I feel it's too early for me to give my full opinion but the overall presentation like the art and CGs are really good but the voice acting and dialogue felt really stiff to me. I understand this is the first version so everything is bound to change.
Okay so- first impressions are a bit negative to be honest. Whilst the artistic presentation and quality is top notch, and the music is excellent; the writing and voice direction is where this build falls incredibly hard.
Aside from the voice acting (as they're directed it seems) being all over the place and off-putting, the dialogue they're saying is unnatural and pulls the reader right out of the story. The writing itself is way too repetitive to get into it authentically (the over-use of "virtue" is especially irritating), and the characters feel akin to dolls that say their lines without having an inner-world.
I was only able to get to the presentation of the school's historian program before I couldn't read/listen any further. Because I didn't believe it would get any better; if this was the writing quality so far then that was as good as it was gonna get. The opening with the history of "Wander" was not a good foot to start on, but this was revealed to be 'the villain's'/Director's words, maybe it would be better if we actually got the MC's perspective (not a fan of MC being his actual initial's btw). But the quality didn't improve, and you can only appreciate the character art and music for so long before you just have to drop what you're absorbing.
ESPECIALLY when the writing has no substance to it.
Overall; I was excited for Spark Hearts, and was incredibly disappointed. But if anything I hope that with all the effort going into this project that the most important thing about a Visual Novel, the writing, can be improved to reflect the rest of the project!
I think I agree with you here. Great visuals so far, love the camera movements as well, it sets the VN apart, but the dialogue is.... something.
Originally I thought his grandparents calling him "MC" was placeholder text, but when I realized it was his initials, it makes the entire conversation...weird.
At one point Maru says "In the media I've consumed..." and that is just the most unnatural way to put it. His inner world should illuminate his personality to the audience, and the way he speaks in his own head is like a robot or an alien.
I won't say anything about the visuals/VAing as its still in progress, but definitely they need to focus up more on the writing.
it's because it's not tagged properly, the way to tell is that it'll have the little icon for what device it is for next to the file name. I don't know a workaround so i also just downloaded it from the web lol
for whatever reason, I don't think there is. I've tried to do it before by doing Library>Installed items/view all>Manage install locations, but it always just says that the folder is empty even after extracting so I just give up there. Annoying having to go into your files every time to play, but a small price to pay :)
Artistic presentation and audio presentation are 5/5.
Really my only notes I have are that sometimes it's a little jarring when there's narrative text, because it'll be in quotes and MC's nameplate will be present in the textbox, so in non voiced sections, there's confusion on when Maru is talking vs having internal thoughts.
I'm interested to see what future builds bring to the table, I think the team had an amazing first impression with this first build
Amazing work so far. I love each of the characters and the story is exciting. Everyone has done a good job and I'm happy to see the future development.
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I feel it's too early for me to give my full opinion but the overall presentation like the art and CGs are really good but the voice acting and dialogue felt really stiff to me. I understand this is the first version so everything is bound to change.
Okay so- first impressions are a bit negative to be honest. Whilst the artistic presentation and quality is top notch, and the music is excellent; the writing and voice direction is where this build falls incredibly hard.
Aside from the voice acting (as they're directed it seems) being all over the place and off-putting, the dialogue they're saying is unnatural and pulls the reader right out of the story. The writing itself is way too repetitive to get into it authentically (the over-use of "virtue" is especially irritating), and the characters feel akin to dolls that say their lines without having an inner-world.
I was only able to get to the presentation of the school's historian program before I couldn't read/listen any further. Because I didn't believe it would get any better; if this was the writing quality so far then that was as good as it was gonna get. The opening with the history of "Wander" was not a good foot to start on, but this was revealed to be 'the villain's'/Director's words, maybe it would be better if we actually got the MC's perspective (not a fan of MC being his actual initial's btw). But the quality didn't improve, and you can only appreciate the character art and music for so long before you just have to drop what you're absorbing.
ESPECIALLY when the writing has no substance to it.
Overall; I was excited for Spark Hearts, and was incredibly disappointed. But if anything I hope that with all the effort going into this project that the most important thing about a Visual Novel, the writing, can be improved to reflect the rest of the project!
I think I agree with you here. Great visuals so far, love the camera movements as well, it sets the VN apart, but the dialogue is.... something.
Originally I thought his grandparents calling him "MC" was placeholder text, but when I realized it was his initials, it makes the entire conversation...weird.
At one point Maru says "In the media I've consumed..." and that is just the most unnatural way to put it. His inner world should illuminate his personality to the audience, and the way he speaks in his own head is like a robot or an alien.
I won't say anything about the visuals/VAing as its still in progress, but definitely they need to focus up more on the writing.
on the itch pc app and it wont let me download the game not sure why this happens but ive seen it with a handfull of other fvns :/
either way downloaded it off the web and will give it a play later UwU
it's because it's not tagged properly, the way to tell is that it'll have the little icon for what device it is for next to the file name. I don't know a workaround so i also just downloaded it from the web lol
ooooohhhh thank you!
btw is there a way to get the app to recognize the files from a browser download?
for whatever reason, I don't think there is. I've tried to do it before by doing Library>Installed items/view all>Manage install locations, but it always just says that the folder is empty even after extracting so I just give up there. Annoying having to go into your files every time to play, but a small price to pay :)
yeah i saw that as well and even tried changeing the file name to try and match other games
Please tell me he uses the power of love and friendship to vanquish his foes? lol i haven't read it yet
Artistic presentation and audio presentation are 5/5.
Really my only notes I have are that sometimes it's a little jarring when there's narrative text, because it'll be in quotes and MC's nameplate will be present in the textbox, so in non voiced sections, there's confusion on when Maru is talking vs having internal thoughts.
I'm interested to see what future builds bring to the table, I think the team had an amazing first impression with this first build
I'd love to give it go but I'd need a Mac port
It should be fairly trivial to export a Mac version from Unity. So I hope they do that at some point.
I love the interactive background omgggg
It is amasing!
Please please pleaaaaase tell me there is a chance there will be a android port?
Amazing work so far. I love each of the characters and the story is exciting. Everyone has done a good job and I'm happy to see the future development.
IT'S FINALLY HERE!
So excited to play :