Recent reviews by Tails.155

Has some flaws, some weird bits of dialogue, a couple glitches, and the combat controls aren't ideal, but with those critiques out of the way

Analyzing it overall, there are three questions to ask: Is this game fun? Is it worth buying? Is it worth buying at full price?

Is it fun? If you like Harvest Moon, Stardew Valley, Rune Factory, etc., this is a game absolutely worth checking out. There's a lot to do and it paces itself (How much there is to do, versus how much there is to do _at once_)decently. I would wish for a couple more locations you could build fast-travel stops at, but you get what you get. Generally, other than that the days feel to go too fast and the travel limitations are occasionally frustrating (how much time you use up) it is indeed rather fun. The characters are believable and charming, and except a few nitpicks, it feels very well written. The art style is a bit uncanny in spots, but overall pretty cute and charming. The music is somewhat limited in quantity (for the fact you will be able to spend 150 hours on a single playthrough if you choose, stop and smell the roses a bit.) However, nothing worth marking negative for, here.

Is it worth buying?

Yes. I can unequivocally say that there is enough content to justify purchasing this game if it is your style of game. You won't feel like you wasted your time selecting it. It has plenty to offer and some level of personal flair and a decent amount of heart, as well.

Is it worth buying at full price?

Full disclosure, I did not not buy this at full price. However, that said, having now played it, I could easily find justification in it. As an act of good faith, I bought its sequel at full price, and intend to play it, as well. There is plenty of content to base an experience around, and I fully feel it is worth its price in value.

Quite a few Bethesda-style goofy glitches, nothing seemingly game breaking, but a fun game that definitely feels Borderlands.

+This game has a TON of charm,
+beautiful art,
+well imagined locations,
+entertaining characters,
+well-executed plot and
+plenty to do.
+The main characters are character you really grow to like, and you really feel for them as you go through this quirky sci-fi adventure.

[] It is somewhere along an action RPG in gameplay, but it has distinct stealth sections and other digressions of style.
[] The gameplay on a first run seems like it'd take no less than 24 hours, possibly more, to complete. If a dollar an hour of gameplay is worth it to you then this is a plus, if that seems lacking then you may find this disappointing, but I feel it is worth it on my end, and I tend to shop cheap.
[] While there is a lot of experience to be had, that time does blaze by. This is good in the sense that it is gripping, but bad in that it really felt like it went by quickly. The number of locations feels small (even though those locations, themselves, feel enormous, at times.) I feel like you also could do well to explore some of the things that are showcased in more depth at times. There's several places that look like you should be able to enter and explore, but they are just set dressing. This is not a full negative, rather neutral, to me, because, really, if it took me (exploring a lot) almost 40 hours to complete, there clearly _is_ substance.

- The minigames are a mixed bag. The side-minigames really don't feel worth delving too much into, though I did enjoy the gatcha since it doesn't really intrude on the gameplay, and doesn't affect the main story, I will also give the gatcha mechanic, conceptually a pass. (If the gatcha were in some way required to beat the game, this would be a second minus.)
- The story has a couple pitfalls that kind of disappoint me, personally, but not every note is going to hit everyone just right.
- There can be a BIT of busywork to the gameplay.
- The way this game gets dark when it does has some level of sour taste in its actions that don't fully feel like they always push the plot forward, or they push it forward in ways that feel a bit mean-spirited to the player in a narrative sense.
- Some of the things that happen also make it feel like it wouldn't be fun to replay if you get connected heavily to characters (not in the Undertale sense of that experience, in a different sense.) Replayability isn't mandatory to a good game, but it is worth noting, here.

If you like:
Cute things
The Legend of Zelda
(apparently, my friend said,I haven't played them) Dark Souls gameplay
Puzzles
Nonverbal storytelling

You will enjoy this game.

If you don't like:
The above
Very complex, even convoluted puzzles (for 100%, possibly a bit in the main game)
Using guides (seems _almost_ mandatory for 100%)
Having to learn a new language system (seems loosely based on Hangul, conceptually; possibly mostly a 100% thing)
Perspective trickery to hide things

You may not want this game.

However, I will say the art in this game is beautiful, the concepts it brings to the table are creative and original, and the sound design and music are fantastic. It really is an experiential game, so the less you know the better. That said, I do advise this if you are even curious about it. Even though $30 is steep (and I can see it being a sticking point for a frugal player) it IS worth it. However, if the price is high, wait for a sale, they're inevitable on Steam.

This game, as it currently is, is... heartbreaking to me.

My friend, who loves soulslikes, so challenge isn't a big sticking point, and enjoys some concepts and mechanics of the game, couldn't get into it enough to get past a few spots in this.

The AI while FASCINATINGLY complex, can really make days in this game feel like you're just wasting time playing, and the fun can dwindle rapidly as a result, especially if certain things happen multiple times in a row.

Some of the mechanics mean there can be a LOT of waiting or doing busywork just to get things to happen, and they can set you back quickly and have to start you over again.

Why it is so tragic: I _really_ want to like this game. As I said, the complexity of the AI and the creative execution of their actions is really compelling and interesting, and the art and ambiance are top notch.

There definitely, it sounds like, after reading up on things in this game, are things that just seem very Guide Dang It as far as what you should do for certain experiences in the game. Almost in the realm of the "good" ending in Cave Story.

I don't knock the developers for how bad it can feel, outright. It is challenging, it just isn't a challenge style that my friend or I found very fun. However, the ambition of the project and what we did glean from it has many merits, it just... falls short enough it doesn't feel like it's worth completing and, for less, there are more enjoyable games to _play_ on Steam or elsewhere.

However, even with myself not finding it worth buying in its current (possibly final?) state, it is very beautiful and I do laud the staff for creativity and attempting do do a lot on an indie budget. If you're really curious, patient and enjoy a challenge, this game MAY be worth it to you; I refuse to say otherwise. However, it personally didn't gel with us, as some games just don't.

I definitely see, after experiencing this as my first Tales game (blind in 2022,) why the series has earned so many sequels. There is a ton of charm, great characters, and a LOT of thematic exploration between:
- Bigotry and discrimination
- Loss
- Moral dilemmas
- Trust and betrayal
- Selfishness and selflessness
- Family and friendship
- History and mythology

I can't say for sure Toby Fox experienced this game, since I just outright don't know, but I feel some story topics feel very similar to ones seen in Undertale. They're obviously not _unique_ plot points, but as a fan of both, I did notice them.

My favorite character is Genis. He feels kind of like this game's Tails, only a lot more snarky and sometimes mean-spirited. The focal characters of this game all have some level of growth and development over the game in a refreshing manner, the growth feels earned and the dialog skits really help to progress the interpersonal feelings.

This game feels as big as I imagine it was back in the day of its release. It has a lot of content to explore for a person seeking various monsters, characters, scenes, challenges and story.

So, for the few downsides I DO have:

The smaller sticking point because a single playthrough isn't going to be affected, but is meaningful to someone interested in the experience: I believe a full 100% completion takes 8 or even 9 playthroughs at minimum, which, even if you bulldoze through all the plot, seems like it could take an exceptionally long time.

Likewise not a mandatory experience, but the red light green light is everyone's least favorite thing in the history of ever. Like, it's so bad it is basically a deciding point on if you're going to 100%, and if you don't know what you're doing you have to do it twice.

For the amount of farming you do need to do to 100%, some of the areas can get really boring.

The dialog in a couple places kind of beats you on the head or repeats itself a bit, but not cripplingly.

There are a couple typos even though the game has been out for something like 20 years, even though this definitely has modernizing touches to it.

Sometimes the cost to do moves other than your basic ones can be annoying enough that you don't feel like doing anything but hacking through multiple battles in the same area.

Only a couple characters are really playable as a main due to how things like casting and attack speed control.

A couple of plot points seem hinted at, but never really... come to anything?

Other than that, though, it's really a very fun and compelling game, and worth the price tag. If you never experienced this when it was new, you really should.

++ There's a lot to explore
+ Replayability due to choice forks.
+ Characters are very charming.
+ The visuals are fantastic.
+ Good comedy
+ Best demonstration of awkward silence in a (dialogue) voiceless game.
+ Most of the minigames do work well, which is impressive, because big teams can often screw that up, but the mechanics themselves all seem to work, I just don't enjoy some as personal preference.
+ I could enjoy more experiences in this world (i.e. if the same creature-character types were used in another game, even if it was unrelated, but a similar gameplay and another story, I would be curious to experience it.)
+ Worth its price. Plenty to experience for that value.

+ Overall story is compelling,
- but the way it is stitched together sometimes feels empty: it could do with 2-3 more nights of context building, especially before [implying plot here that involves spoilers] happens. It just feels like a huge leap with, even reading the extra content, missing build.

[] Since your friends are all your friends, I really wish there was a way to do a run (maybe a new game plus) where you - IDK about how pro-crime it is, personal sticking point.
[] I can't tell how much of my experience is "tainted" by which path I took, so a couple criticisms might be due to what decisions I made, and not overarching problems.
[] I can't count it as a negative due to it being executed well, but it is kinda sad you can't make everyone fully happy at once.


- The dark parts are too dark on my computer, platforming them was sometimes really annoying.
- I don't like the Rockband sections at all, I wish you could opt to skip them (watch the video, but not have to do the playing--it would make it so you could read the lyrics and see the visuals, better, too for casuals.)
- The grabbing mechanic works, but feels slightly awkward.
- I don't know if it is choice-dependent or not, but some locations seem overly empty for the fact they "unlock" over time.
- Some replayability feels like it might be a chore.


Probably a lot more thoughts, IDK. Check it out.

Nominated for choices matter: No game have I ever seen a fandom, let alone myself, so.... concerned with the gravity of my choices. Especially after reading more about the endings I chose not to pursue, the game really emphasizes just how heavy your actions can be. The good ending and the bad ending are worlds apart, and it really shows that contrast in the gameplay and characters within the game.

A perfect mix of horror, dark tones, dry humor and fascinating art and music. If you are looking for a phenomenal story-driven adventure, this is a MUST have. I swear it. It's one of my favorite games of all time.

I will disclose that I have conversed with the creator prior to owning this game, but my encounters with the creator are as a consequence of discovering this game through the YouTuber raocow's play of an early, early version.

This game is creative, beautiful, tricky, and gripping. If you are looking for a game that really makes you feel powerful while also providing a challenge, I suggest this.

If you are looking for a nifty game that will get you your money's worth in its style (for a short summary it's an action/platformer/shooter with combinable abilities,) this is one of the top candidates I know of (which, to be fair, there are many games out there for the $10.00 price tag I do not know). I really can't sing enough praises after day one. I am a poor judge of challenge myself, so I do not know if the difficulty curve over the later hours will overwhelm me or not, since I'm not the best gamer, but I hope to get to experience everything.

It has pre-rendered 3D sprites of significant quantity, many creatures and poses and actions and other goods. It feels smooth, it has lots of personality and this is really an impressive example of a game made by only two people, and especially for a $10.00 price.

The game has 10 combinable abilities which can make 175 different combinations, all named, all with something unique to their animation, action, or function that makes each unique enough that you can feel them. Aside from that there are a dozen or more abilities that do not combine. There are also numerous environments with their own hazards and traits, and some interesting and neat bosses. The game has quite a few levels and after four hours of experience between my friend and me, we have yet to finish it, and it's been pretty non-stop since we first bought it. I'm writing this in the time after my friend left, with us completing more as soon as we can meet up again.