Symphonia, a delightful offering from Headup, Beep Japan, and Sunny Peak, immerses players in a captivating 2D adventure centered around the revival of music. Let’s dive into the details of this charming game in our Symphonia review.
In Symphonia, silence has shrouded the land, sapping it of life and vitality. The protagonist, Philemon, is awakened by an automaton who discovers his mask. With a sense of urgency, it’s your task to reunite the musicians and reform the band to restore harmony to Symphonia. As Philemon, you must spring into action to prevent the silence from taking hold for good.
Philemon’s gift lies in his violin mastery, which you’ll wield throughout your journey. Your violin and bow are essential tools for reactivating the contraptions scattered across this intricately designed world. As you traverse its handcrafted rooms, you’ll appreciate the unique details that give each area a distinct personality.
You’ll guide Philemon using the left analog stick or the D-Pad, jumping with the X or Circle buttons. Mastery of the L2 and R2 buttons for a bow poke move is crucial as it propels you skyward, helping you navigate the game’s tricky platform sections. For extra lift, simply jump and use the bow again, allowing you to reach higher planes. The R2 button near a cushion will also assist you in launching yourself in your chosen direction.
Philemon can perform a wall jump and wield his bow mid-air to strike instruments that extend your jumps. The Triangle button lets you play the violin to power mechanisms, move platforms, or open doors. Once teleporting is unlocked, the Square button plays the Wayfarer Tune, allowing you to revisit areas. As you progress, you’ll unlock more abilities from Philemon’s memories, expanding your skills even further.
Exploration is key, as Philemon can collect Aura Shards by playing notes at energy-emitting spots. These shards are vital for unlocking new game areas by enhancing the violin’s reach. As you accumulate Aura Shards, the improvements to your violin will help you interact more effectively with distant mechanisms.
The soundtrack of Symphonia is integral to its charm, crafted by composer Olivier Esman alongside Alexandre Bucas-Français and Lou Corroyer. The orchestral pieces performed by the Scoring Orchestra Paris infuse the game with depth, featuring enchanting strings, brass, and woodwinds that bring the game’s world to life.
Always remain vigilant for unusual spots that may hide Philemon’s memory fragments or extra notes. These discoveries are pivotal for unlocking new abilities and collecting all the game’s notes. Achieving these goals is essential if you’re aiming to fully complete the game and earn the coveted Platinum trophy. By visiting the Violinist’s Lounge with collected memory fragments, you unlock new powers for Philemon, like a double jump or the ability to slow down time.
Symphonia features an enticing trophy list, which includes a prized Platinum trophy. Players must tackle tasks such as performing concerts with key Symphonia figures, gathering musical notes, unlocking memories, and even completing speed challenges for various trophies.
This captivating 2D adventure beckons you to bring music back to a silent world, activating dormant machinations, and exploring intricately detailed environments with your trusty violin. From hand-drawn artistry to heartfelt storytelling, Symphonia offers a unique musical journey for players. Available as a Cross-Buy title, a single purchase at $19.99 grants access to both the PS4 and PS5 versions at no extra cost.
If you’re ready for an adventure that celebrates music and platforming prowess, Symphonia might just hit the perfect note for you.
Disclaimer: This review of Symphonia is based on a PlayStation 5 copy provided by Headup.
