Musicus!
- December 20, 2019
- OVERDRIVE
"Musicus!" is a visual novel that follows the protagonist's journey to find their true self while facing societal pressures to conform. The game features a story-rich experience with a focus on music and self-expression. Players will make choices that impact the outcome of the narrative, as they explore themes of identity, belonging, and the value of staying true to oneself.
PC
Reviews
- Musicus offers a unique and emotionally impactful story about the struggles and realities of pursuing a music career, with well-developed characters that feel genuine and relatable.
- The soundtrack is exceptional, featuring original tracks that enhance the narrative and create an immersive experience for players.
- The game successfully breaks away from typical visual novel tropes, focusing more on character development and personal growth rather than formulaic romance.
- The user interface and text display can be cumbersome, making it difficult to read and follow the story smoothly.
- Some character arcs and plot points feel underdeveloped or inconsistent, leading to moments of confusion and frustration for players.
- The game has pacing issues and a heavy tone, which may not appeal to those looking for a lighter or more traditional visual novel experience.
- music36 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 81 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in "Musicus" is widely praised for its authenticity and emotional depth, effectively complementing the narrative of young musicians navigating the challenges of the rock scene. While some reviewers noted that the soundtrack may not fully capture the essence of rock, the overall quality of the music, including memorable tracks and engaging background scores, enhances the game's storytelling experience. Players who appreciate live music and character-driven drama are likely to find the musical elements particularly resonant and enjoyable.
“Musicus is a story about a group of people forming bands and dealing with the trials and tribulations of the music industry.”
“Overall, a wonderful visual novel with unique characters, a banger soundtrack, and a well-written story that takes you up and down through the ride of life and surely will stay with you for a long time.”
“It all feels really true to life, and that's Musicus' greatest strength: everything feels true and authentic, and by the end you'll come away feeling like you really knew these people and were playing music with them.”
“I couldn't really fully invest myself into their being a 'rock' band as the music was a bit poppy, but again, not a big issue.”
“Overall this game is not a masterpiece, or a technical marvel with its music or writing or voice acting.”
“Had they decided to focus their story on music more than romance, it would have been more successful.”
- story27 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The story of the visual novel "Musicus" is praised for its unique character development and emotional depth, effectively portraying the challenges faced by musicians in the industry. However, some reviewers noted issues with the flow of time and the way story routes split, suggesting that a more cohesive narrative could have enhanced the experience. Overall, while the soundtrack complements the story well, the romantic elements may not satisfy all players, making it more appealing to those interested in the music-centric aspects of the plot.
“Overall, a wonderful visual novel with unique characters, a banger soundtrack, and a well-written story that takes you up and down through the ride of life and surely will stay with you for a long time.”
“It's a story with deep emotional highs and lows, showing a really realistic, nuanced view of musicians trying to get by and trying to find their place in the world.”
“The highlight of this story is the way it shows the band develop over the course of this game.”
“I found myself getting lost as to how much time has passed in the story because the game just transitions and says it's this month now, so the flow of time could be a bit more clear.”
“The general routes are fine, but I wish the way that the story splits was done differently, because there feels like a much better story could've happened if they found a better way to mesh it all together.”
“The story isn't perfect.”
- character development4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally seen as decent, with significant emotional impact tied to character interactions and revelations that enhance the story. However, some players note inconsistencies in the main character and feel that the development could have been executed with more finesse.
“While it also varies depending on the route, the game focuses on its story for the most part, and uses the character development and interactions and revelations of the characters in each of their own lives to make the eventual 'romance' hit home far harder than it would otherwise.”
“Decent character development +1”
“I feel the main character can be really inconsistent at times, beyond character development reasons.”
“Character development could have been done with more finesse.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the visual novel is highly praised, with users noting its profound impact that evokes a wide range of feelings, from joy to sorrow. The story's realistic portrayal of musicians navigating their struggles fosters a deep connection with the characters, leading to a genuinely moving experience.
“I've read a ton of visual novels, and this, a simple novel about a student dropping out to form a band, was one of the most emotionally impactful experiences I have read so far.”
“I laughed, and I cried, both with joy and with sorrow.”
“It's a story with deep emotional highs and lows, showing a really realistic, nuanced view of musicians trying to get by and trying to find their place in the world.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that while the character's musical performances were perceived as only "okay," they did not detract from the overall enjoyment of the story and the voice actor's non-musical performances were well-received. This suggests that the optimization of character portrayal and voice acting contributed positively to the gaming experience.
- gameplay1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Gameplay in Musicus is characterized by a more personal and nuanced approach to its themes, contrasting with the mechanical and intellectual style found in games like Subahibi. This results in a less structured experience that may feel muddled to some players.
