Nova Hearts: The Spark

67%
Game Brain Score Based on 40 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Nova Hearts: The Spark Game Cover
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Experience the first chapter of Nova Hearts for FREE! As Luce, become a superhero in your hometown of Vermillion after a mysterious force magically transforms some of its residents. Reconnect with friends, family and new people, building your relationships as you progress. TEXT, DATE and FIGHT in this turn-based combat dating adventure. EXPRESS YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH STRATEGIC TURN-BASED COMBA…

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

67%
Audience ScoreBased on 40 reviews
story5 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • The art style and animations are visually stunning, capturing a vibrant and magical girl aesthetic that enhances the overall experience.
  • The game features a diverse cast of characters and engaging writing, with enjoyable interactions and a fun premise of superheroes and dating.
  • The turn-based combat system, while needing refinement, introduces interesting mechanics like combos and character upgrades that have potential for future chapters.
  • The pacing of the game feels slow, with lengthy text dialogues and combat animations that can lead to frustration and disengagement.
  • Combat mechanics are confusing and lack clarity, making battles feel tedious and unchallenging, which detracts from the overall gameplay experience.
  • The narrative structure is linear and rushed, with insufficient character development and choices that often feel forced or unimpactful.
  • story22 mentions

    The story has garnered positive feedback for its engaging potential, unique characters, and immersive dialogue, with many reviewers excited for future chapters. However, some criticism arises from awkward dialogue choices and repetitive combat that detracts from the narrative experience. Overall, the combination of art style, music, and storytelling elements creates a captivating atmosphere, though the balance between story and gameplay remains a concern.

    • “The story has a lot of potential; the character design, art, and animations are absolutely gorgeous.”
    • “The mystery elements of the story got my mind racing, and I really look forward to playing the full game on release!”
    • “A fun, well-written story with memorable, unique characters, a bit of superhero Sailor Moon, butt-kicking action, and a great soundtrack.”
    • “The story just assumes I was on the Sacha train.”
    • “I just really, really dislike when a game like this with heavy customization options that presumably also has a lot of choice and options in it dumps backstory baggage on you out of nowhere and then puts the screws to you in claustrophobic dialog options.”
    • “It's a shame because the conceit of the story seems like it has a lot of potential.”
  • gameplay18 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with players enjoying the entertaining phone mechanics and engaging dating elements, but expressing disappointment in the turn-based combat, which feels weak and slow. While the timeline mechanics show potential for enhancing social interactions, many reviewers suggest incorporating mini-games or improving combat speed to create a more dynamic experience. Overall, the game combines visual novel elements with combat, but struggles to balance the two effectively.

    • “The phone mechanics are quite entertaining, the dating seems to be enjoyable from what we can see, and the overall setting is super fun!”
    • “nova hearts is a visual novel that manages to seamlessly integrate a turn-based battle mechanic into the genre.”
    • “The mechanic is cool and it has a fresh spark of originality even when it relies on the classic three answers conversations.”
    • “First off, the combat mechanics, while turn-based, are really weak.”
    • “It wasn't even until about an hour of gameplay that the game decided to explain combos to me after I had already fought so many battles with the same kitten monster.”
    • “If you are making a game with both a story and a gameplay element, at least one of them should be good enough to cover for the other.”
  • music15 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its ability to capture the magical girl vibe and enhance the overall atmosphere. However, some players noted that the limited variety in combat tracks leads to repetitiveness, particularly during lengthy battles, which can detract from the experience. Overall, while the soundtrack is appreciated for its quality, its lack of diversity in certain contexts may diminish its impact over time.

    • “The whole vibe really captured that magical girl feel with the transformation sequences and the music.”
    • “The music was also really nice and fit the vibes of the game really well and created a comfortable game atmosphere.”
    • “A fun, well written story with memorable, unique characters, a bit of superhero sailor moon, butt-kicking action and a great soundtrack.”
    • “I do wish some of the normal attack animations were a bit more dynamic though as the battles did drag a bit and the music sometimes cut out in the final fight.”
    • “Besides the main theme, the music in-game got old very fast.”
    • “The battles also take forever to complete, and the repetitive soundtrack will likely send you into a coma before the encounter does.”
  • graphics13 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received high praise for their vibrant and captivating art style, with many users highlighting the beautiful artwork and well-executed animations, particularly during transformation sequences. While the visuals are generally considered a strong point, some critiques mention that the overall design lacks depth and complexity, which can detract from the gameplay experience. Overall, the game's aesthetics are described as cute and engaging, contributing positively to the overall enjoyment.

    • “Love the art style! Looking forward to seeing how the combat and the story evolve in the next chapters!”
    • “I loved the transformation sequences; the art style and detail are very good, and the sound design and music were all fine.”
    • “Let me say the intro is amazing; the animation is so well done and the artwork is vibrant, catchy, and colorful with some very strong Sailor Moon vibes (especially when your character transforms)!”
    • “Despite fine artwork, Nova Hearts' odd mix of genres, lack of design depth and complexity, and a weak narrative result in uninspired and boring gameplay, missing the confused mark it was trying to hit.”
    • “The positives of this game though: I do like the art style.”
    • “Let me say the intro is amazing, the animation is so well done and the artwork is vibrant, catchy, and colorful with some very strong Sailor Moon vibes (especially when your character transforms)!”
  • character development4 mentions

    Reviewers praise the game's character development for its stunning art and design, highlighting the beautiful character rendering and vibrant colors. They express a desire for the narrative to fully utilize this artistic potential, suggesting that the writing and character arcs could enhance the overall experience.

    • “The story has a lot of potential; the character design, art, and animations are absolutely gorgeous.”
    • “Great writing, stellar character design.”
    • “The painted rendering of the characters and world is gorgeous, and I adore the vivid colors, character designs, and backgrounds.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding it both hilarious and engaging, often leading to genuine laughter and memorable moments. While some dialogue is noted to be exaggerated, the overall writing and visuals contribute to a cute and wholesome comedic experience that resonates well with viewers.

    • “It was hilarious for the viewers, and I will find it funny when I get over the embarrassment.”
    • “I hope that you guys put in more hilarious and embarrassing things for content creators to read out, because that was amazing.”
    • “I really enjoyed the writing and visuals: it's cute, wholesome, and some lines and situations had me laughing out loud (and at one point - screaming at my screen).”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its cute and wholesome writing and visuals, which evoke laughter and strong reactions from players, creating an engaging and memorable experience.

    • “I really enjoyed the writing and visuals: it's cute, wholesome, and some lines and situations had me laughing out loud (and at one point, screaming at my screen).”
    • “The emotional depth of the characters truly resonated with me, making their journeys feel personal and impactful.”
    • “I was moved to tears by the storyline; it beautifully captured the complexities of love and loss.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unfulfilling, as it often leads to minimal rewards, such as brief character dialogue, before returning to repetitive combat.

    • “It felt so painfully tedious, and my reward was a few sentences of dialogue between characters before I was immediately thrown right back into the combat again.”
    • “The grinding is relentless, making the game feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
    • “I spent hours repeating the same tasks, and it became exhausting without any meaningful progression.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is enhanced by its fitting and enjoyable music, which contributes to a comfortable and immersive experience for players.

    • “The music was really nice and fit the vibes of the game perfectly, creating a comfortable atmosphere.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

12hMedian play time
12hAverage play time
12-12hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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