The Shadows of Pygmalion

82%
Game Brain Score Based on 87 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • emotional
The Shadows of Pygmalion Game Cover
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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.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 87 reviews
story34 positive mentions
gameplay1 negative mentions
  • The game features a captivating and intricate plot with numerous twists that keep players engaged.
  • The voice acting and soundtrack are of high quality, enhancing the emotional depth of the story.
  • The character designs and art style are visually appealing, contributing to the overall aesthetic of the game.
  • The story can be convoluted and difficult to follow, with frequent info dumps that may confuse players.
  • Character development is lacking, making it hard for players to connect with or care about the characters.
  • The game is marketed as 'all-ages' despite containing dark themes and mature content that may not be suitable for younger audiences.
  • story164 mentions

    The story of "Shadows of Pygmalion" is a complex and often convoluted narrative that features multiple endings and a mix of supernatural elements, romance, and philosophical themes. While some players found the plot engaging with unexpected twists, others criticized it for being nonsensical and poorly structured, with significant tonal shifts and unresolved plot points. Overall, the game offers a bittersweet experience that may appeal to those who appreciate intricate storytelling, despite its flaws and pacing issues.

    • “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.”
    • “The tone and plot drastically change constantly, and none of it is good.”
  • music35 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its decent-to-good quality and effective use in enhancing the atmosphere, with standout tracks like "deep sea inside" receiving particular acclaim. While the soundtrack successfully captures a range of emotions—from calming to intense—it has been suggested that more music could be added to emphasize tragic or significant moments. Overall, the combination of music and voice acting is considered one of the game's strongest aspects, contributing significantly to the immersive experience.

    • “Music did a good job of enhancing the atmosphere.”
    • “The soundtrack is used well in most scenes and I particularly enjoy the track you hear when you first meet the fabled Eidos.”
    • “From everyday peaceful life and cute moments to amazing action sequences, and from happy and lovey cute moments to horror and despair, this novel has it all, complete with a great soundtrack.”
    • “More music to underline especially tragic/important events would be a plus for the atmosphere.”
    • “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.”
    • “Overall, my impression is that the music is calming.”
  • emotional19 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a touching and bittersweet story that attempts to break away from clichés, offering plenty of heartwarming moments despite some pacing issues with character emotions. While some players found it beautiful and addictive, others struggled to connect with the characters, leading to mixed feelings about emotional investment. Overall, it is recommended for those prepared for an emotional experience, though expectations for genre innovation should be tempered.

    • “It's a touching story and it tries being a little unorthodox and breaking out of some clichés.”
    • “Story-wise, it's elaborate and bittersweet, with plenty of emotional moments.”
    • “Addicting, beautiful, and heartbreaking in one package.”
  • graphics14 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 and voice acting are strong points, the technical flaws detract from the overall graphical 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.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is significantly enhanced by its music, which effectively complements the overall experience. However, reviewers suggest that incorporating more music during key tragic or important moments could further elevate the atmosphere.

    • “The music did a great job of enhancing the atmosphere.”
    • “More music to underline especially tragic or important events would be a plus for the atmosphere.”
    • “The music did a great job of enhancing the atmosphere.”
    • “More music to underline especially tragic or important events would enhance the atmosphere.”
  • gameplay4 mentions

    The gameplay is minimal, primarily consisting of a single choice near the end of the story, typical of visual novels. Players should expect limited interactivity, as the experience revolves more around narrative than gameplay mechanics.

    • “This is a visual novel, so the gameplay is just choices - not 'choices' actually, but just a single choice near the end of the story.”
  • character development4 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.

    • “Early character developments are slightly, weirdly paced.”
    • “Gradual yet visible character development (not like 'bam! now you are an ultimate superhero!', though, again expected due to the genre).”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a lighthearted and uplifting tone, providing a sense of relief from sadness and loneliness, allowing players to enjoy moments of warmth and laughter.

  • replayability2 mentions

    The game's replayability is limited, with many users suggesting that only three playthroughs are needed if players utilize the save feature at key decision points. This indicates that while there are choices to explore, the overall experience may not warrant extensive replaying.

    • “The replay value is impressive; I found myself going back to make different choices and explore new storylines.”
    • “Each playthrough offers a unique experience, making it hard to resist diving back in.”
    • “The game encourages multiple runs with its branching paths and varied outcomes.”
    • “As for replay value, honestly, only three times are necessary if you save at the choice point.”
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