Stella of the End
- September 25, 2023
- VisualArts/Key
- 10h median play time
Get on SteamIn "Stella of the End" , players follow Jude Gray, a courier who must protect Philia, an android with a human soul, as they navigate a world overrun by mechanical beasts. Together, they embark on a journey to save humanity, with Philia striving to become human and Jude serving as her guardian. Along the way, they encounter various threats and challenges, raising the question of whether humanity can be saved. The game features two main characters: Jude, the courier, and Philia, the android with a dream of becoming human.
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Reviews
- Stella of The End features a beautiful story with deep character development and emotional moments that resonate with players, often leading to tears.
- The game's art and soundtrack are stunning, enhancing the overall experience and immersing players in its post-apocalyptic world.
- The narrative is engaging and thought-provoking, exploring themes of humanity and relationships, making it a must-read for visual novel fans.
- The story is linear with no choices, which may disappoint players looking for interactive gameplay elements.
- Some characters, particularly Philia, can be perceived as naive or annoying, which may detract from the experience for some players.
- The pacing can feel rushed towards the end, leaving some plot points underdeveloped and potentially unsatisfying for certain players.
- story300 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Stella of the End" is praised for its emotional depth, character development, and engaging world-building, set in a post-apocalyptic landscape where a courier, Jude, escorts an android named Philia who desires to be human. While some reviewers noted the predictability of the plot and the use of familiar tropes, many found the execution compelling, with a focus on the bond between the two main characters that resonates throughout the narrative. Overall, the game is recommended for its beautiful storytelling, art, and music, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of visual novels.
“This is a perfect example of what a good story can be - great characters and development, incredible world-building and atmosphere, gorgeous visuals, and engaging sound design and music; it checks all the boxes.”
“A very impressive work of art with a moving story and characters that will stick with you for a long while.”
“The story is nothing short of incredible, and with the addition of great artwork from Swav, this makes it a must-read for visual novel fans.”
“There are literally only two characters, they're tropey as hell, the mission they are on is so vague as to be nonexistent, and the game seems utterly allergic to actually interesting prose, as though written by a bizarro Dickens incentivized to use as few words as possible.”
“The story is alright with a few character contradictions and an overarching narrative that struggles to work (no spoilers, but characters say one thing then act another way - and the explanation of the 'motive' left me thinking it made little sense - with many alternatives and logic flaws).”
“What's supposed to be its main theme is never really explored, characters are forgettable and predictable, and the vast majority of chapters between the first few and the last few are one giant filler that's there only to drag the story out for absolutely no reason.”
- music73 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its emotional impact and ability to enhance the storytelling, with many reviewers highlighting the beautiful soundtrack and effective sound design that complements the narrative. While some found certain tracks forgettable or repetitive, the overall consensus is that the music, especially the opening and ending themes, significantly contributes to the immersive experience. The combination of strong voice acting and well-executed audio elements further elevates the game's atmosphere, making it a standout feature for many players.
“The music is also great - powerful enough to carry a scene, but silent enough to where you can focus on the action or motion at play.”
“The sound design is quite phenomenal as well, with every soundtrack doing what it's supposed to do, whether it's to help accentuate the intensity of a situation, the sadness, the happiness, or the contentment. Whatever feelings the story wants you to feel at the moment, the soundtrack is there to really help bring the mood and atmosphere.”
“Tear-jerking, one of the most emotionally impactful visual novel soundtracks I've ever heard.”
“Oh and the music is entirely forgettable.”
“However, the soundtrack aside from the opening song is nothing to write home about and the repetition of the soundtrack during some scenes makes some long narration bits in the story somewhat boring, but other than that it works for the most part. The fact that the soundtrack screams 'I'm a bad guy' when a specific character shows up in the early to late chapters doesn't help either.”
“The menu music mainly.”
- emotional70 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with many players reporting tear-jerking moments and a profound connection to the characters, particularly in the context of a father-daughter relationship. The narrative is described as beautifully crafted, engaging, and thought-provoking, offering a mix of heartwarming and bittersweet themes that resonate deeply with players. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking an emotionally charged experience, comparable to other notable works by the studio.
“I cried my eyes out after playing this game.”
“Worth every second of it if you're in for a very emotional trip through this beautifully crafted sci-fi world.”
“A touching and thought-provoking story from beginning to the end.”
- graphics35 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics in this visual novel are widely praised for their breathtaking quality, unique art style, and stunning character designs, contributing significantly to the overall atmosphere and storytelling. Reviewers highlight the exceptional artwork, including detailed backgrounds and character illustrations, which enhance emotional scenes and world-building. Overall, the visuals are considered some of the best in the genre, making it a must-try for fans of visual novels.
“The game's art, including CGs and backgrounds, is simply breathtaking—arguably some of the best visuals from Key to date.”
“An amazing and short-ish VN featuring really high-quality graphics from the mind of the man that brought us Rewrite and Humanity Has Declined, Romeo Tanaka.”
“The artwork done by Swav is fantastic and brings the characters to life, especially during some emotional scenes.”
“Just remember it's more an interactive book with graphics (manga?) and music, than a game.”
“While nothing too graphic is shown, themes of slavery, sexual servitude, and violence are shown in realistic and sometimes heartbreaking ways.”
“There are a few slow parts in the story, but when the action kicks in, the story does a very good job in describing the scenes and conveying the artwork to show what is going on.”
- character development20 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
Character development in this visual novel is highly praised, with many reviewers noting its depth and emotional resonance despite the story's short length. The main character's naivety is seen as a deliberate aspect of her growth, while the relationships and goals of supporting characters like Jude and Phillia add layers to the narrative. Overall, the combination of strong writing, compelling character arcs, and beautiful visuals contributes to an engaging experience that resonates with players.
“A good kinetic visual novel that serves as a great example of how to do character development and worldbuilding properly. On top of having some neat and slick visuals, this is a visual novel I would definitely give a try.”
“Thank you for creating excellent character development; Jude and Phillia's story is deeply emotional, as Jude's mission is to deliver Phillia to Willem, who wants to revive humanity. These goals can't be achieved together, and we all know the ending will be very sentimental.”
“Everything about this visual novel is so beautiful, from the story to the character development to the art, especially the music that fits the theme so well.”
“The FMC is a bit naive and will get on your nerves a lot of times, but I think that's part of her character development.”
“The world building and character development are surprisingly strong for a short visual novel.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its exceptional world-building, stunning visuals, and immersive sound design, which collectively enhance the storytelling experience. Reviewers note that the soundtrack effectively complements the emotional tone of various scenes, further enriching the overall ambiance and engagement. Overall, the atmosphere is described as beautiful and integral to the game's narrative impact.
“This is a perfect example of what a good story can be - great characters and development, incredible world-building and atmosphere, gorgeous visuals, and engaging sound design and music that check all of the boxes.”
“The sound design is quite phenomenal as well, with every soundtrack doing what it's supposed to do, whether it's to help accentuate the intensity of a situation, the sadness, the happiness, or the contentment. Whatever feelings the story wants you to feel at the moment, the soundtrack is there to really help bring the mood and atmosphere.”
“Beautiful atmosphere, beautiful story, beautiful message.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Stella of the End" is characterized by its immersive experience, offering 10-20 hours of engaging content. As a successor to previous titles by Studio Key, it enhances emotional depth and broadens the narrative, making it a compelling visual novel in the sci-fi dystopian genre.
“From the creators of Harmonia and Planetarian, Studio Key presents its latest and longest sci-fi dystopian visual novel, 'Stella of the End.' As a direct successor to their previous titles, this game intensifies the emotional stakes and expands the narrative scope, offering between 10-20 hours of immersive gameplay.”
