Seventh Lair
- March 31, 2022
- NOVECT
- 7h median play time
Get on Steam"Seventh Lair" is a narrative-driven, atmospheric puzzle-platformer set in a surreal world. You play as a young girl, Ely, who discovers a mysterious lair and uncovers its secrets while navigating through intricate platforming challenges and solving puzzles. The game features a unique art style, immersive soundtrack, and a thought-provoking story that explores themes of identity, self-discovery, and the power of imagination.
Reviews
- Seventh Lair delivers a powerful and emotional narrative that resonates deeply with players, especially those familiar with The House in Fata Morgana.
- The game features excellent music and character interactions, blending humor with serious themes, making for a compelling experience.
- Despite being a shorter visual novel, it effectively explores complex topics such as online relationships, depression, and the struggles of being a creator.
- The English translation is riddled with errors, typos, and awkward phrasing, detracting from the overall experience.
- Some players feel that the reuse of characters from The House in Fata Morgana undermines the story, as it alters their established arcs and happy endings.
- The initial comedic tone can be jarring, leading to tonal whiplash when the story shifts to darker themes, which may not sit well with all players.
- story85 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story in "Seventh Lair" is a poignant exploration of complex themes such as identity, depression, and the struggles of game development, resonating deeply with players familiar with its predecessor, "The House in Fata Morgana." While it initially presents as a light-hearted side story, it evolves into a powerful narrative filled with emotional twists that leave a lasting impact. Although it can be enjoyed on its own, prior knowledge of the original characters enhances the experience, making it a compelling addition for fans.
“I've never read a story with a character that gets down to the reality of wanting to change your gender.”
“The story delivered many captivating plot twists and turns, keeping me engaged for its entirety, and has given me a couple more songs to add to my soundtrack collection.”
“Seventh Lair tells an incredibly engaging story that is distinct from its predecessor, yet also builds upon and subverts the reader’s pre-existing knowledge of these characters to convey a powerful message.”
“The story was clunky at times, with many important plot points introduced way too late.”
“I liked it well enough for the first few chapters, but when the 'main' story ended and the gang woke back up in the cemetery with Mell the NPC, things just went downhill.”
“If seventh lair is your first exposure to the Fata Morgana character, you will not fully understand (nor probably appreciate) the characters, and some bits of the story will not feel as impactful.”
- music34 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise for its emotional depth and variety, featuring both beautiful orchestral pieces and nostalgic 8-bit tracks that evoke classic gaming memories. While many players appreciate the soundtrack's ability to enhance the storytelling, some find the chiptune elements overly loud or jarring compared to the more melodic compositions. Overall, the music is considered a standout aspect, contributing significantly to the game's emotional impact and engagement.
“The music is fantastic.”
“The composers also knocked it out of the ballpark, from the cheerful 8-bit town themes, battle music to their signature haunting melodies about love, longing & loss are all there.”
“On top of the story, there’s an all-new soundtrack with some truly gorgeous pieces.”
“My one issue with the music, though, is that one of the songs featured a creepy baby giggling the whole time.”
“As much as the 8-bit music is coherent in its amateurish feel, it drove me to insanity regardless.”
“The chiptunes that play for a good portion of the game were honestly a bit grating, and they were also a fair bit louder than the vocal music.”
- humor12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a blend of awkward and darkly comedic moments, often leading to unexpected emotional depth. Players find themselves laughing at the absurdity and hilarity of certain scenarios, only to be met with poignant, sometimes depressing conclusions that leave a lasting impact. Overall, the humor is both entertaining and thought-provoking, creating a unique experience that resonates with players.
“Hilarious!”
“It's a hilarious scenario paired with its darker, contrasting moments, making for a short experience that's worthy of the Fata Morgana name, despite its short length and limited scope.”
“Equal parts moving and funny, it resonated strongly with me as well as made me laugh out loud multiple times.”
- emotional10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke strong feelings, with players reporting tears and heartfelt connections to the themes of online and offline relationships. While it may not reach the depth of longer titles like "Fata Morgana," it still delivers a powerful narrative with sensitive topics, making it a worthwhile experience for those prepared for its emotional weight. The music further enhances the emotional impact, resonating deeply with players.
“Originally an April Fools' release in 2015, Seventh Lair is anything but a joke as the player discovers an emotional tale with sensitive themes regarding both online and offline interactions and the effects they have on others.”
“Worth playing if you want to read a short visual novel with a strong emotional punch, but definitely take the content warnings seriously if you have any triggers related to depression, suicide, and/or terminal illness.”
“And the music is what you have come to know and love from this series: beyond emotional and tugs at the heartstrings.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Seventh Lair" feature reused sprites from "The House in Fata Morgana," complemented by a few new character designs, which some players appreciate for their artistic quality. While the game is relatively short, its visual presentation effectively supports its unique narrative and serious themes, despite the reliance on existing artwork. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong aspect of the game, enhancing its storytelling.
“The game also uses sprites from FM, but I'll let that slide because it's nice artwork.”
“Even though it reuses artwork and character archetypes from The House in Fata Morgana, Seventh Lair tells a unique and contained story with its own themes and important messages.”
“This visual novel is definitely on the shorter side (4-5 hours) and reuses the sprites from Fata Morgana with only a few pieces of new character artwork, but I think it’s well worth the price.”
“Even though it reuses artwork and character archetypes from the house in Fata Morgana, Seventh Lair tells a unique and contained story with its own themes and important messages.”
- gameplay1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Seventh Lair" is praised for its impactful storytelling within a concise 6-7 hour runtime, demonstrating the developers' ability to create an emotionally resonant experience despite its brief duration. Initially perceived as lighthearted, the narrative evolves into a profound journey that leaves a lasting impression on players.
“Despite sporting only a fraction of the runtime as their aforementioned magnum opus, Seventh Lair manages to do a whole lot with its 6-7 hours of gameplay, crafting a story that, while at first seems trifling and fitting of its April Fools' Day release, eventually goes to show that the writers at Novect are very much capable, even when writing stories on the shorter side, of leaving your heart in complete shambles.”
“The gameplay feels repetitive and lacks the depth needed to keep players engaged for long periods.”
“I found the controls to be unresponsive at times, which made certain sections of the game frustrating to navigate.”
“The pacing of the gameplay is off, leading to moments where I felt bored instead of challenged.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is enhanced by unexpected plot twists, such as the surprising reveal on April 1st, which creates a sense of confusion and intrigue that captivates players.
“I was lucky enough to experience the sudden reveal for April's 1st and the resulting confusion, which adds a lot to the overall atmosphere of the game.”
“The haunting soundtrack perfectly complements the eerie visuals, creating an immersive atmosphere that keeps you on edge.”
“Every corner of the game world is filled with intricate details that enhance the atmosphere, making it feel alive and engaging.”
“The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking any real sense of immersion.”
“Despite the game's potential, the atmosphere is dull and fails to engage the player.”
“The world feels lifeless, with minimal environmental details that detract from the overall experience.”
