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.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
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 effectively explores themes of online relationships and personal struggles, providing a relatable experience that can evoke strong emotions.
- The writing and soundtrack are exceptional, enhancing the overall experience and making it a memorable visual novel.
- The English translation is riddled with errors, making it feel unpolished and detracting from the overall experience.
- Some players feel that the reuse of characters from Fata Morgana undermines the story, as it alters their established arcs in ways that can be disappointing.
- The initial comedic tone can clash with the darker themes explored later in the game, leading to tonal whiplash for some players.
- story170 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story in "Seventh Lair" is a poignant exploration of complex themes such as identity, depression, and the struggles of creation, resonating deeply with players familiar with its predecessor, "The House in Fata Morgana." While it initially presents itself 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 as a standalone experience, prior knowledge of the original characters enhances the depth and emotional weight of the story.
“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.”
“Now the negatives: the story.”
“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.”
“But the story was clunky at times, with many important plot points introduced way too late.”
- music68 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 4 % 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 haunting melodies and engaging compositions, some find the chiptune elements to be overly loud or grating, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout aspect of the game, with many recommending it for its ability to enhance the storytelling.
“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.”
“The chiptune music played during the comedic parts of the story are phenomenal, and had me reminiscing over the good ol' days of Game Boys & 8/16-bit era consoles.”
“And the music is what you have come to know and love from this series: beyond emotional and tugs at the heartstrings.”
“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 chiptune music played during the comedic parts of the story are phenomenal, & had me reminiscing over the good ol' days of game boys & 8/16-bit era consoles.”
- humor24 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 of scenarios, only to be met with poignant twists that evoke a strong emotional response, creating a unique contrast that enhances the overall experience. The humor resonates well, with standout moments that leave a lasting impression, making it both hilarious and moving.
“It's hilarious scenario paired with its darker, contrasting moments make 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.”
“Yukimasa was especially funny where he's just kinda like 'oh yeah, I'm a serial killer in real life by the way' - I don't know if this is how the writers intended it but this really killed me.”
- emotional20 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 many players reporting tears and a heartfelt connection 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 poignant narrative with sensitive topics, complemented by impactful music that enhances the emotional experience. Players are advised to heed content warnings due to the serious themes addressed.
“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.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Seventh Lair" primarily consist of reused sprites from "The House in Fata Morgana," complemented by a few new character designs. While some may view the reuse of artwork as a drawback, the overall aesthetic is appreciated for its quality and the game's unique storytelling. The visuals effectively support the serious and graphic themes explored in the narrative.
“The game also uses sprites from Fata Morgana, but I'll let that slide because it's nice artwork.”
“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.”
“This visual novel is definitely on the shorter side (4-5 hours) and reuses the sprites from 'The House in Fata Morgana' with only a few pieces of new character artwork, which detracts from the overall visual experience.”
“The graphics feel outdated and lack the polish expected from a modern visual novel, making it hard to fully immerse in the story.”
“While the story has its merits, the graphics are a significant letdown, as they fail to enhance the narrative and often feel uninspired.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Seventh Lair" is concise yet impactful, offering 6-7 hours of engaging content that evolves from a seemingly light-hearted narrative to a deeply emotional experience. Players appreciate the developers' ability to craft a compelling story within a shorter timeframe, showcasing their storytelling prowess.
“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, which made the gameplay frustrating and unenjoyable.”
“The pacing of the gameplay is off, leading to moments of boredom that detract from the overall experience.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is significantly enhanced by unexpected plot twists, such as the sudden reveal on April 1st, which creates a sense of confusion and intrigue that captivates players. This element of surprise contributes to a dynamic and engaging overall experience.
“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.”
