Songs of Silence Review – An Epic RTS That Blends Strategic Combat with a Stunning Art Nouveau-Inspired Fantasy World

The Bold Challenge of Songs of Silence.

In a previous feature, we delved into the unique blend of fascination and curiosity Songs of Silence sparked in us, where we detailed our admiration for the development team’s innovation and originality. Chimera Entertainment, the independent studio behind the title, has taken on a highly ambitious project.

Innovating within the RTS genre is no easy feat, yet the team rises to the occasion by incorporating turn-based CRPG mechanics and an unpredictable card system that has the power to dramatically alter the course of battle at any given moment. The game masterfully balances a refined artistic direction, a captivating soundtrack that adapts seamlessly to every situation, and gameplay that is both deep and engrossing. To elevate the experience further, Songs of Silence draws on Eastern epic traditions in its writing, adding layers of complexity and richness to its narrative.

Read on to find out if Chimera Entertainment’s latest work has succeeded in winning us over.

A Harmonious Blend of Art and Strategy

Songs of Silence adopts the Art Nouveau style, transforming every setting into a living masterpiece, meticulously hand-drawn with exceptional attention to detail and an enchanting allure. Every environment feels unique, offering breathtaking views that immediately captivate the player. Despite their static nature, the characters exude a remarkable expressiveness, thanks to an intricately designed character model. A prime example is the protagonist, Queen Lorelei, whose face and posture powerfully convey both her royal dignity and her inner emotional depth.

The gameplay unfolds through the conquest of castles key strategic locations, all designed with painstaking attention to detail. The hubs and battlefields are equally well-executed, featuring a sophisticated and immersive aesthetic that enhances the overall experience.

Epic Dialogues and Unforgettable Stories: The Storytelling of Songs of Silence

Songs of Silence features exceptional dialogue writing, transforming every interaction into a deeply emotional and narrative-driven experience. Each exchange between characters not only delves into the complex relationships between the various kingdoms but also unveils the nuances of the personalities at play—from charismatic leaders to shrewd advisors. The storytelling masterfully blends epic tones with Eastern influences, immersing players in a world where honor, betrayal, and ambition are intricately woven together.

Outstanding voice performances imbue the characters with strong, distinctive identities, making them unforgettable and enabling them to convey, with striking intensity, the emotions and conflicts at the heart of the story. The writing, refined and rich with nuance, expertly intertwines details and unexpected twists, adding layers of complexity to an already compelling narrative. Every dialogue becomes an essential piece of Songs of Silence, deepening the player’s immersion in an experience brimming with emotional resonance.

Deities, Heroes, and Mortals

Songs of Silence unfolds with a classic yet charged premise, brimming with tension and drama: an impending threat, personified by powerful and hostile entities. The Purgators ravage every kingdom in their path, forcing entire populations to flee desperately toward safer lands. Amidst this chaos and devastation, ambitious rulers seize the crisis as an opportunity to further their own agendas, orchestrating sudden sieges and betrayals that only worsen the fate of kingdoms already on the brink of ruin.

Each campaign delves into a different faction, intricately weaving narratives of lone heroes, unforeseen twists, and shocking revelations. The storytelling is meticulously crafted, unfolding with remarkable intensity and ensuring that each tale captivates and resonates, inviting the player to experience it in its entirety.

An Immersive, Deep, and Complex Strategic Gameplay Experience

Songs of Silence offers a complex and immersive gameplay experience, built around two key pillars: strategic movement management on the map and the combat system.

Tactical movement is pivotal, as each turn provides a limited number of steps. In scenarios such as castle sieges, meticulous route planning becomes essential to achieving objectives within the set number of turns. Every decision holds potential to reveal hidden secrets within the “fog of war,“ exposing enemy strongholds, unexpected allies, or uncharted territories. Exploration also plays a crucial role in strengthening your army and securing strategic advantages.

Combat lies at the heart of the gameplay experience. While battles unfold in real-time, their outcomes are shaped by the use of “Fate Cards,“ an innovative system that empowers players to activate special abilities gained through character progression or unit recruitment. These cards, which recharge over time, allow for devastating charges, destructive magic, tactical retreats, or troop enhancements. Strategic timing in their deployment can dramatically alter the course of battle.

Effective army management is key: the positioning and composition of units can dictate victory or defeat. Each stronghold, castle, or battlefield offers distinct advantages and challenges, compelling players to leverage terrain and available resources to their fullest potential.

The limited resource supply demands thoughtful decision-making, making each conquest a delicate balance between expansion and defense. Keeping control over newly acquired territories becomes increasingly complex: a castle can be retaken by the enemy if left vulnerable while pursuing new zones. This mechanic deepens the strategic experience, urging players to find the right balance between offense and defense with calculated foresight.

Accessibility

The team has introduced multiple difficulty levels, yet the complexity of the mechanics requires a gradual learning process from the very first hours of gameplay. For newcomers to the genre, the experience can feel overwhelming at first, with tutorials that sometimes take for granted familiarity with key concepts.

However, with time and careful exploration of the interface, the game’s structure becomes increasingly intuitive, revealing the strategic depth at its core. While there is still room for improvement, the team is clearly on the right path toward creating a more accessible and satisfying experience.

Technical Aspects

Songs of Silence stands out for its exceptional technical performance. Available on PC and consoles through digital platforms, the game delivers a stunning visual experience on Xbox Series S, offering flawless stability that transforms each scene into a visual masterpiece.

Load times are swift, and during battles, the responsiveness of the mechanics ensures smooth, dynamic gameplay, offering an overall experience that is deeply immersive and highly engaging.

The Verdict

Songs of Silence is undoubtedly a strong RTS that, despite a few areas in need of refinement, shows immense potential. Its artistic and narrative elements are exceptional, with an extraordinary attention to detail that enriches every aspect of the game, from its visually striking atmosphere to the emotional depth of its storyline. While some elements may require further polish, Songs of Silence has all the makings of not just a benchmark for genre enthusiasts but also a standout title in the RTS landscape.

A special thanks to Chimera Entertainment for kindly providing an Xbox code for this review.

Songs of Silence - Launch Trailer