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 interesting characters and multiple romance routes that keep the player invested.
- Beautiful artwork and well-done CGs that enhance the overall experience.
- Strong emotional moments and character development, particularly in Lyria and Melody's routes.
- Some characters lack depth and can feel one-dimensional, leading to a less immersive experience.
- Pacing issues and abrupt endings in certain routes, making the resolution feel unsatisfying.
- Grammar and spelling errors present throughout the game, which can detract from the overall quality.
- story362 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of "Starlight Vega" is a fantasy visual novel that centers on a young female student navigating romantic relationships with three potential partners in a world filled with magic and demons. While the narrative is engaging and features well-developed characters, it suffers from pacing issues, minor plot inconsistencies, and a somewhat straightforward plot. Overall, players appreciate the emotional depth and multiple endings, making it a recommended experience for fans of yuri and interactive storytelling.
“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 soundtrack, characters, and the choices you make where each causes a clear impact and change on the story's direction, all come together to tell a beautifully written story with lovable characters.”
“The story and 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, again, melody's route, because there was a little bit, and just a little bit, of emotional suspense.”
- music106 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as fitting and adequate, with some reviewers appreciating its relaxing and atmospheric qualities, while others find it repetitive and forgettable. Although the soundtrack complements the story well, it lacks standout tracks and can feel monotonous at times. Overall, while the music is not considered exceptional, it serves its purpose in enhancing the game's narrative experience.
“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).”
“For me, the biggest negative was the soundtrack.”
- graphics44 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics in 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 artwork is described as rough or lacking in detail, especially in earlier parts of the game, the overall visual presentation is considered solid and well-executed, complementing the romantic narrative effectively. Despite some critiques regarding consistency and detail, the visuals are appreciated for their emotional impact and ability to enhance 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.”
“Great from start to finish, strong story narrative that keeps you glued to the screen; the artwork and sprite management is top notch, and matches what is portrayed on the screen.”
“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.”
- emotional28 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 moments, particularly in the love scenes, which are described as thoughtful and touching. However, others express difficulty in becoming emotionally invested in the characters and story, finding certain elements off-putting or lacking depth, leading to a sense of missed potential for a more thrilling emotional experience. Overall, while there are moments of genuine emotional impact, the execution leaves some players feeling underwhelmed.
“Emotional, romantic, and just everything about it is perfect!”
“This game is really touching and heartwarming.”
“Especially compelling was the heartwarming combination of artwork and character design.”
- humor14 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 Sid as a standout. The lighthearted moments and unique personalities of the characters contribute to an enjoyable experience, balancing the narrative with humor effectively. Overall, the game offers a blend of a compelling story and amusing elements that enhance its appeal.
“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 comments to each other are right to the point, and that makes it funny.”
“Has a nice story with funny parts to lighten the mood.”
- character development8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted as a mixed aspect; while some players appreciate the depth and rewarding nature of multiple playthroughs that reveal new lore and perspectives, others criticize the lack of sufficient development in romantic relationships, which diminishes the emotional impact of those story arcs. Overall, the character design is described as cute but somewhat plain, and the narrative is engaging despite its shortcomings in romance.
“It wasn’t a major complaint though and the story itself was very much 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 the player choices and offered 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.”
- grinding6 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 concept of multiple endings is intriguing, inconsistencies in storytelling and reliance on unconvincing tropes make the gameplay feel laborious and less enjoyable, particularly for those seeking meaningful representation in a 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' is 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.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay features interesting "good" and "bad" endings for each character, but is marred by plot holes and inconsistencies in the storytelling. Players have noted the repetition of scenes and dialogue without a skip option, which can make the experience feel tedious. Overall, while the gameplay has potential, it suffers from some execution issues.
“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. There were 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.”
“Gameplay is... there.”
“It's not even a game mechanic bug, it's a gallery thing.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % 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 those present 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.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers solid replayability, featuring seven distinct outcomes that encourage players to explore different routes and their significant narrative changes. Completionists will find value in the scattered achievements, making it worthwhile for those interested in experiencing all possible storylines. Overall, players can expect a rewarding experience upon replaying.
“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.”
“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.”