The game is certainly fun, but it can bug out. The 'signs' are supposed to make the game harder for one game and make the next run harder. (or at least the text says it is for 'the next game') However, for unknown reasons and with unknown frequency, they get bugged and start applying to every game until a new 'sign' is found. If this is intended, the card text is wrong. But also if it is intended, it is a massive difficulty spike. This bug was reported on the steam forums in 2021 and still exists on this version as of Jan 2023. No response from dev. Can be fun (as a rogue-lite type deck builder), but the bug makes it very hard when it happens, so you randomly get sideswiped into consecutive runs where you are unusually squishy. Would be a solid 4.5 or 5 were it not for the bug. But the existence of the bug is -1, and the fact it has been known and unfixed this long is atleast -1 more. If I am made aware of this being fixed and can confirm it, i will happily raise the rating.
Pros: * Good art style * Nice puzzles (not too difficult, but not gimmies either) * Serene background music * NG+ Cons: *Had to fight with the camera to see puzzle elements, which is doubly annoying since the mechanics means important parts are often 'down the cliff' ahead of you and the perspective jumps are more difficult. Would have really benefitted from a free camera (or free camera option) * Unskipable end credits, and no ability to speed them up. * NG+ does not unlock until after the end credits. So if you try to close and reopen, you have to redo the end sequence and credits *again*. Devs: Don't get in the way of me trying to play the game!! Forced credits makes me not want to continue!!
The general story and style is well done. It made me want to keep going. Unfortunatly, the quirks of the gameplay implementation grate on the nerves very quickly. * There seemed to be a general problem with the controls being sluggish. Most of the time, this doesn't make a difference. But at times where you need to move quickly, this can cause plummets into the abyss or enemy detection ranges when the controls don't respond quickly enough. * The game has a pseudo-auto save so failing doesn't force you back to the last checkpoint. But it often does force you back aggrivatingly far -especially during the quick sequences above- and as often as not, will jump you back before a 'cutscene', forcing you to listen to the dialog again. * Speaking of cutscenes: while nicely done and useful to help get you on the right track, the dialog cannot be skipped or sped up. Further, the game doesn't pause during this time. So you can end up watching the same cutscene many times, getting progressivley more annoyed as it prevents you from acting on the opening that you *know* you need. And by the time it gives you back control, the moment as past and you have to wait for the opening to happen again. * If you quit the game and return, you only respawn from the manual save points, not the autosaves. So if you are in the middle of a puzzle, you either need to stick it out to the next manual save, or accept losing progress. If you could restart from autosaves, I would consider the manual save points to be generous. But since you don't, they seem really lacking. Ultimately, I personally can't recommend this. The story and style are great, and the basic gameplay is fun enough, but those problems leave me closing the game feeling frustrated, not pleased. If they don't seem to be that big a deal to you, then by all means give it a try.
