Songs of Silence REVIEW
Songs of Silence is both fascinating and somewhat puzzling. The performance impresses with artistic sophistication and an attempt to tell a deep story. The developers promise epic battles and a deep strategic component. But is everything as perfect as it seems at first glance?
From the very beginning of the game, Songs of Silence shines with its colorful and modernist art style. In this game, every detail – from the world map to the interface elements or character models – is drawn so well, as if they wanted to decorate an album with concept art. Forests are swaying in the wind. The mountains are surrounded by low clouds. Even the animations of moving units are done with style.
This is certainly one of the main advantages of the game. You start admiring literally everything that happens on the screen. But behind all this visual wealth, alas, there is still not the best optimization. At first, you can forgive Songs of Silence a lot, because beauty is known to be worth the sacrifice. But then the fog of war dissipates completely and… the game becomes somewhat thoughtful.
The gameplay in Songs of Silence is represented by two main aspects. The first is a global strategy. Classics of the 4X genre: exploration, expansion, development and destruction. On the map, you move armies, capture territories, develop cities, explore the terrain, and manage resources.
The second is local battles. Here, the developers tried to do something very new. An autobattler where you do not control troops directly, but rather interfere in the course of the battle using tactical maps. They can be used to strengthen an army, heal units, summon reinforcements, or inflict damage on enemies.
At first glance, the system looks promising. You seem to be participating in a battle, but you are not constrained by the limitations of direct command of the army.
But there is a nuance in the fact that the outcome of the battle is often predetermined even before it begins: the army is stronger – victory is yours. The cards seem to make the process more interesting, but their role is not so significant. Well, the battles themselves are somewhat monotonous – you either watch your units sweep away enemies like a hurricane, or you watch them defeat, even with a good deck in your hands, powerless to change anything.
There are problems with setting up the AI in the game. Sometimes he makes decisions that seem completely illogical. The cavalry returns to their starting positions under enemy fire, and long-range troops are approaching the front line, although there is no need. But most of all, the lack of diversity is depressing. I would like more tactical depth, more opportunities for units that would really encourage you to rush into battle.
Still, don’t forget about another important feature of the game: its narrative. In the center of the plot is light and darkness, irreconcilable enemies facing a new threat that threatens to destroy everything. The plot, of course, is not new, but here it is presented with such attention to detail that one involuntarily gets into it.
History is not linear. It’s really full of details. And if you are not ready to read, delve into, understand, it may seem complicated and overloaded. This is more of a gift for fans of deep ent rather than for those who just want to complete a campaign.
Songs of Silence also has an excellent soundtrack. Anxiety, triumph, silence before the storm — all this is felt in the melodies. The voice acting of the characters is also excellent. The voices sound emotional, lively and very natural.
Unfortunately, the technical side of Songs of Silence spoils the overall picture. The interface is overloaded in places, and small text is sometimes literally indistinguishable. For those with small screens or less productive systems, the game can bring a touch of disappointment.
For lovers of aesthetics, deep lore and colorful fantasy, this is an adventure. For those who are looking for dynamics and proven mechanics, it is rather a disappointment. However, despite all the disadvantages, Songs of Silence remains an important gaming experience. She is trying to combine several genres, to offer something new. It’s not perfect, but it’s bold. She will definitely find her player.
