COPPER ODYSSEY

At this rate, it would be a disservice to Copper Odyssey if we didn't consider it alongside other RPGMaker classics, in the same conversation as OFF or Yume Nikki, Space Funeral, Hylics. I love this style and flow, it makes me want to make a zine, which is some of the highest praise I can give an indie game.

I'm not sure how this and it's sequel seem to be relatively obscure, because a lot of other games like this have gotten to be very popular. Is this more popular on itch? Almost none of them have this level of personality though, at least partially because this game understands that a unique presentation isn't gonna be enough. A very unique, complicated, and sort of completely broken jrpg combat system also underscores this strange world, and you can get sort of sucked into it for the hour or so before you become so overpowered you're not playing anymore. More seriously, this game also manages to resist the urge to include epic lore or unearned gravity even in its finest hours, using the bizarre, stilted dialogue and lightweight, un-serious characters to serve the plot, not the other way around. You might not think that spending a couple hours with some cat(?) guy(?) thing that has the top of his head missing would be enough to generate any interest in him, but by the end you will realize that you like all of these...people, we'll call them, because they have a genuine humor to them, and they all stand out. Every little area and every minor interaction is detailed and meaningful, and that's extra impressive since this is a little bigger than the average wacky RPGmaker indie game. I can't say I 100% understand what the story was supposed to be in the end, but any piece of art made with the genuine care that went into Copper Odyssey already understands that it doesn't need to explain itself. The world is insane and it has an atmosphere that defies description, and it's really very funny, at least to me. Any indie game that can be funny without resorting to internet meme references is proof that a true artist's soul went into it. This skates the fine line of "weird for weird's sake" and "genuine mood piece" just perfectly enough to keep you invested for the whole, silly thing, if only just to see whether or not there was some bigger picture at the end. Who cares if there is, really! A unique presentation may not be enough on its own, but it certainly is very impressive--this game looks and feels like it was a leviathan effort, and a rendering of a very special, inimitable vision. Bravo

It's a really cool game, but it's important to note that if you don't like figuring things out on your own you will HATE this. There is no tutorial, a lot of item and move descriptions don't actually describe what they do, stats aren't explained, and for some reason if you are battling and go right past your final team member it just passes the turn to your opponent. You will get frustrated and it will be really frustrating sometimes, but it's worth it. Also be careful, it can be really easy to mess up the experience a bit with the angel skin. I accidentally did a post-game boss rush before I even beat the CMYK and I realized at some point I got really overleveled, then I stomped the rest of the game easily

play this game, art is amazing, characters are amazing, music is amazing, it is truly an inspiring game

Game gives off magical realism vibes. Monitor is very cute.

the best and only rpgmaker game about printmaking !! !

I am a sucker for random itch.io games, and this one is no exception. I had the pleasure of playing this while I was enrolled in a printmaking class, and the tie-ins to the supplies and methods are super cute. The dialogue is funny, the characters are great, the music is incredible, and the areas are seeping with a palpable atmosphere. The battle system is confusing but fun, and you get a grasp on what things do what after a bit of getting knocked around by random enemies. This game is extremely underrated and is up there in my favorite games of all time aaaanddddd you should play it :3

Respect the craft!

I just finished art school and this game is 100% true to the art school experience. Any art student will tell you that the print room is a world of its own and the students that live there are some of the strangest and most creative people you will ever meet (I'm not a huge printmaker myself outside of the occasional linocut and risograph and already I miss the print room). Also I have adored quirky RPGs for most of my life and this was the perfect game for me. The visuals were gorgeous and stylistically strong. I loved the characters, setting and the dialogue was A+++, I was simultaneously unnerved and enamoured by everything I encountered in this game, my two favourite feelings to feel whenever I engage with art. And of course, respect the craft!

Great game, Respect the craft.