シンフォニック＝レイン (Symphonic Rain)
by KOGADO
Released: Mar 26, 2004
I remember my brother asked me about a review for シンフォニック＝レインlong time ago. I just reremember when I was browsing my Photobucket album and finding a wallpaper of it. Come to think, シンフォニック＝レイン is a solid title itself, but it's not getting enough fame (I think) that I want to introduce it to Galge gamers. An English translation is running for this so those who can't read Japanese could play the game, but for those who are not patient just read this review first and droll (just don't droll on your computer, it would broke ^_^). You can try the demo here or check the translation progress here.
Released: Mar 26, 2004
I remember my brother asked me about a review for シンフォニック＝レインlong time ago. I just reremember when I was browsing my Photobucket album and finding a wallpaper of it. Come to think, シンフォニック＝レイン is a solid title itself, but it's not getting enough fame (I think) that I want to introduce it to Galge gamers. An English translation is running for this so those who can't read Japanese could play the game, but for those who are not patient just read this review first and droll (just don't droll on your computer, it would broke ^_^). You can try the demo here or check the translation progress here.
シンフォニック＝レイン is a musical visual-novel adventure, meaning an ADV-VN hybrid with a musical game system integrated (pretty cool huh?). As the genre suggested, in this game you don't only reading novels, but also playing a rhythm game using musics you've unlocked. For those who have played VOS before would find this similiar, though harder (IMO because of the chain combo) gameplay. By registering at KOGADO's website, you could upload your scores and see if you do beat those *&)$&@* players with &(*&$*) scores. And did I tell you that you can add your own songs to be played?
Here's an overview of the story:Symphonic Rain takes place in a fictional city ofI talian heritage named Piova where rain falls everyday. The locals there have adapted to this peculiar phenomenon, and carry on with their lives as if the rain was never there. No one uses umbrellas, nor rain coats. Chris, seventeen years old, is a Fortelle student of the famous Piova Communal School of Music. Separated from his childhood sweetheart Arietta when he left his home town for the city, he keeps in touch with her through weekly letters. Penning their thoughts on these letters, Chris treasures and keeps her weekly writings, for he had promised her that should his drawer become totally filled with them, he would return to her.
The story starts of Chris' third year in Piova Communal School of Music, which requires him partner up with a vocalist to be eligible for the examination test.
Now, into the casts. They are:- Chris Velding (クリス・ヴェルティン)
Seventeen years old. He comes to the city with Tortinitta to attend the music school. A laid-back person, and not rarely being told weird because he often looks up to the sky, to the pouring rain. That made him only has Tortinitta and Asino as friends. Though so, his skill in Fortelle is exceptional.
- Tortinita Fine (トルティニタ・フィーネ)
Seventeen years old. Usually called by the nickname Toruta (トルタ）. An active girl and bright personality. Twin sister of Arietta. Has talent in singing but sucks in cooking, she is Chris' childhood friend. A third year Piova Musical School student, she has the option to give a solo performance for the graduation performance. Has feeling for Chris since childhood, ome people think she is more compatible with Chris, thus were suprised when Chris choose Arietta.
- Arietta Fine (アリエッタ・フィーネ)
Seventeen years old. Usually called by the nickname Arie (hahaha) (アルエ). Pretty much has contradictory personalitites to Tortinitta. Has talent in cooking but sucks in singing, she is Chris' childhood friend and the person Chris is going on with. Works in a bakery, she constantly writing a letter to Chris every week.
- Falsita Fawcett (ファルシータ・フォーセット)
Seventeen years old. Usually called by the nickname Fal (ファル）. The president of Piova Student Council. Popular and well liked by the academy because of her warm and gentle personality. Works part time at a restaurant.
- Liselsia Cesarini (リセルシア・チェザリーニ)
Fifteen years old. Usually called by the nickname Lisel (リセル）. She is the daughter of the famous Fortelle player Grave Cesarini and hence is constantly pressured by her father to follow in his footsteps. Actually has excellent singing, but ended up in Fortelle departement. Pressure given by his father made her develop a shy and reclusive personality. She secretly praticed her singing in an abandoned building within Piova. My favorite character in the game.
- Phorni (フォーニ)
A fairy which declares herself as a musical fairy. No tall than 14 cm, but strangely can sing and speak at human volume. Met with Chris when Chris started to move in the dormitory. Other than Chris, no one can see, hear, nor touch her. Has excellent singing, and loves to sing. Always pester Chris to write back to Arietta ASAP, so she can atart singing with Chris.
About the story...(SPOILER WARNING) Actually I prefer not to write about the grand story. This contains major spoiler about the game thus those who want to enjoy Symphonic Rain to the fullest shouldn't read it. DON'T READ IT BECAUSE YOU'LL MISS A LOT FROM THIS GREAT TITLE. My brother asked me to write about it (since he has played it, but still couldn't understand about the story). This is for those who had played but missed some details on the story, so here I go.
(spoiler warning!) ALERT! ALERT! SKIP THE BOLD IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SPOILED!
Chris and the Fines were celebrating for Chris and Tortinitta's successful admittance in Piova Musical School. After celebrating, Arietta and Chris venturing out the market area for a walk as for Chris to head home. As they part ways, Chris reminds Arietta to be careful on the way back, since it's getting dark and cars tend not to turn on their headlights. Arietta tells Chris not to worry and crosses the road.
Instantly Chris hears screeching car tyres and sees Arietta's body being thrown to the air, then landing on the ground barely with a thud. Chris starts to run for Arietta. The car, which crashed into a nearby lamp post, explodes, blowing out Chris' eardrums and causing Chris indescribable pain. But still Chris stays with Arietta, shouting desperately for help, that never seemed to come. Then heavy rain fell, all around Chris and Arietta, drowning out Chris' cries for help. Minutes later, Chris passes out.
Chris wakes up to find himself in a hospital. Beside him is Tortinitta, and the doctor, who said that Chris eardrums, while they have recovered clinically, allowing Chris to hear; may have some residual damage that may never recover. Chris lost his memory about that terrible accident, the last thing he remember was his last goodbye with Arietta on that night, before Tortinitta quickly whisked Chris off to the city.
Upon arrival in the city, the first thing strucked Chris is the town is always raining, never letting up. Tortinitta was suprised when Chris mentioned this, but smiles when she knows the reason why.
Other than the fact that the city always rained, life seemed just about perfect. With Phorni accompanying Chris, letters weekly from Arie and a watchful Tortinitta keeping an eye out for Chris, Chris regained much of his cheerful self.
However, something else begun to trouble Chris. While weekly letters from Arietta still coming, you find yourself inexplicably getting closer to Toruta, who is now by your side all the time. She agrees to be Chris' singing partner for the graduation performance (requires a Fortelle player and a singer) and while Chris feel no resistance to work with her, Chris find himself being drawn closer to her.
The truth is, Tortinitta's family and Chris' parents came to the agreement that Chris would be told the truth after that incident after Chris regains his composure. Toruta would take Arietta's place, and keep writing letters as she pretends to be her. Arietta was comatose and in hospital all this while for so many years. She was getting weaker all the while and the doctors weren't optimistic about her even surviving for much longer, much less waking up.
Though Tortinitta did what she was told, she did it more for protecting Chris from the teribble truth.
First, Tortinitta was happy. Though so, she was sad, that despite her physical self being with Chris and watching over him, his soul and mind still was with Arietta on that stormy night, when he cried for help that seemed never to come. They were physically together, yet so far apart, for the sky they were under was eternally different.
One day, Tortinitta dressed herself up as Arietta (they're identical twins) and came to visit Chris from the countryside. The Tortinitta Chris knew always had terrible culinary skills, but in fact, tortinitta had been working hard and now her culinary skills are superb, enough to rival even that of Arietta's. Tortinitta bade Chris sit down and play his Fortelle (which she loved to hear) while she whipped up a meal and a hot drink for him. But when she was about to serve you a cup of coffee, Chris casually replied "Thank you, Toruta".
The cup of coffee fell down with a crash, following with drops of tears from Tortinitta (Arietta to Chris that time). While Chris thought it was tears of sadness (at supposed betrayal), it was actually tears of joy, because she know, deep down Chris realized it was Tortinitta and their closeness had become natural that Chris mentioned her name without hesistation.However, she controls her emotions and while playing the part of a heartbroken Arietta, leaves Chris' dormitory apartment for the train station.
Then on 20th January, in the evening after a splendid graduation performance, Chris confessed his love for Tortinitta, more than her sister's. Tortinitta replies the same, and slowly tells Chris everything happened on that night. It was painful, but somehow, Chris feel that with Tortinitta beside him and sharing his pain, the pain will get better. Tortinitta, on the other hand, still hasn't fully gotten over her guilt of snatching Chris from her sister. Then they agreed to head back for the countryside and tell Arietta their resolve.
When Chris journeyed back with Toruta to the countryside he grew up in, the rain stopped after the train passed through a tunnel. Tortinitta tells Chris that the rain he experienced all this time was imaginary, and how she was happy that she can finally stand under the same sky as you.
Unfortunately, Arietta passed away 2 days before they got back. While sad that a loved one has left them forever, Chris and Tortinitta force theirselves to look forward. The story ends with Chris playing his Fortelle by Arietta's grave and Tortinitta singing a song for funeral processions, sending Arietta off on her journey.
And my marks for the game is...
Story 10/10
A solid story about a city that never stops raining. It was that premise got me hooked into playing, and Symphonic Rain did a good job in further developing the story whilst keeping the premise on surface. All routes are deep and has many suprises as you play through them. A story about love and lies, pain and happiness, sacrifice and gain, which will enthrall you.
Graphics 8.5/10
I could argue abour the resolution being 640x480 when almost all games using 800x600, but that doesn't matter much. Using watercolours for background coloring, posing a unique impressions for me. The characters are well designed too. Each characters had eye-motions, bringing life to them.
Sound 10/10
All characters are voiced, even Chris (the main character, voiced in Al Fine scenario). Notably about this game is the vocals, sung by famous artist, and live up to the hype. The BGMs also memorable.
Personal Opinion 9/10 --> 18/20 (x2)
It's a shame that each characters story don't has connection to each other. Though so, I like how the characters got decent development on their characters throughout the story. Sometimes, you'd want to play just to see that development. Lack of humour does hurt Symphonic Rain a little, but a memorable story and outstanding musics make it up for that.
Overall 46.5/50 (93%)
Symohonic Rain is another masterpiece in Galge's history. Suprising elements in Symphonic Rain were really suprising, in good way, making you keep interested in the story. Some characters might end up getting on your good side or bad side. Definitely on my list of the best 恋愛 games I've ever played.
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