OPUS: Echo of Starsong – Full Bloom Edition (NSP, XCI) ROM + v2.3.2f2 Update

OPUS: Echo of Starsong – Full Bloom Edition is a text-driven side-scrolling adventure game developed by Taiwanese independent studio SIGONO. It is the third installment of the Opus series, after Opus: The Day We Found Earth and Opus: Rocket of Whispers. Like its predecessors, the game focuses on stories, puzzles, and exploration.

The game was released for macOS and Windows on September 1, 2021, to strong critical reception. An enhanced version with voice acting titled Opus: Echo of Starsong – Full Bloom Edition was released for Nintendo Switch on May 11, 2022, as an update for macOS and Windows on May 19, 2022, and for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S via Xbox Game Pass on August 25, 2022. A mobile version was released for iOS on November 17, 2022.

GAMEPLAY

In Opus: Echo of Starsong, the player’s main goal is to fly their spaceship across the planetary system Thousand Peaks, and find asteroids known as lumen caves. Reaching certain locations during their journey will advance the story, prompting players to find their next destination. The gameplay alternates between dialogue, exploration, resource management, and puzzle-solving.

Space Navigation, In space navigation mode, players can move a crosshair along a top-down map of Thousand Peaks, and select which location to visit. Flying to any location requires fuel, and may trigger situational encounters where players have a chance to gain rewards or lose resources. Some locations, such as lumen caves, are hidden until players find its strong, sound patterns that originate from the hidden locations.

Exploring Locations, When players reach a location, they get a view of its appearance, and backstory that reveals the history of Thousand Peaks. Each location also has a menu of activities players can engage in, which includes visiting a shop, visiting various locales, or searching for resources. Any one of the activities may also trigger encounters much like the ones during space navigation.

Recording Starsongs, During space navigation, players will be occasionally prompted to search for start songs when they’re within range of lumen caves. Doing so will trigger a puzzle sequence where the player character starts to sing in the center of the screen, while orbs of light representing sources of starsongs surround her. Using the center as a pivot, players can rotate the orbs in any direction. The goal is to overlap the correct orb with the center, which can be determined by changes in the character’s singing voice. Once the puzzle is solved, players will be rewarded with a starsong that reveals a lumen cave.

Exploring Lumen Caves, When players visit a lumen cave, the game’s perspective is changed to a 2.5D side-scrolling view. Players can control their character to explore the environment, which will present points of interaction that reward players with lore, or resources. The environment also includes various contraptions that players must solve to progress.

Contraption Puzzles, Lumen caves contain contraptions that block off areas of the environment. These contraptions have circular surfaces covered in inscriptions and must be activated with specific starsongs to open up. Once players find the correct starsong, the game will zoom in on the circular surface, and start playing the chosen starsong, with an equalizer interface appearing on top. The goal is to tune the starsong, so the equalizer bars overlap with the inscriptions. Once the puzzle is solved, players will gain access to the inner areas of the lumen cave.

PLOT

The game takes place in the fictional planetary system Thousand Peaks. Players take control of Jun Lee, an elderly adventurer who returns to an unnamed asteroid, claiming that there’s an old promise he has yet to fulfill there. As he activates an ancient gate, he begins to think back on the woman he made his promise to, Eda, and the adventures they shared decades ago.

Back then, Thousand Peaks was recovering from the Lumen War, a 20-year conflict that involved numerous factions from across the galaxy, fighting over a valuable resource known as Lumen, which could be mined from the planetary system’s asteroids.  The war officially ended when the galactic megacorporation United Mining claimed an overwhelming victory, but they were unable to suppress the rampant piracy of lumen.

So they passed regulations to allow any person who discovers lumen reserves to claim its mining rights, so long as they pay a percentage of the profits to United Mining.  This began a period of lumen-seeking adventurers flooding into Thousand Peaks for a chance at fame and riches, and Jun was one of them. Jun was an exiled noble from the planetary system East Ocean, who escaped to Thousand Peaks, along with his guardian Kay Volan, to claim lumen mines of his own, so he could redeem himself to his clan.

During their search for leads to the unclaimed lumen, they got into an argument with an intel trader over the authenticity of his intel, until another adventurer, Eda, intervened and purchased it from the trader. After failing to convince Eda of his suspicions, Jun found out that the intel was indeed a trap that led to pirates who robbed unsuspecting adventurers. Determined to warn Edalune of the danger, Jun and Kay decide to follow her ship to the pirate base, thus beginning their journey together.

KEY FEATURES

• A COMPLEX NARRATIVE – Experience a 7-10 hour central storyline with a conclusion guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings. Additionally, there are 2-5 hours of side quests for those hungry for more lore. The depth of your exploration is entirely up to you. This world’s intricate details await your discovery.
• AN ENDEARING CAST OF CHARACTERS – Form connections, navigate the complexities of love and loss and confront challenges as a team. Each character has unique motivations for embarking on this odyssey. Uncover not only their pasts but also what defines their identities.
• CHOOSE SAFETY OR EMBRACE RISK – Evaluate numerous random encounters and make choices like a roll of the dice. Should you attempt to earn a bounty with a target on your back? Or could that stranded ship conceal pirates in disguise? The fate of you and your crew is in your hands.
• NUMEROUS ASTONISHING ASTEROIDS – Navigate a vast star map teeming with asteroids, subterranean space stations, and sprawling cities as you journey through the cosmos. Explore a universe where humanity survives amidst floating rock fortresses.
• MUSICAL PUZZLES – Locate legendary asteroids by listening for the correct sounds on the star map. Then, explore the asteroids on foot and match sound waves to the patterns of ancient gates to progress and unveil their secrets. Puzzles are intentionally straightforward to ensure a relaxed and accessible experience!