Light Fairytale Episode 1
- September 13, 2019
- neko.works
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games StoreIn "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.
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Reviews
- The game is a charming homage to classic RPGs, particularly reminiscent of Final Fantasy VII, with beautiful graphics and a captivating soundtrack.
- The storyline is engaging, with well-designed characters that evoke nostalgia and a desire to see their development in future episodes.
- Despite its short length, the game offers enjoyable gameplay with fun mini-games and a simple yet effective turn-based combat system.
- The game is very short, with a playtime of around 2-3 hours, which many players feel does not justify the price point.
- Combat mechanics are basic and lack variety, leading to a feeling of repetitiveness and limited strategic depth.
- The episodic release model has left some players feeling that the game is more of a demo than a complete product, with a desire for more content and polish.
- story192 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, reminiscent of classic JRPGs like Final Fantasy VII. However, many players note that the narrative is quite short, with playthroughs averaging around 2-4 hours, leading to concerns about depth and pacing. As it is episodic, there is hope for future installments to expand on the story and character development, but some players express frustration over the lack of content in the current episode.
“An absolutely wonderful game, I love the story and the characters.”
“The story is solid and lots of people to talk to!”
“Light Fairytale has an amazing storyline and the graphics and characters are so unique.”
“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 the price for its short length.”
“Story: the weakest part, pacing is all over the place, dialogue is very generic and sometimes downright awkward.”
“I hope that there is going to be some improvement in the upcoming episodes, since otherwise this attempt to make a FF 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, no skill/attribute points to distribute and managing your gear is irrelevant, since you need the little cash you have for healing items.”
- graphics86 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 3 % 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 some even noting that they surpass those of certain AAA titles. Overall, the visuals are a major highlight, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and atmosphere.
“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 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 it's not mind blowing but it's 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.”
- gameplay70 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as a standard turn-based JRPG experience, drawing heavy inspiration from classic titles like Final Fantasy VII, but lacking depth and meaningful progression. While the graphics and art style are praised, the mechanics are described as basic and sometimes flawed, with limited exploration and a simple story. Mini-games provide some variety, but overall, the gameplay feels linear and may not engage players looking for more complex mechanics.
“There are a few mini-games that are actually fun and break the game's normal gameplay up a bit.”
“Not that it tries to be a replica or even be close, but there is a lot of feelings of nostalgia this gameplay brings up that can help a gamer fall in love immediately.”
“The gameplay is exactly what you would expect from a classic JRPG style game.”
“The gameplay is basic JRPG.”
“Limited battle mechanics, simple story.”
“For what it is, it is incredibly well done, however it's not all sunshine and rainbows; the indie nature of the game shows, and although all the assets/environments/storytelling are all incredibly well done, the episode's duration and its basic linear gameplay detract heavily from the experience.”
- music68 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 the soundtrack is generally described as catchy and well-composed, some users noted moments of repetitiveness. Overall, the music is considered one of the standout features, contributing significantly to the game's aesthetic 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!!!!”
“If you're looking for a trip down memory lane with an absolutely killer OST - you can't go wrong here.”
“Repetitive music”
“Kind of repetitive and annoying music and sounds”
“Music is alright, but somewhat unremarkable.”
- humor14 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 a visually appealing environment 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 development10 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. The overall impression is that the character design significantly enhances the gaming experience.
“I love the rich storyline and character design.”
“I really liked the character designs.”
“Cute character designs, fantastic background art.”
- grinding10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
Players have mixed feelings about grinding in the game; while some appreciate the aesthetic and feel of battles, they express disappointment over the lack of experience grinding and repetitive dialogue in subsequent playthroughs. The absence of experience grinding, which many enjoyed in previous titles like FFVII, leaves some feeling that the gameplay lacks depth, and there are calls for options to speed up combat to alleviate the tedium. Overall, grinding is seen as a necessary aspect for extending playtime, but its execution could be improved.
“The second playthrough was largely tedious since 99% of the 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.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its captivating aesthetic and outstanding soundtrack, which significantly enhances the player's emotional experience across various scenes. While movement controls can be frustrating, they are understood to be intentionally designed to preserve the immersive atmosphere. Overall, the combination of visual and auditory elements creates a classic and engaging environment.
“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 in the game; 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.”
- stability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
While the graphics of the game are praised, many users report that it suffers from significant bugs, affecting overall stability. However, some players noted that they did not experience any glitches themselves.
“There were no glitches from what I can tell.”
“There were no glitches from what I can tell.”
“The graphics are really great, but the game itself is still really buggy.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is seen as a foundational element that shows potential, likened to a simplified version of the Final Fantasy VII battle system with features like "materia" orbs and "limit breaks." Players express hope for future episodes to introduce more complexity through additional orbs and mechanics, as well as changes to enemy respawn rates for those who enjoy grinding.
