The Symbiant
- February 2, 2023
- HeartCoreDev
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam"The Symbiant" is a narrative-driven adventure game where you form a bond with a symbiotic alien lifeform. Solve puzzles, explore the world, and make choices that affect the story's outcome, all while managing the relationship with your newfound companion. Discover the secrets of a mysterious planet and uncover the true nature of your partnership in this emotional and immersive experience.
Reviews
- The game features beautiful graphics, engaging voice acting, and a well-structured story that captivates players.
- The characters, particularly Danya and Brahve, are well-developed and their relationship is heartwarming and relatable.
- The game successfully incorporates themes of consent and healthy relationships, making it a refreshing experience in the visual novel genre.
- The game is relatively short, with many players finishing it in under four hours, leaving some feeling it lacks depth.
- Some dialogue can feel stiff or overly focused on consent, which may detract from the overall immersion for some players.
- Certain plot points and conflicts are resolved too quickly, leading to a sense of missed potential for deeper storytelling.
- story99 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story is widely praised for its engaging narrative, well-structured plot, and appealing character designs, with many players appreciating the blend of romance, humor, and science fiction elements. However, some reviewers noted that conflicts often resolve too quickly, leading to a lack of payoff, and that the story could benefit from additional length and depth in certain routes. Overall, the combination of strong voice acting, beautiful art, and a compelling storyline makes it a standout title, though some found the adult content to be a potential turn-off.
“The story is so well written, I was never bored at any moment.”
“The art, story, relationship between characters, voice acting, and music—everything is great!”
“The story follows Danya, a charming Terran guy, and his green bestie Juniper as they embark on a space delivery transport service across the Milky Way.”
“It felt like any potential conflict in the story got immediately resolved with no payoff; it made me wonder what the point of it even was.”
“The actual story has zero stakes.”
“I really liked these plots, but the ending part of the story is a bit too concise.”
- music17 mentions
- 76 % positive mentions
- 12 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its beauty and ability to enhance the overall experience. The original soundtrack, particularly tracks by Bright Bone, is highlighted for its seamless integration with the story and characters, creating a compelling atmosphere that complements the game's emotional range. Overall, the music is described as pleasant, well-composed, and a significant factor in the game's appeal.
“The OST is beautiful, the art incredibly good, and the voice acting is top-notch.”
“The music is so pleasant to listen to that when the credits rolled, I waited patiently until it ended to play the soundtrack again from the extras.”
“I loved that the soundtrack wasn't distracting but was very nice to listen to while playing.”
“Oh and don't get me started on how extraordinary the soundtrack is and the communication and consent throughout every.”
“The art, music, voice acting, and writing are all top-notch (especially the music--I was surprised at all the original tracks by Bright Bone), and every ending left me with something to think about (even the good one, which made me feel more uneasy than I usually would like for a romance game).”
- graphics16 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their beautiful art style and character design, with many users praising the top-notch visuals that enhance the storytelling experience. The combination of stunning artwork and fully voiced dialogue contributes to a highly immersive atmosphere, making it a standout feature for players, especially those new to visual novels. Overall, the graphics are consistently described as impressive and a major draw for the game.
“The art style is top-notch, and the fully spoken dialogue adds a layer of immersion that draws you further into the game's world.”
“The art and the story are just top notch; I really do hope that the devs continue to publish a great game like this and also please continue with this art style.”
“I had this game on my wishlist for a while since I found the art style to be so good and finally decided to buy it.”
- emotional14 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the heartwarming and genuine relationship between the characters Danya and Brahve, which blends romance with wholesome moments and deep emotional connections. Players appreciate the thoughtful writing, touching endings, and the overall warmth that evokes strong feelings, making it a memorable experience. The combination of steamy scenes and heartfelt interactions leaves a lasting impact, often leading to emotional responses such as tears and reflection.
“Danya and Brahve have a very loving relationship that is very heartwarming, and all the characters are so kind and respectful of each other; it makes my heart melt!”
“The consentacles were very wholesome, and the bad endings broke my heart.”
“I loved Juniper; we all need someone like her. Especially in the 'Boys Do Cry' ending, it was very touching. I like how she's like a sister to Danya, and you'll understand why she's the best.”
- character development4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is highlighted as a strong point, particularly for the character Brahve, whose detailed and gradual progression is well-executed. The appealing character designs and well-structured story further enhance the depth of the characters, making them memorable and engaging for players.
“The character designs are very appealing, and the story is well-structured.”
“The character development of Brahve in the text is very detailed and progresses gradually.”
“The character design, including looks, thoughts, and personality, is well crafted.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features well-integrated humor that complements its beautiful art, strong voice acting, and compelling story, with a mix of funny, sad, and romantic moments. Players particularly enjoy the humorous achievements, which add an entertaining layer to the completionist experience.
“The art is really beautiful, voice acting is great, so is the music, and I was especially pleasantly surprised by how well-written and compelling the story was - there were funny moments, sad moments, cute and romantic moments, spicy moments, and it all fit together seamlessly.”
“And the achievements are very funny.”
“I'm a completionist at heart, so it was so nice to discover how the achievements had some references and humor in them, which makes seeking the trophies out a fun task rather than a burden.”
- gameplay1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players have reported significant discrepancies in gameplay duration, with some completing the game in as little as 2 hours, raising questions about the accuracy of the stated 6 hours of gameplay.
“I have no idea where they pulled '6 hours of gameplay' from because I finished it in 2 hours.”
“The gameplay feels repetitive and lacks any real challenge.”
“I encountered numerous bugs that disrupted the gameplay experience.”
