Melancholy Republic

About

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

67%

Audience ScoreBased on 21 reviews

story11 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features a beautiful soundtrack that enhances the emotional experience and is often praised as one of its standout elements.
The story is compelling and filled with heart, showcasing a mix of tragedy, romance, and political intrigue that resonates with players.
Visually, the game is impressive for an RPG Maker title, with stunning maps and environments that contribute to an immersive atmosphere.

The game lacks basic functionality, such as a proper menu and customizable controls, leading to a frustrating user experience.
Many players feel that the writing is inconsistent and often fails to capture nuance, resulting in one-dimensional characters and plot holes.
As a visual novel rather than a traditional RPG, the game offers minimal player agency, which may disappoint those expecting more interactive gameplay.

story
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
58%
9%
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some praising its emotional depth, beautiful soundtrack, and character development, while others criticize its linearity, plot holes, and inconsistent dialogue. Many players appreciate the compelling narrative and atmosphere, but some feel the story's execution falters towards the end, leaving them wanting more engagement and resolution. Overall, it appeals primarily to those who enjoy story-driven experiences, despite its shortcomings.
- “Excellent story and characters, emotional, well-written, and absolutely beautiful soundtrack.”
- “I loved the story to 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.”
- “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.”
- “I won't repeat what I have said in the review, but Melancholy Republic isn't a game; it's an interactive story. Unfortunately, the story isn't very good, and the characters are not the best.”
- “And for a visual novel, there are numerous plot holes and clichés that make this rank pretty low on the bar for good storytelling.”
music
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
73%
7%
20%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and emotional depth, enhancing the overall storytelling experience. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, with many describing it as gorgeous and fitting for the narrative, though some express a desire for more variety during certain segments. Overall, the music is considered a significant strength of the game, contributing to its charm and 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.”
- “Even though it has numerous flaws, it is so profoundly human, so completely imbued with love... in a nutshell to the moon x 10 (even the music).”
- “While I have yet to definitively comment on it, the obvious plus point is the soundtrack!”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its excellent storytelling and character development, evoking a wide range of emotions from heartwarming to tragic. Reviewers highlight its beautiful soundtrack and describe the narrative as both sincere and unsettling, contributing to a deeply impactful emotional experience. Despite its quality, the game's mixed reviews are seen as disheartening.
- “Excellent story and characters, emotional, well-written, and absolutely beautiful soundtrack.”
- “A deeply generous, heartwarming, sincere, tragic, funny, unsettling, hopeful, and joyful narrative game.”
- “The fact that as I write this, this game only has 16 reviews and is currently 'mixed' is heartbreaking to see.”
gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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 expanded gameplay elements that explore the intricacies of political schemes. 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.”
- “Don't press F12 (screenshot) as it exits gameplay.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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, creating an engaging and immersive experience.
- “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.”
graphics
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users generally find the game's replayability to be lacking, with many stating that there is little to no incentive to play through it again after the initial experience.
- “The replay value is non-existent.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to play it again.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying the game feel pointless.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is described as a blend of heartwarming and tragic elements, creating a sincere and joyful experience that is both unsettling and hopeful. This combination contributes to a deeply generous narrative that resonates with players on multiple emotional levels.
- “A deeply generous, heartwarming, and funny narrative game that balances sincerity with humor.”
- “The game masterfully blends tragic and unsettling moments with a joyful sense of humor.”
- “It's a hopeful experience that keeps you laughing while exploring deeper themes.”