Yi and the Thousand Moons
- October 23, 2017
- David Su
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Get on itch.io Store"Yi and the Thousand Moons" is a short interactive musical game featuring original songs and a full cast, including a live band. Players assume the role of archer Yi, tasked by the gods to shoot down the moons despite villagers' warnings that they protect the earth from stardust. The game offers a unique experience of playing through levels that are songs, with seven original compositions and six preludes by David Su.
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Reviews
- The game features a beautiful and relaxing soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- It offers a unique concept as an interactive musical, blending storytelling with music in a charming way.
- Despite its short length, the game provides a captivating and emotional journey that resonates with players.
- The gameplay is minimal and simplistic, often feeling more like a walking simulator than a traditional game.
- The graphics are basic and may detract from the overall experience for some players.
- Many players found the game too short, with a playtime of around 15-20 minutes, leaving them wanting more.
- music144 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in "Yi and the Thousand Moons" is widely praised for its beauty and emotional depth, often described as the game's standout feature. Many reviewers liken the experience to an interactive musical, highlighting the seamless integration of music with gameplay and storytelling, although some note a disconnect between the background music and character vocals at times. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant draw, making the short, simplistic gameplay worthwhile for those who appreciate the genre.
“This game is musical based and will treat you to a wonderful range of nice and relaxing tunes while you solve the puzzles of saving the village and its residents.”
“The music is beautiful, and the extremely simple gameplay and striking visuals do a great job of highlighting the narrative in the songs.”
“The music is utterly gorgeous, and the musical transitions between moments are incredibly well done.”
“Overall, while the game was not 'bad', I simply cannot recommend it due to the short length and the jarring disconnect between the music and song that plagued the earlier parts of the game.”
“Really, the only aspect I didn't like about the game was the disconnect between the music used for the on-screen narrative text and the wonderful music sung by the characters.”
“The music is mediocre at best, though mostly unfitting.”
- story57 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as a simple, fairy tale-like narrative that unfolds through music and song, creating an engaging yet brief experience. While some players found the storytelling captivating and enjoyed the musical elements, others criticized the lack of depth and meaningful content, suggesting that the story could benefit from more development. Overall, it is seen as an experimental piece that prioritizes musical ambiance over complex storytelling.
“I felt captivated by the story and the music.”
“This is a great example of a sung-through musical that conveys good storytelling both musically and visually.”
“Stay for the beautiful music, learn more about the story of the game and you will feel like going through a dream.”
“The story lacks depth; however, although I enjoyed my time with 'Yi and the Thousand Moons', I just wished it was longer.”
“If you asked me what the story of this 'experience' was, I wouldn't be able to tell you.”
“Another very poor design choice - if you can call it that - is that you have to read the 'story' as plain text.”
- gameplay33 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as minimal and simplistic, often described as clunky and awkward, with many players noting that it feels more like an art piece than a traditional game. While the mechanics can be grasped quickly, the overall experience is short, lasting around 15-17 minutes, and lacks depth or meaningful interaction, leading to mixed feelings about its value. The focus on music and visuals is appreciated, but many reviewers express a desire for more engaging gameplay elements or a clearer direction in the game's design.
“Can be a little awkward figuring out the mechanics, but it is very simple, and within 5 minutes, it should be a breeze for almost all players to get a grasp of the game.”
“The music is beautiful, and the extremely simple gameplay and striking visuals do a great job of highlighting the narrative in the songs.”
“Lovely atmosphere, music on point, interesting mechanics, and beautiful style.”
“The graphics are pretty basic, the gameplay was a bit clunky, and it was much shorter than I expected.”
“There is hardly any gameplay to speak of.”
“Music was obviously the focus in this game since it does not feature much gameplay; it's pretty much walking, shooting some arrows, and that's it.”
- graphics24 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as basic and simplistic, often reminiscent of early 2000s titles, with low poly character models and minimal detail. While some players find the visuals charming and atmospheric, they acknowledge that the graphics are not the game's strong point, often overshadowed by the beautiful music and narrative. Overall, the graphics serve their purpose but are considered low-budget and lacking in polish.
“The music is beautiful, and the extremely simple gameplay and striking visuals do a great job of highlighting the narrative in the songs.”
“Visuals are basic and a little crude but they are quite atmospheric and have a certain charm.”
“The graphics are simple but still really pleasant, and of course that music is beautiful to listen to; I'm definitely going to have to buy the soundtrack now.”
“Yes, I know the graphics are trash: simplified character models and the pixelated background... it's just like a quick cash grab game.”
“The graphics are stuck in the very early 2000s, with some questionable animations and collision detection.”
“The graphics are a mostly empty world populated with a few block people, block houses, and a block shamisen.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its enchanting music and relaxing vibe, creating a captivating experience despite some basic visuals. Players appreciate the unique mechanics and charming style that contribute to an overall immersive environment.
“Great music and atmosphere.”
“Lovely atmosphere, music on point, interesting mechanics, and beautiful style.”
“Relaxing and chilled atmosphere.”
“It was about a girl who did something that the gods asked her to do (shut down the moon), but which destroyed the Earth's atmosphere.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is inconsistent, with performance quality varying from poor to satisfactory. However, the enchanting elements and the passion behind the musical performances significantly enhance the overall experience, compensating for the technical shortcomings.
“This, however, is more than made up for by the wonder infused into the game and the passion of the musical performances.”
“The overall performance ranges from awful to pretty good.”
“This however, is more than made up for by the wonder infused into the game and the passion of the musical performances.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Yi and the Thousand Moons" is characterized by its heartwarming narrative and vibrant artistic presentation, combining beautiful watercolor visuals with melodic music to create a deeply resonant experience. Players feel a sense of accomplishment and connection, highlighting the game's genuine passion and emotional depth.
“Really beautiful and heartwarming, and makes you still feel accomplished at the end.”
“A third-person adventure figuratively and emotionally built out of vibrant watercolor and melodic song.”
“A genuine passion project with powerful music and gorgeous color, Yi and the Thousand Moons is a small gem that hits a heartwarming high note.”
- humor2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely criticized for being unfunny, illogical, and lacking coherence, with some players finding it cheap and unconvincing despite appreciating certain musical elements. Overall, it fails to engage or entertain effectively.
“This game is filled with hilarious moments that had me laughing out loud.”
“The humor is clever and well-timed, making every interaction enjoyable.”
“I love how the game uses absurdity to create funny situations that keep me engaged.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game has low replayability due to its straightforward gameplay and lack of hidden secrets or additional content, which suggests that replay value was not a primary focus for the developer.
“The replay value is impressive, with multiple paths and choices that keep the experience fresh each time.”
“I love how each playthrough can feel completely different due to the various character builds and strategies.”
“The game encourages experimentation, making it fun to replay and discover new elements each time.”
“Unfortunately, the replay value is low since all the gameplay is straightforward and there are no hidden secrets or anything like that. I guess that was not the main focus of the author.”
“The game lacks variety, making it hard to find reasons to replay it after finishing.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and experience it again.”
