Nocturne

About

Nocturne is a single player role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Pracy and was released on March 3, 2020. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

The afterlife is now digital. Discover that eternal life comes with sacrifice in the first chapter of a genre-defying RPG with unique rhythm combat.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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97%

Audience ScoreBased on 300 reviews

story99 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game features a captivating story set in a unique digital afterlife, with well-developed characters and intriguing lore.
The rhythm-based combat system is engaging and offers multiple difficulty levels, making it accessible for both new and experienced players.
The art style and soundtrack are beautifully crafted, enhancing the overall atmosphere and immersion of the game.

The game is relatively short, with only a single chapter available, leaving players wanting more content.
Some players found the random encounters to be repetitive and disruptive to exploration, detracting from the overall experience.
There are issues with pacing and character development, as some dialogues and interactions feel clichéd or rushed.

story
186 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
44%
3%
The story of the game has garnered mixed feedback, with many players finding it intriguing and engaging, particularly in its exploration of themes like the afterlife and character development. While some appreciate the captivating narrative and unique characters, others feel the pacing is rushed and the plot somewhat simplistic, especially given the limited content available in the demo. Overall, players are eager to see how the story unfolds in the full release, highlighting its potential despite some criticisms.
- “The story had me captivated!”
- “The story is intriguing, and the graphics remind me a bit of old-school games.”
- “I love the rhythm game combined with RPG elements in this game and the story really pulled me in.”
- “The story from what I saw is very simple; it's a chosen one isekai.”
- “Overall I really don't want to keep playing, I'd like to see more of the world and the story and just hope things get better because the setting is intriguing at least, but it's just not worth it to go through all the other stuff to get to it.”
- “While not exactly 'bad', it moves way, way too fast, with zero downtime between any plot events.”
music
147 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
53%
3%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its quality and integration into gameplay, with many reviewers praising its catchy and diverse tracks that enhance the rhythm-based combat experience. Players appreciate the unique blend of electronic and orchestral elements, as well as the clever design that ties specific songs to different enemies, keeping encounters fresh and engaging. While some noted minor issues with song repetition and pacing, the overall sentiment is that the soundtrack significantly elevates the game's appeal, making it a standout feature.
- “The music between fights and story-specific areas is delightful, and within the areas attempting to shift the tone to a more unsettling vibe, does so very well.”
- “The music is fantastic and it's been so long since I've found a rhythm game that hits all those buttons for me, even in such a brief adventure.”
- “The art design is fantastic and original, just like the story, and the music was exhilarating, yet very fitting for the fantasy setting.”
- “The music was okay but not redeemable for the rest of the game.”
- “My one criticism for the game is that the music doesn't grab me nor feel like it has a great beat.”
- “Hope the final game has a lot of song variety and remixes, so that it does not become too repetitive.”
gameplay
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
50%
4%
The gameplay has received a mix of praise and criticism, with many players highlighting its polished mechanics, unique rhythm-based combat, and engaging RPG elements. While some found the experience repetitive or short, others appreciated the challenge and depth it offers, particularly in its integration of music and battle mechanics. Overall, the game shows promise with its intriguing world design and potential for future content, leaving players eager for more.
- “The gameplay itself is well-handled in my opinion, and the range of difficulty has been finely tweaked.”
- “The rhythm combat is like I've never seen before in another game with its smooth gameplay and studio-quality soundtracks.”
- “The settings are created with so much detail, the story is intriguing, the characters feel real, and the gameplay keeps you on your toes and manages to evade that dreaded repetitive feel with a wide range of original tracks.”
- “The game claims to be v1.1 but it has only 1 chapter, which got me only 1 hour of gameplay.”
- “Repetitive gameplay paired with bland characters makes this game not that great...”
- “On higher difficulties, the mechanics break down a bit.”
graphics
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
28%
6%
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their beautiful pixel art and nostalgic aesthetic, reminiscent of classic titles. Many players appreciate the art style and animations, noting that they enhance the overall experience, while some mention minor issues with detail in certain areas. Overall, the visuals are considered stunning and well-crafted, contributing significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
- “The visuals are amazing, with the pixel art perfectly crafted to create a sense of otherworldliness.”
- “Beautiful graphics.”
- “The art style is beautiful with detailed animated pixel art.”
- “While the writing is overall okay, there's much more explicit statement and spoonfeeding of exposition than there is through world exploration or visuals.”
- “Graphics are hard to make, and Nocturne's style isn't bad (and isn't the focal point), but there are a few flat-color floors that I wish had more detail, and I wish the main character had some more fluid moving animations.”
- “The overworld plays like an RPG Maker game (but with a more robust engine and graphics), and the combat is a rhythm game.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game offers strong replayability due to its multiple difficulty levels and hidden content, encouraging players to revisit it despite its short length. Users appreciate the balance of challenge and accessibility, which enhances the overall experience and invites exploration beyond the main storyline.
- “While short given it's a prelude, multiple difficulty offerings and hidden gems on the map offer replayability beyond the main storyline, and I definitely see myself revisiting it.”
- “It manages to retain some difficulty but is not impossible to overcome, and the different settings for difficulty help add some replay value.”
- “I'm also a really big fan of all the difficulty options to choose from (even if some seem downright impossible even in the early game), which makes it seem like this game's going to have a lot of replayability in the future.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while random encounters initially provide excitement, they quickly become repetitive and tedious, discouraging exploration. The requirement to engage in rhythm-based combat during these encounters keeps players involved but can also lead to frustration, especially when having to replay cutscenes during boss battles. Overall, the grinding feels like filler, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “First of all, the random encounters work in past games because they needed that extra time in the game and you win something out of it. In a rhythm game, playing the same song over and over without the ability to skip once you've done it perfectly is boring and tedious.”
- “While the random encounters started out as fun, they quickly became repetitive and kind of tedious, which discouraged me from exploration as I didn't want to stumble upon more enemies.”
- “Mainly, random encounters, while fun, do feel like a bit of filler, and having to continue during the boss battle makes it tedious when you need to see the entire cutscene again.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The game's optimization has received criticism for sluggish movement and lag in large scenes, impacting overall gameplay experience. Additionally, players have suggested improvements such as customizable key mapping and a more accessible difficulty mode for those less skilled in rhythm games.
- “I have some complaints though: the running feels slow and makes walking seem more like a trudge. The game isn't very optimized and lags in large scenes.”
- “The keys used in battle should be mappable so they can be used by anyone.”
- “The easy mode is still pretty difficult; maybe add a baby mode that's slower than the other modes?”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its hilarious characters and clever, amusing tidbits that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the combination of a rich world and a beautiful soundtrack, which complements the comedic elements and keeps them engaged and entertained.
- “Hilarious characters, a rich world, and a beautiful soundtrack make this incredibly worth it, even though it's free.”
- “Aside from that, it's beautiful to look at and listen to. The story is good, the little funny tidbits are great, and I look forward to more!”
- “I was eagerly laughing while stroking the right keys to make a most excellent song.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its exceptional character development, which is intricately woven into the story and complemented by impressive music and beat maps.
- “Overall, a great game with top-notch character development, story, and music/beat maps!”
- “The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to form genuine connections with the characters.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making each decision feel impactful and meaningful.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews highlight a mixed emotional impact; while some players feel a lack of attachment to characters due to insufficient development, others praise the game for its breathtakingly original and touching narrative that explores profound themes like consciousness, memory, and death.
- “With a breathtakingly original and touching story, Nocturne will pull you into its bleak, philosophical realm and answer deep questions about consciousness, memory, and death.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its emotional depth and unique storytelling, complemented by a fitting musical score that enhances the experience and aligns with the characteristics of the enemies and environments. Players recommend it for those who appreciate a strong narrative and immersive atmosphere.
- “The end of this game will leave you with a lot of emotion, and I can't recommend it enough to anyone who loves a good storyline and a fun, unique atmosphere.”
- “The music also fits the characteristics of the enemies as well as the atmosphere of your surroundings.”