Monorail Stories
- September 29, 2022
- Stelex Software
Get on Steam"Monorail Stories" is a narrative-driven game that follows the lives of two commuters, Silvie and Ahmal, who travel between the Cities of M and L via the Monorail Transit System. Through daily interactions on the monorail, players can influence the characters' relationships and create unique stories based on their choices. The game takes place above the Bay, providing a picturesque backdrop to the unfolding events.
iPad
iPhone
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Phone
Steam Deck
Windows
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Reviews
- The game features enjoyable voice acting and charming pixel art, creating an engaging atmosphere.
- It offers high replayability with multiple endings and branching storylines, encouraging players to explore different choices.
- The cooperative gameplay fosters meaningful connections and deep conversations between players, enhancing the emotional impact of the narrative.
- The lack of a save feature and the need to replay the entire game to explore different outcomes can be frustrating and tedious.
- Some players found the dialogue and character interactions to be unnatural and forced, detracting from the overall experience.
- The game can feel repetitive, as choices often lead to similar outcomes and the endings can be unsatisfying or abrupt.
- story33 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized as simple yet emotionally engaging, with players forming attachments to the characters. While it features branching options and encourages deep conversations, many reviewers note that choices have minimal impact on the overall plot, leading to a repetitive experience. Additionally, the portrayal of political themes is criticized for being naive, suggesting a rushed narrative that may prioritize agenda over depth.
“The story is simple but good, and I feel emotionally attached to the characters.”
“Through engaging storytelling and meaningful dialogue options, the game encourages deep conversations and reflections on life's joys and challenges.”
“This is mostly a character-driven story about their daily lives; the conversations you have on the train with people you know only from sharing a commute with them, the funny and heart-warming situations they find themselves in.”
“So repetitive, your choices barely change the main plot and different endings are so short, just a couple of new texts.”
“The political conflict which unfurls in the background is also so naively described that I wonder if the story writer behind this game just wanted to push his agenda or rather rushed the story to meet some deadline.”
“So we have a point-and-click (or rather left-right-and-space) adventure game, focused on a story, which has limited dialogue options!”
- emotional18 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Monorail Stories" is highlighted by its simple yet impactful narrative that fosters deep connections with its characters. Players experience a heartwarming co-op journey filled with meaningful conversations and shared moments, enhancing the emotional resonance through collaborative decision-making. This indie game celebrates human connection and empathy, leaving players with a profound appreciation for compassion and the intricacies of daily life.
“The story is simple but good, and I feel emotionally attached to the characters.”
“This indie gem takes you on a touching journey aboard a monorail, where you'll encounter diverse characters, engage in heartfelt conversations, and navigate life's ups and downs together.”
“If you're seeking a poignant and introspective online cooperative experience, Monorail Stories is a heartfelt journey that will leave you and your friend with a renewed appreciation for the power of compassion and shared experiences.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally well-received, with many praising the retro pixel art style and its suitability for the game's design. However, some users noted significant graphical glitches that detract from the overall experience, suggesting that while the visuals are appealing, they are not without flaws. Overall, the art style and music are highlighted as strong points, but reliance on visuals as the main positive aspect raises concerns.
“The pixel graphics are great.”
“The graphics are perfectly okay for what they are; retro pixel art in a side-scrolling game, but that's a design choice, and not criticizing on that score.”
“I like the art style and the voice acting.”
- music12 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise for its excellent quality, with many users noting its soothing and non-intrusive nature that enhances the overall experience. The soundtrack effectively creates a reflective and contemplative mood, making it a standout feature that players appreciate enough to purchase separately. Overall, the combination of nice voices, music, and graphics contributes to a deeply immersive atmosphere.
“The soothing soundtrack further enhances the experience, immersing you in a reflective and contemplative mood.”
“The soundtrack is relaxed and non-intrusive.”
“It's such good background music.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay emphasizes cooperative elements, enabling players to make choices that influence the narrative and foster connections. However, the implementation of dialogue options is criticized as poor, and there is a notable lack of puzzles or engaging gameplay mechanics.
“The cooperative gameplay allows you and your friend to make choices, shape the narrative, and forge connections that transcend the virtual world.”
“Even the mechanics of choosing the dialogue options are poorly implemented.”
“Don't expect any puzzles or gameplay.”
“Don't expect any puzzles or gameplay.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability, primarily due to its multiple endings and likable characters, encouraging players to experience the story from different perspectives.
“The characters are likable, and it's definitely got tons of replay value.”
“A short adventure game with high replayability due to many different endings you can get.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Monorail Stories is highly praised for its charming pixel art and immersive backgrounds, which effectively enhance the overall visual experience.
“Visually, Monorail Stories captivates with its charming pixel art and atmospheric backgrounds.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is notably poor, with frequent graphical glitches undermining the overall experience. While the visuals are highlighted as a positive aspect, their execution is flawed, raising concerns about the game's reliability.
“Visuals are the only good thing here (which already is a big red flag for a point-and-click game if this is the main positive thing), and even that wasn't made in a good way, because there are graphical glitches everywhere.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from character-driven interactions and relatable, everyday situations, particularly the amusing and heartwarming exchanges that occur during commutes. Players appreciate the lightheartedness and charm of these moments, which enhance the overall narrative experience.
“This is mostly a character-driven story about their daily lives; the conversations you have on the train with people you know only from sharing a commute with them, the funny and heartwarming situations they find themselves in.”
