Zeliria Sanctuary
- January 6, 2019
- Salangan Games
- 5h median play time
"Zeliria Sanctuary" is a game featuring an otherworldly setting with a tropical climate and unique creatures. After being transported through a portal, protagonist Maxx must solve the planet's mysteries and build new relationships. With a mix of two distinct game styles, players will encounter action-packed combat and intricate puzzle-solving. As Maxx's connection to his past fades, he must learn to trust new friends and navigate the complexities of his new home.
Reviews
- Zeliria Sanctuary features a captivating sci-fi story with numerous branching paths and multiple endings, encouraging replayability.
- The art and music quality are above average, enhancing the overall experience with beautiful visuals and a fitting soundtrack.
- The English translation is well done, making the story accessible and enjoyable for a wider audience.
- The game suffers from inconsistent art quality, particularly in character CGs, which can detract from the overall visual experience.
- Some players found the writing to be poor and the character actions illogical, leading to a lack of immersion in the story.
- The Steam version has been criticized for missing content compared to other versions, leaving some players feeling disappointed.
- story42 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story is a medium-length sci-fi narrative that offers numerous branching paths and multiple endings, engaging players with its intriguing plot and well-designed characters. While some players found the story enjoyable and immersive, others criticized certain aspects, such as convoluted endings and excessive exposition. Overall, the narrative is praised for its depth, replayability, and the impact of player choices, making it a compelling experience for fans of visual novels.
“From now on, it is up to the player to decide how the rest of this story unfolds, and believe me, paths are numerous.”
“A fascinating story with interesting characters.”
“The plot is really intriguing and good voice actors from Anilibria with nice art of landscapes and characters also creates the whole atmosphere of the game.”
“Also, spoiler: story endings make little sense.”
“Apart from poor story-writing skills - nothing.”
“I genuinely enjoyed the story before they ruined it.”
- music14 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and suitability, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. Many reviewers highlight standout tracks, including a fantastic opening song and well-matched ambient music, though some note that while it is above average, it may not reach "god tier" status. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong asset to the game, complementing its art and story effectively.
“The opening song on the title page is fantastic!”
“I really enjoyed the main theme OST, and the music is perfectly matched with this game.”
“The first time you launch the game, you immediately notice an excellent song in the main menu, and in general, the music in it is well chosen, which is a clear plus for the genre.”
“Occasional ambient tracks can replace music as well.”
“On top of all the above, there are three actual songs sung in Russian.”
“The art is pretty average; also the music.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the visual novel are generally praised as above average for an indie title, featuring extraordinary artwork and well-executed visuals. However, some minor issues, such as character design quirks, have been noted. Overall, the visuals contribute positively to the game's appeal, prompting players to consider future installments.
“Overall, for an indie visual novel, the visuals are above average.”
“The graphics are nicely done, well apart from the starry eyes of Samfy when she's happy.”
“A fairly large visual novel with extraordinary artwork, an interesting twisted plot, and charismatic characters.”
“I put the sequel on my wishlist because of the graphics, but I am going to re-evaluate my decision.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its charming humor, featuring cute jokes and amusing situations that elicit both chuckles and hearty laughter. The interactions between characters, particularly Humkey and Maxx, contribute significantly to the comedic experience, making it a delightful source of entertainment.
“This game made me laugh and smile quite a bit, with cute jokes and funny situations.”
“It had a lot of great humor, enough to give me quite a few chuckles and a few hearty laughs of riotous laughter.”
“The humor between Humkey and Maxx can give you a good chuckle.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a well-crafted soundtrack that enhances the impact of key events, alongside meaningful choices that evoke strong feelings of sadness and significance. Players appreciate the sense that their decisions genuinely influence the narrative, contributing to a deeply engaging emotional experience.
“A decent variation of tunes underscores the emotional impact of events aptly.”
“Some choices I made made me feel very sad and were very emotional.”
“It is one of a very select few games that made me feel that my decisions actually mattered for the story.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development is intricately tied to world-building, with players encouraged to explore various routes to fully understand the narrative and character arcs. This approach enhances the depth of the story and allows for a richer gaming experience.
“Character development and world-building are revealed through different routes, so to gain a better grasp of what is going on, I recommend trying many different paths.”
“The depth of each character's backstory adds layers to the narrative, making every decision feel impactful.”
“I love how the characters evolve based on player choices, creating a unique experience with each playthrough.”
“Character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters on an emotional level.”
“The choices you make don't seem to impact character growth, leaving the development feeling linear and uninspired.”
“I found the character arcs to be predictable and clichéd, which diminished my overall investment in their journeys.”
- gameplay1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate that the music enhances the gameplay experience, contributing to overall enjoyment.
“The music is really suitable and it helps you to enjoy the gameplay.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by an intriguing plot, strong voice acting from Anilibria, and beautifully crafted landscapes and character designs, all contributing to an immersive experience.
“The plot is really intriguing, and the talented voice actors from Anilibria, along with the beautiful artwork of landscapes and characters, create an immersive atmosphere in the game.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find that the game's replayability is significantly enhanced by its engaging story, which offers exciting new elements to discover upon each playthrough.
“It really adds to replayability and makes the story a lot more exciting to uncover.”