Misery Street

Quality JRPG with loads of secrets and alternative solutions to problems.

I felt like leaving a short review, as there are so few of them for such a criminally overlooked game. Misery Street is a classic JRPG style game with an aesthetic that is fondly reminiscent of old computer games. The story deals with various existential ideas like the meaning of life and coping with the indifference of the universe. The main story was pretty entertaining, but what really got me invested was the various people you meet along the way. The citizens of Misery Street also struggle to find the meaning of life, and the answers they settle on range from humorous to downright depressing. The gameplay is simple and satisfying, both in combat and the overworld. The combat is turn-based, and each of the characters utilizes different equipment and resources that makes them play distinctly from one another. The exploration of the world rewards you with all kinds of goodies if you take the time to check everywhere and talk to everyone, and it was very satisfying. Even after completing the game I still felt like there was so much more to find and do, which is great because the game also includes a new game plus of sorts. The only real negative things I can say about the game aren't really bad, but really a matter of taste. The humor really didn't do much for me, especially the part with the pink shrex burglar in the shower. The final showdown, which for story reasons I don't wanna get into, I really didn't enjoy playing and was totally ready to just be done by the end of it. Misery Street hits a lot of check boxes for me, as it is fairly difficult, has a reasonable game length of about 20+ hours, rewards exploration, and is visually appealing to look at, especially the fantastic combat sprites. This game was definitely a pleasure to play, and I hope the creators make another game like it in the future.