Kiniro no Corda Starlight Orchestra (Japanese: 金色のコルダ スターライトオーケストラ; Traditional Chinese: 金色琴弦 星光交響樂團; officially called La Corda d'oro Starlight Orchestra) is the official sequel to Kiniro no Corda 4. The game's name is often abbreviated as Staoke (スタオケ) by both the developers and fans. It features animation provided by CloverWorks and character designs by manga artist Shinobu Takayama.
Service for the game will officially end on March 29, 2024.
Plot
Set 10 years after the last game, the protagonist is a carefree general ed student at Seiso Academy who failed to enter the music department as a violinist. By chance, she comes across her childhood friend Ginga Ichinose who eggs her into forming a youth orchestra group with him. Aiming to one day win the International Student Orchestra Competition, they hope to expand their reach by searching for potential band members across Japan while meeting rivals from other orchestra groups.
Gameplay
Live Performances
While traveling to different areas on a minibus, the player is tasked with expanding their orchestra's fanbase by holding live performances on the streets. This is done by forming an ensemble of five band members and one guest member. By playing well enough, the audience can potentially become fans of the orchestra. This is indicated by their green heart gauges turning orange. Gathering enough local fans allows them to hold concerts to further solidify their reputation before moving on to the next region.
During a live performance, a total of three character cards must be chosen to play in tandem with one another. If they happen to sync well together, their audience count will rise up. The goal is to attract more fans using different card combinations within three turns. Should the gauge on the top right reach or exceed 100%, the whole ensemble will do a finale to captivate the audience even more with the player's designated leader initiating it. Filling the gauge to 200% will instead cause them to do an SP finale which has an even greater effect on the audience.
Each area has a number of potential fans with different tastes in music. The more fans the player gains, the better their grade scores will be. Higher grades usually net useful items for raising character levels or intimacy points. If they're up for the challenge, players can switch to hard mode for better reward.
Like in previous titles, songs continue to be divided into three categories: Elegance, Radiance, and Melancholy. Card combinations under the same category help dramatically fill up the finale gauge and are ideal when matched up with an area's assigned song.
Style attributes are a new concept introduced in this game. These serve as the main stats for character cards and define how well they can attract certain crowds. Each style has a different effect when employed in live performances.
- Utilizes harmonious tunes to enrapture the audience and move them emotionally. Can easily turn current listeners into fans.
- Produces rhythmic sounds which excite the audience. Has the potential to sway those who have little interest in the harmony style.
- Creates melodic songs that increase the number of people forming a crowd. Proves to be the most effective style during the first turn.
While employing different styles effectively can mean the difference between failure and success, there are other factors that can help guarantee victory. The game uses two types of bonuses when selecting character cards per turn. A style bonus occurs when three different cards that have the same style are made to play together, helping raise the finale gauge by 40%. Meanwhile, a solo bonus is triggered if three identical cards are chosen regardless of whether or not they share the same style. This particular bonus is harder to achieve, yet fills up the finale gauge even more by 60%.
If players are unable to find the character card needed to win, they can reshuffle their current deck once to potentially get it. Because each area has different preferences in song categories and styles, it is recommended to prepare an ensemble that can handle those traits well enough. Occasionally, a balding music critic may pass by and observe the player's live performance. Should their efforts prove satisfactory enough, they will receive ample rewards from the critic.
For music lovers who want a more genuine experience, the game features a peripheral mechanic called the Harmony Make System (HMS) that causes songs to sound differently depending on the instruments used by the player's own ensemble. It is an optional feature that can be turned on in the option menu at any time.
Areas can also be explored using the walk option. This allows them to interact with both band members and NPCs with the latter occasionally offering items if they happen to be a fan. It also possible to view what type of challenges an area has and the rewards being offered for completing them. Clearing an area with an S grade or higher allows the player to redo them instantly using skip tickets. This feature is very useful for quickly leveling up character cards and farming useful items.
At the end of every chapter, a concert is held where fans gather to watch the player's ensemble perform at their finest. Unlike live performances, concerts take place indoors and comprise of 10 band members performing together. Characters who play a prominent role within the whole chapter are featured during the event. The concert's success depends on the ensemble's performance skills and the number of fans present. Players who struggle with this part of the game can improve their chances by leveling up their character cards and earning any fans they missed out on.
Doing live performances and various quests consumes a portion of the player's life points (LP). It takes 5 minutes to restore 1 LP, though it can be instantly replenished by using recovery drinks or spending jewels. In case the player has purchased a monthly Corda Pass, they have the privilege of restoring their LP for free daily. The player's LP capacity increases each time their rank level rises up with 130 being the maximum.
Jewels serve as the game's hard currency and allow players to buy premium items, superior scouting tickets, etc. There are two types of jewels available: free and paid. The latter can only be bought with real money, though regulations bar minorities from purchasing anything beyond ¥5,000 per month. User between the ages of 16 and 19 can buy ¥20,000 worth of jewels while individuals 20 and above have no purchase limit whatsoever.
In addition to the player's own character card deck, they have the opportunity to include those belonging to other players as guest members of the ensemble. A very strong guest can easily compensate for decks filled with underleveled cards. The player has the option of befriending the guest card's owner after winning. By constantly using a friend's own cards, they accumulate friend points used for obtaining various rewards or scouting new character cards. Daily gifts such as music books and fata statues are also handed out for players with active friends. For those who have a thorough understanding of the Japanese language, they may opt to request for additional companions by leaving behind comments in this page.
Training
The training feature enables players to strengthen their character cards in a number of different ways. This part of the game is necessary in order to clear areas with higher difficulty levels.
The solo practice option is used for quickly leveling up character cards through the usage of music books and coins. This method is more convenient for players who have little time redoing live performances in the same area. Sometimes, the recipient may be lucky enough to experience a great success effect which increases the amount of experience they gain.
Once a character card reaches its level cap, it can be made stronger by using the limit break option to awaken its true potential. This lets players add more levels for the target card using fata statues, talent sparks, and coins. The stronger the card, the more costly awakening becomes. At present, cards can be awakened up to 7 times. Alternatively, awakenings happen automatically if copies of the same card are acquired through scouting.
The two-person practice option has the protagonist and the recipient perform together in order to heighten the latter's potential. This feature contains a horizontal skill tree containing cultivation panels that unlock by spending coins and regional items. Some panels provide stat boosts while others increase skill and intimacy levels. There are even panels enabling players to change a card's appearance or view their individual stories. Fully awakened cards gain access to special panels called Maestro Roads that further increase their levels by increments of 2.
For players who have little time in their hands, they can use the free practice option to train a whole ensemble of character cards while doing other things. Added in early 2023, there are a wide array of training courses to choose from with each one having its own LP cost and duration time. The process can be accelerated by consuming music books.
Modes
Story Mode
Unlike in previous titles, the game's main story is no longer limited to school grounds. Instead, each chapter takes the characters to a different region across Japan. Some stories even have the cast perform on the world stage with help from the fata Nono. Unlocking a story requires clearing the current chapter's areas successfully through live performances and concerts. On another note, some stories can be unlocked by using a story key.
Monthly updates may also bring about new chapters and events to further entice players. These are indicated by a red diamond hovering above their respective icons. The game's second season Secondo Viaggio officially began on September 26, 2022, bringing with it more stories that cover the Starlight Orchestra's rivalry with other groups.
Character stories mostly focus on a specific orchestra member and are unlocked by raising intimacy levels. Intimacy represents the amount of trust a character has towards the protagonist and usually increases by making the right choices during story dialogues or giving the target recipient their favorite local item. Some dialogue choices may even reward the player with items used to woo other characters for further convenience.
Card stories are made accessible by unlocking the appropriate cultivation panel for the corresponding card. The higher the card's rarity, the more stories they have to offer.
Extra stories feature shorter narratives or vignettes that may occur during anniversary events. Some feature prominent characters from past games.
Event stories are time-limited episodes that occur outside of the main story's plot. They tend to focus on specific band members learning more about each other, enjoying different holidays together, experiencing local cultures outside of Japan, or overcoming issues from their own pasts. Players are locked out of these stories once their time limit expires, though they can be unlocked through the use of a story key obtained from reprint event quests.
Quest Mode
Quests serve as the lynchpin of the game's mechanics. Main quests in particular need to be cleared in order to advance through the story. Aside from the overall objective of acquiring more fans, every area has a set of three challenges that offer prizes if completed successfully.
Local quests take place in various regions throughout Japan and yield specialty items to help increase intimacy. While the player is free to choose any chosen spot on the map, one region is randomly chosen as a daily quest which reduces their LP entry cost to 0. This is a great option for those who wish to save up their LP for other actions. Also, it is highly encouraged to go through daily quests due to their superior item drop rates.
Event quests contain areas made accessible to players on a temporary basis. Not only do they drop more coins and scout tickets, these spots yield concert tickets used for conducting special performances in which the ensemble accumulates happiness points. Happiness points are exchanged for exclusive SSR cards and other bonuses. Certain characters have a bonus rate for collecting happiness points if they happen to be involved with the event's scenario. Reprint event quests function similarly, though their main purpose is to give players another chance to obtain time-limited cards they missed out on.
Variation event quests eschew happiness points in favor of roulette points (denoted by casino chips) used for the item lottery wheel. Alongside this feature are bingo sheets that reward the player with rare items or cards if they use the lottery wheel enough times to clear the corresponding items listed on them. It is possible to continue spinning the wheel automatically until there are no more roulette points left.
Missions
The game has a list of various missions players can take on to obtain numerous rewards for prolonging their gameplay experience. They are divided into five different categories.
Daily Missions - Contains a list of simple missions that automatically resets every 24 hours. Offers basic items.
Main Missions - Contains a list of missions involving main quests. May vary depending on the player's story progress and rank level. Offers jewels, tickets, fata statues, etc.
Character Missions - Contains a list of missions involving character story quests. Offers gifts and jewels.
Time-Limited Missions - Contains a list of missions involving time-limited quests. Offers coins and LP recovery drinks.
Beginner Missions - Contains a list of missions for beginning players. Offers mostly jewels.
Menu
Profile - Displays the player's personal profile within the game. Also allows them to change their current title. The half-anniversary update adds a closet option that lets players change outfits using costume tickets.
Friend - Shows a list of friends made by the player. Can be used to seek out new companions to play with.
Gallery - Holds a record of every card graphic, character still, music track, and movie scenes the player has collected.
Item - Contains an inventory of items, gifts, and miscellaneous consumables.
Help/Rule - Provides comprehensive information on the game's mechanics and tips on how to perform better.
Option - Has a list of peripheral options affecting the game's overall flow. Can be used to adjust sound volume, speed up messages, etc.
Data Shift - Transfers the player's data from one mobile device to another.
Question Desk - Features a list of frequently answered questions for players to look at in case they have inquiries.
Title - Returns to the game's title screen.
Characters
Below is a list of characters introduced in this game. Legacy characters from previous titles may appear during certain time-limited events.
Announced in late 2020, pre-registration for the game became available through its official website and social media accounts. A trial version was eventually launched for players to try out.
According to an interview with brand manager Mei Erikawa, it was a challenge for Ruby Party to create their own smartphone app due to the amount of trial and error they had to overcome in order to perfect the game. This painstaking process took them at least two years to sort out. At the time, they sought to figure out how to give players an ideal experience after having failed to turn Kiniro no Corda Octave into a title for mobile devices. There was also a need to balance the lofty expectations of mobile gamers while maintaining the feel of the original Corda series.
Originally, the game was supposed to feature one character representing each of Japan's 47 prefectures, though the development team decided to limit the number of characters for pragmatic reasons. Erikawa expresses her wish to one day see the cast expand to the amount they originally planned from the start. The schools introduced for this title were chosen based on their different environments, sub-cultures, and atmospheres.
When asked if she considered distributing the game overseas, Erikawa admittedly thought long and hard about that as well. To achieve that goal, she sought to expand the game's presence in Asia first in order to further broaden its player market. She also received many requests from fans to make more apps based on Ruby Party's other IP titles.
Another interview with Erikawa has her credit the fans for providing constructive feedback needed to improve the game. She was particularly relieved when the updates made in July 2022 satisfied the majority of players. Among these changes included a more streamlined user interface and less storage waste.
Related Media
Information on the game was first revealed during a live broadcast of the Neoromance 25th Anniversary Program.
On February 2021, a Valentine's Day campaign was held to promote the game's upcoming release. Up to 1,100 players were given prizes for following the official Twitter account and retweeting the campaign post.
Another retweet campaign was held on February 14 with 2,021 participants winning Amazon gift cards.
A video series called the Staoke Gakuen Diary was released on February 22. It featured Atsushi Tamaru, Masamu Ono, and Kentaro Ito promoting the work. They also held a campaign where two people won autographs from the aforementioned voice actors.
The first festival dedicated to this game happened on February 27 with one event transpiring during the day and another done at night. Several voice actors made an appearance while some left behind recorded lines for the occasion. During this event, news of the game's CD series was revealed, featuring image songs and dramatized stories by the cast. Those who bought premium viewing tickets to see the festival were given deluxe goods.
Rough sketches of the cast were shared in Twitter once their introductory videos exceeded 2,000 retweets.
12 Sega stores across Japan announced they were selling novelty drinks to commemorate the game's release from March 12 to March 28. These beverages came with 15 different types of coasters that represented the current cast at the time. A similar campaign was also held during the month of August. It happened again on September.
From March to April, band members of DISH// made cameo appearances as passersby in chapters 1 through 4 whenever players used the walk function.
A collaboration campaign with Tokyo Character Street occurred from June 4 to 17. For the purpose of this event, GraffArt illustrations of the cast were made and sold as merchandise. The event itself was reprised on November 5.
This game was among nine Koei Tecmo titles that formed a joint collaboration campaign with Baragaki: Unbroken Samurai throughout the second half of October. During that time, players who logged in were able to obtain bonus items.
A collaboration event with Namjatown occurred on October 22 and ended on November 28. It featured the cast wearing formal wear and cat ears. Aside from various merchandise, the collaboration also included a cafe menu.
The game was featured in the 2021 Animate Girls Festival on November 6 and 7. The main venue was held at Sunshine City, Ikebukuro.
On November 11, a special event dedicated to Jōyō Industrial High School and Lazarus Academy was held at Sagami Women's University Green Hall. Attendees with premium tickets were given special goods like vinyl bracelets and microfiber towels.
4Gamer held a special interview with the members of Starlight Orchestra, allowing readers to see them in a completely different light.
A comprehensive tie-up campaign with Yokohama City was announced on February 4, 2022. First off, the game's song Staoke was constantly played as background music in Minatomirai Station from February 19 to March 27. Another event had visitors receive an original A4 clear file for completing the stamp rally taking place throughout Yokohama. Also, two local programs celebrated the game's first anniversary with one of them being multi-talented artist T'z Aiko.
A Twitter campaign to commemorate the first anniversary of the game resulted in people winning giftee Cafe Box tickets worth ¥500.
From February 9 to 11, fans were given the opportunity to pre-order specialized goods featuring the cast drawn by Sanrio artists.
The game was prominently featured in the April issue of B's Log magazine which had been released on February 19. The issue contained a deluxe interview with Mei Erikawa, special messages from the characters, fan poll results, and an exclusive story that focused on the first time Akira and Seiji ever met. Those who purchased the issue received a postcard.
A collaboration campaign with Digital Hayama Women's Travel Ticket was held from April 22 to May 31. Those who used the digitized ticket for traveling were given the opportunity to participate in a stamp rally where they took pictures alongside the cast in designated tourist spots and received an original coaster as a reward. Meanwhile, the game held its own collaboration event which featured additional login bonuses, time-limited event quests, etc.
Written messages from both Lynn and Ryūsei were sent out to readers in hopes of encouraging them romantically. Drafted by one of 4Gamer's writers, this collection of messages was meant to attract new users into playing different dating sim titles, some of which included select characters from Ruby Party's own Angelique Luminarise.
The game's one year and a half anniversary was celebrated on October 10 and had some of the voice actors greeting long-time fans via video. Registrations for the event began on August 19 and ended on October 8. Similar to other anniversary events, it was divided into two performances done during the day and evening.
From September 9 to 30, Amnibus Store set up a collaboration shop to promote the game, selling various goods with super-deformed images of the characters. Some of the items sold included pins, keychains, acrylic stands, etc. They also continued to sell more related products through their online shopping site.
A collaboration campaign with Sumi Sumi: Matching Puzzle was conducted on September 14 with the game holding time-limited event quests, login bonuses, and a special scouting gacha based on the other title. A second collaboration has been implemented on October 2, 2023.
A3 created a wristwatch using Seiso Academy as its aesthetic theme. It had a bluish metal surface with music notes whereas the rear surface featured the school's emblem on a black background. The wristwatch's belt was made of genuine brown leather to match the academy's uniform color.
Another collaboration cafe event with GraffArt began on November 17 and ended on December 18. The event featured the entire cast of the series wearing marching band uniforms. It also featured a beverage menu inspired by each different school.
A Christmas photo-taking event saw 10 participants winning prizes by taking pictures of signage screens depicting the cast and sharing them on Twitter using the appropriate hashtag. One of the prizes handed out was a Godiva gift certificate worth ¥2,000.
Ani-Art held a collaboration pop-up shop which offered numerous goods and merchandise featuring the game's main cast. Located at Shinjuku Marui Men, it was established on January 13, 2023, lasting for up to 16 days. To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, several measures had been taken to ensure the safety of customers.
On January 30, Amnibus started selling shirts and pocket pass cases depicting sketches of the different instruments used by members of the Starlight Orchestra.
The second anniversary of the game started off with a bang in the Welcome to the Party! live video featuring Kisho Taniyama and Kentaro Ito. A collaboration menu was created in cooperation with Koei Tecmo Cafe & Dining. Customers who visited the restaurant left behind sticky notes of encouragement on the bulletin board. Those who purchased ¥2,000 worth of food and drinks were able to obtain randomly-selected coasters in Gratte stores.
To honor the game's 2nd anniversary, a Twitter hashtag campaign was launched on March 1 which had 30 people winning various prizes for participating.
On March 4, the game's music composer Kensuke Inage appeared as a guest for the radio program Tsūkai ☆ Otome Game Tsūshin. During his time there, listeners were able to ask him questions concerning his role in creating the tracks used for the game.
Starting on July 4, players could link the game with the Koei Tecmo App and take on certain missions to earn app points. A lottery feature was also added.
For the 20th anniversary of the Corda series, the game gave players another chance to acquire legendary character cards from previous gacha events while adding four new ones for the occasion.
August 24 saw the celebration of the game's two year and a half anniversary with Makoto Furukawa and Yūsuke Kobayashi appearing on video. There, they constantly discussed about their roles as the Ugajin brothers who were introduced in the game's second season. Autographs signed by the voice actors were also distributed. The video can be viewed online on YouTube until November 22. Goods related to the event were also sold on Koei Tecmo Spot.
From August 24 to September 24, fans were be given ticket-style bookmarks for visiting stores in Yokohama. In addition to this, 25 lucky participants won Quo prepaid cards for taking photos of AR character displays and sharing them on Twitter with the appropriate hashtag.
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