Full review

[y⛧u]

Made a little ''detailed'' review but i ended up writing way too much and had butcher part of it T . T managed to keep the important stuff but this is complement and full thing that i wrote.
The review is here: https://steamcommunity.com/id/yubuu/recommended/2325290/


''I truly wish I could give this game a positive or even a ‘mixed feelings’ review, but after almost 400 hours into the beta PC, I feel like it would be wrong, and I just can’t... I'll go through a few important and little detailed topics that people should know.

a quick heads up: The ‘’Beta’’ test was pretty much an early access without the paid shop option, we could do everything console and mobile players could, just not make direct real money purchases. This game also has a gifting option and that's how i ended up getting the battle pass.

Long story short:

This is a peculiar, pleasant and a very nice silent storytelling game (very much like Journey), with beautiful graphics and an interesting world pacing. A very fun flying gameplay and controls with high exploration and discovery value.
A part of the storyline is saving/reliving spirits who are trapped in the world of Sky, and we have to return them to the stars, it’s very beautiful, and each one has a cute little story behind it, and you can interpret it in your own way.
This alone makes the game beautiful to me and I completely recommend playing this game casually, for the main and side story and for the exploration, and if you have friends to try it together it’ll be even better! (worth mentioning the hidden maps and areas in this, it makes the game HUGE and very nice to discover, at least for the first time)

The breaking truth is: This game was designed or ended up being an ‘’Pacific MMO’’ that benefits from an extreme FOMO system and a grind fest with tedious and repetitive farming with not many activities to do and a somewhat disappointing and money hungry cash shop.

Oh gosh, I hope I'm not being too harsh…

Candles, Cosmetics & What makes it replayable:

After you complete the ‘’main story’’ you can stick around to explore and unlock new and unseen areas of the maps you previously played, there are little ‘’side stories’’ attached to these maps and the completionist part can be very fun and honestly, it’s the only thing you can do in this game. There aren't many activities besides that, and of course, farm Candles, which is the main and free currency of this game and what everyone cares about.

These candles are used mainly to buy cosmetics to customize your character. It might not be very important, but it’s what everybody cares and looks forward to. So, this might be categorized as a dress up game… You get them by redoing the maps you just played lighting up the little red candles that you find, you get 20 candles maximum per day, it takes around 2~3 hours (maybe more) to get all 20, but a part of the community just focuses on a short 1h and a half route that gives 12~17 candles.
Sadly, cosmetics can be expensive as hell (up to 100 candles for a single piece) and you’ll definitely need a lot of day’s work to get a single one of them, not to say that many people just save up for future events (usually once a year event and the cosmetics are always better) always paying attention in the timing and the days of farming, it ends up being very important and making this a super boring and a massive grind every single day.

Seasons, Events and the massive FOMO part:

The seasons of this game are limited time themed ‘’events’’ that come with a sort of battle pass including a bunch of new cosmetics (free ones too), a brand-new storyline and even new areas to explore. It lasts around 90 days, and it comes with the absurd part of this game: If you decide to buy the battle pass, you’ll most definitely need to log in and do the daily quests every single day for around 70 DAYS in order to complete and get everything out of the battle pass... There is NO OTHER WAY of progressing in your ‘’battle pass’’ other than daily quests every single day, for more than two months. I mean, of course there is another way… $$
So, if by any chance you decide to buy the pass in the middle of the season or just keep missing dailies or something important comes up, and you can't log in for several days, you’ll be in big trouble to complete it, might not even be possible to finish.

The season’s cosmetics always return for free at some point as traveling spirits, they (one spirit per time) come twice a month and stay in the game for about a weekend, also putting a lot of pressure on players as It will take years for them to make a comeback and if you miss the current returning spirit, you’ll also have to wait years for another chance of buying your long desired cosmetics… However, the main and ‘’ultimate’’ season spirit with the best cosmetics will NEVER return.

As mentioned before, there are tons of little events, always once a year events like Halloween, Winter, Pride, Spring and the game’s own thematic events every now and then. Usually with very nice free and paid cosmetics, but the huge flow of events and mini events happening in the game in such little time puts a lot of players under pressure for farming the short and never enough number of candles per day. Considering the tedious farm, it just makes this a grind fest just for a few and little pieces of cosmetics.

Players, making friends, Social part and some problems:

You will encounter players, experienced and beginners through your journey in the game.
They appear as‘’invisible’’ characters, and it’s not possible to directly interact or look at their true appearance and cosmetics at first. You both gotta get close and light each other’s candle (it’s a little interaction by just pressing F near a player) then you will be able to start a friendship and level your ‘’friendship tree’’ by offering candles (yes, the main currency that everybody struggles to farm) and you’ll have to spend a lot of candles to even be able to talk to one another and do other social interactions.
Chatting is very private in this game, you will not see other people’s words (and they will not see yours) unless you are friends with them and have that thing leveled or just added the person by code, that skips the spending candles part.
Ends up being very hard to make friends >inside< the game, new players often offer their candles (as they don’t really know what candles are) but they might not keep playing the game after the campaign and because of that experienced players just back off and don’t really accept random ‘’friend requests’’, even if they are not really beginners.
There are other ways of talking to players (in social areas around the map) and even adding friends without spending candles via outside ways (codes and phone links) but it’s still very inaccessible to make friends properly inside the game.

When you have or just made a friend, you guys can hold hands and fly around together (it’s very cute), do interactions, explore, farm candles and do almost everything in this game together. Definitely better with friends and there is a constant feeling that players and the community are always helping each other in one way or another, considering we can't talk and only use gestures and other ways of communicating, it adds a feeling of solidarity in the overall community and experience of this game.
Inside and outside (discord & social media) the people always seem very kind, helpful and patient, and they often discuss, recognize and critique the problems this game has. You truly feel welcome, and this is a huge positive point for me.
Worth mentioning these interactions adds a bit of ‘Roleplay’ to this game, as you can dress up, make matching visuals and stories yourselves…

I understand it’s a social feature and peculiarity of the game and how it was designed to be, and it’s very interesting to communicate with other people without words, using interactions and gestures only, but after a while you just want to say hello to a fellow random player you are helping and have a casual conversation.

Another Major issue for me is that we work SO HARD to farm candles and get beautiful cosmetics to make your character look cute, people even spend a whole lot of money in this game, and in the end, very few people will even see your character and cosmetics, you’ll just be invisible to everyone…

Cash shop:

I don’t really mind the cash shop, it’s the norm in every free game, and it’s completely okay in this one, there are a lot of cool items during events and some players even get very angry because the most beautiful ones always go to the cash shop, which is completely normal, but one huge issue here (for me and some fellow foreign players) is that the cash shop doesn’t have regional prices and the cost can be very spicy and overpriced…

Worth mentioning that they sell candles, regular and the ones used for the battle pass, and sometimes if you are running low or don't think you’ll have enough time to farm to get a certain event item, there’s always the option of purchasing candles… It’s like a ghost stalking you, always in your shadow.
(We didn’t have this feature in the PC beta, but I empathize with everyone who critiques and somehow feels pressured about this)

Accessibility:

A very controversial topic, This is a mobile port and there are numerous issues that people had problems with, to each person it can and will be different, and you don’t really have many options overall to change or make it better. It seems like they are trying to work on it, but it feels pretty slow. Not to say that on some PCs the game just doesn’t work at all.

Worth mentioning a few common issues that I've come across, in the pc the colors can be very uncomfortable and very, very bright at times (mainly the white and sparkly, light colors) it truly feels like the game is trying to blind you, but to me the biggest issue is when you are flying in a map or passing by someone who is saving/reliving a spirit and the game suddenly redirects your camera to the place where the spirit is. It can turn 180°, 270° and even 360° (in angle) and you kinda lose the control of your character in the meantime…

Never had headaches and dizziness playing a game, but i had and probably will keep having in this one…

Future & Final Thoughts and why i’ll probably keep playing this:

I spoke most about the negative points of this game, but i want to make it clear that i completely recommend you giving this a try,and as i said earlier, i think this game is quite good and it will be even nicer if you have friends to experience with.

Controversial to me but I actually plan on keeping playing this game, i had some fun memories with friends, nice moments and all. Another main reason that I play and want to keep playing this is that this game works VERY WELL with multi-tasking, like listening to podcasts, audio studying, audiobooks and even watching some short tv shows and anime . Some of these activities work nicely playing a few quiet cozy farming sims, but in this game you don’t really have to care or pay that much attention at all on what you’re doing, it makes perfect and even motivates me to reserve a moment for it…

Also can’t ignore the fact that with this pc release the team behind this game is aiming very high. The last few seasons had some pretty significant changes in the game environment and in the upcoming one it’ll be added a little home of your own and furniture sets for players to decor (Very scared about the in-game cost and pricing but hope it won’t be too harsh!) and the collabs this game has like with the singer AURORA, The Little Prince, and the upcoming Cinnamoroll truly makes everything a little special.
I honestly feel the game and the team wants to expand and improve and therefore change the game for the better, might be naive of me but I truly hope they recognize the problems, adapt and don’t be too scared of changing.

[Aukyron]

Thanks for the review

[y⛧u]

<3

[Moon owns my of body]

Thank you!

[Amaraylily]

The camera suddenly changing is a issue in mobile too. It drives me nuts. It's a hand holding device to help new players. But once you get your footing in the game it's just really really annoying and frustrating.

[$upertetramethylcyclohexan0va]

hi, thank you for your review. appreciate it. i am convinced i wil play it. but i wont play it alone. looks like people will feel more lonely playing this. i'l play it with my friends / wife

[weiss]

you do know where the review section in steam is right o-o?

[FriendCalledFive]

Originally posted by weiss:

you do know where the review section in steam is right o-o?

Don't you realise how special the OP is? /s

[y⛧u]

Originally posted by weiss:

you do know where the review section in steam is right o-o?

Ohh i said at the start that i wrote way too much and it didn't fit, this is just a ''complement'' to the one i posted. I should've have made it more clear and linked it tho, my bad.


https://steamcommunity.com/id/yubuu/recommended/2325290/

[♡ 𝒜𝓃𝓊𝓀𝒾 ♡☪]

Yes, that is a very detailed review, but it is very good. Thank You!

[weiss]

Originally posted by FriendCalledFive:

Originally posted by weiss:

you do know where the review section in steam is right o-o?

Don't you realise how special the OP is? /s

no

Originally posted by Mínt:

Originally posted by weiss:

you do know where the review section in steam is right o-o?

Ohh i said at the start that i wrote way too much and it didn't fit, this is just a ''complement'' to the one i posted. I should've have made it more clear and linked it tho, my bad.


https://steamcommunity.com/id/yubuu/recommended/2325290/

steam reviews have a letter limit? i´ve seen way bigger reviews in the steam review section then this o___o.

[^3JumpinJackFlashOG]

The cash shop is terrible, the items are so over priced that's its almost like its milking their fans. They need to add more servers and fix a lot of the bugs in the game to justify those prices.

[Meowish]

Originally posted by weiss:

you do know where the review section in steam is right o-o?

Yes, it's like seeing someone doing shampoo and soap in a sauna room... but since there's no police/enforcement, most people just do what they like even when it's on the "weird" side and not the correct TPO.

But the correct reaction when you see someone doing shampoo and soap in a sauna room is... ignore them unless you have the power to remove them and enforce your rule on them. Some new to the sauna room might even mistaken it as a culture and go on about "hey, can i borrow that shampoo of yours?" but yeah, until they find out the correct TPO/silent rules and regretted it later i guess... But the advice is, Don't poke on the weirdos, it makes them happy... some do it intentionally and wanted your attention like those weird vloggers trying to get audience... If you don't agree with them, the correct reaction is ignore, any other stuffs you do like warning, laughing, agreeing, disagreeing will be seen as a support as it bumped the thread to the top of the forum (in case of videos or post, it raise their visibility to more audience). Some even intentionally do mistake and weird behaviors in their videos just to get others to comment, sadly but true, it's turned into a modern marketing practices for nowadays standard, bad practice but one that works when there's no law enforcement or penalty doing it.

On the other hand, the OP has the potential of Vloggers/Comedian/Contents Creators, because not everyone dares to break the silent rules and go on about their own ways to get attention. My salute to the OP for daring this.

Forum is the place to voice your opinion and seek for help, so you can say it's similar to a review in some way, but using it as a place to review vs using it as a place to discuss opinions is slightly different, because there's a TPO for everything, especially when there's already a place for review on the platform. Type too long and can't finish the review? Here's an advice, you can open up the comment section and continue to add the rest of your review there. And that allows others to comment on your review as well.

Originally posted by weiss:

steam reviews have a letter limit? i´ve seen way bigger reviews in the steam review section then this o___o.

Yes it does.

[Melvin The Narcissistic]

Originally posted by Meowish:

Originally posted by weiss:

you do know where the review section in steam is right o-o?

Yes, it's like seeing someone doing shampoo and soap in a sauna room... but since there's no police/enforcement, most people just do what they like even when it's on the "weird" side and not the correct TPO. :winkycat:

But the correct reaction when you see someone doing shampoo and soap in a sauna room is... ignore them unless you have the power to remove them and enforce your rule on them. Some new to the sauna room might even mistaken it as a culture and go on about "hey, can i borrow that shampoo of yours?" but yeah, until they find out the correct TPO/silent rules and regretted it later i guess... :laughcat: But the advice is, Don't poke on the weirdos, it makes them happy... some do it intentionally and wanted your attention like those weird vloggers trying to get audience... :sweatcat: If you don't agree with them, the correct reaction is ignore, any other stuffs you do like warning, laughing, agreeing, disagreeing will be seen as a support as it bumped the thread to the top of the forum (in case of videos or post, it raise their visibility to more audience). Some even intentionally do mistake and weird behaviors in their videos just to get others to comment, sadly but true, it's turned into a modern marketing practices for nowadays standard, bad practice but one that works when there's no law enforcement or penalty doing it.

On the other hand, the OP has the potential of Vloggers/Comedian/Contents Creators, because not everyone dares to break the silent rules and go on about their own ways to get attention. My salute to the OP for daring this. :catsmiling:

Forum is the place to voice your opinion and seek for help, so you can say it's similar to a review in some way, but using it as a place to review vs using it as a place to discuss opinions is slightly different, because there's a TPO for everything, especially when there's already a place for review on the platform. Type too long and can't finish the review? Here's an advice, you can open up the comment section and continue to add the rest of your review there. And that allows others to comment on your review as well. :winkycat:

Originally posted by weiss:

steam reviews have a letter limit? i´ve seen way bigger reviews in the steam review section then this o___o.

Yes it does.

Are you a developer for this game or just a fan?

[weiss]

Originally posted by Meowish:

Originally posted by weiss:

you do know where the review section in steam is right o-o?

Yes, it's like seeing someone doing shampoo and soap in a sauna room... but since there's no police/enforcement, most people just do what they like even when it's on the "weird" side and not the correct TPO. :winkycat:

But the correct reaction when you see someone doing shampoo and soap in a sauna room is... ignore them unless you have the power to remove them and enforce your rule on them. Some new to the sauna room might even mistaken it as a culture and go on about "hey, can i borrow that shampoo of yours?" but yeah, until they find out the correct TPO/silent rules and regretted it later i guess... :laughcat: But the advice is, Don't poke on the weirdos, it makes them happy... some do it intentionally and wanted your attention like those weird vloggers trying to get audience... :sweatcat: If you don't agree with them, the correct reaction is ignore, any other stuffs you do like warning, laughing, agreeing, disagreeing will be seen as a support as it bumped the thread to the top of the forum (in case of videos or post, it raise their visibility to more audience). Some even intentionally do mistake and weird behaviors in their videos just to get others to comment, sadly but true, it's turned into a modern marketing practices for nowadays standard, bad practice but one that works when there's no law enforcement or penalty doing it.

On the other hand, the OP has the potential of Vloggers/Comedian/Contents Creators, because not everyone dares to break the silent rules and go on about their own ways to get attention. My salute to the OP for daring this. :catsmiling:

Forum is the place to voice your opinion and seek for help, so you can say it's similar to a review in some way, but using it as a place to review vs using it as a place to discuss opinions is slightly different, because there's a TPO for everything, especially when there's already a place for review on the platform. Type too long and can't finish the review? Here's an advice, you can open up the comment section and continue to add the rest of your review there. And that allows others to comment on your review as well. :winkycat:

Originally posted by weiss:

steam reviews have a letter limit? i´ve seen way bigger reviews in the steam review section then this o___o.

Yes it does.

steam has still a section for this.
and if the review section has a letter limit, how can there be bigger reviews then this in the review section. you cant even say "maybe OP wanted to discuss about it" thats for what you can activate comments under your preview if you want opinions on your review. you dont need to do this in the steam forum. your example was terrible aswell. noone ever would do that and if they do are they like minded like OP which ignores that you shouldnt do this in a sauna.

[Meowish]

Originally posted by weiss:

steam has still a section for this.
and if the review section has a letter limit, how can there be bigger reviews then this in the review section. you cant even say "maybe OP wanted to discuss about it" thats for what you can activate comments under your preview if you want opinions on your review. you dont need to do this in the steam forum. your example was terrible aswell. noone ever would do that and if they do are they like minded like OP which ignores that you shouldnt do this in a sauna.

There are 2 types of reviews, the normal type and the curator type that allows more words.