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❤ Gameplay Overview

The game follows the protagonist, Chris Vertin, as he studies to become a master musician at the Piova Communal School of Music. The gameplay centers around Chris's musical performances using a magical instrument called the "Fortelle."

❤ Rhythm Game Sequences

During certain story moments, players must participate in a music performance minigame. Notes scroll across the screen, and players must press the corresponding keys on their keyboard in time with the music. These rhythm game sections impact the progression and outcomes of the narrative - better performances unlock additional story content and character interactions. Players can choose between three difficulty levels - Easy, Normal, and Hard - to accommodate various skill levels. Additionally, the game provides an "Autoplay" function, allowing players to bypass the rhythm segments entirely and focus solely on the visual novel storytelling.

❤ Musical Immersion

The game features a beautiful, atmospheric soundtrack composed by the late Ritsuko Okazaki, which sets the melancholic, rain-soaked tone of the city of Piova. Players can also listen to the various character songs performed by the game's voice cast, which contribute to the narrative and provide insight into the characters' personalities and motivations.

❤ Pacing and Player Agency

While the game starts relatively slowly, with a significant amount of setup before the main plot points are introduced, it does provide players with a degree of agency through the various story branches and endings. The choices made during the visual novel segments, as well as the performance in the rhythm game sections, can lead to different narrative outcomes and character relationships. This non-linear approach to the storytelling allows players to explore multiple perspectives and uncover the deeper layers of the narrative.