Symphonia

97%
Game Brain Score Based on 60 reviews
  • music
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Symphonia Game Cover
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"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.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

97%
Audience ScoreBased on 60 reviews
music39 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • The game features stunning visuals and a beautiful orchestral soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • The platforming mechanics are well-designed, offering a fair challenge that is both engaging and rewarding.
  • It provides a unique experience with no combat, focusing solely on precision platforming, which many players find refreshing.
  • The game is relatively short, with many players feeling it lacks replay value and depth in its story.
  • Some players have reported issues with controls, particularly with wall jumps and the responsiveness of certain mechanics.
  • The linearity of the game and the absence of a map can make navigation frustrating for some players.
  • music61 mentions

    The music in the game is universally praised for its orchestral quality and emotional depth, enhancing the overall experience with beautiful soundscapes that complement the stunning visuals. Players appreciate the integration of music into gameplay mechanics, such as using a violin for interactions, and note that the soundtrack is both captivating and immersive. Overall, the combination of exceptional music, artistic design, and engaging gameplay makes it a standout title for fans of platformers and metroidvanias.

    • “Beautiful art style, fun mechanics and gameplay, great character designs, and, as you would expect, great music throughout.”
    • “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 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.”
  • gameplay27 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by its frenetic yet precise platforming mechanics, complemented by beautiful visuals and an engaging soundtrack. While the game features only a few main levels, it introduces creative ideas that keep the experience fresh and enjoyable, with optional challenges for added difficulty. Some players noted minor issues with specific mechanics, but overall, the gameplay is praised for its balance of accessibility and challenge, making it a standout title for platformer enthusiasts.

    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “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).”
  • graphics26 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning art style, beautifully crafted environments, and charming character designs, which create an immersive visual experience. Reviewers highlight the seamless integration of visuals with the game's musical themes, comparing its aesthetic appeal to titles like Hollow Knight. Overall, the graphics are considered a standout feature, enhancing the gameplay and contributing to a delightful atmosphere.

    • “Graphics: beautifully drawn visuals that make each moment of exploration a treat to the eyes.”
    • “Incredible game, stunning visuals and rewarding mechanics.”
    • “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.”
  • story19 mentions

    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.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    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 despite its strong controls and music.

    • “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.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    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!”
  • stability2 mentions

    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. The main concern revolves around occasional issues encountered during replaying for collectibles, but these do not significantly impact the overall gameplay.

    • “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.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    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, having evolved into a full game.”
    • “Follow [caffeinated games](https://store.steampowered.com/curator/45170618-caffeinated-games/) for more heartwarming recommendations!”
  • character development1 mentions

    While the reviews highlight the game's beautiful art style, engaging mechanics, and impressive character designs, they do not provide specific insights into character development, suggesting that this aspect may not be a primary focus of the game.

    • “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.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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