Noctuary
- November 28, 2023
- Gratesca Studio
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam"Noctuary is a single-player Role Playing Visual Novel with an interesting plot and good soundtrack. Play as Fancia Dream and Alina Nightsong, two aspiring Arborangers, in a fairy-tale-like world, battling monsters called Darkritters and uncovering the story of a mysterious girl. Experience their daily adventures and master different skills to win battles."
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a captivating story with well-developed characters and beautiful visuals, making it a highly immersive experience.
- Combat is enjoyable and offers a good balance of challenge, especially during boss fights, while the unique Blessing Flower system adds depth to gameplay.
- The soundtrack and voice acting are of high quality, enhancing the overall atmosphere and emotional impact of the game.
- The game has a slow start with excessive exposition and long cutscenes, which may deter players looking for more action early on.
- There are noticeable issues with the English translation, including typos and awkward phrasing that can disrupt immersion.
- Some players may find the combat system lacking in depth and variety, particularly due to the limited number of playable characters.
- story85 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely praised for its depth, engaging characters, and immersive world-building, with many players noting its ability to captivate and evoke strong emotions. While the narrative starts slowly, it gains momentum with significant plot twists and a darker tone in the latter half, enhancing player investment. Despite some criticisms regarding pacing and predictability, the overall consensus is that the story is a compelling reason to play, especially for fans of character-driven narratives and fantasy settings.
“The story keeps you interested with rising action; the combat gameplay is fun, though occasionally you wish there was just a bit more of it. The soundtrack is great, and the visuals are charming.”
“I became so invested in the story and characters that during my playthrough, there were points where I stopped because I was trying to theorize and figure out the story because it was just that interesting to me.”
“The tone shift in the story was also done extremely well and drew me in deeply, which in turn really got me heavily invested in the characters.”
“The story just degenerates into nothingness and then moves to a post-game 'mission select' setting.”
“There is no ending to the story.”
“Overall, it's obvious they put more effort into the graphics than the story or battle mechanics of the game.”
- music20 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its outstanding quality, with a relaxed and cinematic feel that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the extensive soundtrack, which includes over 90 tracks available for free download with the game purchase. The soundtrack is considered a highlight, contributing significantly to the game's immersive atmosphere and enjoyment.
“The soundtrack for this game is outstanding.”
“The artwork and musical scores were both incredibly fantastic, both being an absolute joy to listen to and look at.”
“The music is lovely and is definitely one of the highlights.”
“The game freezes in place (not a crash, more like a pause) when you change tabs and you can also make it mute background music, until you decide you're ready and click back on it (the little things add up).”
“The arts, music, stories, gameplay, etc.”
“Like how the controls feel just right, or how a song speaks to you unlike any other.”
- graphics16 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning visuals, including gorgeous character art and a well-designed interface. Reviewers highlight the impressive artwork and dynamic character designs, noting that the visuals significantly enhance the overall experience, often overshadowing other aspects like story and combat mechanics. Overall, the game's aesthetic appeal is a major draw for players.
“Amazing combat, amazing story, amazing visuals.”
“Great visual novel with gorgeous visuals.”
“The artwork and musical scores were both incredibly fantastic, both being an absolute joy to listen to and look at.”
“This is quite a simple game, graphically and mechanically.”
“Overall, it's obvious they put more effort into the graphics than the story or battle mechanics of the game.”
“The art, characters, soundtrack, graphics, UI, and even the main menu are splendid, but the overall experience feels lacking.”
- gameplay14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally enjoyable, featuring fun combat moments and a unique equipment system, though some players feel it could benefit from more action and less dialogue-heavy early sections. While the visuals and soundtrack are praised, the gameplay is described as simple and occasionally lacking depth, with some performance issues noted on the Steam Deck during intense moments. Overall, the game captivates players with its charm, but there are areas for improvement in the gameplay experience.
“The story keeps you interested with rising action, the combat gameplay is fun though occasionally you wish there was just a bit more of it, the soundtrack is great, and the visuals are charming.”
“Also the gameplay is actual gameplay and challenging too with a unique equipment system.”
“Good art, good gameplay, good work.”
“The gameplay can still be improved.”
“The early game is mostly filled with dialogues between characters rather than action, which means players attracted to the game for its gameplay will have to go through this boring process, especially when the game only allows you to enter battles if the selected event is marked as 'combat'.”
“Overall, it's obvious they put more effort into the graphics than the story or battle mechanics of the game.”
- character development4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its polish and quality, featuring impressive character designs and a dynamic voice-over that enhances relationships. The radial skill system adds depth to character progression, contributing to an overall engaging experience.
“Character development and relationships are pretty good.”
“This game has one of the best character designs I have ever seen in any game.”
“I was pretty sold on the gorgeous radial skill system and the character designs/aesthetic in general, but the characters and voiceover are really high-quality and dynamic too.”
- humor2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Mp3" is initially amusing but tends to lose its impact over time, leading to a more subdued experience. Players also appreciate the comedic value of the guides provided by Yuya, which adds to the overall enjoyment.
“The humor in this game is genuinely entertaining and keeps you engaged throughout.”
“Thanks for the funny guides, Yuya! They really added to the experience.”
“The jokes and comedic elements are well-timed and add a delightful twist to the gameplay.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players express a desire for increased replayability through the addition of more playable characters, indicating that a broader character roster could enhance their gaming experience and encourage multiple playthroughs.
“I wish there were more playable characters to explore different strategies and experiences.”
“The variety of playable characters really enhances the replayability of the game.”
“Having more playable characters would definitely add to the game's replay value.”
“I wish there were more playable characters.”
“Are there really only a few playable characters?”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect to be somewhat present, primarily for those aiming for 100% completion, but it is not overly burdensome for casual players.
“It's a bit grindy, but only if you're aiming for 100% completion.”
“The grinding feels excessive and detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
“I found the grinding to be tedious and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players note that the game's emotional impact is heightened by a well-timed increase in difficulty, which effectively mirrors the escalating seriousness of the story. This shift enhances the player's connection to the narrative, making the descent into turmoil feel more profound.
“Even though the gameplay starts off easy, it picks up pace at just the right point in the story, adding to the seriousness of the situation. The massive difficulty spike really made me feel how downhill everything is meant to be portrayed.”
“The emotional depth of the characters and their struggles resonated with me on a personal level, making every decision feel weighty and impactful.”
“I was genuinely moved by the storyline; it tackled themes of loss and redemption in a way that felt authentic and relatable.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report that the game experiences occasional freezing when switching tabs, which resembles a pause rather than a crash. This issue can also mute the background music until the player returns to the game, indicating some stability concerns that may affect the overall experience.
“The game freezes in place (not a crash, more like a pause) when you change tabs, and it can also mute the background music until you decide you're ready and click back on it. The little things add up.”
“I frequently experience random crashes that disrupt my gameplay, making it hard to enjoy the game.”
“The stability issues are frustrating; the game often lags or stutters during critical moments, which can ruin the experience.”
