REVIEW : Bai Qu: Hundreds of Melodies (PS5)
Life tends to throw some terrible events our way, yet there is light and beauty to be found even in the darkest of times. No matter how strong you are, friends can be the crutch that keeps you from falling further. So what would you do if your new pals ran into financial difficulties as well? Would you be pulled down with them, or would you be the pillar of strength they sorely need? With its melancholy plot and real-life visuals, Bai Qu: Hundreds of Melodies explores this topic.
This lovely visual novel about love and friendship was created by Magenta Factory and released by Ratalaika Games. Bai Qu: Hundreds of Melodies is a visually stunning narrative supported by over one hundred CG visuals. It has a ten-hour narrative with numerous endings to give the reader the idea that they affect the story.
Wei Qiuwu’s perspective is used to tell the story. He is a Chinese college student who spends his summer at the hospital visiting his father. During his journey, he meets another patient named Li Jiayun. Because of her love and ability for music, she captures his attention. The storyline takes you on a tour of the bustling city of Nanjing. Many odd characters join the pair here. The plot quickly deteriorates as Li Jiayun’s health deteriorates, and Wei Quiwu becomes a crutch for both his father and his newfound companion.
Bai Qu: Hundreds of Melodies is a slow-paced and pleasant exploration of its ideas. The characters’ relationships have a lot of complexity. This enables you to comprehend the ties that are building while still enjoying the well-structured plot. You’ll feel various emotions as it progresses, and you may be conflicted over the over-sexualized imagery. This story of love, grief, and friendship is strangely paired with indecent images of tight tops, massive breasts, and sneaky underwear shots. It wasn’t rude, and it would be appropriate in some scenes, but having it continually forced in your face was a bit much.
I’m no expert on visual novels, but I’ve played enough to understand the basic structure. As a result, the fact that this one had few dialogue options stood out as unusual. There are numerous endings to try, but I don’t see how the plot will change much if your impact is limited to a few selections. I appreciate it when you can modify the story course because it gives you a sense of control over the plot. However, from start to finish, this graphic novel seems like a traditional book. This is fantastic if you want a pleasant and laid-back experience, but it appears chilly and standoffish to gamers who want a bit more buy-in.
I also immediately identified many poor language choices and inappropriate word usages in the initial scene. This wasn’t a problem because I could read between the lines, but when a game relies exclusively on language to promote its ideas, it should have been proofread at least once more. Poor turns of phrase also affect the emotional attachment to the main characters. The intention was evident in all chapters. However, the poorly translated writing was occasionally frigid and gave the heroes a lack of depth.
Now, while I don’t like the frequent sexual imagery, I enjoy the CG art featured throughout. These vivid pictures enhance reality and complement the plot wonderfully. The realistic setting heightens the moving story. In my experience, such intricacy in a visual novel is uncommon. With apparent Anime and Manga influences, the female characters have larger-than-life assets that will appeal to a wide range of players. Small variations in facial expressions and visuals fading in and out of the shot demonstrate animation. It’s simple, yet it fits well with the steady flow of text.
The audio enhances the wholesome ambience of this moving story. There are times of drama and suspense, which are beautifully mirrored by a rapid change in tempo and atmosphere. The soundtrack serves as a pleasant diversion from the lengthy and in-depth plot.
Get a drink, settle in, and place your controller on your lap. Set the speed to auto and see the text unfold in front of your eyes. The use of a controller is kept to a minimum due to the limited number of dialogue options. So you might as well sit back, relax, and enjoy everything Bai Qu: Hundreds of Melodies has to offer.
This has some replay potential due to its many endings and numerous CG graphics to see. There is an option to skip text that has already been devoured, so you don’t have to spend time. Because the story hooks your imagination, rereading it isn’t a hassle. To unlock all twelve achievements, you’ll need to play it numerous times. I recommend allotting about twenty hours to do this.
