We Touch Games – An Octave Higher (PC) Review

An Octave Higher PC Review by Eivmoe of We Touch Games – Edited by Lolinia of We Touch Games – Developer: Kidalang – Publisher: AGM PLAYISM – Genre: Visual Novel

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A game that grasps the reader in a deeply-developed story environment within the first ten minutes is rare, yet this game delivers a strong first impression with both its music and visuals. An Octave Higher is an indie visual novel developed by Kidalang and published by AGM PLAYISM. It throws you in the world of Overture, where you are seeing the story from three different perspectives.

 

You read the story from the perspective of three characters: Elise, the female factory worker; Franz, the student; and Fredric, the aristocrat. From the day they were born, they were different; yet their faith is tied together, be it with the compassion they all have or the courage they have to be themselves. As you get to quickly know each of the characters, you will see the depths of the personalities and their inner thoughts with this unique perspective change that happens often and early, so you can read how every main character reacts and feels to each situation they are put into or what the other says or observes.

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However, An Octave Higher has some faults. One of them is that there is no options before starting the game. Make sure you have the volume turned down before you start the game. While this is only a minor problem, it may come as a big surprise that the game starts in full screen and does not allow you to change this until after you’ve started the game. Even then, you can only choose between 960×640 windowed mode and complete full screen. The windowed mode is still adjustable, though.

 

The art is unique. Most indie game developers search for a way that their art can be a step different from other art and these guys nailed it. In this game, the art style is not only different; it’s like an oil painting. It is not the cutesy anime-like style that so many others have. The scenes in the background have a great amount of detail, yet a certain blurriness to it that suits the character models nicely. The character models themselves are interesting and decently drawn. The depth of the details in certain scenes adds to the atmosphere of the game which the music fits strangely well into, as well.

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The soundtrack is mostly classical music, but is used in connection with the characters, the environment (such as a high-class slow piano on a wealthy place), and more fast-paced music during fighting, climatic or even heated discussions. As the soundtrack seems to mold with the characters, so do the characters with the music. It is an overall nice music selection to the characters and game itself. As you play the game, you may find it lacking in music in certain spots or just far-sounding ambiance music which sets the tone brilliantly (compared to other games).

 

This is a game that focuses on showing you its story, its music, and characters rather than showing you what other games today normally do. It may not have the best character development, and it has blatant racism in its world and its arrogance. Over dramatic at times, yet you can understand why and you can see how a character with that background may be so hateful. You eventually see that it is them coming to terms with it as the story progresses. The struggles of something that the world deems to be impossible because it hasn’t been done before; the struggle for acceptance; the struggle to be whom you want to be; the struggle to be who you were born to be!

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An Octave Higher’s strongest asset is its story and it grips the reader very well with its incredible usage. Personally, this is a game that asks the question of “why not?” rather than “why?”. At times, there may be questions such as “if they can or can’t” rather than “should”. If you should buy the game or not, it is clear for me. At $11.99 USD on Steam, I recommend this game strongly. While it involves dating, its story is rich and strong from the introductions of the characters themselves. I heavily recommend getting the soundtrack as a DLC as well, even at full price.

 

Eivmoe gives An Octave Higher a Drastik Measure 7.3 out of 10.0 (73).

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