I wanted this to be good, but it ends so unsatisfying that I can't recommend it. There's no closure.

I want to fair so, it's worth mentioning that there is a lot I liked and enjoyed, so I don't want this to seem completely negative. However the ending ruins it for me, and I won't spoil it.

Let me start by saying I was hooked from the beginning. The world has charm, wit, humor, and vibrant artwork for the characters and setting. It hearkens back to classic RPG vibes that I've missed so much.
So, it hurts that it could be so much better than it is.

The combat feels good with catchy music. The few puzzles were fair and easy to understand. It's world concept is unique for an RPG. All the boxes are checked, but then it falls on its face.

The writing at points ranged from masterfully well at tugging at the heartstrings and investing you into Verm, the main character. (The beginning is SO good!) But then, later the story falls short on depth or subtext with hand-fisted messaging and poor handling its villains. It's almost condescending to the player, talking down to your intelligence and tells you how feel.

For example, one big villain's whole extent is he's called a "fascist," (the game's words not mine,) and he enjoys hurting people. It completely took me out of the story.

One, the setting is medieval-themed. Two, it's lazy writing to say he's bad only "because he is" without anything more. It provides no depth. No subtext or nuance and gave no meaningful reason to care. The real world is not like that. Not to mention it felt lecturing me about other things later and I'll avoid spoilers.

Likewise in these place the dialogue told me how to feel instead doing as the opening and letting the characters be themselves as events played out.

As a positive, the setting feels alive and I want to explore it more, but can't. This kind of brings me to my next point.

The game is short. I beat it in a weekend (10 hours.) Plus, that's stretching it out and doing every side-quest and super boss I found. I even looked harder to keep playing. I wanted to keep going.

Most positive things I can say are a double-edged sword. On one hand, the game has no grinding, no random encounters, or need for worrying about managing items to restock. (Think potions from other games.) This is huge! I thought to myself why don't other games do this? This is great.

Yet then, the game lacks challenge more than likely because of it. The level-ups are blocked off by story progression. Which is cool I guess, if the story were longer, and the combat shook up its mechanics. Only two fights did I struggle with, and one was from an optional side-quest. That was my favorite fight btw.

I feel this game could benefit from some kind of new game + or a difficulty boost. Or even an expansion for harder sections in the world. They tease a place a few times across the sea, but we never got it from what I can tell.

I genuinely enjoyed the game at the start and could not put it down. So, it pains me that it doesn't stick the landing. If you do pick up the game, don't pay full price and savor it for what it is. There are truly good moments, and take them for what they are. Cherish them.

This game had some magic but it's not there yet or fully realized. It's stumbles in its own way. The story concludes in a way that I feel for the Verm yet nothing is gained or concluded as a meaningful ending. For so much investment and promise, it didn't deliver.

If there is more to come from this game in the future, I might give it another shot, until then, I'll wait and see. I want more and I'm ambivalent about it and disappointed that it feels like it wasted my time.

I wanted this to be good, but it ends so unsatisfying that I can't recommend it. There's no closure. I want to fair so, it's worth mentioning that there is a lot I liked and enjoyed, so I don't want this to seem completely negative. However the ending ruins it for me, and I won't spoil it. Let me start by saying I was hooked from the beginning. The world has charm, wit, humor, and vibrant artwork for the characters and setting. It hearkens back to classic RPG vibes that I've missed so much. So, it hurts that it could be so much better than it is. The combat feels good with catchy music. The few puzzles were fair and easy to understand. It's world concept is unique for an RPG. All the boxes are checked, but then it falls on its face. The writing at points ranged from masterfully well at tugging at the heartstrings and investing you into Verm, the main character. (The beginning is SO good!) But then, later the story falls short on depth or subtext with hand-fisted messaging and poor handling its villains. It's almost condescending to the player, talking down to your intelligence and tells you how feel. For example, one big villain's whole extent is he's called a "fascist," (the game's words not mine,) and he enjoys hurting people. It completely took me out of the story. One, the setting is medieval-themed. Two, it's lazy writing to say he's bad only "because he is" without anything more. It provides no depth. No subtext or nuance and gave no meaningful reason to care. The real world is not like that. Not to mention it felt lecturing me about other things later and I'll avoid spoilers. Likewise in these place the dialogue told me how to feel instead doing as the opening and letting the characters be themselves as events played out. As a positive, the setting feels alive and I want to explore it more, but can't. This kind of brings me to my next point. The game is short. I beat it in a weekend (10 hours.) Plus, that's stretching it out and doing every side-quest and super boss I found. I even looked harder to keep playing. I wanted to keep going. Most positive things I can say are a double-edged sword. On one hand, the game has no grinding, no random encounters, or need for worrying about managing items to restock. (Think potions from other games.) This is huge! I thought to myself why don't other games do this? This is great. Yet then, the game lacks challenge more than likely because of it. The level-ups are blocked off by story progression. Which is cool I guess, if the story were longer, and the combat shook up its mechanics. Only two fights did I struggle with, and one was from an optional side-quest. That was my favorite fight btw. I feel this game could benefit from some kind of new game + or a difficulty boost. Or even an expansion for harder sections in the world. They tease a place a few times across the sea, but we never got it from what I can tell. I genuinely enjoyed the game at the start and could not put it down. So, it pains me that it doesn't stick the landing. If you do pick up the game, don't pay full price and savor it for what it is. There are truly good moments, and take them for what they are. Cherish them. This game had some magic but it's not there yet or fully realized. It's stumbles in its own way. The story concludes in a way that I feel for the Verm yet nothing is gained or concluded as a meaningful ending. For so much investment and promise, it didn't deliver. If there is more to come from this game in the future, I might give it another shot, until then, I'll wait and see. I want more and I'm ambivalent about it and disappointed that it feels like it wasted my time.