Seers Isle

Maybe by the end of the game you won't have understood so much about seers as much as about yourself. You can find a plot twist and some meta gaming that is going to surprise you in the end. One negative point: I would expect some psychological analysis of the player based on the gameplay. The story is quite straightforward, there are some short but well depicted characters' backgrounds and a bit or replayability. The soundtracks really fit the world. The game is a bit expensive though considering the total duration and the fact that the story is quite linear.

Atmospheric and visually quite pretty, yet it failed to make me really invested with the story or characters, which is especially unfortunate for a visual novel.

I was really disappointed with the story in Seers Isle.

The game starts off strong, with the protagonist and their fellow shaman apprentices setting foot on a sacred island to be initiated to magic. The setting is atmospheric and the story is intriguing. However, the game quickly loses its momentum. The pacing becomes erratic, with long stretches of dialogue and exploration followed by brief bursts of action. Some sections felt rushed and others felt like they dragged on forever. This makes it difficult to stay engaged with the story.

The characters are also a major disappointment. The protagonist is a blank slate who doesn't have much personality. The other characters are also one-dimensional and forgettable. I found it hard to care about what happened to them. SPOILER-Towards the end of the game, you can become one of the characters' companions. However, there is no lead-up to this relationship. The characters barely interact with each other before you are suddenly supposed to believe that they are deeply in love. This lack of development makes the relationship feel unconvincing and forced.

The only thing that kept me playing Seers Isle was the artwork and the promise of multiple endings. However, even this was not enough to redeem the game for me. The endings are all variations on the same theme, and they don't offer any real satisfaction.

Loved the art and the music. Unfortunately, I was so frustrated by the story and how the choices played out, that by the ending, I was skipping through dialogue just to get to the ending.

I like these relaxing interactive stories much more than I should. The artwork great, the atmosphere too. The story was a little unsatisfying for my taste, but it was definitely fun.

I liked how the decisions I made truly had an impact on the story. I liked the characters, they were all different yet they were not too much of a stereotype. They were believable. And, I liked them all, because they all have flaws but they are also all likeable.
The art is nice, the story all in all is nice, from the start to the end. I didn't like all the endings (I played them all through because I was curious) but that's just because I don't like when characters that I came to like die. I'm a little bit sensitive in that regard^^ But, I still wanted to experience all the possible endings. Oh, and it was creative. The endings were truly different, not only slightly so. Made it worth the time to play them all :)

Chronotraveling has always been a part of these stories. Most of the time its implemented horribly, (take the DC Universe mess - 3 relaunches sheesh.) I like all the characters, for once the developer tried to make all their characters like able. And for a VN the replayability of is VAST. Simple decisions go a long ways. And sometimes to reach different endings you have to make choices that might go against your own feelings, but the endings come to a satisfactory conclusion. Even if you aren't necessarily happy with the way it comes out.

Its damn good story telling. And I haven't even finished everything out yet. This is only 15 hours of playing through and 3 replays.

Short story but with many choices, great melodic music you would expect from fairy tale, cast of characters each with their own story to tell.
And of course their unique art style which you won't find anywhere else. Probably the most eye pleasing for VNs out there on Steam.

I still would recommend to play through their modern times mystery titles first though like Along the Edge or Across the Grooves.

Ethereal graphics and a killer story. And such amazing replay value that I just sat down, played the whole thing through four times in a row, and still haven't even encountered everything. 10/10

I'm very sad to be leaving a negative review for such a beautiful game. My TLDR is: go play Along the Edge, which is better in every aspect. Nova-box has some wickedly good artists, and both games have stunning visual art and soundtrack. The writing is very good on both of them, with characters that feel very different from each other, even in short games (~2h each playthrough), that you can really feel connected to them. So go now and play Along the Edge, it's a really great game. If you have played Along the Edge and is in doubt about playing Seers Isle, well, let's talk Seers Isle. Marked spoilers ahead.

The main "game" element from these games is the alignment system, in which your actions do not have immediate consequence, but rather build up your character to a point where eventually the path splits. This is very well done in Along the Edge, with every choice having a clear sun/moon and globe/star alignment. In Seers Isle, for most of the game, I can't predict whether my actions will result in an antler, man, hand or eye. Seriously, it's a coin toss. I have gathered from steam guides that the meanings of the symbols are antler = gaia, hand = chaos, but that is still too vague. For a particularly jarring case, in the confrontation with Erik, if I side with Duncan, thus "playing by the rules" of single combat, I get "Hand", and if I side with Freya, intervening against the "natural" order of events, I get "Eye"? This does not make any sense to me! I believe that some of the confusion stems from the player not knowing which choices are being made by the "boat" characters and which are made by Rowan. Maybe?

A second problem comes from the way this game handles the "choices have consequences" idea. There are some things that happen in the game that are completely unavoidable, where others are influenced by your actions. However, the way the story is written it *feels* like you should be able to change some events that you actually can't. The main one for me is Erik's confrontation of course, but I feel really cheated when I try my best to keep Brandon in the party, by siding with him at EVERY TURN, only to find out that he always leaves in a scripted event. A final minor quibble for me is the fact that you can develop some relationships between characters on the first chapters (I'm looking at you Arlyn/Freya), but this is irrelevant as there is literally no ending on which both of these characters even survive together.

All in all, beautiful art, great soundtrack, solid writing, interesting ideas, but from a "game" perspective, this is unfortunately a let down. TL;DR, when I play a "choices have consequences", I want to be able to influence the plot, but in this game I feel that every choice is a coin toss.

This is a gem. Nova-Box once again made something very special. Delicate poetry, amazing soundtrack, subtle story that you will understand more and more with each path / ending.

I would recommend this in a heartbeat.

I heard good words about this game, so I tried. The story itself is OK-ish but at the end of the day, I can't recommend this.
It claims to have a lot of branches and "EVERY CHOICE MATTERS", yeah, these words are used a lot these days. But no, I totally disagree.
If you want absolutely no spoilers, you can stop reading here. That's all I wanted to say.
Below I'll try my best to be spoiler-free, if you think a little glimpse to the plot is OK, then keep reading, I'll explain more.









Whatever you do, whichever choice you make, the plot doesn't diverge from its rail. Maybe a few lines of dialogs change after your choice, then it goes back immediately forgetting what happened. If a certain character may die, he/she always dies. If someone will leave, he/she leaves anyways, even you tried to keep that person along for a while, there's no dialog for that poor dude, he/she will be invisible for the whole journey.

This game is trying to make a twist, but in a poor way. The first half of the game, as a player you'll be making choices for everyone, which is quite weird for a "Choose your own path" game. (which I thought it was when played for the first time) The game does explain why later but it's too late. I could not get involved because of this constantly hopping from one character to another, without explaining their background and motivations. I don't know what to choose, I don't know why it's me to choose. It was confusing until the later half, when I totally lost my interest.

The real branch happens near the end of the story, and I don't really want to call it a branch. It's just who you choose to romance with. Other things remain mostly the same. And this is actually the part I dislike because it was not advertised as a romance story in the first place. The trial, the seers, what are they? It doesn't matter in the end, and almost nothing about them is explained. They remain as a mystery from beginning to end.

Replayability? As I said the difference is tiny between different paths. And there's nothing like a grand finale after getting all of them. So unless you're a completionist I don't recommend relaying the game again and again. Not to mention the game lacks some quality of life features regarding multiple playthroughs, like mark up and only skip the part you've read, or even a fast skip speed. (It took me ~20 mins to skip through, normal play may only take 2~3 hours)

Interesting structure for choice mechnics, very fresh. To get on a route, you need to pick choices that represent the values of a given character. I also like the use of the time looping trope for the story.

As we arrive on the island with a group of warriors seeking aid for their clans and families, we clib with them to the top of the mountains to be judged worthy or not by the seekers. But other things happen along the way and the story isn't as simple.

The story itself is a bit too fatalistic and hopeless and also a little too underdeveloped - it has the potential to be truly breathtaking and affecting if made longer. The endings don't feel well balanced - only girl companions manage to get the better end of the deal. Artwise, each scene is like a beautiful handcrafted painting.

The island is unusual and lots of different things happen. The characters go through various dreams and trials that explore their backgrounds - this was done very well. The main character reveals herself only gradually and that keeps the interest and the interest grows when we know the truth because I want her to suceed in her quest together with her chosen companion - that sadly doesn't happen, unless you play as the girl companion, which is why I definitely feel the endings could have been balanced better, because they feel unfair. But they still aren't very affecting, either. i mean I forget about the as soon as I finish - it's because the game is too shor, not enough time to flesh everything out and I don't really develop strong affection for any of the characters. They are appealing but i don;t develop an attachment that would make me feel strongly enough about them.

overall, an interesting experiment, a story that is simple on the outside but gradually unfolds its inner layer gradually into something more interesting, the concept is good. I most of all like the fresh approach to choices.

The music and imagery are beautiful. The story is captivating. My son, who is autistic and hates reading generally, asked if he could play the game after I described it to him. This is definitely a keeper and looking forward to the other games the developer has done.

Sometimes the lack of choice, or how little your choices matter can be utterly infuriating. Though it matches the themeing of being in a "greater power's" home territory. There seems to be only a handful of choices that fundamentally change the story, with most of the other choices being fuel/counters/reinforcements to choose which side of the events the you'll be on for the main choices (at two play throughs and I'm surprised that there isn't a cheat mode that lets you know which path a choice add to, since some of them can be utterly unintuitive).

The story is well done with twists done amazingly well.

the level of polish, the improvement of the art, and especially sound compared to the last game is a massive improvement on something that was already well done.

This game made me feel frustated, helpless and cheated and that's not how I want a game to make me feel. The main reason for that is because it isn't what it was advertised to be. I was really excited when I first saw the preview of this game cause I love RPG, I love games with choices, and I love its predecessor "along the edge". Newsflash, if you love "along the edge" for its organic story and immersiveness, you'll hate this game. If you are looking for a game where your choices matter, this ISN'T it. No matter what you do, or what choices you make in this game, you'll get railroaded into the same lame ending with a slight variation. *SPOILERS ALERT* You want to mold the main character to a badass heroine? You want to save your companions or stop bad things from happening? You like good ending cause it makes you feel rewarded? Well, that's too bad cause the main character, your companions and the ending are all f**ked. I can sense that the developers was trying to send a "moral value", like "accept the natural order of things" but if I want a moral value I'll go read a children book. The art of this game is really beautiful and things were really promising on the start...what a shame.

To sum this wall of text up: this is not a “every choice matters” game, it’s a “none of your choices truly matter, here have some cheap drama instead.”

This had looked so promising and then it all fell apart because we’re drowning in fake choices and that mass effect-y “whatever color you choose, your ending still explodes in a steaming pile of manure” thing.

First off, there are 7 characters in total, but one of them does not matter at all, one is there to help justify one of the ending variations of your sad unfulfilling outcome, and one is the reason you can’t have nice things and always get your life ruined, and you can’t do anything to stop it. Out of the remaining four who can be your “soulmate”, 2 are friendship-only (Connor, Freya), so don’t get your hopes up. The game does not care whom you, the player, like or want to succeed (or romance – what meager amount of interaction is supposed to pass for romance here before boom, let’s have sex since we’re running out of screentime). It cares about the number of answers chosen in four rather non-transparent categories (I’ve played through all 4 paths and I still sometimes don’t get why a choice gives you points in something). Each two-stat combo correlates with one of the main 4 characters – and the path you get is determined by the 2 highest numbers, not your choices. Even if you want to connect with a chosen someone, unless you pander to their assigned answers set, you WILL be booted to another path no matter how many times you try to indicate you want this other companion during special events. You think you can determine who among the rest of the group accompanies you to the endgame point? Wrong again, it is always a one male, one female exact combo depending on your “chosen one”: Arlyn-Duncan or Freya-Connor. And then the lower numbers person literally vanishes into thin air before they can make any impact on anything, because screw your attempts to save the group or use extra companions to change the ending.

Because you will always be tied by the numbers, attempts at roleplaying MC are meager at best, and in the end they do not make a difference, it always ends the same way – you go to endgame location, you are forced to fight, but you can’t, your companion tries to fight but fails regardless of how absurd it looks (special shoutout to Duncan and Freya, two people with lifelong martial training, failing to use both their weapons’ superior reach - sword and a spear - and their supposedly serious experience to fend off one dagger-wielding healer peasant girl for 5 minutes without dying from a single wound. Very believable, does not look illogical at all x_x). You will always, with one exception, come to the same “sacrifice self or sacrifice your partner” ending choice, and no explanation why the only way out is for MC to die is given, period. In fact, nothing is ever properly explained about why MC is stuck the way she is and why the seers can’t just let her be on her merry way.

So you get a sad ending no matter what you do, you are always alone because either you are dead/trapped in eternal torture or your companion is, no explanation/closure/weepy epilogue to make you feel less worthless is given and it’s always like this no matter who you chose to bond with, minus one ending on Arlyn’s path. Idk, maybe if eternal doom is your jam this is good, I just found it all very pointless.

Which would maybe have been fine, but not unless you promise meaningful choices as your special feature.

I'm giving positive to this, because it is not a bad VN and also because of Along The Edge which was *truly fantastic* VN but I couldn't vote for that one here as I didn't buy it on Steam but Itch.io instead. However, unlike to Along The Edge my decision for positive rating here was on the brink of not doing it and I was quite disappointed in my (even if originally very high) expectations. If there would be “a neutral choice” I’d opt for that instead.

But... first the positives.

Graphics - This is by far the greatest asset of Seers Isle. It is gorgeous, it is plentiful, the main protagonist has my favorite looks even (black hair, kind of witch-like/mysterious woman), this was simply fantastic! And on top of that the game is not shy to show also mildly explicit scenes where it fits, without succumbing to vulgarity, big kudos for that.

Branching - There is lot of it, some paths are quite severely different, no complaints about this either. This was well done and with clearly a lot of effort being put in it.

Soundtrack - This is already somewhat neutral, but it’s a matter of everyone’s taste. I find it quite fitting, it's not bad but personally... I was looking for something... perhaps less artistic and more movie-like. I didn't find it here. It’s not kind of songs I’d put into my mp3 player afterwards and listen over and over again.

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But now for the really ugly negatives:

Problem number one – and by far the biggest! - the (meaningful) choices!

I understand the developers wanted “a great mystery here” (more about it later) but it goes to the point that all fun from shaping my character or pursuing my goals I've set for her was literally gone!

For most of the story I had no clue who am I, what should I want, who are those other guys, what they want, who is good or bad, on my side or against me. And I mean really no clue. I could choose if person A can be nice to person B or evil but since I knew nothing about either A or B it was just... pointless. I could choose if they'll follow Seers or disobey them but since I don't know if those Seers were good or bad (to me or in general), if I was punished or blessed by them, it was again... pointless. The story leaves the player so mercilessly in the dark that any choice loses sense. The story also never asks me what _I_ want to get some feedback who I want to be.

Ok, I’m trapped and my memory lost, fine! Do I want revenge for this? Ultimate power? Pity? Redemption? Suffer for my crimes? Find out the truth? The game doesn’t ask and I cannot hint it with my choices either since I do not know who is who and what will serve my goals and desires, regardless on what they would be.

Tied closely to this is... an another problem. While in Along The Edge I could clearly choose and see if I strive for being a good scientist, evil scientist, good witch, evil witch, here I have - again - nothing to guide me. Just some symbols like Eye, Hand, Human, Deer. I now have some theory what means what but... first of all I had to finish almost the whole game for it and even after finishing this game several times I'm not sure if I got that right. Sometimes the evil choice chooses one, sometimes another, same for mysterious or pragmatic, pagan or religious. It makes so much less sense than in Along The Edge where it was always clear and logical! In fact... it's so enigmatic to me that it is on the brink of making no sense at all.

The joy of making that lovely black hair who I want her to become suffers greatly by that, since I simply _do not know_ how to make her that way. The game gives me no clue.

Last but not least – the story. It is mysterious, fine, but the problem is... even after finishing the whole story it... remains mysterious. Strictly speaking... I went through all this and I didn't comprehend what was going on. Neither in the past, nor in the present or the future. I don’t know what were visions and what reality and while I could reasonably save or doom my protagonist I still didn’t understand this _story of her_. What it was about... why she was trapped there... who she was... is... or will be. It is left completely hanging in the air.

No, sadly, this game was not quite so great or cup of my tea as Along The Edge. Along The Edge I consider massively superior VN in everything to Seers Isle with the exception of graphics. And I say it as someone who actually loves fantasy and I kind of disliked Along The Edge was run more or less in “our world”.

This is the first time I give a negative review to a game, but... oh well.

To say the good things, lets start saying that the art and the music is amazing. There is no discussion on that.

But the game is not only art and music, is also story and writting. The writting itself was good, but the story... not so much. At first is confusing, and that is exactly the point, so there is no complaint on that either. But then, you start getting the endings, and they are just... so disappointing? The endings that are supposed to be "good" are equally or more depressing than the bad endings. I think they tried going very philosophical here, and the result was rather poor and pretentious.

After all the pain and suffering the game puts you through, only Arlyn has something resembling a good ending, while the rest of the routes are just... ugh.

So, if you play this game expecting to have at least one happy ending per route, I'm sorry to say, but that is not going to happen. Now, if what you are looking for is a game with a sad atmosphere that gives you no reward, then this is your game.

I’m not a fan of visual novels so maybe my advice isn’t for everyone. Please also notice that I’ve discovered the studio with their previous game Along the Edge which I fell in love with.

Seers Isle is a subtle game which embarks you for a poetic yet dramatic Celtic journey.
The artwork, the music are superb and the story follows alot of twists and turns with a staggering amount of endings. I only got three so far, but they were radically different, almost feeling like I was playing a new Game. I wish Telltale’s games would be this open.

The autosave is quite unsetling and gives you a feeling of unforgiveness it’s like a visual novel in Ironman Mode.
I need more than 3H to complete the main story on my first playthrough, and once I did, I immediately started a new game to see what I missed. There are so many possibilities, and each one branches to completely different endings. After 15H I’m far from seeing everything which is crazy.

Definitely worth it’s price, an underrated gem.

A fascinating story that I'm determined to get to the bottom of.

I've played through to two endings now. After the first playthrough I was seriously confused, but the second gave much more clarity, and made me so much more invested in these characters.

This game has a fantastic soundtrack. The artwork is beautiful, made even more impressive by the sheer volume of different scenes you get to experience as the story evolves; it's clear a lot of dedication has gone into it.

The premise of this VN is very different to any other I've played so far, and that originality definitely plays to its benefit. I also like that it doesn't make it obvious what "ending" you're leaning towards during your playthrough; more gives you indications to learn from once you've experienced your first outcome.

On a lighter note, the first time I saw Connor I thought something was wrong with the aspect ratio; but you soon get used to it!

A great VN, well recommended.

Along the edge is very close to my heart and I was excited to see about this game. If you played Along the edge or simply enjoy visual novels, you will enjoy Seers Isle.

The music in Seers Isle is amazing. Perfectly fitted with the dialogue, it adds another layer to the storytelling and makes you a lot more invested in the story. At one point in the game it was so impactful I got shivers down my whole body. The artwork is breathtakingly beautiful at times. It did feel like I made an impact on the story based on my choices, however big it is I will most likely find out in my next playthrough, since there are supposedly many different endings. The story kept me interested during the whole 2 hours of the game and I am interested to see the other outcomes I did not get in my first playthrough.

I am personally not a big fan of visual novels, but when it becomes interactive, that's where it gets interesting. Is the game worth the full price? It is a short game but as stated before it is worth playing more times than one. Yes, I would say it is worth it.