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 art design and soundtrack are praised for their quality, contributing to a nostalgic and engaging atmosphere.
- The characters are generally well-received, with some being likable and adding depth to the story.
- The game offers multiple endings, which can provide different perspectives on the narrative, although the execution may vary.
- The story is criticized for being poorly structured, with many endings feeling disconnected and lacking coherence.
- The pacing is uneven, with some parts feeling rushed and lacking sufficient development, leading to an unsatisfying conclusion.
- The game is considered too short for its price, leaving players wanting more depth and content in the narrative.
- story52 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 81 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The story of the game has received largely negative feedback, with many reviewers describing it as disjointed, rushed, and lacking coherence. While some elements show potential, the narrative often feels incomplete and fails to deliver a satisfying experience, leaving players confused and underwhelmed. Despite attempts at multiple endings and varying perspectives, the overall execution leaves much to be desired, resulting in a story that feels more like a collection of fragments than a cohesive whole.
“Generally, a story with multiple endings will use its endings to view a scenario from different perspectives, making a cohesive picture.”
“Our main character Igusa Yasunari and four other students end up being trapped alone in the school on the night of the festival, and this is where the story begins.”
“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.”
“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 as to 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.”
- music10 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The music in the visual novel has received mixed reviews, with some praising the soundtrack as nice and well-composed, while others find it repetitive and lacking originality, suggesting it may come from a free music library. Despite the positive remarks on the art and voice acting, the overall consensus indicates that the music does not significantly enhance the experience.
“The premise, soundtrack, and art are excellent, clearly showing the amount of time and talent that went into this.”
“The music was also pretty nice, yet getting pretty repetitive despite the short length of the visual novel.”
“Nice artwork and soundtrack.”
“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.”
“Just finished this visual novel and overall it's not bad, the story, characters, and art style are all pretty good, but the music is a little lacking though.”
“It's a pity because I really liked the art and the OST, and also the voice acting sounds decent, but I can't recommend this visual novel.”
- 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 horrifying elements reminiscent of titles like "Corpse Party," others felt that the overall atmosphere failed to deliver a compelling sense of danger or intrigue throughout the narrative.
“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.”
“[b]{+} scenario:[/b] 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.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the visual novel are praised for their nice artwork and appealing art style, contributing positively to the overall experience. However, some users feel that the quality of the visuals is not fully realized by the story's conclusion, and the soundtrack is considered somewhat lacking.
“The quality of the artwork and intriguing setup are impressive, but they don't get the payoff they deserve by the end of the story.”
“Just finished this visual novel and overall it's not bad; the story, characters, and art style are all pretty good.”
“The artwork and soundtrack are nice.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is hit-or-miss, with some moments eliciting genuine laughter, particularly in the context of otherwise tense scenarios, such as a poorly delivered line during a climactic scene. Overall, while the humor may not consistently land, it can provide unexpected levity amidst the game's darker themes.
“The 7th ending, fittingly titled 'The Seven Mysteries', is the only one that scared me at any point. However, the climax features a line of dialogue so poor that it is also the only one that made me laugh.”
- 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 that enhance player investment in the characters.
“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.”
