OPUS: Echo of Starsong

Why am I crying? From the moment I started this game, I never expected to care this much or for it to become the best thing I’ve ever experienced. The story is incredibly emotional, and I’ve grown so attached to the characters, especially Remi. I really appreciated the way the game handles consequences for every action the character takes.

Far into the empty space that encompasses Thousand Peaks, smaller than the celestial bodies looming around the great light of Ignis, lie humans, tiny in physiology, yet they carry courage that is larger than the very planets they travel around, with souls that shine brighter than Ignis ever could... What can be said about this masterpiece that has not been said? Quite much, incidentally! Cases such as these, you stumble upon games you can confidently call hidden gems, unearthed and unexplored, except in the particular case of OPUS: Echo of Starsong, the term "hidden star" is more fitting, in every sense of the word. I had not fallen in love with a game such as this in so long, from the world to the characters, and OH I can talk about the characters for DAYS! The bond between Jun and Eda is one that goes beyond time and space, beyond what the great mythos entails, it is love that is so pure, it flourishes regardless of fate's whims! To drop the fancy talk; GOD, EDA AND JUN ARE SO CUTE, THEY ARE SO DAMN ADORABLE THAT IS ACHES MY HEART, I WANT TO SEE MORE OF THEM SO BAD!!!!! That aside, the game's soundtrack is just... too damn perfect. Cikado has done such a marvelous job as Eda's singing voice, I could feel their singing at a spiritual level, and even as I write this review, I'm listening to the track "Echo of a Starsong", simply listening almost brings a tear to my eye, haha! Please, give Echo of a Starsong a try, for you WILL fall in love with it, and loathe the fact it doesn't have as much popularity as it deserves. Thank you Sigono studio for this absolute masterpiece, I'll lay down contemplating my life after that INSANE ending.

Calling Echo of Starsong the magnum opus (kill me) of the trilogy is not an exaggeration. The game combines elements from The Day We Found Earth and Rocket of Whispers to tell something entirely its own. By framing the story as a retrospective from Jun’s perspective, the journey becomes much more personal, as you are repeatedly given his memories and small anecdotes. It is a journey through the vastness of the galaxy with a very distinct atmosphere, and it captures the spacefaring vibe very well. I liked the crew of the Red Chamber, especially the tsundere Remi of course, but also the others. I found their backgrounds believable and relatable. What stood out most is their deep sense of humanity, especially in their flaws, their pasts, and their self-doubts. I also really appreciated that the lore of the Thousand Peaks—considering the game’s relatively short runtime—is well developed and feels lived-in. The gameplay is simple, but it uses light survival elements to reflect the exploration of a star system and ancient ruins. It is occasionally broken up by simple minigames. The exploration of space in particular had a constant “just one more run” effect on me. I mainly have two criticisms: first, the exploration of the caves is very linear—more could have been done there. Second, the amount of namedropping at the beginning can be a bit overwhelming; you need some time to settle into the world. On a lesser note, it’s a bit disappointing how little connection there is to the first two games, but that seems to be the norm for the series. On the upside, this also means you can play each entry independently without missing much. What more is there to say? Listen to the OST—it turned out really beautiful again! Oh, and the Chinese voice acting is quite good. There is also a Japanese dub available. I really enjoyed the game. It is emotional, sometimes raw, very personal, and also beautiful.