I have a theory that games are generally made up of: (1) gameplay, (2) mechanics, (3) writing (includes dialogue and narrative), and (4) charm. I also have a theory that sometimes really good stories are unfortunately trapped in bad games, and vice-versa. This is a prime example of a GREAT story trapped in a sub-par game.
This is a classic turn-based CRPG, the gameplay is bog standard. But there are janky issues: the cursor sways in combat but does not in the overworld. So I would sometimes miss and attack the floor (wizard) or a pillar/boulder (set piece dressing) because I timed it wrong. I played this multiplayer with a friend (he hosted), and I had a recurring bug where the party was at full health but the health bars would only reflect 3/4 health, so I was healing like an idiot. The pathing was not fantastic, so sometimes the player characters would walk through fire or poison and damage (or kill) themselves. It wasn't often, but it happened enough that it was certainly frustrating (especially when I had the resurrect spell late game but we had to use resurrect scrolls instead).
A lot of mechanics were also unpredictable in almost predictable ways. I would use the expert marksman skill ricochet, which would bounce off of one enemy onto others. Except, sometimes, it would avoid enemies half a meter next to my target, bounce 10 meters (very long distance) to an enemy behind set dressing, hit the set dressing (in this example, a string and comically large wooden pin in a tent), and would be a waste of a skill. I would use my air wand, and at some point it would jut electricity and inevitably stun one of my friend's characters for a turn or two. I couldn't know exactly when, but I knew it would happen.
Little, janky things that got in the way of an extremely charming game, with extremely charming characters (loved the rats and the chicken, for example). The story is super interesting. So, great story, very charming, but not a great /game/, per se.
I would rate it somewhere around a 6.5/10. Definitely worth playing for the story. If you like games like Fallout, Rule of Rose, Silent Hill 2, or like, Nier, DEFINITELY worth it. Especially with a friend.
