Sona-Nyl of the Violet Shadows Refrain
- December 7, 2023
- Liar-soft
Get on SteamIn "Sona-Nyl of the Violet Shadows Refrain," a mysterious fairytale unfolds in a steampunk world filled with intricate Engines and polluted skies. The story follows Elysia, who enters the abandoned, post-disaster city of New York searching for a lost song. As fantasy and reality intertwine, Elysia must navigate the eerie, crumbling ruins to uncover the truth behind the "Great Disappearance." This PC port of the Xbox360/PSP game features upscaled visuals for an immersive experience in this unique, steam-powered universe.
Reviews
- The visuals and OST are fantastic, showcasing Liar-Soft's unique and colorful art style.
- The story becomes engaging after the initial chapters, with a beautiful and thought-provoking narrative.
- The game is a rewarding slow burn, offering a rich and emotional experience that resonates with players.
- The beginning chapters are hard to read due to repetitious and hyperemotional text.
- Some players may find the episodic structure uneven, with varying quality across episodes.
- Expectations for a steampunk setting may be misleading, as the game leans more towards a whimsical and bizarre narrative.
- graphics6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their stunning quality, featuring unique and colorful backgrounds, exceptional shading, and top-notch character design. Many reviewers highlight the visuals as a standout aspect, often rating them a perfect 10/10, and appreciate the overall atmosphere created by the artwork.
“The visuals are amazing with Liar-Soft's willingness to have unique and colorful unreal backgrounds and shading being utilized better than ever, capped off with some 10/10 character design.”
“Previous two were Sekien no Inganock and Hikari no Valusia, and in both of them I was attracted by the visuals (and Liar-Soft visuals are probably my favorite in the VN industry) but just couldn't stand the style of the text, and here I actually had the same experience.”
“Beautiful text, beautiful visuals, beautiful music.”
“Love the prose, artworks, and the atmosphere.”
- story4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story begins slowly but becomes engaging by the fourth chapter, with an appealing setting and enjoyable romance elements. While it is episodic with varying quality, the central character, Lily, is charming and her character arc is compelling. The narrative stands alone well, making it accessible without prior knowledge of the series.
“But starting from the 4th chapter, things changed, and I found myself hooked on the story: the text, while remaining the same, started to get exciting, the setting became appealing, and even the romance was enjoyable to read.”
“The story is very episodic, with some episodes better than others, but the central character Lily is charming to follow, and it's great to see her arc play out.”
“No need to read the others in the series for the main story, as Sona-Nyl is sufficiently standalone.”
“The story is very episodic; some episodes are better than others, but the central character Lily is charming to follow, and it's great to see her arc play out.”
“Beautiful, sad story.”
- music3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its beauty and quality, complementing the stunning visuals and overall production. Reviewers note that the original soundtrack (OST) enhances the experience, with the release from Mangagamer adding even more content to appreciate.
“The art and OST in particular are fantastic.”
“Beautiful text, beautiful visuals, beautiful music.”
“Solid music and overall production quality; Mangagamer's release really goes above and beyond by adding all the content.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game elicits strong emotional responses, particularly towards the end, where it effectively explores deep themes, leaving a lasting impact on players. However, some found certain chapters overly sentimental and repetitive, with a romance focus that may not appeal to everyone. Despite mixed feelings about its emotional tone, it resonates personally for many, making it a memorable experience.
“It holds a very special place in my heart now for personal reasons, but it's a very emotionally devastating game, especially towards the end when you figure everything out and it touches on some themes very well.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the game's atmosphere, highlighting its captivating prose and stunning artwork that enhance the overall experience.
“I love the prose, artworks, and the atmosphere.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the character development for its stunning visuals and unique, colorful backgrounds, highlighting the exceptional character design as a standout feature.
“The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to form genuine connections with each character as their stories unfold.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, with their backstories and motivations becoming more complex as the plot progresses.”
“The choices you make truly impact character growth, making each decision feel meaningful and enhancing the overall experience.”
