Classical Precision: Symphonia

Precision platforming has found a stylish companion in classical music.

Aug 28, 2024

‣ Symphonia
From: Sunny Peak, Headup
Platforms: PC
Release: To be announced
Steam Page • Demo Video • Developer Site

Symphonia isn’t just a well-oiled precision platformer; it's a work of art.

Symphonia is dead. The four musical founders have disappeared, and their orchestras have disbanded and wandered away. All that's left are the hulks of their civilisation, powered by music. But just as all hope is lost, a robot discovers a relic from the founders, a white mask, that summons a magical Mozart to revive this stunning world.

Classical music and precision platforming are an unexpected combination, but in the world of Symphonia, they come together in a captivating way. This unlikely game blends the spirit of classical music with smooth platforming and excellent production quality, resulting in a beautiful game that adds a new high note to the side-scroller family.

One correction: you don't play as Mozart. The lead character manifested by the mask is called Philemon. But the wig, the violin, the diminutive stature—he looks sorta like a Mozart (not really, but he has that Mozart vibe; he’s definitely not a Bach or Beethoven!). But that's a triviality. As Philemon, you set out to navigate the dying world and bring it back to life. You do so by playing your violin. However, this is not a musical game. If you like your double jumps, wall rebounds, and other gymnastic adventures, you're going to like Symphonia.

You can only play the violin at designated points, generally to open doors or activate machinery. Everything between these sections is about platforming. But the story builds around playing your violin and recovering the members of an orchestra, using music to save the day. There are also hints of more elaborate musical sections, though the demo doesn't reveal those secrets.

Symphonia's style also takes inspiration from classical music. The art style is lush and bold, blending subtle and dramatic energies. The soundtrack is original and performed by a legitimate orchestra (the Scoring Orchestra Paris), adding a layer of authenticity and grandeur. And Philemon's instrument even plays into the gameplay—he uses his violin's bow to achieve higher jumps, because this is a proper platform game.

You navigate Philemon across the levels, leaping to platforms and avoiding deadly obstacles. Our hero has the familiar range of platformer moves. He can wall jump, use pads to vault long distances, swing on pendulums, float on gusts of air, and perform a repeat bounce manoeuvre that builds up momentum. The controller input is very responsive, as it should be, and Philemon moves with incredible grace thanks to the silky-smooth animation.

Symphonia isn’t just a well-oiled precision platformer; it's a work of art. The game's art style is well-executed and visually stunning. The opening cinematic is striking, transitioning from animated pictures to a professional-looking sequence of the robot conjuring Philemon. By the time you enter the game, you are already surrounded by Symphonia's beauty. And this level of execution translates into the gameplay, even how Philemon moves.

📽 Demo Snapshot: Timing is everything

The biggest issue is the demo's length, clocking in at around 14 minutes. It's just enough time to get to grips with Philemon's moves and experience a little of the game's platforming challenges, making it hard to judge Symphonia's difficulty, what to expect from the musical elements or hints at any other surprises. The game's marketing material is also lean on details, though there are screenshots showcasing the game's variety of levels.

But a demo doesn't have to give all the answers. Maybe this is just another case of a taste of honey being worse than none at all. Still, no regrets about sampling Symphonia's potential. It's very impressive (even more so when you learn this is the development team's first commercial game). If you enjoy captivating and polished platformer experiences and you don't mind dodging spikes pits, this game deserves a spot on your wishlist.

Symphonia hasn’t announced a launch date.