Song of Farca
- July 21, 2021
- Wooden Monkeys
- 5h median play time
You are Isabella Song – a hacker PI. Your job is to hack cameras, phones, and computers, as well as question suspects, analyze evidence and draw conclusions. But don't forget that in Farca city, even criminals can end up victims.
Reviews
- Engaging story with multiple endings that genuinely reflect player choices.
- Unique gameplay mechanics that combine hacking and detective work in a cyberpunk setting.
- Beautiful art style and a captivating soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
- Repetitive gameplay and puzzles that can become tedious over time.
- Some dialogue and character interactions feel forced or unrealistic, detracting from immersion.
- Game-breaking bugs and lack of a save feature can hinder the overall enjoyment.
- story365 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally engaging and well-crafted, drawing players into a compelling narrative with interesting characters and emotional moments. However, many reviewers noted that while the game advertises meaningful choices, these often have minimal impact on the overall plot, leading to a somewhat linear experience. Despite some criticisms regarding repetitiveness and a lack of depth in certain areas, the story's themes, character development, and immersive dialogue have left a positive impression on players, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of narrative-driven games.
“I had low expectations going into this game and yet the story exceeded all I could have hoped for.”
“The story is so interesting; I love the choices and the way it is set up.”
“I had an easy time getting emotionally invested in the story and characters, and it felt genuinely suspenseful when I had to make important decisions.”
“Although this advertises itself as a choices matter game, I didn't really get the impression that the choices moved the overall plot in important ways.”
“Unfortunately in the long run the game becomes extremely boring and repetitive; the story isn't engaging enough.”
“The whole 'choices matter' aspect, while present, is both unclear (in terms of what choices actually matter) and not essentially very effective, as most of the plot can continue as normal regardless of what you do, only with minor differences.”
- gameplay212 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising its engaging mechanics and unique elements, particularly in hacking and investigation, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking depth. Many players noted that while the initial gameplay is enjoyable, it can become monotonous over time, and some experienced frustrating bugs that hindered their progress. Overall, the game is seen as having potential but often falls short of fully realizing its innovative ideas.
“The gameplay is good, not revolutionary but good and it works.”
“The story is great, the mechanics are well thought out and it is generally just a really engaging game.”
“The gameplay is pretty creative as far as investigative narratives go.”
“For a game where the entire gameplay revolves around the writing, it is criminal to have such bad dialogues and characters.”
“The gameplay is frustratingly clunky, and the story, albeit moving at times, was pretty narrow-minded and reductionistic.”
“There are no negative consequences for guessing wrong (or for screwing up during break-ins, as far as I can tell), so the actual gameplay itself feels like I'm just clicking and not really playing.”
- music108 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in "Song of Farca" has received widespread praise for its ability to immerse players in the game's cyberpunk atmosphere, with many describing the soundtrack as unique and fitting for the narrative. While some players noted that the limited number of tracks can lead to repetition, the overall sound design and musical composition were highlighted as standout features that enhance the gameplay experience. Many reviewers expressed a desire for a longer soundtrack, indicating that the music significantly contributes to the game's appeal.
“The soundtrack pulls you right in, making you feel like a hacker solving crimes...or helping criminals.”
“Best soundtrack to a game in years!”
“And 10/10 soundtrack, wish it was longer and that I could play it forever.”
“I'll be honest and say that sometimes I just lowered the volume because of the linearity of the music.”
“[spoiler] Not even Jessie's death moved me, although the music that played in the final related case was good.”
“Tension moments are better than in Farca. The ambient music is okay; you can switch it if you don't like it.”
- graphics47 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Song of Farca" are widely praised for their gorgeous art style and aesthetic appeal, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience. Reviewers highlight the quality of the visuals, the effective use of the city as a character, and the overall polish of the game's design. While some found the gameplay to be somewhat linear, the stunning visuals and engaging story more than compensate for any shortcomings.
“But overall, Song of Farca is a fairly unique political sim with a gorgeous art style and a soundtrack I'm still not sick of.”
“Great detective game, gorgeous graphics, I'm hooked!”
“Cherries on top: great graphics, sleek UI and a suitable soundtrack.”
“It's neatly polished and aesthetically pleasing, but I found the gameplay disappointing.”
“There were a lot of choices that seemed to make a difference in how the story progressed, but usually these were in dialogues, not really in the gameplay, otherwise, and that made the rest of the game feel pretty constricted and linear.”
“When she finally gets to your apartment, the awesome game turns out to be a top-down warplane shooter like 1942 for the NES, but with slightly better graphics.”
- emotional22 mentions
- 91 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The emotional impact of the game varies significantly among players; some found themselves deeply invested in the characters and story, experiencing a range of feelings from joy to frustration, while others felt detached and unengaged. Notably, the relationship between key characters is highlighted as particularly touching, contributing to moments of genuine emotional resonance. Overall, while some players appreciated the emotional depth, others were left wanting more connection and narrative engagement.
“Shocked in many ways... it was one hell of an emotional journey.”
“I had an easy time getting emotionally invested in the story and characters, and it felt genuinely suspenseful when I had to make important decisions.”
“The relationship between Izy and Jesse is very touching.”
- replayability20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its strong replayability, with many players expressing a desire to revisit it due to engaging storylines and meaningful choices that can lead to different outcomes. While some noted that the game can be completed in a relatively short time, the immersive dialogue and thoughtful design contribute to its replay value. However, a few players mentioned that frustration could detract from the experience, indicating that the replayability may vary based on individual play styles.
“I will absolutely be playing this again, and that is the biggest compliment I can give a game - replayability.”
“I think there is a high chance of replayability, and I would like to see if my choices next time lead to different outcomes.”
“This game has thoughtful and immersive dialogue, with a complex but comprehensive storyline that provides replayability.”
“Replayability lost through frustration is always bad.”
“While it’s a game that could be completed in about half a day, it’s also quite replayable.”
“Very enjoyable game - because of the choices there is some replayability, but I would definitely love some DLC with new chapters altogether.”
- atmosphere16 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is described as dark and immersive, effectively blending elements of a brutal detective story with a black mirror-esque vibe of digital dominance. Reviewers appreciate the emotive art style and music, which enhance the urgency and intensity of the narrative, although some find the dense political themes and frustrating characters can make the experience feel exhausting at times. Overall, the atmosphere is praised for its precision and ability to draw players into the story.
“This is a dark and brutal detective story with a Black Mirror-esque atmosphere of digital dominance and the narrative structure of a US crime procedural.”
“I love the art, the style of the game, and the general atmosphere.”
“Beautiful game, I love the atmosphere and the characters.”
“Combined with some intentionally frustrating characters and a lack of supporting cast who seem to relieve the dense political atmosphere (outside your love interest), this game often felt exhausting.”
“This is a dark and brutal detective story with a black mirror-esque atmosphere of digital dominance and the narrative structure of a US crime procedural.”
“It isn’t to my taste, but man it fits, it's emotive, and it builds the atmosphere and feeling with precision.”
- grinding16 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, particularly due to the inability to skip dialogues and cutscenes during replay for different choices or achievements. This repetitiveness detracts from the overall enjoyment, making the prospect of multiple playthroughs feel more like a chore than a rewarding experience. While some mechanics are initially engaging, the lack of options to expedite the process significantly hampers replayability.
“Replaying for other choices and achievements is frustrating since you need to go through the puzzles and tedious bad dialogues again.”
“It does get very tedious having to read the same text over and over and wait through cut scenes because there is no skipping anything.”
“I would love to play this again to choose different options, but the thought of having to drudge through the tedious, linear aspects of the game and getting through the dialogue portions without a way to speed them up or skip past unimportant things is too much of a barrier.”
- stability8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has been reported to have several stability issues, including frequent freezes and various bugs that detract from the overall experience. While some users found it enjoyable despite these glitches, the prevalence of reported problems has led to significant discussion in forums about its stability.
“It just freezes and I can’t do anything else.”
“Watching a walkthrough confirmed: it just freezes.”
“Unfortunately, this game seems buggy... as of right now, almost every topic in the discussion forum is about various bugs.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely seen as ineffective, with characters intended to be funny failing to deliver laughs, particularly a stand-up comedian who misses the mark entirely. While some users found certain characters amusing, like a serial killer, the overall comedic elements did not resonate well with many players, indicating a significant disconnect in the intended humor.
“If anything, I'd have rather dated the serial killer: that guy was truly hilarious.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the game for its excellent representation and character design, highlighting the depth and diversity of the characters.
“Great representation and character design.”