Symphonia

About

"Symphonia" is a poetic platformer game where you play as a violinist on a journey to awaken and understand your role in a forsaken world. Using your violin and bow, move towards the core of the realm and play the best concerto. The game is presented in Unity 3D, playable on PC, with a beautiful art style and original music, created by students from ISART DIGITAL, the Video Game and 3D Animation / VFX School.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 63 reviews

music41 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Incredible art style and music that enhance the overall experience, making it visually and audibly stunning.
Challenging yet rewarding platforming mechanics that are accessible for both newcomers and veterans of the genre.
Short but satisfying gameplay with a focus on exploration and collectibles, providing a unique and engaging experience.

The game is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more content and replayability.
Some controls, particularly the wall jump mechanics, can feel unintuitive and may lead to frustration.
Occasional bugs and crashes, especially when multiple actions occur simultaneously, can disrupt the gameplay experience.

music
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
31%
5%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its orchestral quality and emotional depth, often highlighting the use of a live 50-piece orchestra for the soundtrack. The integration of music into gameplay, such as using a violin for abilities, enhances the overall experience, making it both immersive and enjoyable. Overall, the beautiful compositions and sound design significantly contribute to the game's charm and appeal, making it a standout feature for players.
- “The soundtrack is out of this world, and the platforming, while not immediately accessible, is satisfying.”
- “The music is brilliant, and I loved the fact that you don't feel much pressure while moving through the jump and run passages.”
- “The music stands out as a storytelling tool, adding depth and immersion.”
- “Sometimes I missed dark notes because of the short range of the music.”
- “The only thing I think was missing was some kind of rhythm gameplay; even if minimal, this being a game with music as its theme, there are a few moments where it would have fit perfectly (when performing with the other characters).”
- “Don't be fooled by the charming graphics and classic music style - this metroidvania is unforgiving.”
graphics
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
79%
11%
11%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning art style, beautifully crafted environments, and charming character designs, often compared to titles like Hollow Knight. Reviewers highlight the seamless integration of visuals with the game's musical themes, creating an immersive experience that enhances gameplay. Overall, the visuals are described as a standout feature, making exploration a visually rewarding journey.
- “This game, in a lot of senses, blew me away with its incredible graphics and soundtracks.”
- “Graphics: beautifully drawn visuals that make each moment of exploration a treat to the eyes.”
- “Don't be fooled by the charming graphics and classic music style - this metroidvania is unforgiving.”
- “The graphics are very pretty and crafted with love around the musical themes and work very well with the ambience of the game story.”
- “Aesthetically it gave me some Hollow Knight vibes, but in a brighter, cheerier world and with a musical theme.”
gameplay
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
46%
11%
The gameplay of this title is praised for its stunning visuals, engaging mechanics, and well-balanced challenge, making it accessible for newcomers while still offering optional difficulties for veterans. Players appreciate the creative level design and the integration of music into the gameplay experience, although some have noted minor issues with specific mechanics like wall jumping. Overall, it is described as a rewarding and enjoyable precision platformer that stands out for its artistic and musical elements.
- “As a first game for the studio, they did splendid work on it: insane art style, music, mechanics, and level design.”
- “The game is beautiful, music mesmerizing while the gameplay experience is precise and challenging while keeping a relatively peaceful ambience.”
- “Symphonia is a stunning precision platformer that mixes gorgeous visuals and smooth gameplay with a well-balanced challenge.”
- “Also, something feels off about the wall jump mechanic.”
- “The only gripe I have with the game is how I had to fight a few of the mechanics' inputs every single minute of the game.”
- “The only thing I think was missing was some kind of rhythm gameplay, even if minimal, this being a game with music as its theme, and there are a few moments where it would have fit perfectly (when performing with the other characters).”
story
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
68%
16%
The game's story is generally considered linear and simplistic, with many players noting its brevity and lack of replay value beyond collectibles. While some appreciate the unique storytelling approach through music and environmental design, others feel that the narrative is minimal and lacks depth, relying heavily on visual and auditory elements rather than traditional dialogue. Overall, the story serves more as a backdrop to the gameplay experience rather than a central focus.
- “It’s the kind of storytelling that invites you to slow down, observe, and piece things together yourself, which I think adds to the game’s overall charm.”
- “The music stands out as a storytelling tool, adding depth and immersion.”
- “The graphics are very pretty and crafted with love around the musical themes and work very well with the ambience of the game story.”
- “The story falls very short here, as there are no dialogues apart from a couple of lore snippets throughout the game. The story is certainly not the biggest strong point here, as it's pretty much linear and too simple.”
- “Extremely good game, amazing artwork, I loved the music, the environments, everything. I’d definitely get it, but I would warn that the story is very linear and there isn’t much of a replay aspect to it aside from the collectibles.”
- “The story is almost nonexistent, but frankly, I couldn't care less.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
Overall, the game offers a mix of replayability features, including extra gameplay modes, optional challenges, and achievements that enhance the experience for platformer enthusiasts. However, some players find the game to be quite short, leading to limited replay value.
- “The game has optional modes and plenty of achievements for replayability.”
- “Great platform abilities, replay value, great music, and great controls.”
- “Short... very short with a very limited replay value.”
- “Add in an extra gameplay mode for replayability after beating it; this is a complete game worth checking out for those of you that love platformers.”
- “Game has optional modes and plenty of achievements for replayability.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
Overall, players find the game's optimization to be strong, with precise controls and no performance issues reported. However, some feel that the moveset could evolve more significantly over time, as it seems players reach peak performance too quickly.
- “I loved the game, the visuals, the wonderful music, the difficulty felt just right, the controls are extremely precise, and I never had any issues with the game's performance!”
- “Here’s to more violin performances, more satisfying jumps, and maybe just a little less dying next time!”
- “Your moveset should evolve over time, but it almost feels like you are at peak performance from the get-go.”
- “The game is visually stunning, the music is wonderful, the difficulty feels just right, and the controls are extremely precise, but I never had a problem with the game's performance!”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is generally strong, with users noting only a few minor bugs and glitches that detract from an otherwise near-perfect experience. While some players express frustration with the need for backtracking to acquire abilities, these issues are not seen as major drawbacks.
- “It's a near perfect game, but a few bugs and glitches detract from the overall experience.”
- “I'm not the biggest fan of having to acquire abilities and backtrack to access certain areas, but my main complaint is the glitches that appeared when I replayed for the coins.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, particularly those who have witnessed its evolution from a student project to a full-fledged title, highlighting the nostalgia and pride associated with its development journey.
- “Having worked on the original student project, it was very emotional for me to play Symphonia 4 years later, seeing it evolve into a full game.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
While the game features beautiful art, engaging mechanics, and impressive character designs, the reviews do not specifically address character development, suggesting it may not be a focal point of the experience.
- “The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character's unique story.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making each decision feel impactful and meaningful.”
- “The depth of character backstories and their growth over time adds a layer of immersion that keeps me engaged.”