Symphony of War: The Nephilim Saga

About

"Symphony of War: The Nephilim Saga" is a turn-based strategy game with RPG elements, where players lead a faction in a fantasy world engulfed in war. Recruit and manage a diverse army, engage in strategic battles, and make decisions that will shape the world's future. The game features dynamic events, skill trees, and a complex narrative with multiple endings.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Symphony of War: The Nephilim Saga screenshot

+15

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 12,395 reviews

story2.5k positive mentions

grinding244 negative mentions

story
7,916 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
63%
6%
The story of "Symphony of War: The Nephilim Saga" is generally described as engaging yet predictable, often following familiar fantasy tropes. While some players appreciate its straightforward narrative and character development, others criticize it for being cliché and lacking depth, with dialogue that can feel awkward or juvenile. Overall, the story serves its purpose in connecting the gameplay but may not satisfy those seeking a more intricate or original plot.
- “The plot is engaging and unfolds with well-paced twists and turns that keep you invested in the fate of the protagonist and their companions.”
- “Each character has a unique backstory and personality, adding depth to the interactions and decisions you make throughout the game.”
- “As a seasoned gamer, I found myself thoroughly engrossed in its rich storyline, intricate gameplay mechanics, and stunning visual design.”
- “One of the weak points of the game is definitely its story, though it is by no means bad.”
- “The story had quite a few RPG tropes and felt a little unrealized in the end, which was one of the weaker parts of the game as a whole.”
- “The story is an actual garbage fire of paper-thin characters, generic villains, and literal deus ex machina to the point I had to stop.”
gameplay
3,618 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
56%
2%
The gameplay of "Symphony of War: The Nephilim Saga" is widely praised for its engaging mechanics, particularly the squad-building system that allows for deep customization and strategic planning. Many players appreciate the blend of classic tactical RPG elements reminiscent of "Fire Emblem" and "Ogre Battle," while also noting the game's ability to keep battles fresh with various mechanics like morale and surrender options. However, some critiques highlight issues with the story and character development, suggesting that while the gameplay excels, the narrative could use improvement. Overall, the gameplay is considered the standout feature, making it a must-play for fans of the genre.
- “The gameplay is what matters, and they've nailed it.”
- “The mechanics themselves were engaging, the game features plenty of settings to adjust for your desired difficulty, and the visuals for the game have improved significantly since launch.”
- “The gameplay loop of building your army up from fresh recruits padded with expensive mercenaries to an army of elite loyal soldiers is the most satisfying I’ve ever experienced in an srpg.”
- “The gameplay is dull and repetitive, with no tactical challenge, and the missions are almost all the same.”
- “With so many ambiguous details it results in a gameplay experience that you don’t know if it’s a bug or some untold mechanic.”
- “The game does toss you in and most of your gameplay is pushed into the actual gameplay, but you'll find more time in the camp menu than you do in stages.”
graphics
1,184 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
66%
5%
The graphics of "Symphony of War: The Nephilim Saga" evoke a nostalgic retro aesthetic reminiscent of classic RPGs, particularly the 16-bit era, with well-animated pixel art and charming battle sprites. However, the game suffers from inconsistent art styles, particularly between character portraits and in-game graphics, which some players find jarring. While the visuals may not be groundbreaking, they effectively complement the engaging gameplay and story, making the overall experience enjoyable for fans of tactical RPGs.
- “The art style is reminiscent of classic RPGs, yet it feels fresh and modern.”
- “The graphics look a little 16-bit, but they're well-animated, and give it a nostalgic feel.”
- “The pixel art is hands down some of the best and most detailed I've seen in a very long time, with incredibly rich tilesets, combat animations, and spritework.”
- “Great combat mechanics marred by mediocre graphics and story, but still worth playing.”
- “One of the worst stories in an RPG that I've ever seen due to atrocious writing, coupled with an awful mashup of graphics types.”
- “The biggest flaw is the cutscene graphics, which have a very generic 'RPG Maker' quality to them.”
music
853 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
45%
2%
The music in "Symphony of War: The Nephilim Saga" has received a mixed reception, with many praising its ability to enhance the game's atmosphere and evoke nostalgia reminiscent of classic JRPGs like "Final Fantasy Tactics" and "Fire Emblem." While some tracks are described as epic and emotive, others are noted for being repetitive or generic, leading to a sense of monotony over extended play. Overall, the soundtrack is considered solid and fitting for the game's themes, though it may not stand out as particularly memorable.
- “Complementing the visuals is an outstanding soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.”
- “The music is both epic and emotive, perfectly matching the tone of the story and the intensity of the battles.”
- “The music is fantastic and puts you in the 'grand fantasy conquest' kind of mood.”
- “My only negative, music gets a bit monotonous... music is such a short loop it can get annoying.”
- “While none of the music is bad, most of it is not memorable either.”
- “The negatives, the music is terrible, repetitive, uninspired, and occasionally annoying.”
replayability
291 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
66%
2%
The game "Symphony of War" is noted for its high replayability, primarily due to its customizable squad mechanics, diverse unit classes, and the randomness of gear and mercenaries. While many players have completed multiple playthroughs, some feel the linear story limits replay value, suggesting that additional features like procedural maps or branching paths could enhance the experience. Overall, the game offers a solid replay experience, especially with the potential for future DLC and new game modes.
- “One of the standout features of Symphony of War is its high replayability.”
- “There's a decent amount of replayability to the game (I've done 3 playthroughs) due to not only the various ways to approach missions but also the randomness of gear and mercenaries available to hire.”
- “Replayability is great - every playthrough will be different - different items, different units, different tactics and AI responses.”
- “Almost everything about the game is great except very little replayability.”
- “The game doesn't have enough replayability for me to justify a third playthrough on it though.”
- “Because you can unlock the entire tree and all units on a single play-through, there doesn't seem to be much replayability.”
grinding
258 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
3%
95%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback from players. While some appreciate the strategic depth it adds without becoming overly tedious, others find the unit management and grinding mechanics cumbersome and repetitive, particularly due to a lack of efficient systems for leveling up units. Overall, the game offers limited grinding opportunities, which can be both a positive for those seeking a streamlined experience and a drawback for players who enjoy extensive character development and customization.
- “The game is extremely linear, basically just a series of pre-determined battles. There isn't grinding or exploration, but I for one actually enjoy that sort of curated experience, and for anyone who also enjoys it, this isn't a negative, but a positive.”
- “The story kept me engaged, the mechanics were fun, and there was a well-blended mix of story and gameplay (no grinding, nor parts that felt like I was playing a visual novel).”
- “Squad composition, artifacts (equipment), and tactics are key; levels mean very little unless there is a large disparity, and there is almost no grinding.”
- “Symphony of War is an awful and tedious game.”
- “The squad management menus are kind of unintuitive and tedious, and actions like swapping units around or checking stats become more annoying than they should be.”
- “Expect hours of tedious menu-driven gameplay as the game demands serious attention to unit management but does not provide any ease of interface for doing so.”
character development
110 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
67%
7%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while character designs are visually appealing, the depth of character development is often shallow and uneven. Some players appreciated moments of cute side dialogues and emotional growth, but overall, the narrative and character arcs felt rushed or poorly executed, leading to a lack of engagement with the story. The game is criticized for its linear dialogue and missed opportunities for deeper character interactions, resulting in a focus on gameplay mechanics over meaningful character progression.
- “Amazing how many interweaving, functional systems the developers put in for character development.”
- “Really, really fun for anyone who loves the character development aspect of tactical RPGs.”
- “The story starts off with a semi-serious tone and solid character development, but it also sometimes wanders into cheese and cliche, so the overall charm is a bit fragile.”
- “While the gameplay, menu interface, and tactical role-play elements receive positive scores, the story and character development fall short.”
- “My only complaint really is that characters after a certain point get almost no dialogue or character development, as characters form friendships and relations besides a quick conversation they don't have any further dialogue that represents these changes.”
- “I eventually started skipping cut scenes because all I really cared about was leveling my squads, which is sad because I'm typically in it for the character development and story, but in this game it is just abysmal.”
optimization
94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
66%
6%
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it offers extensive customization and squad management options that encourage deep strategic planning, the user interface is criticized for being unintuitive and requiring excessive clicks. Many players report smooth performance on various systems, including older hardware, but some have experienced minor stuttering and lag during battles. Overall, while the optimization of gameplay mechanics is well-received, the interface could benefit from improvements to enhance the user experience.
- “Part of the fun is piecing together a bunch of different classes of characters together for an optimized or balanced party (i.e., excels at tanking damage, or excels at defeating cavalry units).”
- “Love the customization of each squad and how many factors can be optimized and prepared for combat.”
- “The game has an incredible depth of army customization that easily lent itself to hours of optimization for a tinkerer like me between battles.”
- “If I had any complaint, it's that you can really get bogged down in the weeds of squad management and optimization between missions, and I wish the UI mitigated that a little more. But honestly, if you're not playing at a very high difficulty, you don't need to spend as much time thinking about that stuff as I did.”
- “Far too many 'clicks' needed to do simple things - should have been caught in testing and optimized by now.”
- “There is way too much micro-optimization that is possible, resulting in the game being too easy. I think the game would benefit from giving you way less control of your forces and instead asking you 'how to win a battle with what you've got' instead of 'how to build an army that can laugh at any problem.'”
emotional
84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
5%
The emotional aspect of the game is described as grand, heartfelt, and uplifting, with a mix of genuinely touching moments and some weaker writing. While many players found the characters charming and the story capable of evoking feelings, others noted inconsistencies and a lack of depth in emotional stakes, particularly in the latter chapters. Overall, the game is appreciated for its heartwarming narrative and engaging moments, despite some critiques regarding its execution and pacing.
- “The story made me emotional and all... thanks to the devs for creating this wonderful piece of art.”
- “Delightful game elevated by a touching story.”
- “Characters were great and the game gave you an emotional investment in the unfolding scenes.”
- “Where this game suffers is with the most boring story trope and the general feeling that what you do doesn't matter.”
humor
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with many players finding the dialogue and character interactions genuinely funny, often due to the self-aware and lighthearted writing style. While some moments are intentionally humorous, others come off as "so bad it's funny," particularly the voice acting and absurd character scenarios. Overall, the game balances comedic elements with engaging character dynamics, making for a memorable and entertaining experience.
- “I picked it up after a year sitting on the shelf and got to the point where I was laughing at the dialogue.”
- “Lol, I especially like the writing since at times, it doesn't take itself too seriously and has some funny moments that I think the writers intended.”
- “The writing is quite good; 'eat any good books recently' had me gut laughing.”
stability
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
71%
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with some players noting minor bugs and graphical glitches, particularly on the Steam Deck, while others report a mostly smooth experience with no significant issues. Although it is an indie title and has some bugs, many users found it enjoyable and stable enough for gameplay, with no major crashes reported. Overall, while there are occasional visual hiccups, the game is generally considered stable at launch.
- “It looks and runs great.”
- “Runs great on Steam Deck; minor graphical bugs with the screen flickering in some menus, but no crashes during my playthrough.”
- “+ Seems to be bug free at launch.”
- “Buggy, the game is definitely fun, but I bought an expensive unit and a piece of gear then had to load a save (had done a lot of adjusting to my teams and wanted to go back to the way they were before) but when I reloaded the save, the unit and the item were no longer in my inventory and the shop said they were both already purchased.”
- “Works great though the resolution messes up at startup most times and sometimes the game glitches (randomly turning upside down briefly or a black background here and there).”
- “Any dev team can turn out a product with buggy elements, so I wouldn't fault them for that.”
atmosphere
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
50%
17%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its nostalgic and immersive qualities, enhanced by an outstanding soundtrack that complements the pixel art visuals. Influences from popular fantasy series like Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings are evident in the music, lore, and overall aesthetic, creating a captivating experience that keeps players engaged. While some critiques mention pacing issues towards the end, the overall atmosphere remains a standout feature that resonates with players.
- “Complementing the visuals is an outstanding soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.”
- “In the atmosphere, music, and lore, you can definitely feel and hear influences from shows (books) like Game of Thrones, or movies (and the books, though subtly here) like The Lord of the Rings series.”
- “Really embraces the pixel art aesthetic and atmosphere and can get stuck in your head.”
- “In the atmosphere, music, and lore, you can definitely feel and hear influences from shows (books) like Game of Thrones, or movies (and the books, though subtly here) like the Lord of the Rings series.”
- “And that's not only with the combat and army mechanics, but with the story, themes, atmosphere, and characters as well -- sometimes practically to the point of copycatting.”
- “It has almost the same play style, an atmosphere.”
monetization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
30%
60%
The monetization aspect of the game is generally praised for its lack of microtransactions, offering a substantial amount of content for its price, which contrasts sharply with the typical AAA titles that often rely on aggressive monetization strategies. However, some users express concern about the game's potential future direction, hinting at a shift towards more advertisement-driven content. Overall, the game is seen as a refreshing departure from cash-grab tactics commonly found in the industry.
- “For the current price, you get a very great game with more content than the typical AAA money-grubbing microtransaction model.”
- “A world that was once so magical and full of hope has regressed into an advertisement-ridden dystopian hellscape.”
- “Clearly based on advertising and what I see, they plan on making more and I will get them for sure.”
- “This title wasn't crafted by commercial developers out for a cash grab.”