Miniature Garden
- March 30, 2017
- Muzintou
Get on Steam"Miniature Garden" is a narrative-driven game set in a school known for its triennial 'Miniature Festival.' When five students become trapped overnight, they must uncover the truth behind a rumored unnatural death. Featuring a full voice cast, HD visuals, and multiple endings, players will delve into a mystery that unfolds as the festival proceeds. Art by Korie Riko and opening theme by Kanade Nakoto .
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The artwork and character designs are visually appealing and well-executed.
- The game features a variety of endings, allowing players to explore different aspects of the story.
- The soundtrack is enjoyable and adds to the overall atmosphere of the game.
- The story is often confusing and filled with plot holes, leaving many questions unanswered.
- Character development is lacking, with some characters feeling underutilized or inconsistent.
- The game is short, and many players feel it does not provide enough content for its price.
- story93 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 82 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it engaging yet flawed, often feeling rushed and incomplete, leading to confusion and dissatisfaction with plot holes and character development. While there are multiple endings that offer different perspectives, many reviewers noted that the narrative lacks cohesion and fails to deliver a satisfying resolution. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a significant weakness, detracting from the game's potential despite its intriguing setup and characters.
“Generally, a story with multiple endings will use its endings to view a scenario from different perspectives, making a cohesive picture.”
“Yes, it is that kind of story, and it helps if you simply suspend disbelief right from the start in order to enjoy what is an engaging, thoughtful story.”
“Riveting story: while perusing the game it was difficult to pry myself away from the story and focus on finding errors.”
“The story in general is awful that I struggle to believe a human made this.”
“To summarize, this game is a trainwreck of a story that feels like it has been fixed with a storyboard in the planning stage, and I am genuinely curious how this could have been allowed to exist, especially since so much of the game is done properly.”
“Unfortunately, the story introduces a bunch of stuff that doesn't really matter for what's in the visual novel, leaving the main plot feeling incomplete, and the dramatic narrative doesn't have an appreciable arc.”
- music15 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the visual novel is generally described as nice and well-composed, with some standout tracks that enhance key moments. However, many reviewers noted that it can become repetitive and lacks variety, often feeling generic or uninspired. Overall, while the soundtrack has its highlights, it does not significantly elevate the experience for most players.
“The premise, soundtrack, and art are excellent, clearly showing the amount of time and talent that went into this.”
“After reading all the routes, you just wonder 'what was the point of all of this?'... it has a very nice soundtrack and really good art.”
“It does have some very choice songs though, and when it really matters the game will hit you with powerful notes to strengthen surprise reveals, and long awaited success.”
“The setup is boring, the story is boring, the characters are boring, the art is generic as hell and the soundtrack probably comes from a free music library.”
“I only list this as a con because for most of your journey you'll find the music to be bland, not surprising for a visual novel.”
“Music is as standard for visual novels as they come.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is described as inconsistent, with a relaxed tone dominating most of the story and a lack of present danger until the end. While some reviewers appreciated the creepy and dark vibes reminiscent of titles like "Corpse Party," others felt that the overall atmosphere fell short for those seeking a more intense or engaging mystery.
“The atmosphere was horrifying and creepy, giving that dark vibe.”
“There was obvious effort put into the atmosphere and the setup for the mystery.”
“The atmosphere is very relaxed for most of the story, and no one seems to actually be in danger at all until things get very close to the endings.”
“The atmosphere is let down by the lack of present danger throughout most of the story, typically taking place towards the end, if at all.”
“The atmosphere is very relaxed for most of the story and no one seems to actually be in danger at all until things get very close to the endings.”
“The scenario is not exactly novel and definitely gave me 'Corpse Party' vibes early on, but there was obvious effort put into the atmosphere and the set-up for the mystery.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their nice artwork and realistic anime designs, featuring good attention to detail that enhances character portrayal. While the visuals are generally well-received, some reviewers noted that the music could be improved, and the overall payoff of the story does not fully match the quality of the artwork.
“This game has a solid voice cast, an intriguing story, and lovely artwork. While I'm personally not the biggest fan of horror games, I enjoyed this title and think fans of the genre will as well.”
“Some good artwork here, with realistic anime designs and effective use of small details to provide slight characterization.”
“Just finished this visual novel and overall it's not bad; the story, characters, and art style are all pretty good.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some moments eliciting genuine laughter, particularly in the seventh ending, while other attempts feel awkward and out of place, such as random references that disrupt the flow. Overall, the comedic elements can be hit or miss, with some characters being endearingly funny despite their lack of intelligence.
“The 7th ending, fittingly titled 'The Seven Mysteries,' is the only one that scared me at any point; however, the climax has a line of dialogue so poor that it is also the only one that made me laugh.”
“She’s funny, sweet, kind, and also not very bright at all.”
“I get nervous about humor attempts, but when you're referencing George Carlin out of nowhere...”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development in Miniature Garden is praised for its strong design, engaging dialogue, and effective voice acting, contributing to a rich narrative experience with seven distinct endings.
“The character development in Miniature Garden is impressive, featuring seven different endings that reflect the choices you make throughout the game.”
“The good character design, along with engaging dialogue and voice acting, truly enhances the overall experience.”
“I love how the characters evolve based on player decisions, making each playthrough feel unique and rewarding.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the music in the game to be generally decent, but it can occasionally feel out of place or become repetitive, contributing to a tedious grinding experience.
