Starlight Vega
- April 14, 2016
- Razzart Visual
- 13h median play time
Starlight Vega is a yuri-themed visual novel revolving around a mystical summer shared between a human girl and a magical mermaid queen. The game features atmospheric music, multiple endings, and a complex relationship-building system. As the summer progresses, players will uncover the dark secrets of the mermaid's past and navigate the challenges of their growing bond.
Reviews
- Engaging story with multiple routes that provide different perspectives and character development.
- Well-drawn characters and beautiful CGs that enhance the romantic and emotional moments.
- Strong representation of yuri themes, making it a great choice for fans of girl-on-girl romance.
- Some characters feel underdeveloped and lack depth, leading to a less impactful emotional connection.
- The pacing can be inconsistent, with certain plot points feeling rushed or unresolved.
- There are minor spelling and grammar errors that can detract from the overall reading experience.
- story181 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of "Starlight Vega" is generally well-received, featuring a rich narrative with engaging characters and multiple endings that enhance replayability. While some reviewers noted pacing issues, plot inconsistencies, and a straightforward storyline, many appreciated the emotional depth and humor woven throughout the romantic fantasy setting. Overall, the game is praised for its character development and the balance between romance and storytelling, making it a recommended choice for fans of visual novels, particularly within the yuri genre.
“I absolutely love it, the story is fun, the art is great and the characters are actually well thought out :)”
“If you're looking for something with a unique storyline to pull at your heartstrings and make you laugh, you're in the right place!”
“The story was engaging, and the setting really fit with the game's overall narrative.”
“The characters are dull and uninteresting, the relationships feel very forced, and even the animation and soundtrack aren't anything special.”
“There's extremely limited backstory to the game; only what matters to the plot is talked about, and that creates a sense of shallowness and disconnect that makes it hard to really feel.”
“The climax of the story is atrociously dull; the only route that intrigued me was Melody's route, because there was a little bit, and just a little bit, of emotional suspense.”
- music53 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players finding it fitting and supportive of the narrative, though often described as repetitive and forgettable. While some appreciate the relaxing and varied soundtrack, others note that it lacks memorable tracks and can feel out of sync with certain scenes. Overall, the music is generally considered adequate but not exceptional, complementing the game's atmosphere without standing out significantly.
“I left with a surprisingly solid game with great characters and amazing music.”
“The soundtrack is great and hasn't ever felt like it wasn't in sync with the moment.”
“Absolutely loved the music, I wish I could buy that somewhere.”
“The same backgrounds are recycled for most of the game as well as the music being highly repetitive.”
“Other minor gripes included some awkward transitions and repeated art, as well as a soundtrack that wasn't as memorable as it could have been (looped tracks and some silent moments).”
“I can't even remember the music in the game and there's no voice acting.”
- graphics22 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their unique and attractive art style, with many reviewers noting the beauty of the character designs and situational illustrations. While some aspects of the artwork are considered rough or lacking in detail, especially in earlier parts of the game, the overall visual presentation is complemented by a fitting soundtrack and effectively supports the emotional narrative. Despite some criticisms regarding consistency and technical execution, the visuals are seen as a strong point that enhances the storytelling experience.
“A very well executed production, with really beautiful graphics, nice music and a well written story.”
“Starlight Vega captured my attention first with its art style.”
“Especially compelling was the heartwarming combination of artwork and character design.”
“Compared to everything they've done after this, the artwork is fairly rough and I hope someday Razzart gives this game a nice remaster.”
“It's very clearly trying, but the lack of expertise shows--spelling and grammar issues, a lot of continuity errors and plot holes within and between various routes, and the artwork is only passable for the majority of the time.”
“The artwork in general and music, while somewhat simple, complement the story very well and some situational illustrations were a joy to look at, even though they weren’t super-heavy on details.”
- emotional14 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its romantic and heartfelt storytelling that evokes genuine feelings and excitement, particularly in the love scenes. However, others find it difficult to become emotionally invested in the characters, describing moments as mundane and lacking depth, which diminishes the overall emotional impact. While certain routes, like Melody's, show potential for emotional engagement, many feel the game ultimately falls short of delivering a truly thrilling emotional experience.
“Emotional, romantic, and just everything about it is perfect!”
“It was the most believable and held some emotional tension too.”
“This game is really touching and heartwarming.”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is well-received, with players appreciating the witty banter and comical character interactions, particularly highlighting the lovable character Sid. The humor complements the engaging story, providing lighthearted moments that enhance the overall experience without relying on explicit content.
“The characters are comical (Sid being the most lovable) and all of them have creative views and personalities that make them unique and funny.”
“Their sour comment to each other is right to the point, and that makes it funny.”
“Has a nice story with funny parts to lighten the mood.”
- character development4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is mixed; while some players appreciate the gratifying story and the depth revealed through multiple playthroughs, others feel that the romantic elements lack sufficient exploration and complexity. The character design is described as mostly plain but complemented by appealing artwork, contributing to a heartwarming experience despite some shortcomings in character growth. Overall, the game offers distinct endings and new lore based on player choices, enhancing the narrative experience.
“It wasn’t a major complaint though, and the story itself was very gratifying – while short, it didn’t lack amusing dialogues, good character development, and rewarded multiple playthroughs, uncovering new lore, showing the major story points from new angles depending on player choices and offering a bunch of distinct endings.”
“Especially compelling was the heartwarming combination of artwork and character design.”
“A lot of the romance is based on manipulation and weirdness that isn't sufficiently problematized, and there's not enough character development for the romantic payoffs to feel cathartic.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious due to repetitive scenes and dialogue without a skip option, which detracts from the overall experience. While the game attempts to explore political themes, it ultimately falls short, leading to a lack of engagement and disappointment, particularly for those seeking meaningful representation in a f/f dating sim.
“The game attempts to touch on political intrigue, but its obvious main appeal is romance, and if I were to find three phrases to describe it, it would be tedious, unconvincing, and full of bad fanservice.”
“I'm saddened to be writing this kind of review for a f/f dating sim, as there are not so many of them, but Starlight Vega being at best tedious to read and at worst trying to justify romance with creepy tropes and cheap feelings, I just can't recommend it, especially if you're LGBT+ and looking for good representation.”
“I didn't mind the 'good' and 'bad' endings for each character and thought it was interesting, but there were some plot holes and inconsistencies in the storytelling, as well as times where, even though I saved the game before each choice, a lot of scenes and dialogue were repeated with no skip option available, making the gameplay a bit tedious.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The gameplay features multiple endings for each character, which adds an interesting layer, but is marred by plot holes and inconsistencies in the storytelling. Additionally, the lack of a skip option for repeated scenes and dialogue can make the experience feel tedious at times. Overall, while the gameplay has potential, it suffers from some execution issues.
“The gameplay is incredibly engaging and keeps you on your toes.”
“The mechanics are well-designed, making every action feel impactful.”
“The variety of gameplay options allows for a unique experience each time.”
“I didn't mind the 'good' and 'bad' endings for each character and thought it was interesting, but there were some plot holes and inconsistencies in the storytelling. Additionally, even though I saved the game before each choice, a lot of scenes and dialogue were repeated with no skip option available, making the gameplay a bit tedious.”
“Gameplay is... there.”
“It's not even a game mechanic bug, it's a gallery thing.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally well-received, with users noting that it enhances the story and adds depth to each scene. While the number of background sceneries is limited, the detailed design of each contributes positively to the overall ambiance.
“Enhances the atmosphere perfectly and gives each scene a lot more depth and feeling.”
“Though there are not many background sceneries, each of them is detailed and provides a good atmosphere.”
“It's not the best yuri game out there, but I enjoyed it nevertheless due to the story and atmosphere.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers solid replayability, featuring seven distinct outcomes and significant variations in story paths, making it appealing for completionists and players interested in exploring different routes. Users find the experience worthwhile, as the diverse endings and achievements encourage multiple playthroughs.
“It's worth the money either way, and since it has seven outcomes, with achievements scattered between the majority of the routes, there's absolutely replay value for completionists and even for those who want to see how the different routes pan out, as the changes are significant between each route taken.”
“It's worth the money either way, and since it has seven outcomes, with the achievements scattered between the majority of the routes, there's absolutely replay value for completionists and even for those who want to see how the different routes pan out, as the changes are significant between each route taken.”
“The story ended with a great conclusion, and there is a decent amount of replayability.”
“It has decent replayability as well, so you can start again and pursue other courses of action to see where they lead.”