The Shadows of Pygmalion
- February 24, 2017
- propeller
In The Shadows of Pygmalion, players navigate a 3D dungeon-crawler escorting Hina, a mysterious girl with the power to slay "puppets" - monstrous reflections of human souls. Through tactical combat, exploration, and interaction with Hina, uncover the truth behind her abilities and the shadowy forces manipulating them. This immersive visual novel combines elements of action, mystery, and psychological horror.
Reviews
- The game features an intriguing and complex plot with many twists and turns that keeps players engaged.
- Excellent voice acting and a well-crafted soundtrack enhance the emotional depth of the story.
- The characters are well-developed, with relatable personalities and strong emotional arcs, making the narrative impactful.
- The plot can be convoluted and difficult to follow, with frequent info dumps that disrupt the pacing.
- There is a lack of meaningful choices throughout the game, limiting player agency and engagement.
- The game contains dark themes and mature content that may not be suitable for all audiences, despite being labeled as 'all-ages'.
- story80 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it convoluted and difficult to follow due to frequent tonal shifts and unexplained plot points, while others appreciate its depth and emotional moments. Many reviews highlight the engaging nature of the narrative, despite its complexity and occasional predictability in plot twists. Overall, it offers a unique blend of supernatural themes and character-driven storytelling, though it may leave some players wanting more clarity and coherence.
“It's a touching story and it tries being a little unorthodox and breaking out of some clichés.”
“The story is extremely well thought out and deep, but that's just my own personal opinion.”
“Story-wise, it's elaborate and bittersweet, with plenty of emotional moments.”
“I tried so hard to keep reading it, hoping that maybe the plot would eventually make some sense, but nope.”
“The plot is just so nonsensical.”
“It eventually just gets convoluted and should have just stuck to one of the original storylines.”
- music17 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with a mix of calming and upbeat tracks that suit various scenes, from action to emotional moments. While many reviewers appreciate the soundtrack's quality and its effective use in storytelling, some suggest that additional music could further underscore significant events. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing positively to the game's immersive experience.
“Music did a good job of enhancing the atmosphere.”
“Overall my impression is that the music is calming.”
“The soundtrack is used well in most scenes and I particularly enjoy the track you hear when you first meet the fabled Eidos.”
“More music to underline especially tragic or important events would enhance the atmosphere.”
“The soundtrack of this game is, in my opinion, lacking.”
“I mean, it supposedly has to be very upbeat since there are a lot of battle scenes, but almost half of the soundtracks are very calming or natural.”
- emotional9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a touching and bittersweet story that features well-crafted emotional moments, though some users noted pacing issues that affect their impact. While it attempts to break away from clichés, opinions on character attachment vary, with some players feeling disconnected from the characters despite the game's overall beauty and heartwarming scenes. Overall, it is recommended for those prepared for an emotional experience, albeit with some reservations regarding character development.
“It’s a touching story and it tries to be a little unorthodox, breaking out of some clichés.”
“Story-wise, it's elaborate and bittersweet, with plenty of emotional moments.”
“Addicting, beautiful, and heartbreaking in one package.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are praised for their high-quality artwork and appealing shoujo manga style, with well-crafted visuals that enhance the experience. However, players have reported persistent screen tearing issues during motion, which remain unresolved despite attempts to adjust settings. Overall, while the visuals are striking, technical flaws detract from the experience.
“The artwork of this game is beautiful; I liked the shoujo manga style art that this visual novel has.”
“The art style was, in my opinion, very good and the characters were well written, filling their roles excellently.”
“The artwork is of high quality, but whenever there’s motion, screen tearing occurs - no matter what you do in the settings, you can’t fix it - it’s a known issue.”
“Decent art: the game has some well-crafted visuals that may catch your eye.”
“This is carried by its visuals and voice acting.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is notably enhanced by the music, which effectively complements the game's emotional moments. However, players feel that additional musical elements during particularly tragic or significant events would further enrich the overall experience.
“The music did a great job of enhancing the atmosphere.”
“More music to underscore especially tragic or important events would be a plus for the atmosphere.”
“More music to underline especially tragic or important events would enhance the atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere feels flat and lacks the depth needed to immerse players in the experience.”
“There is a noticeable absence of environmental sounds, which detracts from the overall atmosphere.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The gameplay is minimal, primarily consisting of a single choice near the end of the story, which limits player agency and interaction typical of visual novels.
“The gameplay is engaging and keeps you invested in the story.”
“The choices you make have a significant impact on the narrative, making each playthrough unique.”
“The mechanics are intuitive, allowing for a smooth and enjoyable experience.”
“This is a visual novel, so the gameplay is just choices - not real 'choices' actually, but just a single choice near the end of the story.”
“The gameplay is incredibly limited, offering no real interaction or engagement.”
“I expected more from the gameplay, but it feels like I'm just clicking through a story with no meaningful decisions.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development is noted for being gradual and realistic, avoiding sudden transformations into powerful figures, which aligns with genre expectations. However, some users find the pacing of early character developments to be slightly off.
“The gradual yet visible character development is impressive; it's not like 'bam! now you are an ultimate superhero!', which is expected due to the genre.”
“The early character developments are slightly, weirdly paced, but they add depth to the overall experience.”
“The early character developments are slightly, weirdly paced.”
“Character development is gradual yet visible, which is expected due to the genre.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a source of relief and joy, providing a contrast to themes of sadness and loneliness, allowing players to experience moments of warmth and laughter.
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users indicate that the game's replayability is limited, suggesting that only three playthroughs are needed if players save at key decision points.
“The replay value is incredible; each playthrough offers new choices and outcomes that keep the experience fresh.”
“I found myself going back to the game multiple times just to explore different story paths and character interactions.”
“The variety of choices and endings makes it so that no two playthroughs feel the same, enhancing the overall replayability.”
“As for replay value, honestly, only three times are necessary if you save at the choice point.”
“The game lacks significant changes in subsequent playthroughs, making it feel repetitive.”
“Once you've experienced the main story, there's little incentive to go back for more.”