Muv-Luv Photonmelodies

About

Muv-Luv Photonmelodies is a visual novel spin-off in the Muv-Luv series, featuring short, self-contained stories that explore various characters' perspectives in a unique, slice-of-life setting. This anthology includes artwork by various guest illustrators and offers fans a fresh take on the beloved characters and world of Muv-Luv, without requiring prior knowledge of the main series. It's an enjoyable and wholesome addition to the Muv-Luv universe.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 218 reviews

story26 positive mentions

character development3 negative mentions

Altered Fable provides a fun and lighthearted continuation of the Muv-Luv series, offering a much-needed break after the intense events of Alternative.
The stories, particularly Adoration and Resurrection, feature engaging characters and humorous moments that fans of the franchise will appreciate.
The game serves as a therapeutic experience for players recovering from the emotional weight of Muv-Luv Alternative, with nostalgic references and enjoyable slice-of-life interactions.

The game is criticized for being overpriced and lacking significant content, with many routes and character developments cut or underwhelming.
Censorship issues and the absence of adult content have disappointed fans, leading to feelings of frustration regarding the overall experience.
Altered Fable, while entertaining, is seen as lacking a coherent plot and meaningful character growth, leaving players wanting more from the narrative.

story
156 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
81%
3%
The story aspect of the game is met with mixed reviews, highlighting a blend of engaging narratives and disappointing elements. While some side stories, like "Resurrection," are praised for character development and humor, others, particularly "Altered Fable," are criticized for lacking depth and relying on superficial humor. Overall, the collection offers a mix of enjoyable moments and underwhelming storytelling, with some players appreciating the slice-of-life elements despite the overarching narrative's shortcomings.
- “Confessions is the main reason to read these spin-offs, in my opinion. It's a dark and sad story; I wish all of them were like this.”
- “Not to mention the fact that this story is practically reference central, with a massive amount of references to 'Alternative'. All in all, 'Altered Fable' is a love letter to 'Alternative', but also to the first game as well.”
- “It's a fantastic little side story pack, and I can't recommend it highly enough even with 'Altered Fable's' lackluster ending.”
- “However, it is very hard to take seriously – and the story tries to have some serious parts to it, which are pretty hard to digest given how stupid everything that came before it was.”
- “It has a few funny moments, but it utterly fails as a story; the characters you know and love by this point, and the new world they find themselves in, aren't developed in the slightest.”
- “Yes, this collection of stories is not only bad, but it reinforces how unsatisfying the ending of Muv-Luv was by reminding you that all the character growth Takeru went through in the story was a pointless zero-sum game, where the aim of the protagonist was to return to mediocrity.”
humor
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it genuinely funny and filled with memorable moments, while others criticize it for relying too heavily on repetitive slapstick and fanservice that detracts from the overall story. While there are standout comedic scenes and a few engaging characters, many feel that the humor often falls flat or becomes stale, particularly in the alternative side stories. Overall, the balance between humor and narrative depth is seen as lacking, leaving some players disappointed.
- “There were a couple of moments where I nearly fell out of my chair laughing.”
- “It's a funny story with a great protagonist; it's overall very fun and I really like the conclusion.”
- “It's hilarious, epic, and worth every hour spent on it.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed, with some reviewers noting that the removal of unhappy elements diminishes the stakes and emotional highs, leading to a lack of impact in key moments. While the character dynamics evolve from annoyance to friendship and back to conflict, the overall tone leans heavily towards comedy, which can undermine the emotional depth compared to previous installments. Despite this, the series still manages to evoke a wide range of feelings, from joy to terror, showcasing its ability to engage players on an emotional level.
- “In Extra, she starts off thinking Takeru is annoying, then she ends up tolerating him, then they have a budding friendship, then maybe a budding romance. Then things happen, and she winds up absolutely hating his guts and hitting him. Then even more things happen, and it's all okay and wholesome again.”
- “This series has made me smile, frown, wince, cry, cringe, and it even made me feel terror. Now that is a serious accomplishment.”
- “Some of the events are the same - the cook-off, the Christmas party, the hot springs trip - but they're dramatically different because of the extra characters, and that's not even touching on the totally new events like the tropical island trip and the entire ending of the game.”
character development
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
38%
38%
Character development in the game is inconsistent, with some serious moments present but overshadowed by a lack of continuity from previous titles. Many players feel that past character growth is disregarded, particularly noting that the protagonist, Takeru, regresses to his unlikable traits, leaving a sense of disappointment regarding character arcs. Overall, the sequel struggles to establish a coherent or meaningful character development narrative.
- “Nonetheless, there are actually serious moments of character development as well.”
- “And while it's the direct sequel to Muv-Luv Alternative, there's not really a central plot or discernible character development.”
- “And while it's the direct sequel to Muv-Luv Alternative (at least until Muv-Luv Integrate comes out to muddy the waters), there's not really a central plot or discernible character development.”
- “Character development that happened in the previous games ceases to matter and isn't reestablished.”
- “Sadly, all character development is gone and Takeru is back to being a prick 100% of the time.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The graphics of the game, being a reworked version of an older title, may not appeal to players accustomed to modern visuals, particularly due to its traditional anime art style. However, utilizing a 4K upscaler with the anime4k scaling mode can significantly enhance the visual experience, making it more enjoyable for those willing to adapt.
- “I highly recommend using the 4K upscaler, as Graciaus also suggested in his review. The scaling mode anime4k and capture method graphics capture significantly enhance the visual experience.”
- “The graphics in this game, despite its age, have been reworked beautifully to run on newer machines, showcasing a nostalgic anime art style that may appeal to fans of classic aesthetics.”
- “Since this is a very old game that has just been reworked to run on newer machines, the old anime art style will turn off most people used to the newer stuff.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game primarily consists of reused tracks from the previous two installments, featuring some remixed versions to better fit specific scenes. Overall, the soundtrack maintains a familiar feel while attempting to enhance the emotional context of the gameplay.
- “The soundtrack has been reused from the previous two games, with a few remixed tracks to suit the mood of the scene.”