Harmony: The Fall of Reverie is a pretty deconstruction | Kaser Focus

With all of the summer time gaming pleasure, I haven’t had the prospect to discuss a number of of the video games I’ve performed in the previous couple of weeks. A kind of video games is Don’t Nod’s new visible novel, Concord: The Fall of Reverie. And since this has been a comparatively quiet week (and a brief one, for these us celebrating an American vacation), I’d wish to take the time to at the least do a mini-review of the title. Whereas my ideas haven’t modified a lot since I performed the preview, I believe it deserves consideration — in order that’s what this Kaser Focus is about.

Surprisingly, what Concord jogs my memory of probably the most is deconstructed meals. I’m no avant-garde chef, however my understanding is that deconstructed meals is meant to supply acquainted substances in a brand new, uncooked type to present the diner a refreshed expertise. That’s the vibe I get from this recreation: It has all the acquainted parts of a visible novel, however offered in an alternate method. It makes for a recreation that’s a lot completely different from different video games in the identical oeuvre. Not like different visible novels, the sport presents its alternative mechanic (and your complete recreation is constructed on the selection mechanic) by way of a Twine-like alternative structure known as the Augury.

The visuals in Concord are arrestingly lovely, with the Aspirations making an particularly large impression. Every embodies their respective feeling, with Chaos being a multitude of discordant colours and mischievous angle, Reality a bleak pillar lined in eyes and Bliss a small bundle of buoyant delight. Each Reverie and Brittle have distinct, pleasing seems. The story can be partaking with a central thriller hook and a few emotional payoff that tugged on my previous, withered heartstrings. Additionally, I can’t sing the praises of the voice actors sufficient — all of them did a fantastic job.

Nonetheless, if I’ve one grievance, it’s that the stark honesty of the Augury might be intimidating in the event you, like me, get resolution fatigue. Most visible novels depart some component of thriller to your selections to encourage you to replay later. And whereas Concord does have some replayability, the Augury’s blueprint structure of all the pieces can really feel a bit of overwhelming, notably as you progress and the alternatives develop into extra advanced. It’s a small grievance contemplating the sport is in any other case beautiful and pleasant, however it could be a turn-off for some gamers.