Melancholy Republic
- April 12, 2018
- Cloud Runner Studios
Get on Steam"Melancholy Republic" is a cinematic, story-driven game set in the city-state of Lorna, where players uncover conspiracies and the tales of broken souls. Explore a vast world filled with detailed political and cultural intrigue, hundreds of characters, and a rich original soundtrack. Experience a deep and tragic story of love, loss, and conspiracy in this character-driven adventure.
Reviews
- The game features a compelling and emotional story with well-developed characters, showcasing a unique political setting.
- The soundtrack is beautiful and enhances the overall experience, with some tracks being particularly memorable.
- Visually, the game is stunning for an RPG Maker title, with impressive graphics and atmospheric design.
- The game lacks basic functionality, such as a proper menu and customizable controls, leading to a frustrating user experience.
- It is more of a visual novel than a traditional RPG, which may disappoint players expecting combat and gameplay mechanics.
- The writing suffers from pacing issues, plot holes, and inconsistent dialogue, detracting from the overall narrative quality.
- story30 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, praised for its emotional depth, beautiful soundtrack, and compelling characters, yet criticized for plot holes, inconsistent dialogue, and a rushed ending. While some players found the narrative captivating and well-crafted, others felt it lacked interactivity and left them wanting more in terms of gameplay. Overall, it appeals primarily to those who appreciate story-driven experiences, despite its shortcomings.
“I think what bothers me most about this game is I don't think I'll ever find something with this concept ever again, and that more than anything, more than the tragedy at the heart of this story, leaves me heartbroken.”
“Excellent story and characters, emotional, well-written, and absolutely beautiful soundtrack.”
“Those that enjoy gaming as a storytelling medium, this sure is a great story to be told.”
“The mystery gets abandoned within a day of the story, and the ending twist, so key to the tragedy, never bothers to explain how Kromwell predicted their plan.”
“And for a visual novel, there are numerous plot holes and clichés that make this rank pretty low on the bar for good storytelling.”
“There is nothing you can do to dictate or change the story, and that's what I relish in a video game: carving my own path, making decisions, and seeing how the choices affect the people around me.”
- music11 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and emotional depth, enhancing the overall experience with a well-composed soundtrack that complements the story and characters. While some reviewers noted a desire for more variety during the ending credits, the general consensus is that the music is a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
“Excellent story and characters, emotional, well-written, and absolutely beautiful soundtrack.”
“The soundtrack is beautiful and quite appropriate for the story.”
“First of all, I need to mention how amazing the soundtrack is.”
“Perhaps during the ending credits when a particular piece is on repeat, I wish there'd be more variety, but it's the only complaint about the soundtrack I can muster.”
“While I have yet to definitively comment on it, the obvious plus point is the soundtrack!”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The gameplay is engaging but leaves some players wanting more depth, particularly in the political mechanics of being a senator, such as law-passing and political maneuvering. While the current design aligns with the original concept, there is a desire for a more immersive experience in future installments. Additionally, a minor frustration noted is that pressing F12 exits the gameplay instead of taking a screenshot.
“It also felt like there were a few missed opportunities, like the actual work as a senator not having a bigger part in the gameplay, but that could possibly stray too far from the original concept.”
“I would have loved to see a deeper look at the political schemes of the senate, with gameplay built around politics, passing and voting on laws, convincing people to sponsor your propositions, and making political deals. Maybe we could see that in a sequel about the main character's father and the events that lead to his assassination.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its excellent storytelling, well-developed characters, and beautiful soundtrack, evoking strong emotional responses from players. Despite its quality, it currently has a mixed reception, which some find disheartening.
“Excellent story and characters, emotional, well-written, and absolutely beautiful soundtrack.”
“The fact that as I write this, this game only has 16 reviews and is currently 'mixed' is heartbreaking to see.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its effective blend of fun and poignant moments, enhanced by a unique graphical style and clever fourth wall humor.
“I loved the story of this game and the graphical style; the atmosphere was a good mix of fun scenes and sad scenes, with some rare, actually good fourth wall/meta humor.”
- graphics1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are praised for their unique style, effectively blending fun and somber atmospheres, which enhances the storytelling experience. Additionally, the incorporation of clever fourth wall and meta humor adds to the overall visual appeal.
“I loved the story of this game and the graphical style; the atmosphere was a good mix of fun scenes and sad scenes, with some rare, actually good fourth wall/meta humor.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users generally find the replayability of the game to be very low, with many stating that there is little to no incentive to play it again after the initial experience.
“The replay value is non-existent.”
“Once you finish the game, there's no incentive to play it again.”
“The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying the game feel pointless.”
