OPUS: Echo of Starsong is a narrative sci-fi drama taking place in the far reaches of lawless space. The game is part of a series that are all part of the OPUS universe. I covered the previous two OPUS games in the series last year, and they were very popular, accounting for a ton of traffic on my site! I also thoroughly enjoyed them. So, when I started off today learning that I would have an opportunity to cover the third OPUS game in the series, OPUS Echo of Starsong, which was just released on September 1st, I was super excited! This series has so much to offer in interpersonal character development, art design, and dramatic storytelling. It is no wonder fans love OPUS. So let’s get started.
SIGONO provided me with a copy of this new game to cover this since I talked about them last year. Thank you so much!!!
Here are links to reviews of the first two games:
OPUS The Day We Found Earth
OPUS Rocket of Whispers
Getting Started in OPUS Echo of Starsong
OPUS Echo of Starsong absolutely massive compared to the previous two games. I’m mostly here to tell you how it is and not how it ends. I’ll include a trailer from SIGONO and also my YouTube video of some gameplay of the first asteroid. Otherwise today we’re taking a look at approximately the first chapter or so. The massiveness is also excellent. I think a lot of gamers really want to be immersed in the space exploration aspect of these games, but you can play however you like!
The OPUS series all takes place in the same game universe, with totally new storylines, new characters, and settings. The Day We Found Earth is about a robot and a hologram drifting through space with a heartbreaking twist. Rocket of Whispers is about two characters building a rocket in an abandoned world to send spirits to their destiny. Echo of Starsong, this game, is about Eda and Jun heading into the reaches of space to solve an ancient myth.
Gameplay in OPUS Echo or Starsong
I think they went in an interesting direction by fleshing it out as more of a space RPG. The beginning even seems to have some trader game elements–intriguing. Combat has always been of less importance compared to the character-driven stories in OPUS, but there’s a little more story-driven combat here than I expected. Interactive cutscenes feature an elder gentleman exploring an asteroid with his cane early on in the story but also appearing later. It really wouldn’t even be an OPUS game without flashbacks and flashforwards for context and intrigue. It always feels like the tip of the iceberg when you learn something about the worlds within this universe. That is ultimately one of the most compelling things for me in these games.
Aside from those aspects, another familiar one is puzzle solving. Apparently, an aetherial glowing substance, known as “lumens,” is what drives the economy and ultimately the story. I have to be honest, I don’t totally know what the story being uncovered is–but why would you want me to tell you that–but also the familiar themes of “witches,” basically psychic attendants to the traditions of OPUS, are capable of interacting with and manipulating lumens through the tradition of starsong, magic singing basically.
Features
- Seeing is believing – A distinct blend of hand-drawn illustrations and low-poly art lend an eerie beauty to a war-torn, lawless galaxy.
- Starstruck heroes – Follow protagonists Jun and Eda as they explore forgotten corners of the galaxy and unravel the truth behind an ancient myth.
- Space Opera -Thoughtful sound design and beautifully composed music weaves into the story of the mysterious ‘Starsong’.
- Stronger Together – Use Eda’s voice to locate the elusive asteroid temples, and then disembark as Jun to explore and solve the puzzles within.
- Motley crew – Meet a diverse cast of enemies and allies on the journey, each with a backstory tied to the troubled history of the solar system.
- Don’t lose your way – Manage the ship’s resources and upgrade it as you chart a path through the stars, crossing into unknown and dangerous territory.
Art From The Heart
The design of OPUS Echo of Starsong is very pleasant to look at. It’s not exactly conventional anime, though you could probably say it is. It runs the gambit of heavy detail visual novel art with hard edges and flat graphic platforms, with strong traditional anime tones! It’s also totally different than anything else. I think a lot of people play it initially based on the amazing screenshots and trailers of the beautiful graphics. The stories are epic too, but the art makes it happen.
The user interface for navigating space or interacting with the environment struck me so curiously too. Anybody could figure it out, but the ambiguity is enough to provide creative choice-making. You can kind of do whatever you want in what order, to an extent. The opening scene with the elder gentleman traversing with his cane was really in the realm of fine art. It wasn’t comical or diminutive, it was attentive to the detail of the cast of motions and images of the human body. And actually, now that I think of it, the OPUS series is definitely a tribute to the human body, being a common theme in the design.
Final Thoughts
These games are just absolutely great. If you get a chance to check them out, start anywhere and enjoy. The OPUS series is a gift to the world, who might not otherwise see another story like it in their lifetime. And for an epic adventure, have faith in your procurement of some gameplay in OPUS Echo of Starsong.
Thank you for reading Mr. Dave Pizza. Be sure to look around and come back again!
