STEINS;GATE: Linear Bounded Phenogram
- February 19, 2019
- MAGES. Inc.
- 2h median play time
Steins;Gate Linear Bounded Phenogram is a collection of stories made for the fans. While some certainly hit harder than others, the different viewpoints allow for an even deeper connection with these beloved characters.
Get on Steam"STEINS;GATE: Linear Bounded Phenogram" is a visual novel spin-off of the popular science fiction series "Steins;Gate." The game features branching storylines and multiple endings, allowing players to delve deeper into the game's world and characters. With a unique focus on the concept of time travel, players must make choices that affect the outcome of the story and ultimately, the fate of the characters.
iPad
iPhone
Nintendo Switch
PC
Phone
Playstation 4
Windows
Mobile Platform
PlayStation
Playstation 3
Playstation Vita
Xbox
Xbox 360
Reviews
- The game offers a rich collection of side stories that provide deeper insights into beloved characters from the Steins;Gate universe.
- The emotional storytelling and character development are praised, with many stories being well-written and impactful.
- Fans of the original Steins;Gate will appreciate the additional context and perspectives, making it a worthwhile experience.
- The game is bundled with Steins;Gate Elite, which some players find frustrating as it limits access to those who may not want to purchase Elite.
- There are inconsistencies in story quality, with some narratives feeling like filler or lacking depth compared to others.
- Translation issues, including typos and grammatical errors, detract from the overall experience and immersion.
- story214 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story in *Steins;Gate: Linear Bounded Phenogram* consists of 11 interconnected short stories, each written by different authors, allowing players to explore various character perspectives within the established universe. While the narratives provide additional depth and context to beloved characters, they lack the cohesive structure and emotional weight of the original game, leading to mixed reviews on their overall impact. Fans of the series may appreciate the exploration of side stories and character backstories, but some narratives feel disconnected or unsatisfying, making the experience variable across the collection.
“Steins;Gate: Linear Bounded Phenogram nicely complements the main story and does a great job at expanding and developing the cast.”
“The usual light-hearted comedy coupled with strong, emotionally weighty moments makes for some compelling storytelling.”
“Getting to know the story from the perspective of other characters is fun and helps to understand the depths of the series even more.”
“In contrast, I felt that Moeka's story was rather weak, which concluded with an unsatisfying ending.”
“Aside from the constant translation mistakes in the forms of typos and grammatical errors that just get worse and happen more often the further you get into the game, half of the stories don't actually do anything interesting and some, quite literally, don't do anything at all.”
“The non-canonical nature of the game also causes these additional stories to not really integrate with the established storyline, including some blatant inconsistencies with how the time travel mechanics are depicted.”
- emotional36 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players noting the touching and heartwarming stories of characters like Suzuha, Lukako, Moeka, Tennouji, and Mayuri, which evoke strong feelings and provide satisfying emotional payoffs. While the game balances light-hearted comedy with serious themes, it effectively delivers gut-wrenching moments and lessons about love and sacrifice, making it a compelling emotional journey for fans of the Steins;Gate series. Overall, the storytelling is described as beautifully written, engaging, and capable of pulling players in various emotional directions.
“Suzuha's, Lukako's, Moeka's, Tennouji's, and Mayuri's stories were all touching in their own ways that had me emotionally hooked; they're my top 5 favorites.”
“Beautifully written, with incredible emotional payoffs and absolutely gut-wrenching moments.”
“A collection of emotional and well-written stories, each told from the perspective of a different Steins;Gate character in an alternate world-line.”
- music34 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game primarily features recycled tracks from the original, which many players appreciate due to its high quality, while also introducing about an hour of new compositions that maintain the same standard. The soundtrack is described as catchy and atmospheric, enhancing the overall experience, and a music player is included for easy access. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's production value, making it a worthy addition to the franchise.
“The few new added soundtracks were great though!”
“In addition, while the songs from the original Steins;Gate soundtrack appear in the game, about an hour of new compositions is present too, for the most part living up to the standard of quality found in the original.”
“Artwork by Huke is excellent as always, and Takeshi Abo's soundtrack is as atmospheric as the original game.”
“As with the artwork, most of the music is recycled from the original game.”
“However, the music files within the program are not readily accessible due to how they are stored.”
“In addition, while the songs from the original S;G soundtrack appear in the game, about an hour of new compositions is present too, for the most part living up to the standard of quality found in the original.”
- graphics20 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are praised for their seamless integration of new content with the original art style, maintaining the distinctive aesthetic that fans love. While newcomers may appreciate the updated visuals and additional artwork, returning players might find the changes insufficient to warrant a purchase, as the core experience remains largely the same. Overall, the production value is high, featuring excellent artwork and atmospheric music that enhance the gameplay experience.
“However, the new additions, including new CGs and background art, are seamlessly integrated with what is in the original and perfectly emulate the original game's distinctive art style.”
“Artwork by huke is excellent as always, and Takeshi Abo's soundtrack is as atmospheric as the original game.”
“Steins;Gate has a pretty unique art style, which is nice.”
“While this is a really good bundle for newcomers, someone who's already played the original may not want to waste money on buying Elite, which is essentially the same game with anime graphics.”
“As with the artwork, most of the music is recycled from the original game.”
“The new art style grew on me.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily visual novel (VN) style, featuring excellent presentation and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the experience. While the writing and visuals are praised for sometimes surpassing the mainline games, the non-canonical nature of the story leads to inconsistencies, particularly with time travel mechanics. Overall, fans of the series are encouraged to explore this engaging gameplay despite its narrative discrepancies.
“The gameplay, presentation, and writing are great and at times even surpass the mainline games, so anyone that's a fan of the series should definitely give this a go!”
“The presentation is fantastic, sound has 48 tracks which are great and set the mood during gameplay, as well as amazing CGs by Huke, which are simply beautiful and excellent at portraying the situations going on.”
“Gameplay: it's a visual novel.”
“Gameplay: it's a visual novel.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of cringy, non-anime-style jokes that can be both funny and thought-provoking, often eliciting a range of emotions from laughter to sadness. While some plots may be considered boring, the comedic elements provide a unique and enjoyable experience for players.
“Some stories in this game made me laugh, others cry; but I enjoyed experiencing all of them!”
“It's funny, sad, and thought-provoking all at the same time.”
“All of them have legitimately funny non-anime-esque cringy jokes.”
- character development4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game excels in character development, featuring 11 individual stories that delve deeply into the backgrounds and growth of nearly all major characters from the anime. Players appreciate the added detail and realism, making the characters feel authentic and well-rounded across various world lines.
“This game has 11 individual stories featuring nearly all major characters from the anime, and it adds much more detail to character development across the different world lines.”
“The characters all feel very real and there is a lot of character development.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, featuring excellent artwork by huke and a captivating soundtrack by Takeshi Abo that enhances the immersive experience, reminiscent of the original game.
“The artwork by Huke is excellent as always, and Takeshi Abo's soundtrack is as atmospheric as the original game.”
