#opus: echo of starsong

[artfahle]

happy anniversary to opus: echo of starsong!

[veebs-hates-video-games]

Ok I need to do Opus: Echo of Starsong now instead of taking more time to think about it because in only like 24 hours it's already started slipping out of my brain, and I'm already not going to be able to say as much as I wanted.

I grabbed it in the first place because someone who seems to have similar taste to mine compared it favorably to 13 Sentinels, which had probably my favorite story out of everything I played last year. I think overall I definitely liked 13 Sentinels more, but the stuff this did well it did rather well at too. In particular everything from the climax through to the end was excellent, compared to the ending of 13 Sentinels which was the only part of it that wasn't excellent (it was mostly fine, but it definitely wasn't on the same level as the first 95% of the story, which was amazing).

My biggest complaint about Starsong is that the second half kind of drags a bit until you get toward the climax. It probably didn't help that I did some non-essential stuff in the hope of getting a bit more information about the world and characters, but even without that the pacing felt a little off compared to the first half and the ending, and going around the map doing stuff started to get more tedious. Never so much that I even considered stopping playing or taking a break, but I definitely didn't expect it to pick up again at the end to the degree it did.

Aside from that I mostly liked most stuff about it though. The characters and story are interesting, but I didn't get super invested in them right away. They kind of grew on me as they got developed more and I got to see more interactions between them and when I started picking up on more parallels with other things in the story. I kind of wish certain aspects of the history/mythology were revealed a little earlier so I could've been thinking about it more of the way through, but maybe I just didn't pick up on some of it until a bit later.

I like that a lot of stuff is hinted at or strongly suggested without always being fully explained or explicitly stated, and it left me with more to think about at the end than I did during some parts of the main story itself. That includes the relationships between a lot of the characters, which tend to be a little messy. That's kind of to be expected when the main cast is three people with abandonment/neglect issues stuck on a spaceship together with nowhere else for their trauma to go.

I think overall the story is one of the better ones I've seen so far this year, but overall as a game I'd have to knock it down a bit further for the actual game parts of it getting a bit tedious at times. But if you're looking for a story-focused adventure game about Space Feng Shui you've come to the right place.

Oh also because I forgot to fit it in somewhere earlier I'm kind of annoyed that the voice acting defaulted to Japanese, because I didn't realize at first that it's from Taiwan and I could've been playing in Mandarin all along instead of not until the very end. I might replay it at some point with it set to that right from the beginning, since it would be interesting to see how it plays out knowing everything I know about the story that I do now.

[miyakuli]

OPUS: Echo of Starsong

OPUS: Echo of Starsong is a visual novel mixing exploration and resource management, in a sci-fi universe. We follow the story of 3 characters, Jun, Eda and Remi who will by force of circumstances join forces to lead a quest full of adventures and emotions.

If the work on the universe is meticulous, I remain less enthusiastic than most reviews with respect to certain details of gameplay or writing.

❤ A very detailed and vast lore in terms of mythology, places (really a lot to visit!), items, clans etc….I was impressed by the richness of this universe (and I hope that a french version will see the light of day to be able to immerse myself in it more easily). ❤ Very nice visually both for the exploration phases, with its beautiful light effects, and for the illustrations. ❤ Very beautiful music that accompanies us throughout the story. ❤ A well-written story that brings its share of emotions.

+/- The characters are likeable and it's easy to get attached to this small group, but I think that the development of their relationship gives an impression of "too fast" even though the story unfolds over several months. Idk, I think maybe there should have been a little more interaction between them because I had the impression that their relationship was kind of evolving "behind the scenes". +/- Resource management in space is a great idea! but it's much too confusing at the start, the game does not explain to us how each resource or item works so we can be easily fooled.

✖ Cave explorations are very repetitive and slow. Also the puzzles aren't really puzzles, you just follow the path and unlock the doors without much effort. ✖ No manual saving system or to quit the game, it's not practical at all. The automatic saves are also quite spaced out. ✖ Lots of repeated flashbacks; in an anime it's okay but in a game, it breaks the rhythm and you get a little impatient imo.

I've always had a weakness for space operas and I think I recognized influences from Macross with this alliance between music and politics, which was pretty nice to me <3 I come out of this game with a certain satisfaction despite my few reservations, and I would like to dive back into it on occasion, not necessarily to relive the story (it's linear so nothing more to unlock) but to explore more of its vast universe :)

➡ My personal VN ranking (in french) ➡ My Steam page

[star-arcana]

I am the flower planet! Befitting of our current season and being the one where flowers are in full bloom, I am happy that I got that season for the year. On the other hand it's currently fall in the southern hemisphere, so unfortunately they cannot be represented just right there here.

Befitting the flower motive and new life it gives, here is a quote from the most tragic game and best game in the history of humanity so far fitting with eternal spring and flowers. I will give you a lot of feelings, so get ready to feel sad and happy at the same time:

"Should we find each other in the next life, let us live on a planet of our own. I will plant flowers amongst the valleys, and sing for you into old age and death"

-God Prime Terra

Melody of Starsong, Act 2

Guess which Opus this is and what a Starsong is? Does it give an Echo?

Happy Spring season anyway! I wish you luck and hope and love!

[5water-kohaku]

(T^T) ...Yeah, I finished OPUS: Echo of Starsong. It was interesting "Behind the Scenes" were unlocked, so it was a pleasure to listen through them.

But my question is, how do we translate the languages of the myth ingame? They surely contain hints! DX

[anestheticrage]

The absolute lack of Remi love in the world is unforgivable.

[lancerfay]

A quick Remi while I cry into my sandwich, I love the way the characters are drawn in this game

Play OPUS: Echo of Starsong its so good and super pretty

[intothecast]

Into the Aether | 244 | You Don't Know Todd

Todd Andrew Howard was born in 1970 in Lower Macungie Township, Pennsylvania, to Ronald (Ron) and Priscilla Howard. His elder brother, Jeffrey Mark (Jeff) Howard, was later the director of creative affairs for Disney, where he oversaw the production of Bambi II. He developed an interest in computers, particularly video games, at a very young age. Howard considers the 1980s role-playing video games Wizardry and Ultima III: Exodus to be inspirations for his future games.

Games Discussed: Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, Opus: Echo of Starsong, Lil Gator Game, Microsoft's Xbox, Trinity Trigger

Listen to the show here 😘

[rukafais]

the religious worldbuilding in this game is fucking next level. it’s unimaginably good

[anestheticrage]

oh thank Ignis, some fanart actually exists

「neverlasting paths.」

[legitimatesatanspawn]

In preparation for Opus: Prism Peak, I'm replaying the series and getting ready to give Opus: Echo of Starsong a spin.

The series are gorgeous, musically incredible, and live to stab you in the feels. And I say that as someone who rarely cries at games of films. Would these games work better as VNs or books? Maybe. But damn are they pretty.

Opus: The Day we Found Earth

Opus is functionally a hidden object game where you're playing "where's the planet/star/galaxy" with the giant telescope. There's a lot of background lore as to what happened, and essentially (without spoilers) humans have advanced and spread so far across Space that the records of their homeworld's been lost.

You play as a robot who was built by the two last desperate members of the space station, one hoping against hope and the other more cynical about the odds but still trying. With you still trying to find Earth for your creator after a power blackout. As a robot, your character doesn't understand some things he finds while looking through the space station. The AI helping you has a better idea though.

I vaguely remember playing it on Android so it makes sense that the click-and-drag and tap are more in line with touchscreen gameplay. And the 'hub area' (the space station) is vertically designed.

2. Opus: Rocket of Whispers, and the Prologue

Rocket is essentially baby's first resource hunting game where you're wandering around a gradually bigger and bigger zone finding items and helping settle ghosts as you build better and better rockets. Why rockets? Weeeeell, spoilers aside there's this whole thing about sending spaceships off planet with the help of "witches" who pray to send the dead to the afterlife presumably back on Earth.

So kind of like FFX with Sending. Except it's in a post-apoc world where like... maybe two people in the whole area are still alive. There might be more! I hope there's more...

There's also a free prequel game that is a straight walking sim of a P&C game where the other main character wakes up from cryosleep and quickly realizes things went horribly wrong.

3. Opus: Echo of Starsong

Starsong for the record looks to be an insane magitek space drama with spaceship resource management and music-based puzzles. Take Titan AE, mix in some post-war Gundam or similar Space Mecha anime series where things are just absolutely insane, sprinkle heavily with space magic... maybe a dash of Xianxia if there's anything with clan bullshit.

Am I going to be good at this? Nope, not the space resource part anyway. Will I play it anyway? Getting it as part of a bundle definitely helped and while I don't normally play post-apoc games like Rocket I enjoyed it so I'm definitely giving this one a shot.

4. Opus: Prism Peak

Prism's big thing here is a camera and absolutely gorgeous graphics. Functionally it looks like a photography game (examples being Pokemon Snap, Alba: A Wildife Adventure, Umurangi Generation, and Beasts of Maravilla Island) where you're either trapped in memories or the spirit world and... I have no idea how the camera will change things but it looks beautiful. Every title got more and more extra with the graphics (in a good way) and the music so this is gonna be so damn pretty. And the story will probably break my heart like the other Opus games.

[vozchik]

[star-arcana]

My favorite game: Opus Echo of Starsong not only got an update by which the controller vibrates, but it's also 40% off as well as 20% off in extras!

It's amazing to be alive right now!

Edit: Grammar and information vital: For as long this offer is still there, I will pin it so that everyone can see it here. Enjoy your Summer!

Edit edit: More Grammar and please play Opus Echo of Starsong, it's the best game of all time!!! I swear it is that good! The greatest work in the history of gaming and story-writing. Opus Echo of Starsong is easily the best thing ever. The undeniable masterpiece of gaming and story-telling in a VN format!!!!

Opus Echo of Starsong is perhaps the best thing made by humans by all eternity! The best game ever made! Opus Echo of Starsong is the greatest masterpiece of all time!!!

[5water-kohaku]

OPUS: Echo of Starsong is getting animated! This was announced today on SIGONO's twitter account, March 31, but it's April 1st for some people on the other side of the world. ...They think it's possibly an April's Fool prank. Guess we'll just wait for a trailer in Summer 2023 and see if it's a prank or not. XD (I think China doesn't do April's Fool though?)

[first-impressions-gaming]

OPUS: Echo of Starsong - Full Bloom Edition

Developed & Published by SIGONO

Release Date 2021

Tested on Xbox Series X

MSRP 24,99 USD

I always do wonder what is the core factor when a game, a book or a movie really captivates me. Is it the story, characters or the presentation or something else out of my reach and understanding? OPUS: Echo of Starsong mixes and blends factors that may be deceptively seem simple to eyes artistically and cleverly that you feel you’re part of this story and the games makes you feel wanted in this plot. 

OPUS does not invent the story-driven narrative game genre, it simply…works in the best way possible. It has a great set of mechanics: an excellent space setting, Japanese voiceover, Japanese culture inspirations, game mechanics which are not tiresome, wonderful narrative pacing with marvellous world-creation.

During my playtime, I could not stop myself comparing a game like OPUS to AAA open-world games which boast “massive world that you can travel across the map with hundreds of landmarks.” I do admire and appreciate story-heavy and linear games like OPUS just for the chance to experience to a story-rich game with none-to-zero bloated mechanics. OPUS is the game where the game flows and runs with you alongside, you are not left behind, ever. You are right there with the game, and the game opens itself to you with almost zero tutorial needed. Frankly, after spending two hours I realized there was not any tutorial regarding mechanics or controls. The menu, screen, windows and layout are so well-designed and -thought that you won’t face any difficulty navigating in the menus. 

You’re going to ask me, what is this game about that you worshipped so far? Well, OPUS: Echo of Starsong is basically a flashback of the protagonist Jun, a story made of his memories, remembrances and his past. You start as Old Jun, casually (yet meaningfully) wandering in a forest-like overgrown building, and you start remembering what you’ve lived so far, then the flashback takes place, and now you are Jun, as young as day in his full bloom (pun intended, sorry.). Jun is a teenage prince of Lee clan, who is kind of (self)-exiled from his hometown planet after the gigantic Lumen War and what took place in his clan. Jun is on the run to find a lumen-rich un-discovered planet and mine so he can create a name for himself after being ostracised from Lee clan and he can return to his hometown planet head held high. Then there’s Kay, who is Jun’s right-hand, a sturdy man and Lumen War veteran. In flashbacks we learn that Kay backs up Jun when he is thrown out of Lee clan and shamed. Right there and then Kay becomes young prince’s guide in his mission.

Shortly after setting out our mission, we bump into Eda, a witch, and Remie, her younger companion who’s a pilot at a bazaar. They become Jun and Kay’s companions soon after second encounter. You may ask “a witch? Wait what?”. The meaning of “witch” is pretty different from what you may prejudge, a witch is a person who can sense lumen in a proximity through waves of recorded special witch songs in the galaxy. Jun is a “runner” who can carry a stick ,which is loaded with special songs, and play it in front of particular gateways on planets that may open doors to yet to be explored lumen caves. From that moment on, Jun and Kay’s story gets intertwined with Eda and Remie’s.

Let me break down easy-to-understand mechanics of the game briefly, when you are in a location there are three sub-menus you can interact with besides location-specific options:

Memories: this menu includes all the collectibles, items, encountered objects, and major events, entries and lore-based codex.

Upgrade: improvements for the spaceship with the material you find or purchase.

Navigator:the main menu for travelling with the spaceship that opens a map.

There is Fuel, Armor Plates, Exploration Kit and Currency as well.

You spend fuel when you are travelling and you need to re-fuel from time to time otherwise you will be stranded in the galaxy and will meet some assistance crew that will tow your spaceship to the previous main location. Armor Plates are crucial in early-game when you are fighting with space pirates, when you upgrade your spaceship you can pretty much ignore it. Exploration Kits are consumed when you are on a non-major planet and you attempt to scavenge items, scraps as such. With Currency you can purchase fuel, plates, exploration kits, upgrade parts for your spaceship. You can earn money selling scraps and plants that you come across on planets.

You can watch the clip below to see how you can purchase parts and upgrade your ship:

At first glance at the map, you may be overwhelmed judging that it is an open-world game, but it isn’t actually. The game has a remarkable way of guiding you from one destination to another without making the game feel linear. There are main missions directly related to the main story and there are “abnormal signal” side quests, honestly they aren’t quests, more like side-story elements that are supplemental to the lore. For example, I did gamble on a small planet and did help send signals throughout the galaxy for a TV broadcast on another planet. These may seem forgettable in theory but I can assure you will appreciate them in first-hand experience, these are not “filler” side quests in massive open-world games, these are well-crafted short and lore-loaded experiences that stick with you personally. 

When you land on a planet, a menu like in the clip below welcomes you, interactions with green flag next to them are side-interactions, such as just having a talk with a random person on the planet, such as an old grumpy man, a worker, a doctor, a homeless person. These side-interactions make the planet feel alive and pushes the narrative further succesfully, when your whole interaction takes place in text, some kind of magic has to give to attract you and drive the story to the next level, you bump into an old woman, she talks about good old days long before the Lumen War, the dialogue lasts around a minute, you walk away and move on, yet this entire conversation is only a small part of elements that build the entire game, the game would not be able to catch the player’s attention without these dialogues.

The three-pillar icon points the main interaction at that location. 

Having completed a main mission, you receive coordinates for your next location, which is marked on the map and it tells you beforehand how much fuel it will require to reach the destination, for example in the clip below it looks like I did not upgrade my fuel-tank that much therefore I cannot travel to the given planet in one go, what I did was that I visited small planets which are marked as “abnormal signal” and I did scavenged items with exploration kits and found some some fuel, and I did fill up my tank and got closer to the main location by scavenging minor planets.

OPUS might the first game I’ve ever played that lays out everything takes place moment to moment, items, codex entries etc in one single menu that is not too crowded to figure out, Memories menu shows you everything you’ve experienced and collected so far. One more thing: codex entries are an afterthought in this games, not one bit, you get to read each entry with an item you come across while you are exploring or having a dialogue with a character, it can be a monument, a gateway, a plant, a tale an elderly person tells, coins etc. 

Having played 3 out of 6 chapters so far, OPUS is such a silent-hitter in the genre and it deserves even more recognition, I cannot stress enough how well-built this game is with almost-perfect lore supported by non-cluttered smooth narration.

[flojocabron]

🎶 What would you do if I sang out of tune?🎵