boils down to a 'ground zero' of this game that shows potential. It's like a simpler FFVII battle system with 'materia' orbs, 'limit breaks', fury, and equipment with slots. I do hope that future episodes add more orbs and fury to add some complexity to the combat. As a side note, I hope that the enemy spawn rates on the map change or that they respawn in future episodes; some people like to grind.”