Solstice
- February 11, 2016
- MoaCube
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"Solstice" is a single-player mystery role-playing game set in a dystopian, wintry city filled with intriguing misfits and an atmospheric, masterful soundtrack. As the doctor and a mysterious young woman, players investigate the disappearance of the local madman, uncovering a story of small personal disasters that turn into great catastrophes. The game features stunning graphics and a haunting environment, perfect for those seeking a deep, immersive narrative experience.
Reviews
- Gorgeous artwork and music that enhance the immersive experience.
- Intriguing story with complex characters and multiple endings that encourage replayability.
- Well-written dialogue and character development that keeps players engaged throughout the game.
- The dual protagonist mechanic can be confusing and may detract from character attachment.
- Some players found the pacing slow, with long stretches of dialogue and limited choices.
- Technical issues, such as bugs and lack of autosave, can disrupt the gameplay experience.
- story141 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its rich, intricate narrative and character development, particularly in titles like "Solstice," which is noted for its beautiful artwork and engaging storytelling. However, others found the story lacking in depth or coherence, with technical issues and gameplay mechanics detracting from the overall experience. While many appreciated the multiple endings and choices that influence the plot, some felt that the execution was flawed, leading to confusion and a less immersive experience.
“Solstice tells a rich and interesting story and does a wonderful job at building a detailed fantasy world.”
“The story is really rich, the characters are very nuanced and everything is so extremely well-written - it's a delight to read!”
“The story is interesting and, like any good mystery, you have to peel a lot of layers to get to the real truth.”
“I still gave the game a fair chance and watched all the endings, but the story just wasn't good in my eyes.”
“But the way the story is told makes it frustrating more than intriguing.”
“The technical issues and challenges of the way they chose to present the story break immersion constantly and the format also keeps too much hidden to actually make the story a mystery that the player can solve.”
- music30 mentions
- 77 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and emotional resonance, effectively complementing the stunning artwork and enhancing the overall atmosphere. While many reviewers appreciate the varied and fitting soundtrack, some express a desire for more volume control options and note instances of repetitiveness. Overall, the combination of captivating music and visuals creates an immersive experience that resonates with players.
“The music does a great job at communicating emotions.”
“Artistically and musically it is gorgeous.”
“The soundtrack is also beautifully composed and effectively complements the fantastical atmosphere of the game.”
“The music was loud, repetitive, and not that interesting.”
“But being able to turn the music down, instead of only being able to turn it off, would have been nice, at the very least.”
“The music didn't really help the situation either.”
- graphics30 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- 7 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their stunning and vibrant artwork, which creates an immersive atmosphere and enhances the storytelling experience. Players appreciate the detailed character designs and the beautiful, wintry landscapes that contribute to a fairy tale-like ambiance. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, elevating the game's narrative and emotional impact.
“The artwork is sumptuous; each scene is vibrant and full of life, filled with detail and a saturation which gives the impression of a wintry wonderland and enforces the fairy tale-like impression you get when you first arrive in the game.”
“Overall this was a fairly good game, with stunningly beautiful graphics and a rich narrative, world and atmosphere.”
“The gorgeous artwork creates a haunting fantasy backdrop to a dramatic and intricate story.”
“The graphics are outdated and lack the polish expected from modern games, making the overall experience feel less immersive.”
“The character models are poorly designed and lack detail, which detracts from the overall visual appeal of the game.”
“The environments feel bland and uninspired, lacking the creativity and vibrancy that would make exploration enjoyable.”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily text-based and follows a visual novel format, focusing on dialogue choices that influence character relationships and narrative progression. While the mechanics are standard for the genre, including a unique dual-character perspective and a notebook feature for tracking information, some players feel that the lengthy dialogue segments can detract from player agency. Overall, it is recommended for those who appreciate narrative depth and character exploration, particularly in fantasy and sci-fi contexts.
“Mechanically, this game is the same as Cinders, which focuses on role-playing through dialogue choices and what you select impacts both your ability to explore the world and meet people, and the relationship you have with other characters as it is a visual novel. It is a text-heavy game and there is a lot of dialogue between the various characters.”
“There were some intriguing mechanics around things like how notes were presented (I liked the layout) and having the player play multiple characters.”
“The gameplay is standard for a narrative game, click to proceed and keep reading with occasional dialogue choices.”
“I'd recommend the game on sale for people who like fantasy/sci-fi novels, and who will read it as such, not so much for gameplay.”
“The game mechanics require you to read through rather a bit of dialogue.”
- replayability10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game offers a mix of replayability, with multiple story paths and endings that encourage players to explore different choices and character interactions. However, some reviewers noted limitations in replay value due to key decision placements and pacing issues, leading to a less engaging experience after initial playthroughs. Overall, while there are achievements and variations to discover, opinions vary on the extent of replayability, with some finding it satisfying and others feeling it falls short.
“You’ve got a choose-your-own-adventure sort of layout, with multiple story paths depending on the choices you make – definitely some replay value there.”
“The story is full of mysteries and lore with must-have replayability.”
“There are also a lot of achievements and different endings which give good replay value.”
“It makes it much less replayable for me personally.”
“Less replay value than I'd hoped for due to the placement of key, ending-determining choices.”
“Aside from the pacing, the only major negative aspect of this game for me was the lack of replay value.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 86 % positive mentions
- -29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Solstice" is highly praised for its stunning visuals and exceptional music, creating an immersive experience that blends arctic wilderness with Arabian architecture. Reviewers note the game's darker narrative tone, which contrasts with traditional storytelling, while the art and soundtrack work harmoniously to enhance the overall ambiance.
“The atmosphere created by both outstanding visuals and music makes 'Solstice' an unforgettable experience.”
“The art is gorgeous, with little motion effects applied to certain objects in the background that help create an entrancing atmosphere, and the soundtrack is absolutely amazing.”
“It's immersive, with incredible atmospheric music and gorgeous visuals.”
“This is definitely not for lovers of Disney-type storytelling, as the atmosphere becomes successively darker.”
“The game fails to create an immersive atmosphere, leaving players feeling disconnected from the world.”
“Despite its potential, the atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to engage players.”
- character development5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features intricate storytelling and strong character development, highlighted by unique and visually stunning character designs. However, while the protagonists are well-developed, the impact of player choices on the plot is limited, particularly concerning the romance interests.
“Visual novel with an intricate story, good character development, and a lot of choices.”
“The artwork, which drew me in the most, is absolutely breathtaking, and the character designs are varied and beautiful.”
“Beautiful, stunning artwork; detailed character design.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, especially during multiple replays to unlock all endings, as the lack of fast forward or skip options can make the experience feel repetitive. However, some appreciate the opportunity for deeper introspection and satisfaction that comes from carefully navigating the story, despite the comedic elements occasionally undermining the tension.
“Though I will admit it can feel a tiny bit tedious during later replays of the game (if you are trying to unlock all the various endings) and the comedic element is slightly overused and does cut a little bit into the tension the game is trying to build - I would have liked a tad more drama in the final stages of the story.”
“It got a bit tedious when working towards the 100%.”
“Witnessing all the variants can get very tedious.”
- stability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
User reviews on stability are mixed; while some players report a smooth experience with no bugs, others have encountered significant issues, including lost progress, which detracts from their enjoyment of the game.
“Runs great, no bugs or technical issues, even on a toaster.”
“The game is incredibly stable, providing a smooth experience without any crashes.”
“I've played for hours without encountering any glitches or performance drops.”
“It's also buggy; I lost my progress at least twice, which didn't motivate me to continue playing.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it frustrating to enjoy any part of it.”
“I encountered numerous glitches that disrupted my gameplay experience.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight a mixed emotional impact, with some players feeling content due to the visuals and story, while others express disappointment, noting a lack of emotional engagement compared to previous titles.
“For me, the visuals and memorable story made me feel content with the purchase.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by decent dialogue, with flirtatious scenes occasionally providing unintentional hilarity. While some colloquialisms feel out of character and conversations can be stilted at times, the overall execution is well-received.
“The dialogue was decent; scenes with a lot of flirtation were sometimes inadvertently hilarious, and there were some odd colloquialisms that seemed out of character. While some conversations could be stilted, nothing stood out too much, and it was all in all very well done.”
