“Harmony: The Fall of Reverie,” developed and published by the renowned studio DON’T NOD, marks an exciting step for the team as they venture into self-publishing. Known for their previous work on the critically acclaimed “Life Is Strange” series in collaboration with Square Enix, DON’T NOD unveils their creative prowess in this new visual novel adventure game. I don’t personally love visual novel games, but there was something that seemed special about Harmony that I couldn’t resist taking another crack at it and, with DON’T NOD being involved, I knew I’d at least be coming out with a memorable experience.
The story centers around Polly, a woman who returns home from being abroad after an extensive search for her missing mother. In her vacant house, she stumbles upon a mystical necklace that transports her to the enchanting world of Reverie. Embracing the role of Harmony, a divine entity responsible for selecting the next ruler of Reverie, Polly embarks on a compelling journey of self-discovery. While Polly assumes the mantle of Harmony, her essence remains unchanged, they are still the same person. The game intricately weaves her interactions in the real world, including her friendships, with the development of relationships among the Aspirations of Humanity in Reverie, with surprisingly captivating characters such as Glory, Bliss, Power, Chaos, Bond, and Truth.
Unlike many visual novel games that predominantly rely on static images during character dialogues, “Harmony: The Fall of Reverie” stands out by incorporating dynamic animations that breathe life into the characters. This addition enhances the visual and auditory experience, thanks to the exceptional voice acting, allowing each character’s personality to radiate with authenticity. The game dazzles players with its breathtaking animated cutscenes, showcasing a distinctive and aesthetically pleasing art style. The captivating visuals serve as a testament to the team’s meticulous attention to detail, this is why I was drawn into this game in the first place.
While “Harmony: The Fall of Reverie” mostly follows the visual novel genre, it occasionally succumbs to verbosity in the latter half, inundating me with excessive exposition. The inclusion of prolonged dialogue and information can sometimes feel like unnecessary padding, which made the game’s pacing feel a bit rocky to me at times. The game’s strength lies in its replayability (assuming you have the patience of playing visual novels more than once) and the consequential impact of player choices. Engaging in diverse conversations unveils distinct story paths, creating a sense of agency and urging players to revisit the game multiple times. I did not 100% complete the game to witness the various outcomes and endings that it adds. But, for the areas I did replay, it does add a layer of intrigue and encourages exploration within the narrative.
The emotional weight of the story resonates deeply throughout the gameplay experience, which kept me captivated even when the story isn’t at its best. Nevertheless, “Harmony: The Fall of Reverie” occasionally suffers from choices that feel inconsequential, leaving me questioning the significance of their decisions. While these instances are infrequent, the lack of substantial impact on the overall narrative progression can be slightly disconcerting. The game does compensate by presenting players with challenging dilemmas, fostering a sense of moral exploration and introspection.
So yeah, “Harmony: The Fall of Reverie” isn’t perfect by any means, but for someone not a big fan of this specific genre, it is an engrossing adventure that transported me to a world brimming with enchantment and emotion. Whether completing just the main storyline once or delving into the multitude of paths and endings, “Harmony: The Fall of Reverie” promises hours of engaging gameplay and a chance to experience the allure of a fantastical realm. DON’T NOD’s foray into self-publishing showcases they want to leave their own stamp of creativity and artistic vision and I’m excited to check out the other ones they have lined up in the near future.
7/10
Harmony: The Fall of Reverie is available for PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Related: Nick Navarro Reviews
Gaming since I was given an original Nintendo as a kid. I love great storytelling and unique ingenuity. When both collide in a single game, I'm a happy gamer. Twitter/IG @NickNavarro87
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