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 124 reviews

music80 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Stunning visuals and mesmerizing music create an immersive experience that enhances gameplay.
The platforming mechanics are well-designed, offering a balanced challenge that caters to both newcomers and veterans.
The game features a unique storytelling approach through music and visuals, making it a captivating experience.

The game is relatively short, with some players feeling it lacks replay value and depth in its story.
The absence of combat may feel limiting to some players, as the focus is solely on platforming.
There are occasional bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, particularly with the double jump mechanics.

music
125 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
34%
2%
The music in the game is widely praised for its mesmerizing quality and its integral role in storytelling, enhancing immersion and emotional depth throughout the gameplay. Many reviewers highlight the orchestral soundtrack, which is beautifully composed and recorded, making it a standout feature that complements the game's stunning visuals and creative level design. Overall, the music not only enriches the gaming experience but also serves as a unique narrative tool, appealing to both fans of classical music and platformers alike.
- “The game is beautiful, with mesmerizing music that enhances the precise and challenging gameplay while maintaining a relatively peaceful ambiance.”
- “The music stands out as a storytelling tool, adding depth and immersion to the overall experience.”
- “The soundtrack is out of this world, and the platforming, while not immediately accessible, is satisfying.”
- “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).”
- “Sometimes I missed dark notes because of the short range of music.”
- “Don't be fooled by the charming graphics and classic music style - this metroidvania is unforgiving.”
gameplay
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
53%
5%
The gameplay of "Symphonia" is praised for its stunning visuals, smooth mechanics, and well-balanced challenges, making it accessible for newcomers while still engaging for veterans through optional challenges. The platforming experience is creatively designed, with a peaceful ambiance complemented by a mesmerizing soundtrack, although some players noted minor issues with specific mechanics. Overall, it is regarded as a beautifully crafted precision platformer that stands out in its genre.
- “Symphonia is a stunning precision platformer that mixes gorgeous visuals and smooth gameplay with a well-balanced challenge.”
- “Its lack of combat is compensated by engaging platforming mechanics, making it approachable for new players while offering extra difficulty for veterans through optional challenges.”
- “The gameplay is quite beautifully crafted and well thought out.”
- “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).”
- “Also, something feels off about the wall jump mechanic.”
graphics
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
78%
16%
6%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning, beautifully drawn visuals that enhance the exploration experience. Reviewers highlight the unique art style, vibrant backgrounds, and charming character designs, all of which complement the game's musical themes and overall ambiance. The combination of breathtaking visuals and polished gameplay contributes to its recognition as one of the standout titles of the year.
- “Graphics: beautifully drawn visuals that make each moment of exploration a treat to the eyes.”
- “Not only are the visuals stunning and the sprites cute, but the music is beautiful and hearing Philemon play gives me enough determination to keep going.”
- “The game offers a unique art style with beautifully crafted backgrounds and musical themes.”
- “Don't be fooled by the charming graphics and classic music style - this metroidvania is unforgiving.”
- “Aesthetically it gave me some Hollow Knight vibes, but in a brighter, cheerier world and with a musical theme.”
- “The graphics are very pretty and crafted with love around the musical themes and work very well with the ambience of the game story.”
story
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
84%
8%
The game's story is largely conveyed through its music and art design, creating an immersive experience despite its linear and simplistic narrative structure. While some players appreciate the unique storytelling approach and the charm it brings, many note that the story is minimal, lacking dialogue and depth, which may not appeal to those seeking a rich narrative. Overall, the emphasis on music and visuals enhances the experience, but the story itself is not a strong point.
- “The game tells much of its story through music, which is definitely an interesting approach to the narrative.”
- “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 story falls very short here, as there are no dialogues apart from a couple of lore pieces throughout the game. The story is certainly not the biggest strong point here, as it's pretty much linear and too simple.”
- “The story is almost non-existent, but frankly, I couldn't care less.”
- “Extremely good game, amazing artwork, I loved the music and the environments. However, I would warn that the story is very linear and there isn’t much of a replay aspect to it aside from the collectibles.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The game's replayability is mixed; while it offers optional modes and achievements that enhance replay value, some players find the overall experience short and lacking in depth. However, fans of platformers may appreciate the additional gameplay modes available after completion, making it a worthwhile experience for that audience.
- “Great platform abilities, replay value, great music, 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
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
Overall, players report a positive experience with the game's optimization, highlighting precise controls and smooth performance without any significant issues. The visuals and music are also praised, contributing to an enjoyable gameplay experience. However, some feel that the moveset could evolve more 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!”
- “Your moveset should evolve over time, but it almost feels like you are at peak performance from the get-go.”
- “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!”
- “Your moveset should evolve over time but it almost feels like you are at peak performance from the get-go.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is generally strong, but players have reported encountering a few bugs and glitches, particularly during replay sessions. While these issues detract from an otherwise near-perfect experience, they are not seen as major obstacles.
- “It's a near perfect game, with a few bugs and glitches taking away from the overall experience.”
- “I'm not the biggest fan of having to get abilities and backtracking to be able to get certain things, but that's really the only major complaint outside of some glitches that showed up once I was replaying for the coins.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game particularly impactful, especially those with a personal connection to its development, as it evokes nostalgia and pride in witnessing its evolution from a student project to a full-fledged game. The heartfelt journey resonates deeply, making it a memorable experience for many.
- “Having worked on the original student project, it was very emotional for me to play Symphonia 4 years later, as it evolved into a full game.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews highlight the game's beautiful art style, engaging mechanics, and impressive character designs, but they do not provide specific insights into character development. Overall, while the aesthetic and gameplay elements are praised, the depth of character development remains unaddressed.

80%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

Symphonia Review
Dualshockers.com
80%

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