Recent reviews by Kidomaro

This review is based off of playing on PC and the Steam Deck.

Super Adventure Hand is an eccentric 3D platformer that places you in control of a disembodied hand on a quest to retrieve its arm from malevolent feet. The game offers physics-based gameplay with various levels, puzzles, and obstacles, each featuring its own distinct quirks and gimmicks. It also features light-hearted humor that runs through the entire experience. However, it leaves you with the feeling that there is room for more content in various aspects.

You, once a hand in the business of selling gloves, now find yourself alone, wondering about the mysterious absence of your trusty companion, your friend, and partner, your arm, which is inexplicably missing from its usual place at your wrist! You conclude that it must have been those cursed feet that have been responsible, and with unwavering determination, you embark on the journey to reclaim your missing arm.

The story is enjoyable and is filled with delightful comedic moments, thanks to its light-hearted tone. However, just when it starts to gain momentum and direction, it concludes rather abruptly, leaving a somewhat underwhelming feeling. It could have needed a couple more levels to provide a more satisfying and complete journey.

While not exactly a complaint but rather an observation, it is worth noting that the absence of a narrator seems like a missed opportunity to have significantly enriched the delivery of the comedic dialogue. A perfect example of this can be seen in Worms Ultimate Mayhem, where the narration truly elevates the absurd storyline and antics, effectively enhancing the overall comedic experience.

The gameplay in Super Hand Adventure boils down to amusing 3D platforming with clever gimmicks, occasional foes, and puzzles. While the core mechanics may seem basic, mainly involving grabbing, pulling, or flicking objects around, it is the way these elements interact with the gimmicks and puzzles that elevates the experience, turning what might sound underwhelming into an entertaining adventure.

Puzzles, Gimmicks and uh feet?
Most levels share a common puzzle design framework, albeit with subtle alterations that keep them varied enough. They often revolve around relatively simple premises, such as carrying, throwing, or pushing objects from Point A to Point B while evading hazards. Depending on the scenario, they can be entertaining, but some puzzles tend to drag on a little too long. However, don't be mistaken; there are engaging puzzles that put your hand-eye coordination, timing, and creativity to the test.

The Gimmick levels, in contrast, offer a wild and enjoyable rollercoaster of experiences. From driving a toy car to steering a skateboard, these levels exude an infectious sense of chaos and pure fun. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3052689278 Unfortunately, I found that the game lacks enemy variety. You primarily encounter only two types of feet, and in a majority of the levels, there are simply no enemies, which feels odd, especially considering they are supposed to be the "bad guys."

Replayability and Customization
The game offers a fair amount of replay value, as you can tackle it from either a speedrunning perspective or a collectible hunting angle. While it's possible to attempt both simultaneously, it poses a trade-off: you can either sacrifice your time while gathering cans or push for a speedrun, missing out on the collectible. The cans unlock a *hand*ful of cosmetics, including rings, watches, wristbands, and nail polish to personalize your hand's appearance. The cosmetics are well designed and make progression fun, as it would always be exciting to see the next chaotic thing you can put on your lil guy, be it a burger ring or just a bracelet.

Visuals
While the visuals may not necessarily be groundbreaking, they maintain an enchantingly minimalistic and stylized appearance that effectively captures a compelling aesthetic. The levels offer sufficient variety to keep things feeling fresh and distinct. However, repetitiveness does eventually feel evident, primarily in the assortment of props and assets used throughout the different levels. Fortunately, the most substantial aspect of Super Adventure Hand's charm is, of course, seeing the disembodied hand scurrying around, which luckily is incredibly satisfying and amusing because of its' energetic animations where all the various fingers move independently and adapt to the terrain you climb. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3052748922
Audio
The soundtrack comprises catchy and upbeat tunes that complement the quirky and colorful nature of the game, successfully fostering a lively and energetic atmosphere. There are a couple of standout songs, but overall, most of the tracks adhere to a cohesive style that ultimately means none are particularly memorable. The sound effects do an excellent job of conveying the weight and impact of each action, delivering satisfaction, be it the sound of flicking an object, scurrying around, or simply listening to ambient noises.

Hardware Specifics & Bugs
PC: i7-9700K, 24GB of RAM, and a RTX 2080 Ti.
SD: 800p, 60 FPS, ~1.5-2 hours battery, ~20W, 65-72 C.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3053363718
Both platforms ran smoothly without any prevalent issues encountered on either one.

Super Adventure Hand is a charming and whimsical 3D platformer that delivers a unique and entertaining experience. The game's physics-based gameplay, quirky gimmicks, and light-hearted humor make it an amusing journey. However, it leaves you wanting more, especially in terms of content and storytelling. The abrupt ending and lack of enemy variety are minor blows in an otherwise enjoyable adventure.

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This review is based off of playing on PC and the Steam Deck.

Stray Gods is an interactive visual novel that seamlessly blends Greek mythological themes and musicals together, graced by enchanting visuals, an extraordinary ever-changing soundtrack, and stellar vocal performances. It is both an ambitious and innovative game, offering a refreshingly pleasant journey with ample replayability.

You play as Grace, a young woman who gets framed for the murder of a muse. In order to clear your name, you must gather evidence and absolve yourself within a week. You discover a unique power that allows you to make people sing the truth. With this newfound ability, you collaborate with Greek deities, residing in human guise within the contemporary world. Along the way, you will uncover secrets, face dangers, and maybe even experience love.
Your journey's outcome rests on your choices, shaping the narrative. The story captivates with its unique and modern take on Greek mythology, filled with enough twists and turns to prevent it from going stale, albeit predictable, but nonetheless thrilling to see play out.

From a mechanical standpoint, Stray Gods is an intriguing interactive visual novel game infused with a hint of RPG elements. At its core, the experience revolves around decision-making, intertwining threads of choices, harmonious musical interludes, relationship dynamics, and an enthralling murder mystery that awaits unraveling.

Choices Matter!
At the start of the game, you get a pivotal decision – the selection of one among three defining traits: "Charming," "Kickass," and "Clever." These traits serve as the compass for your interactions, shaping not only your path but also influencing the fates of those around you. Each unique quality unlocks specific dialogue options, granting access only accessible if you have the corresponding trait. For instance, with the "Kickass" trait, you can say something imposing and force your way through a situation, whereas with "Clever," you would use your intellect to navigate it. All the traits serve as pivotal junctions that help shape the trajectory of your narrative adventure, leading to noticeable variances in dialogue and outcomes. Witnessing their effects on the story is always entertaining and fascinating, even when it does not go as planned.

Musicals
Much like conversations, the musical sections are interactive and branching, but now with a unique twist – the ability to reshape lyrics and melodies according to your choices. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3028927015
The musical acts undeniably take center stage, consistently delivering moments of sheer delight and profound narrative depth. They seamlessly intertwine entertainment with storytelling, ensuring an experience that is not only enjoyable but also enriched with layers of meaning. I even found myself humming along and, at times, could not resist the urge to mumble along, attempting to sing along with the piece.

Relationships
As you engage in noteworthy interactions, you forge relationships through your choices, ultimately influencing how the characters perceive and interact with you. They might offer invaluable assistance, become a reliable ally, or present unanticipated challenges that may either aid or hinder your progress in searching for clues. You will also occasionally get the opportunity to flirt and build romantic connections. These choices are always cherished, offering a delightful pause from the overarching story.

Visuals
The visuals feature a captivating blend of cel-shading and cartoony graphics with various visual styles such as cross-hatching, halftone dots, and more creating a distinctive fusion of visual styles that breathe more life into the already vibrant and colorful 3D-modelled environments. In contrast, the characters exude charisma through their 2D hand-illustrated designs, adding an intriguing visual dimension to the storytelling.

The character designs hold a distinctiveness, reimagining the Greek gods within a contemporary setting that challenges conventional tales and depictions of them. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3025261410 In terms of movement, Summerfall Studios embraced a minimalist animation style. Everything remains mostly still, conveying only the necessary expressions and emotions while allowing the cinematography to do most of the work, which generally works fine. However, some scenes could have benefitted from just a touch more liveliness.

Audio
Audibly, it sounds great; the voice-acting performances stand out as nothing short of spectacular, establishing a profound connection to each god's emotions and actions, which is hardly surprising given the ensemble's remarkable talent in this game. From Laura Bailey and Khary Payton to Troy Baker and an array of other immensely skilled voice actors, every individual consistently exceeds expectations. It is particularly apparent in their ability to perfectly convey inner struggles during subdued moments and casual conversations, transitioning seamlessly into the musical segments.

Given its nature as a visual novel, while the presence of sound effects might not be abundant, the ones incorporated hold significant importance. These auditory elements contribute to the various scenarios, whether through subtle audio cues or the depiction of characters' movements. However, sporadic audio mixing issues did occur, impacting the experience and making some moments feel less impactful than they would have otherwise.

The soundtrack by Austin Wintory truly is exceptional, not just because of its remarkable quality but also because of the quantity of potential variations. Depending on your choices, you will curate the soundtrack, creating a unique and personalized musical journey. Choices will significantly impact the song's mood and eventual outcome, but what is truly impressive is how seamlessly it blends and switches between these various moods while sounding incredible.
The dedication invested in the OST is genuinely awe-inspiring – not one, but four soundtracks were meticulously crafted for Stray's God, each masterfully evoking a spectrum of emotions and contributing to an unceasingly enthralling and delightfully unparalleled experience with every musical act. The songs adhere to the typical musical pattern – with some exceptional works that leave a lasting impression for days, while others may not reach the same heights. Nevertheless, even at their least impressive, they remain enjoyable and remarkably suited to the narrative at hand.

Hardware Specifics & Bugs
PC: i7-9700K, 24GB of RAM, and a RTX 2080 Ti.
SD: 800p, 60 FPS, ~1.5-2 hours battery, ~20W, 65-72 C.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3032110194 My save file on PC was deleted due to a bug during Act 2, forcing me to start over. Fortunately, the issue has since been resolved. Additionally, the team has addressed the audio issues and is working to fix them with an upcoming patch.

Stray Gods exceeded my expectations, providing an incredibly entertaining and refreshing experience filled with charm, joy, and evident love and care put into every aspect of the game. From the outstanding voice acting and soundtrack to the compelling story and stunning visuals, it all comes together to create an astonishing package.

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This review is based off of playing on PC and the Steam Deck.

Timeloop: Sink Again Beach is a non-linear first-person action-adventure puzzle game set in the pirate era, intertwining exploration, time travel, and puzzles. While the concept shows promise, the execution falls short almost in every way. There is fun to be had, and the visuals are charming, but the overall experience cannot escape the feeling of being a time-waster rather than a time-traveling pirate-filled journey.

Jack embarks on a voyage to Monkey Island to disperse his friend Donald's ashes. However, he soon learns the real name, "Death Island," and becomes aware of the daunting challenge of leaving. The inhabitants and visitors of Death Island possess an enigmatic nature, making it difficult for Jack to discern who among them can be relied upon.
While the story is not unique or super interesting, the island's numerous charms, coupled with the mysterious allure of its inhabitants, manage to weave an enjoyable enough narrative throughout the short journey.

The core gameplay involves wandering around on Monkey Island, exploring, solving puzzles, interacting with the inhabitants, time traveling to unravel its mysteries, and seeking an escape. That is it; it is very simplistic and, in theory, has the potential to be something enjoyable, but ultimately it is not.

Timeloop mechanic
Scattered throughout the island, formations of rocks create portals when approached, and upon interacting with them, you unlock the ability to time travel across three different timeslots of the day. Allowing you to bridge the past and the future, you keep your inventory, enabling you to utilize acquired knowledge and items, resulting in a fascinating gameplay loop but hindered by its simplicity and lacking puzzles.

When revisiting a previously explored timeslot, a duplicate of yourself emerges that faithfully retraces your prior footsteps within that timeframe. It introduces an engaging layer of danger to the gameplay because getting caught disrupts the spacetime continuum and acts as a "game over."

Once you time travel to a specific timeslot, you cannot utilize that same formation of rocks to return to it again, for whatever reason. This mechanic is incredibly weird but ultimately feels like a hindrance, necessitating the search for an alternative rock formation to achieve the desired time travel and ending up feeling like your time is being wasted alongside allowing for a soft lock to occur if you are not careful.

Exploration
Exploration can feel rather mundane, as the island lacks significant size and variety. It mostly consists of repetitive scenery, with occasional glimpses of novelty when stumbling upon new inhabitants, areas, or discovering items.

Puzzles
Unfortunately, the puzzles are exceedingly ordinary and lack originality, frequently adhering to a predictable structure.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2989709366
This formulaic approach is repeated throughout the game, with no notable inclusion of fresh or creative puzzle challenges.

Something to note is that occasionally the game fails to maintain the proper time-loop perspective, leading to instances where conversations or puzzles occur in the wrong order. For example, there is a situation where Jack acquires a scroll, acknowledging its potential usefulness but stating his inability to read Latin, only to paradoxically read Latin when the scroll can be used without having done anything to learn Latin. These inconsistencies are confusing and disrupt the pace of the game.

Visuals
While not anything to write home about, the stylized visuals capture a compelling aesthetic that is enjoyable to behold during exploration, even though repetition becomes evident, such as the limited variety of tree variants and overall asset variety throughout the island. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2989702025
The character designs are odd but fun; they are not fantastic, but their goofy appearances fit the stylized look with enough characteristics that make them stand out. The animations are, however, quite bad, lacking in both fluidity and organic movement. As a result, they come out as incredibly unnatural and devoid of any actual emotion or life. The VA performances also do not match the character's lip movements, thus making exchanges feel highly off-putting and jarring rather than comedic and informative as they were supposed to be.

Audio
The voice-acting performances range from mediocre to downright dreadful. It feels as if the voice actors were given a script to merely read aloud without any genuine effort to bring the characters to life. The sound effects are adequate, although I was not fond of the walking on grass sound effects. I, therefore, found myself constantly jumping to minimize its presence. Ironically, this led to a rather comical sight, as my replicated selves ended up looking quite goofy bouncing around just as I had done, but now visible from an outsider's perspective.
The OST has a couple of good tracks that stand out, but ultimately the soundtrack is weighed down by its excessive repetitiveness and lack of variety.

Hardware Specifics & Bugs
PC: i7-9700K, 24GB of RAM, and a RTX 2080 Ti.
SD: 800p, ~28-30 FPS, ~1.4 hours battery, ~20-22W, ~75-84 C.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2989735434
It ran smoothly on my PC without any prevalent issues. However, on the Steam Deck, it performed inadequately with constant dips in FPS even with Refresh Rate and Frame Limit set to 30 FPS.

Timeloop does not fully leverage its unique concept for an enjoyable experience, lacking depth in exploration, puzzles, and overall unpolishedness to undermine the journey, resulting in an unsatisfying and shallow experience that ultimately falls short of its potential.

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This review is based off of playing on PC and the Steam Deck.

Katamari has once again rolled back into our hearts. We Love Katamari offers a fresh take on the beloved formula that fans have come to adore. With this remaster, it is back with its catchy soundtrack and charming visuals, but bigger and better than ever! We Love Katamari delivers a thrilling dose of wacky fun that is simply irresistible, with addictive gameplay and a world ready to be rolled up into a memorable experience!

The plot is a doozy because it is quite literally a self-referential story about how fans REALLY wanted a sequel to the beloved game Katamari Damacy. The King of the Cosmos wants to respond to his success and give people what they want: more Katamari! While the story may not seem like much, its true appeal lies in the underlying messages and commentary on the nature of sequels, which makes it fascinating.

There is, however, a supplementary story that focuses on the King's troubled youth and upbringing, in which he lived a strict lifestyle inherited from his father, the Great King. It is very odd, but it surprisingly has a lot of heartwarming moments to it and is ultimately enjoyable to watch pan out.

Katamari's gameplay loop is a delightful symphony of simplicity, chaotic fun, and gratification. Push the katamari around to roll up objects, and with each absorbed object, your katamari gets bigger, unlocking new areas and granting access to even grander things to roll up.
While not mechanically rich, its refreshing concept sets it apart, providing a captivating and engaging experience that serves as a reminder of the entertainment value found in simplicity sometimes.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2985159772
While the controls may feel clunky initially, they become more manageable with time, though the dash mechanic remains awkward throughout.

Level Design
We Love Katamari's level design improved drastically, with a significant focus on variation and originality. The design focus has shifted from a singular emphasis on "How large can the Katamari get?" to a more expansive question of "What can you do with the Katamari?" and because of it, each level feels like a unique experience: one submerges you in a pond with water physics and unique obstacles, and another immerses you in a scorching challenge where you find yourself continuously on the brink of extinguishment, reignited by collisions with objects.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2984201700
These unique interactive elements add depth and variety to the rolling experience, keeping the gameplay dynamic and enjoyable without becoming repetitive.

Co-op
Roll with a friend or roll against a foe! You can compete against a buddy of yours for some intense one-on-one, but if that is not your cup of tea, you can fumble together to roll a katamari in sync for an entertaining but chaotic experience.
It is important to note that there is no Steam Remote Play option as of this review; local split-screen is the only option for Co-op.

Customization
Through each level, you can discover and absorb your adorable cousins. Once absorbed, these endearing characters can be found in the main hub, allowing you to switch and play as them. You can also find presents that unlock various types of hats and accessories.

Additional Content
As a remaster, We Love Katamari boasts numerous quality-of-life improvements and additional content over the original. It introduces a quick menu selection for ease of level selection. Navigational cues for the next size-up zone are also triggered once you reach the requirement.
You can also create a playlist consisting of your favorite music in the music player. Prince Look (photo mode) has also got revamped with a selfie mode.

Then there is Royal Reveire, which has five additional challenges where you can roll around as the King in his boyhood. The levels are based on the cutscenes and are more challenging than the base levels. However, for a more relaxed experience, the Endless mode offers boundless enjoyment, granting the freedom to roll endlessly without the constraints of time or objectives.

Visuals
The visuals are genuinely a treat to look at. The world is imaginative and filled with a delightful blend of quirky characters, playful environments, and visually captivating objects. There is so much joy and wonder in its unique art direction and distinctive aesthetics, which capture that whimsical and lighthearted atmosphere. The vibrant color palette, with lively animations and surreal landscapes, contributes to a visually enchanting experience that immerses you in the bizarre and fantastical setting.

However, if you are not fond of the new visual changes, We Love Katamari has you covered because it allows you to switch between two different visual styles. "Gorgeous" features a variety of changes that improve the game's graphics, such as real-time shadows and lighting. "Usual" changes the visual style to resemble the original game.

Audio
We Love Katamari delivers an exceptional soundtrack that rivals the prequel's OST. The unconventional mix of instruments, unique vocal performances, and genre-fusion music create a captivating score. The music becomes more than just background ambiance; it becomes a driving force, infusing every moment with a sense of enchantment and leaving an indelible mark in your mind long after you have finished the game.

Sound effects combine minimalism with charisma, be it the satisfying sound of forcefully stopping or the playful collision sound; each audio cue evokes a sense of wonder and delight, immersing you deeper into the whimsical world. While the voice acting is not the central focus, the few VA performances are remarkably well executed, capturing an endearing essence that adds an extra touch of lovable charm to the overall narrative and tone.

Hardware Specifics & Bugs
PC: i7-9700K, 24GB of RAM, and a RTX 2080 Ti.
SD: 800p, 60 FPS, ~3 hours battery, ~13.3W, ~57-59 C.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2984430658
Both platforms ran smoothly, without any prevalent issues encountered on either one.

We love Katamari defies expectations by delivering an incredibly entertaining sequel that surpasses the charm and joy of the first installment with its addictive gameplay, improved level design, visuals, and exceptional soundtrack. It will keep you hooked as you roll up an ever-growing assortment of objects into massive katamari. We Love Katamari is as close to a perfect sequel as possible. It flawlessly builds upon the foundations of its predecessor, embracing and expanding upon everything that made the original game so special.

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This review is based off of playing on PC and the Steam Deck.

Gladiator! Prepare yourself for a brutal RPG with fast-paced turn-based combat, RNG, and strategy elements, set in a medieval fantasy world. Sever limbs, cast spells, wield wacky weapons, or even shout your opponents into submission. Are you ready to take on the challenge and become an immortal?

The story picks up where the previous installment left off. The year is 640 CM, and it has been forty years since the Automatons left our world. However, they have now returned, only to be pursued by the Starbound Gladiator. Once hailed as a hero when he departed our world, something happened to him in space that turned him hostile. Now, he poses a threat to both the Automatons and the people of our world, and it is up to you to rise to the challenge and defeat him before it's too late. You have 300 days to become the ultimate gladiator and face the Starbound Gladiator to save the world.

While it has an intriguing premise and an incredibly detailed world filled with imaginative characters and environments, it falls short of creating a lasting impression or emotional impact, ultimately feeling overshadowed by the gameplay mechanics.

The gameplay is a thrilling blend of turn-based combat, strategy, adventuring, and a prodigious amount of RNG thrown in as well. Create your ideal gladiator and choose your favorite class, then embark on an epic quest to save the realm from the lurking darkness and restore balance.

Character Creation
The character customization is impressively comprehensive, with plenty of options that significantly impact your visual appearance and gameplay experience. You can fine-tune characteristics to change starting attributes, including your species, height, weight, and more cosmetic-oriented things like voice, hairstyle, facial features, eyes, gender, and more.

Classes & Subclasses
There are six different classes, each with four subclasses you can choose from. The overarching character class changes the playstyles, varying from melee to ranged, magic, and even sonic waves, while the subclasses change one of your three starting passives. Each class also starts with two unique skills.
Subsequently, you will get five starting points to allocate to the stats that you believe would be most beneficial for your class, taking into consideration their unique strengths and weaknesses.

Combat System
The turn-based combat allows for engaging and strategic gameplay where you fight against different types of enemies, including monsters, bandits, and other otherwordly creatures. During battles, you start by rolling a die to see who will go first. Once it is your turn, you choose from various actions, such as attacking with different weapons, using spells or skills, defending, or using items. While simplistic and incredibly RNG-heavy, the combat has enough depth to remain entertaining; however, it can be frustrating at times.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2967347481
Of course, it is not cheap or easy to be a gladiator. With each win, you either have to decide to brutally murder your opponent for more gold or have mercy on them and receive additional exp.

Each battle arena offers various specialized challenges. These challenges may include time-limited battles, unique rule sets, tournaments, team fights, or environmental changes. All of these require you to adapt your strategies and tactics accordingly, which is a welcome element as it keeps the encounters fresh.

Encamp
As you travel from one area to another, you will establish a makeshift camp in each town that serves as your base of operations. These camps offer a range of facilities, including an armorer, weaponsmith, enchantress, tavern, and training locations, allowing you to buy, upgrade, level up, and customize your gladiator skills and armory.

After you have taken care of your equipment, skills, and other necessities at your base camp, you can choose to either engage in battle, return to the overworld, or challenge a gladiator in the Colosseum. The makeshift camp allows you to seamlessly transition between different aspects of the game and decide how you want to progress through your journey. The freedom to choose your path adds to the game's overall appeal, making it a more enjoyable and personalized experience.

Adventuring & Dungeons
In the overworld, you explore the grand world of Swords and Sandals.
While primarily used for traveling between towns, the overworld map also offers adventure scenarios. These text-based scenarios give you various choices, each with potential rewards or consequences depending on your actions.

The dungeons offer a unique and enjoyable point-and-click experience, featuring challenging enemies and traps in dimly lit environments. You must make sure to come prepared and be able to strategically manage your resources to navigate through the obstacles and overcome the dangers. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2971978563

Observatories offer unique choices, such as slowing down or damaging the Starbound Gladiator for Stellar Crystals, and give you the option of challenging the guardian at the location. There is also a wandering wizard who can teleport you for a steep price.

Additional Content
Replay the campaign with different classes, subclasses, and difficulties, with each playthrough offering a unique experience due to the game's RNG-heavy nature. If that is not for you, then after you have completed the campaign, play through a boss rush game mode or take your gladiator into multiplayer and face other people in brutal battles.

Visuals
While I do miss the iconic flash game visuals of the originals, Swords and Sandals Immortals features a distinctive visual style that allows for more in-depth graphics without losing the essence and feel of the beloved franchise.

The character designs are diverse and visually distinct, with each race having its unique style. This not only lets you customize your gladiator but also boosts immersion and ensures that every encounter feels different. The varied environments, weapons, equipment, and spells all look impressive. However, animations and visual effects are incredibly janky, which has its charms but can also look incredibly dated, which is not inherently bad, but not everyone will love them.

Audio
The soundtrack features a mix of musical styles that perfectly match the game's epic and adventurous tone. From stirring orchestral pieces to more exotic and unusual tracks, the music adds a lot to the overall experience. The sound effects do an excellent job of conveying the weight and impact of each action, making battles feel more dynamic and intense.

Hardware Specifics & Bugs
PC: i7-9700K, 24GB of RAM, and a RTX 2080 Ti.
SD: 800p, 60 FPS, ~5.1 hours battery, ~8.5-8.9W, ~50-55 C.
Both platforms ran smoothly without any prevalent issues encountered on either one. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2967354038
Swords and Sandals Immortal is the most expansive and fleshed-out installment of the series to date. It is an excellent turn-based RPG with engaging gameplay mechanics that will keep you hooked for hours—that is if the outrageous amounts of RNG does not screw you over. The game's intricate skill tree and class system allow for an exceptional level of customization and replayability.

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This review is based off of playing on a Steam Deck.

Digimon World: Next Order is a unique role-playing game that combines the joy of raising and training virtual pets in a Tamagotchi-like fashion with good storytelling, exploration, and interesting turn-based battles. The learning curve is steep, and this becomes even more daunting due to poor tutorialization, leading to frustrating and tedious moments. Nevertheless, if you stick with it and master the mechanics, it makes the satisfaction and entertainment of taking care of your Digimon and saving the Digiworld all the more rewarding.

You are transported to the digital world after your Digivice receives a strange message. Upon your arrival, you discover that the world is in peril from a mysterious force that is causing Digimon to become aggressive and lose their memories, disturbing the world's balance. You must partner with the two Digimon that appeared alongside you and help other Digimon regain their senses. Along the way, you will meet others who are stranded in this digital world, and with them, you will slowly uncover the truth behind the crisis.

While it is a compelling story, the underlying gameplay mechanic requiring you to recruit a certain number of Digimon after each story segment before you can progress again disrupts the pacing and diminishes the impact of these story moments as it always ends in "Now go recruit more Digimon again."

The gameplay revolves around recruiting Digimon while raising and training your Digimon through battles and being responsible for managing their needs, including feeding, grooming, disciplining, exercising, and ultimately their happiness. Meeting these needs is essential in addition to engaging in various activities, as it allows your Digimon to stay alive longer and excel in battle.

Combat
While battles may seem awkward at times, they have a certain charm. The turn-based combat system offers enough complexity and remains engaging and diverse throughout the entire playthrough. Dynamically change your Digimon's battle stance by issuing commands that alter the flow of combat and the behavior of your Digimon based on the opponent and what you should prioritize to be victorious, while determining whether to block, use an item, or use an ability; as for abilities, there are offensive, defensive, and buffs, which all heavily impact the battle when used well. Depending on your Digimon's happiness, you can also use an ExE form, which transforms your partners into a powerful special transformation that you can only use once a day. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2958478687
Caretaking
Your Digimon will age with time, gaining access to new abilities, improving its stats, and digivolve into more powerful forms. However, to do this, you must attend to the needs of your Digimon, as your success will depend on their nurturing. Every Digimon has different prerequisites to digivolve, in addition to preferences for food and tolerances for exhaustion, hunger, and various other factors. Managing your Digimon's needs provides a sense of growth and development that rewards you for your time and effort, but do not get too attached as they will eventually die. However, at the end of their lives, some of their stats and abilities are passed down to the next Digimon you raise, and there are over 200 different Digimon that you can raise, each with different elemental strengths, weaknesses, and attributes, and all are obtainable by training and disciplining your Digimon partners accordingly.

Exploration and Recruitment
Recruiting Digimon is a crucial aspect of the game, and you must explore the various areas of the Digiworld to do this while collecting materials for your town. Each region has unique Digimon to recruit, with varying specific requirements to join. Some Digimon may require a battle to prove their strength, while others may require items or a minigame of sorts it. The recruiting system can be entertaining and add an element of strategy concerning which Digimon to recruit and how to go about it while encouraging exploration; however, it also disrupts the pacing of the narrative while also feeling like a repetitive task at times, reminiscent of filler quests in MMORPGs.

Floatia
Floatia is the central town in Digiworld, where you can buy items, train, and heal your Digimon. Recruit Digimon to unlock more facilities while using the materials gathered to upgrade said facilities. Every Digimon you recruit unlocks something new in the town, be it new conversations, items, facilities that give you tips and tricks, and more. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2960864432
Additional Content
After the main story ends, a postgame story starts where the Digital World has a new threat, and while there is no NG+, there is still plenty to do besides the postgame story. New areas unlock, there are more Digimon to recruit, hard difficulty gets unlocked, use the Dimensional Box to do online matches, or if you are a completionist, complete the Field Guide and your town's facilities.

Visuals
The visuals are not necessarily bad, but they do come across as outdated due to the lack of natural elements such as trees, rocks, and foliage, in addition to the overall flatness of the environment. Quite frequently, there is also texture stretching, resulting in blurry or pixelated textures in certain areas, which also contributes to the dated feel. However, the digital world is incredibly colorful and delightful to explore regardless, with a diverse range of environments that capture the essence of the Digimon franchise with its fun and quirky approach. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2953484710
The Digimon designs are a highlight, with over 200 different Digimon, all with detailed, unique, and lively appearances. From cute and cuddly to fierce and powerful, the Digimon are full of personality and charm. However, much like the textures, the designs also suffer from feeling old, be it because of awkward animations or lower-resolution appearances. It is particularly noticeable during close-up shots or in certain lighting conditions, where the limitations become more apparent. While the graphics may not be as cutting-edge as some other titles, they still provide a unique and immersive visual experience. 

Audio
The soundscape is very diverse, with a varied range of ambient noises that reflect the many different locations you can explore. Each Digimon has its own unique vocalizations, ranging from menacing growls to playful chirps and everything in between, and as for the characters' dialogue, while there is not a lot of it, what is present is done adequately. The soundtrack perfectly blends energetic battle themes with more melodic and atmospheric tracks that set the mood for exploration. There are plenty of memorable melodies, especially the ones with vocals.

Steam Deck specifics
800p, 60 FPS, ~3.1 hours battery, ~10-11W, ~58-61 C.

Digimon World: Next Order combines the joy of raising virtual pets with enjoyable exploration and interesting turn-based battles. While the poor tutorialization and repetitive recruitment system may initially feel frustrating, mastering the mechanics and managing your Digimon's needs leads to a satisfying and enjoyable experience. The dated visuals and imperfections aside, it is entirely worth checking out.

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Pocket Harvest is an endearing farming-oriented management game that first hit iOS and Android platforms in 2013. It is a relaxing yet enjoyable experience where you can cultivate your farm, grow crops and earn money while expanding your agricultural domain. The game's visuals and sound design are aesthetically pleasing, following Kairosoft's traditional style, which creates a captivating atmosphere that immerses you in the cheerful retro world. Despite the game's strengths, the pacing can feel underwhelming, and unlockables are introduced slowly, which can be tedious for some. Nevertheless, there are entertaining features and aspects that are worth exploring and experiencing.

Step into the shoes of a new farmer who owns a small plot of land and few crops. The goal is to build a successful agricultural business by cultivating crops, hiring workers, and expanding the farm. Navigate obstacles such as unfavorable weather and crop conditions while participating in various events and competitions to earn extra income and improve your reputation. As with most of Kairosoft's games, the story does not play a central role but instead serves as an overarching setting that establishes the context for the gameplay.

Manage and develop your farm by growing crops, raising livestock, and handling your finances by selling your products and investing in new equipment and buildings. Additionally, incorporating new shops and attractions can entice visitors to your town and boost your profits and rewards. Think strategically about crops and their placement to fulfill missions, obtain combos, earn more money, and additionally which crops to upgrade. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2946732995 Workers are assigned different tasks, such as planting, watering, and harvesting crops, and each worker has different stats that affect their efficiency and work speed. You can train the workers by giving them items and equipment which improve their stats and make them more productive. Despite the diversity of items and equipment, they fail to make a tangible difference, which is a shame because it resulted in a somewhat one-sided farming experience. They, of course, helped, but overall did not feel impactful or fun to use.

Participate in various events and contests, such as crop fairs, livestock shows, and more. Although once you have seen one, you have essentially seen them all, they could have used some variety to spice up each contest instead of merely different flavor text. Each competition has its own rules and requirements that must meet them to qualify and compete. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2946745494
Your farm is rated bi-annually based on different criteria: shipment, harvest, tourism, and staff. The evaluation outcomes determine the level of rewards received, which vary based on the aggregate score.

Customization options are limited but ultimately get the job done and allow you to build out your farm to your liking, whether you want to min-max for efficiency or merely make a pretty farm. While the gameplay formula is enjoyable and laid-back, the pacing of unlockables feels slow and makes the playthrough tedious, even for a Kairosoft game. While this does not completely detract from the enjoyment, it certainly puts a damper on it.

Once 16 years of in-game time have passed, you will be awarded a high score and the option to continue in a sandbox mode or replay the campaign with items and equipment carried over from the previous game.
The replay value is there, but only if you do not mind the slow pace of unlockables and grind.

Pocket Harvest has a visually captivating and charming aesthetic, combining cute and colorful graphics with a nostalgic retro-pixel art style. The farm is full of vibrant and lush fields, trees, seasons, and weather effects, providing an immersive and pleasant visual experience, which is ever-expanding with each new crop, building, and area you unlock. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2946735790
The characters and animals are designed in a cute chibi style with oversized heads and expressive features, bringing a playful and inviting atmosphere to the game. Each crop has its unique and vibrant appearance that aligns with the game's retro aesthetic and adds to the overall spirit and appeal of the farm.

The competitions are a fun and exciting way to showcase your farm's products. However, like many other Kairosoft titles, they lack diversity in their visual presentation. While the participants and judges change from competition to competition, the format remains the same, which can lead to a feeling of repetition. Adding more visual excitement and variety to the competition environment would make the events feel more engaging.

Pocket Harvest's soundtrack features a lively chiptune style that perfectly complements the game's retro-inspired aesthetic. The upbeat and energetic sounds add to the game's liveliness and create a fun and engaging atmosphere. The sound effects, while minimal, are well-executed and serve as the finishing touch to the game's overall aesthetic.

As for the experience on the Steam Deck, it runs at a capped frame rate of 20 FPS, but that does not diminish the overall gameplay experience due to its retro aesthetic and style. At 800p and default settings, it offers roughly ~6.5 hours of continuous play, consuming around 6W of power at a temperature of 53C.

The default configuration provides optimal battery performance with no further adjustments necessary. While adjusting settings may increase battery life, it is not a must for a fulfilling gameplay experience. The game also features Steam Cloud saves, allowing seamless switching between the Deck and PC. Overall, it's a delightful game on the Deck, offering touchscreen and traditional control options.

Pocket Harvest ultimately is a charmingly good farming management game but hindered by poor pacing and core mechanics like items and equipment not feeling satisfying. The gameplay formula is enjoyable and laid-back experience, but compared to other Kairosoft titles, it simply is inferior. That being said, if you can forgive its imperfections and merely want a simple farming sim or a Kairosoft itch, Pocket Harvest should suffice.

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This review is based off of playing on PC and the Steam Deck.

Atomic Heart is a bold and ambitious first-person shooter that ultimately can be described as a "two steps forward, one step back" experience. Set in a clever and immersive alternative-history world that is brought to life by its exquisite visuals and an outstanding soundtrack that enhances the already entertaining combat. However, exploration lacks excitement and feels tedious at times, and the narrative often becomes incoherent while also being plagued by inconsistency in game design choices. Despite these setbacks, Atomic Heart is still undoubtedly thrilling and enjoyable. It remains a game that shows the developer's creative vision and passion for the project. If you can look past its flaws and inconsistencies, you will find an engaging and challenging experience that offers a unique blend of genres and gameplay mechanics.

Set in an alternate reality in the 1950s, where the Soviet Union has developed advanced technology and lives in a utopian world where humans and robots coexist. A new robot-control system is about to launch, but a tragic accident occurs and disrupts it. Mutants, terrifying machines, and powerful robots suddenly rebel and kill everyone in sight. Only P-3 and his experimental power glove Charles can stop them while uncovering the truth behind the disastrous launch and whatever else they might unveil on the way.

While the concept and setting of the story are intriguing and have a lot of potential, it, unfortunately, falls short in execution. It starts strong with an engaging and tense atmosphere, but as the story progresses, it becomes increasingly silly and nonsensical. Certain characters have unique moments but are not well-written enough to be truly memorable and often rely on exaggerated actions or quirks to stand out. Nevertheless, the story definitely has its moments, and the witty humor can occasionally land. However, it requires a lot of suspension of disbelief to remotely enjoy it because crispy critters it can be stupid.

At its core, Atomic Heart is a first-person shooter that blends aspects of action, horror, puzzles, and exploration into a wacky and flawed but fun experience. Gunplay is intense and dynamic, with a visceral and explosive feel that keeps you engaged. Combat is fast-paced and frenetic, keeping you on your toes as you face a range of unique opponents, from giant machines to mutants and superpowered robots each with their own strengths and weaknesses. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2938447697
It has a diverse selection of weapons and abilities, each providing a satisfying experience with unique playstyles and strategies. Additionally, you can upgrade and add modifiers to weapons for additional elemental effects, allowing for even more customization and adaptability in combat.
With the help of your experimental power glove, you can scan the area for loot and examine enemies to reveal the strengths and weaknesses of the enemy in question.

Rest areas are scattered throughout the environments and serve as places you save and craft weapons, ammo, and consumables. They also provide opportunities to upgrade abilities and weaponry. Looting is crucial as it is required to unlock recipes, craft, and upgrade. Collect items from enemies, chests, and the environment using telekinesis. This intuitive mechanic makes looting a surprisingly enjoyable aspect of the game.

Despite looting being satisfying, the exploration aspect of Atomic Heart is not due to the bland open world with repetitive enemy types scattered all over it and frustrating repair robots, making it a tedious chore to traverse between hubs. However, exploration within the four hubs is much more enjoyable and rewarding.

Puzzles are surprisingly enjoyable, offering challenges varying in style and complexity, especially the hidden dungeons. Puzzles not only add an extra layer of excitement and accomplishment, but they usually feel creative and fun while not slowing you down too much to feel like a drag which is much appreciated.

Atomic Heart boasts an artistic and stunning take on Cold War-era architecture with a futuristic spin that is a fresh breath of air. Whether you explore a run-down industrial building or a modern, high-tech lab, each location always presents a unique visual treat, bringing the game world to life, be it because of a sense of dread or awe that it creates.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2938515203
The attention to detail in the character models truly is impressive. They are beautifully rendered, with realistic facial expressions, while equipped with neat steam-punk-inspired equipment. The robots and various other enemies have detailed designs that are excellently animated and remarkably designed as well.

The weaponry is as deadly as visually stunning because of excellent designs ranging from futuristic firearms, gadgets, and various superb abilities that the experimental power glove offers. Not only are the weapons impressive, but they also evolve with each upgrade, resulting in increasingly stylish designs.

While the sound effects of weapons and enemies are impactful and audibly sound great, the dialogue can be hit or miss. The voice actors themselves do justice to their roles. It is just that the script they are working with is incredibly inconsistent and often nonsensical, which can detract from the overall immersion. However, if you find humor in the quirky dialogue and do not mind a bit of absurdity, this might not be an issue for you, and you may even find the game's unique writing style entertaining.

The soundtrack composed by Mick Gordon is incredible. It features a mix of classic Soviet-era songs and modern tracks that blend phonk, rock, and techno influences. Whether it is during an intense boss fight or a stroll through the environment, the well-made score always enhances the moment.

Atomic Heart on a PC with an i7-9700K, 24GB of RAM, RTX 2080 Ti, and through an ultrawide monitor, with high-maximum settings, resulted in consistent 60 FPS, and I did not encounter any significant framerate or optimization issues except the horrible FOV because of ultrawide.

It is important to note that there is a lack of accessibility settings, promised features such as Ray-Tracing, and basic features such as a FOV slider, separate languages for subtitles, achievements not tracking properly, and various other things. Mundfish has stated that they are actively listening and plan to continue updating Atomic Heart and fixing it.

As for the experience on the Steam Deck, it honestly is astonishing how well it runs. At 800p and low presets settings (make sure to set "Hard Drive Speed" to SSD), it can maintain 60 FPS relatively consistently, but with dips in open-world sections. However, with Refresh Rate and Frame Limit set to 45 results in an incredibly consistent and smooth experience that allows for ~2.6 hours of continuous playing and draws ~12-21W while sitting at ~66-79C degrees. Subtitles are, however, hard to read but not impossible. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2938554678

Atomic Heart's imperfections aside, it offers a refreshing and thrilling experience, setting it apart from other games in the genre with its unique approach. It has excellent visuals, frenetic fun action, and enjoyable puzzles backed by an astonishing soundtrack. While it may not be perfect, it is still worth playing for its creative vision and ambition.

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The Sushi Spinnery is a charming restaurant-themed management game, initially released in 2012 on iOS and Android platforms. It is an enjoyable and approachable sim designed to provide players with a relaxing and fun experience. Its simple mechanics make it easy to grasp while still offers enough for a satisfying challenge. Whether you are a seasoned management sim player or just looking for a chill game, it is sure to provide an entertaining experience with its fun retro art style and concept.

Take on the role of a manager in a sushi restaurant, tasked with running the restaurant while aiming for #1 in the national rankings. Make crucial decisions about menu items, ingredients, staff, and restaurant design, while trying to attract customers and grow the business. As with most of Kairosoft's games, the story does not play a central role but instead serves as an overarching setting that establishes the context for the gameplay.

As the manager of the sushi restaurant, your role is to optimize operational efficiency while maximizing customer satisfaction. Attract new customers, participate in food events, and make strategic decisions to improve the restaurant's popularity and reputation by balancing the menu offerings, decorations, and amenities. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2928609678
Specialize your sushi dishes with three unique types of sushi. Get creative with ingredients and combine them to your liking to come up with the perfect sushi. Each competition has its own criteria, while customers' sushi cravings also change with the seasons, so stay on top by being ready to change it up. All of this adds to the excitement of each event, as a lack of preparation can make some contests challenging.

Acquiring Sushi Coins through customer interactions with amenities and satisfaction is crucial to your success. These coins fund your chefs' training while being able to find new ingredients, improve dishes, and unlock new recipes. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2929213521 Accumulating Sushi Coins may be tedious, but it allows you to redirect your focus to other engaging elements, such as customizing your restaurant. This approach enhances the overall enjoyment of the experience and negates some aspects that could otherwise be annoying.

Sushi restaurants are rated bi-annually based on criteria like food quality, service, amenities, and seats. The evaluation outcomes determine the level of rewards received, which vary based on the aggregate score.

The core gameplay loop is simple and easy to grasp, providing a laid-back experience for players who prefer a more relaxed approach and want an enjoyable idle management game. However, at the same time, it features enough mechanics and challenges that cater to players who enjoy optimizing and seeking a deeper level of engagement from their management sims.

It offers significant replay value to players, provided that the grind does not become too tedious. Once 16 years of in-game time have passed, you will be awarded a high score and can choose to continue in a sandbox mode or replay the campaign with additional amenities and decorations from the start.

The Sushi Spinnery presents a visually captivating and charming aesthetic, combining cute and colorful graphics with a nostalgic retro-pixel art style. This blend of old and new creates a lively and playful atmosphere, perfectly fitting the game's lighthearted tone and bustling sushi restaurant setting. With a modest range of amenities and decorations, the restaurant provides just the right amount of customization options, making everyone's restaurant unique and enjoyable, resulting in the environment never feeling dull.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2928634345
The heart and soul of the game lie in its sushi designs, which are nothing short of incredible. With their unique, vibrant appearances and bold, eye-catching shapes, each sushi is as much a feast for the mouth as the eyes. The designers have clearly put great effort into ensuring every detail, from those on the conveyor belt to up-close pictures, is meticulously crafted and memorable.

The customers are endearing, with their adorable chibi-like features and simplistic movements and expressions. These designs align with the game's retro aesthetic and add to the overall spirit and appeal of the bustling restaurant.

I would have appreciated more diversity in each competition visually, as the current format only differs in terms of the participants and judges. A more dynamic environment and the crowd would have added a heightened sense of excitement and thrill to the events.

The soundtrack features an energetic chiptune style that perfectly fits the game's retro-inspired aesthetic. The upbeat and pleasant sounds serve as a perfect complement to the lively background elevating the overall experience. In addition, the sound effects, though minimal, are excellent and play a crucial role in completing the aesthetic.

The Sushi Spinnery runs at a capped frame rate of 20 FPS but does not diminish from the overall gameplay experience due to its retro aesthetic and style. At 800p and default settings, it offers roughly ~6.4 hours of continuous play, consuming around 6W of power at a temperature of 53C.

The default configuration provides optimal battery performance with no further adjustments necessary. While adjusting settings may increase battery life, it is not necessary for a fulfilling gameplay experience. The game also features Steam Cloud saves, allowing seamless switching between the Deck and PC. Overall, it's a delightful game on the Deck, offering both touchscreen and traditional control options.

The combination of resource management, amenity control, tournament competition, and sushi creation makes for a captivating and addictive experience that will have you hooked for hours, with only the late-game content feeling a little repetitive. The vibrant retro pixel art and delightful chiptune soundtrack add a touch of nostalgia that enriches the overall vibe. It offers a fantastic experience for fans of management sims or those familiar with Kairosoft's prior works.

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This review is based off of playing on a Steam Deck.

Tennis Club Story is a charming sports-themed management game, initially released in 2016 on iOS and Android platforms. It offers a unique and engaging experience that combines various elements of management sim and sports, resulting in an enjoyable gameplay loop that will keep you hooked and entertained for hours. It features captivating retro-inspired visuals, well-made pixel art, and an upbeat and catchy chiptune-style soundtrack, creating an immersive and nostalgic gaming experience.

Take on the role of a club manager, with the goal of building and leading a team of elite tennis players to victory. Strategize and make crucial decisions on everything from recruiting and training players, managing finances, and competing in tournaments to defeat rival clubs with the ultimate goal of becoming the Tennis champion. As with most of Kairosoft's games, the story does not play a central role but instead serves as an overarching setting that establishes the context for the gameplay.

In Tennis Club Story, grow the club and become the top-ranked Tennis team. To accomplish this, effectively manage and train existing players, actively recruit new talent, and participate in tournaments and events to gain recognition and prestige. The gameplay revolves around strategic decision-making, resource management, and balancing the team's equipment and stats. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2923668779

Create a character and decide your specialty while assigning specific attributes, then compete in singles. As you gain experience and improve your skills, recruit other players to join you in doubles and team format matches for even more challenging and exciting competition. As your club grows in popularity, you will have the opportunity to upgrade and expand your club's facilities, equipment, and overall land size, attracting more sponsors and members.

To maximize your success, effectively manage your resources and keep your members happy by providing them with the training and support they need to be content. As a reward for your dedication, satisfied members occasionally offer additional rewards or request specialized training that can yield even more items. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2923662166
While I found watching the CPU VS CPU tennis matches engaging, some players may not share that sentiment, especially at end-game content, as that is when it becomes a tad bit grindy. But I enjoyed it nonetheless because of the resource management and training aspects outside of the matches, which made each victory feel satisfying and the training impactful, especially after overcoming a challenging game. Additionally, it is just soothing watching the AI duke it out for you and mildly amusing.

Tennis Club Story offers a significant replay value to players, provided that the grind does not become overly tedious for you. Once 16 years of in-game time have passed, you will be awarded a high score and given the option to continue in a sandbox-style mode or replay the campaign with your previously created characters and attributes.

It features a charming pixel art style that is visually appealing, with vibrant colors that bring the environments and characters to life. The retro style perfectly adds a touch of nostalgia to the game without making it look dated. While the simplicity of the design does lend to its charm, it can also make some elements feel a tad monotonous. For example, the facilities in the club never change appearance despite multiple upgrades, which ultimately limits the visual appeal and diversity of the club. That is not to diminish the wonderfully designed facilities and overall main hub.

The character designs are charmingly precious, with recognizable traits and chibi-like features, they are minimalistic, with basic movements and expressions, but they perfectly fit the game's retro aesthetic. I do, however, wish that during Tennis matches, the crowd featured more dynamic animations to enhance engagement and immersion, such as animating the audience to add an extra layer of liveliness rather than having them simply as static figures watching.

The courts for the various Tennis matches are a delight to behold, as they always offer a degree of variety, whether it be in terms of creative design or visual differences. The matches themselves are also visually engaging, with colorful effects when the ball is hit and cute animations of your team running around playing. https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2923258785
The Soundtrack features an upbeat chiptune style that adds to the retro-inspired atmosphere, providing a fitting background for the gameplay. Though it may not be anything extraordinary, it does an adequate job of enhancing the experience and remains pleasant to listen to, despite its repetitive nature. Additionally, the sound effects, such as the sound of a Tennis racket hitting the ball or the crowd cheering during a match, are sufficient and do their job well in immersing you in the experience.

Tennis Club Story is capped at 20 FPS, and while this affects the performance, it does not detract from the overall gameplay experience because of the retro-aesthetic and overall gameplay style. At 800p and default settings, it allows for ~6.5 hours of continuous playing and drawing ~5.9W while sitting at ~50C degrees. The default configuration is sufficient for optimal battery performance without the need for further adjustments, especially since the game's framerate is capped and cannot be increased. While you can experiment with other settings to potentially extend battery life, it is not necessary for a lovely experience. It does have Steam Cloud Saves, meaning you can easily swap between the Deck and pc. Altogether though, a delightful game to play on the Deck, with plenty of options for playing, be it with the touchscreen or traditional controls.

Tennis Club Story is a compelling blend of sports and management sims that offers an immersive and nostalgic experience enhanced by exquisite pixel art and a chiptune soundtrack. The thrill of climbing the ranks and expanding the club, coupled with the satisfaction of strategizing and managing resources between games, makes for an enjoyable experience that will keep you hooked for hours, with only the late-game content feeling a tad too grindy.

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