SYNESTHESIA
- June 20, 2023
- Spire Games
Get on Steam"Synthesia" is a single-player adventure game and visual novel, with an emotionally charged story and occasional interactive elements. It takes place in 2029, where a select few young individuals possess newfound mental powers. The Huntley Scientific Research Institute studies these abilities, and the main character, Ziek, is one of them. He has a unique form of synesthesia and must navigate the challenges of his institute and the larger world, as he and his friends become entangled in a mysterious situation.
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Reviews
- The game features a gripping story with intriguing philosophical and scientific concepts that keep players engaged and thinking long after finishing.
- Character designs and personalities are well-executed, allowing players to empathize with them despite some characters lacking deeper backstories.
- The inclusion of a flowchart mechanic allows players to explore different pathways and endings, enhancing the overall experience and replayability.
- The pacing can be slow at the beginning, with some plot points and character backstories feeling underdeveloped or rushed.
- The main character, Ziek, lacks a strong personality, making it difficult for players to connect with him compared to the more engaging supporting cast.
- The AI-generated voice acting can feel robotic and detracts from the emotional impact of the story, especially since the main character's lines are not voiced.
- story79 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "Synesthesia" is characterized by its intricate character development and philosophical themes, drawing comparisons to works like "Steins;Gate." While the narrative is engaging and thought-provoking, some plot points and character arcs feel underexplored, leading to a sense of missed potential. Overall, the game offers a unique blend of science fiction and emotional depth, inviting players to immerse themselves in its complex world and make meaningful choices that impact the storyline.
“The characters had their stories to tell and were easy to empathize with, to the point that I felt like reading their thoughts. Based on the actions around the plot and story of this novel, I had a pretty good idea of what they were pursuing deep down.”
“I am awestruck not just by how well written and engaging the story itself was, but also by how much fun I had reading it.”
“The story does demand your full attention, so you should consider carefully if you are committed to observing the narrative before taking the plunge.”
“Because of the way the character development is planned in this novel, I had no possibility of relating to the characters given the story until later on, by which time I forgot about the parts that I'd consider to be important to the portrayed characters in the novel, and that's quite a miss that had a chance to deliver something absolutely amazing, beautiful even!”
“Certain plot points in the story were not fully explored and two key characters were also not developed fully to make sense of those plot points.”
“There are times when I felt that the story made sense but also when I was just confused about how to put the pieces together on certain plot points.”
- music16 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its emotional depth and atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the storytelling experience. Reviewers highlight the beautiful soundtrack, memorable tracks, and how the music complements the game's scenes, contributing to an engaging overall ambiance. While some players noted a desire to lower the music volume to focus on voice acting, the consensus is that the soundtrack is a strong and integral aspect of the game.
“The music is really amazing, just as with the previous game of this developer, and is one of the strong aspects of the game, as it did a magnificent job in conveying the emotions and atmosphere of each scene and place.”
“I also need to mention the beautiful soundtrack that paired well with what was happening, and I especially loved the background animations for specific scenes.”
“Gripping story and fitting music will give you something to think about even after 100%.”
“I wound up turning the music down because I wanted the audio to focus on the voice acting.”
“The quality of the music is above standard, but it didn't fit well with the overall experience.”
“While the arcade music is a banger, the other songs didn't quite set the mood as intended.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Synesthesia" are praised for their beautiful, vibrant art style and dynamic character images, which enhance the overall experience despite some mixed feelings about the anime aesthetic. Reviewers note that the visuals are of high quality and effectively support the game's engaging story and philosophical themes, while also meeting expectations for its price range. The inclusion of interactive elements and non-linear scenes further elevates the graphical experience.
“I am normally not a huge fan of the anime aesthetic of characters, but in Synesthesia, it is definitely done to a good quality, and the character images are not static.”
“The art style for Synesthesia is really beautiful; everything is crafted in vibrant colors and feels very alive.”
“Underrated gem with a great story, visuals, and philosophical concepts.”
“It took quite a while to get to the point of getting to know some more about them, and even this past of theirs that I'd consider to be the most interesting part of the visual novels along with their art styles, felt as if it was cut short.”
“Overall the graphics are comfortably up to the expected standard for the price bracket of the game.”
“Now it's truly non-linear (you have few alternative scenes and even two or four routes), graphic style is more eastern and clean.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional impact of the game is described as lacking depth, with players feeling more mystery than terror, leading to a diminished emotional resonance. While some situations evoke a degree of relatability, the brief nature of these moments and simplistic characterizations prevent a stronger connection, making it difficult for players to fully empathize with the characters. Overall, the emotional experience feels underwhelming despite the game's attempts to be emotive.
“There was definitely some emotional impact in some situations, but that was purely out of relating to the presented situations rather than feeling empathy with the characters. Due to how shortly cut those situations appeared to be, it wasn't as powerful as I was hoping it to be each time I experienced it.”
“But it doesn't fully resonate emotionally for me, even though it strives to be emotive, a result of those compressed routes and simplistic characterizations.”
“It was hard for me to really relate to the characters and feel very emotional about them; they're kind of basic and not that interesting, though the special abilities were a neat touch.”
- character development4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
While the character design and personalities are well-received, reviewers express disappointment in the limited depth and expansion of character development, wishing for more substantial storytelling that allows for greater emotional connection. The pacing and structure hinder the ability to relate to the characters early on, leaving a sense of missed potential for a more impactful narrative. Overall, there is hope for future projects from the developer to improve on these aspects.
“I've really liked the character design together with their personalities.”
“I do wish the character development and their stories were expanded, preferably to carry on for at least an hour or two for each involved character.”
“I do merely wish the character development and their stories were a lot more expanded, preferably to carry on for at least an hour or two for each involved character, but that's not been the case here.”
“Because of the way the character development is planned in this novel, I had no possibility of relating to the characters given the story until later on, by which time I forgot about the parts that I'd consider to be important to the portrayed characters in the novel, and that's quite a miss that had a chance to deliver something absolutely amazing, beautiful even!”
“I'm looking forward to whatever will be this developer's next visual novel, as I'm sure it will also be incredibly interesting and deep regarding world building and character development.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a well-integrated flowchart mechanic that allows players to explore alternate pathways based on their choices, enhancing character development and story engagement. Additionally, the designative synesthesia adds a vibrant and immersive layer to the experience, blending gameplay and narrative in a unique sci-fi setting.
“One inclusion into the game mechanics that I really liked and appreciated is the flowchart of different pathways that result from our choices.”
“We get to try alternate paths and learn some things about characters this way, and this mechanic of experiencing the alternate pathways from our choices is connected to the game's story and integrated in a very clever way.”
“The designative synesthesia is interwoven throughout, as a gameplay and story element alike; not to mention, it makes for a colorful and illuminating world.”
“The gameplay feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged over time.”
“The controls are unresponsive at times, leading to frustrating moments during critical gameplay.”
“The pacing of the game is inconsistent, with some sections dragging on while others feel rushed.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is generally well-received, with music effectively enhancing emotional depth and scene immersion. While some tracks align well with the moments, they may lack a profound impact. Overall, the tension and ambiance contribute positively to the gaming experience.
“The music is really amazing, just as with the previous game of this developer, and is one of the strong aspects of the game, as it did a magnificent job in conveying the emotions and atmosphere of each scene and place.”
“The tracks do seem to be fitting the atmosphere at the given moments, but they haven't really managed to hit that deep, unfortunately.”
“I love the tension and atmosphere so far.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users praising its graphics and smooth performance, while others report issues such as frame rate drops and long loading times. Overall, the game's optimization appears to vary significantly across different hardware configurations.
