The Fairy's Secret
- February 6, 2023
- ebi-hime
Get on SteamIn "The Fairy's Secret" , Marnie and Lisbeth visit Marnie's ailing grandmother in Fenchapel, only to encounter Edmund, the vengeful knight from "The Fairy's Song." As they unravel the mysteries of Iris's past, they must navigate complex relationships and supernatural events. The game is a captivating continuation of Marnie's journey, filled with artful exploration and emotional depth.
Reviews
- The Fairy's Secret is a delightful sequel that improves upon its predecessor in almost every way, featuring enhanced character art and engaging plot threads.
- The chemistry between Marnie and Lisbeth is charming, with plenty of cute and lighthearted moments that make for an enjoyable reading experience.
- The game successfully integrates a dramatic plot alongside the romance, providing suspenseful scenes that keep the reader hooked until the epic climax.
- Some players felt that the character progression was lacking, particularly with Marnie, who seemed to exhibit childish traits that didn't align with her age.
- The inclusion of a male character, Edmund, detracted from the focus on the main couple for some players, leading to confusion about the story's direction.
- The pacing of the story was criticized for being slow, with excessive dialogue and unnecessary text that could detract from the overall experience.
- story30 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The story continues from the previous game, blending slice-of-life moments with a dramatic plot that culminates in an epic climax, though some characters, particularly Marnie, struggle with agency and development. While the narrative features engaging romantic elements and character growth, it has been criticized for its focus on a male character, which detracts from the yuri aspects that some players expected. Overall, the story is seen as a fun and fluffy continuation, but it may not fully satisfy those seeking a strong yuri narrative.
“There's a lot of fun slice-of-life date moments to be had here, but the dramatic plot thread is never forgotten - it leads you through the story right up to the, honestly, epic climax. Everything is completely on point for the story's final scenes: the writing, the pacing, the art and music - even the programming does some noticeably interesting things with the game's art and movement.”
“A lovely finale to a great story.”
“While the fairy's secret is, for the most part, a fluffy and wholesome romance story, a conflict is cleverly integrated into the story.”
“She is rarely an agent in the plot; very little happens due to her actions, which isn't uncommon for visual novel plots that especially use their leads as self-inserts. However, Marnie is so opinionated and characterized that her always being saved and doing little to push the plot forward feels mistaken. I had hoped it was her magic that influenced certain plot points, giving her power and agency in a world of fey, magic, and knights, but no, it's another character she just sort of revolves around, motivating Lisbeth and Edmund's heroic tale.”
“Half of the story, I did not know whether I was reading a story about two girls or one about two girls trying to get together with a dude.”
“The story feels like a cheap copy of the previous game, not engaging, with around 30% focused on interaction with a male character. There are very noticeable moments showing both Lisbeth's and Marnie's interest in said male, and a significant part of the rest is focused on discussing him (for example, half of the epilogue is centered on talking about this male character, with dialogue hinting at attraction to him).”
- music14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the sequel builds on the foundation set by the previous game, featuring a mix of familiar tracks and new, high-quality ambient pieces that enhance the overall experience. While some players found the music enjoyable and fitting for the story, others felt it was good but not particularly memorable. Overall, the soundtrack effectively complements the narrative, contributing to both the light-hearted and dramatic moments throughout the game.
“The old background art, music, and UI are carried over from the previous game for consistency, but there are additional scenes, tracks, and even UI elements that enhance the sequel.”
“Worry not though, because you'll also listen to some new, high-quality ambient and background music.”
“More importantly, I'm so happy that Lisbeth finally appreciated the real music!”
“Some of the music from the prequel is used in the fairy's secret.”
“Music discussions in games are dangerous...”
“I of course remembered a song really fitting that story, which sent me on a nostalgic music trip and I had to postpone the story for a while.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of genuinely funny moments and helpful dialogue, though some players find the excessive banter and unnecessary text detracts from the overall comedic effect. While certain interactions are appreciated, others may feel overly drawn out and less impactful.
“He's genuinely funny, helpful enough to not feel like a useless drag but never even hinted at being a threat to the relationship, which is what I was so worried about. His increased importance really struck me with my Marnie issue.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight a desire for deeper emotional growth in characters, particularly Marnie, who is seen as sarcastic yet endearing. While the overarching narrative of the fairy's secret leans towards a lighthearted romance, it successfully weaves in conflict that adds emotional depth to the story.
“Marnie was always a little sarcastic and petulant, a cute goth trying a bit too hard. None of this is a bad thing; however, I was hoping to see her emotionally grow a little.”
“While the fairy's secret is, for the most part, a fluffy and wholesome romance story, a conflict is cleverly integrated into the narrative.”
- graphics1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The graphics feature high-quality presentation but are marred by choppy animations, repetitive character sprites, and an overabundance of backgrounds, detracting from the overall visual experience.
“The traditionally high quality of presentation is spoiled by choppy animations, numerous backgrounds, and some character sprites reused from previous games.”
“The graphics feel outdated, with low-resolution textures and a lack of detail that detracts from the overall experience.”
“While the art style is appealing, the performance issues and frame rate drops make it hard to enjoy the visuals.”
