Shining Song Starnova
" Emotionally rich casual visual novel with deep storytelling and mature themes but limited gameplay "
Shining Song Starnova Review
Shining Song Starnova is a visual novel centered on seven former idols and their producer striving to reclaim fame in the competitive idol industry. The game offers a deep dive into the darker, often overlooked facets of the entertainment world, blending heartfelt character development with dramatic storytelling. Players experience a common route before branching into seven unique character arcs, each exploring distinct personalities, backgrounds, and challenges. The narrative balances humor, emotional depth, and realism, often addressing mature themes and industry hardships.
Technically, the game features anime-style art with well-crafted character sprites and backgrounds, complemented by partial Japanese voice acting and a fitting soundtrack. While the gameplay is mostly kinetic with limited choices affecting endings, the rich story and character interactions maintain player engagement over a substantial playtime. The free 18+ patch adds adult content integrated into the narrative, though some players find these scenes awkward or inconsistent.
Overall, Shining Song Starnova is praised for its compelling storytelling and character depth, though some critique its writing inconsistencies, repetitive visuals, and controversial thematic elements.
Highlights
Players highly praise the game's deep and engaging storyline that realistically portrays the idol industry's complexities and emotional struggles. The character development is noted for transcending typical archetypes, offering unique and relatable personalities. The art style is clean and expressive, with quality character sprites and detailed backgrounds. The soundtrack and partial voice acting enhance the immersive experience, with vocal performances by the characters' voice actors adding authenticity. The game's structure, featuring a common route followed by distinct character arcs, is appreciated for its replayability and narrative variety.
Criticisms
Common criticisms include clumsy writing with forced dramatic moments and occasional awkward dialogue, particularly in the adult scenes. Some players find the adult content poorly integrated or uncomfortable, especially certain sexual themes and character interactions. The repetitive use of backgrounds and music reduces visual and auditory variety. The game's pacing sometimes rushes through major plot points, especially in route endings, diminishing emotional impact. Additionally, the portrayal of age-related themes in the idol industry is seen by some as unrealistic or problematic. Limited gameplay choices and minimal interactivity may also deter players seeking more engagement.
Pros
- • Deep and emotionally rich storytelling with mature themes and idol industry insight.
- • Well-developed characters that evolve beyond standard visual novel archetypes.
- • High-quality anime-style art with expressive character sprites and detailed backgrounds.
- • Partial Japanese voice acting enhances immersion and character authenticity.
- • Engaging soundtrack with mood-fitting compositions and character-performed songs.
- • Unique structure with a common route leading to seven distinct character arcs.
- • Adult content integrated into the narrative for players opting for full experience.
Cons
- • Writing sometimes feels clumsy with forced dramatic developments and dialogue.
- • Adult scenes occasionally awkward or uncomfortable, with controversial thematic elements.
- • Repetitive backgrounds and music reduce overall visual and auditory variety.
- • Route endings often rush through major conflicts, weakening emotional payoff.
- • Limited gameplay choices and interactivity may feel restrictive to some players.
- • Certain character portrayals and age-related themes viewed as unrealistic or problematic.
- • Inconsistent voice acting coverage with some lines unvoiced or repetitive.
Rating Criteria
Screenshots
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Shining Song Starnova released?
Shining Song Starnova was released on September 13, 2018.
Who developed Shining Song Starnova?
Shining Song Starnova was developed by Love in Space.
Is Shining Song Starnova available on Mac?
Yes, Shining Song Starnova is available on Mac.
Is Shining Song Starnova available on Linux?
Yes, Shining Song Starnova is available on Linux.
Where can I buy Shining Song Starnova?
You can buy Shining Song Starnova on Steam.
Game Details
Take the stage in Shining Song Starnova!