Overall Status: Play the Demo (Positive Vibes)
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I was pleasantly surprised by this, the combat feels really solid. I'm a gamer, but not a good one, and this game sure makes you feel talented even though, its basically 4 buttons without much combo necessity, thus far from the demo.
Let's go over the things:
Positives:
1- Combat feels good, heavy, simply, yet flashy. All great.
2- The animations half that "on 2"s like Spirderverse vibe, and I feel this game might draw inspiration from that in terms of style, for example, some of the skin textures feel very "painted" like Spirderverse, and that's all very good in my book. While the run animation is a bit- too much, I think it makes you feel fast and powerful and its really effective at that. I think the step between full speed needs to be used unless you are at "critical max speed" so it feels more organic. Also- the fight animations are on point.
3- Oh wow- the Flash step mechanic...is basically why I'd buy this game if I was gonna. So, its basically dodge, but you phase through the enemies like a Ninja, and-- that's thematically perfect, it also makes the dodge-- so much easier and more fun than in ...most games that let you do it. I've never seen a more clever dodge and I've never liked a dodge better than this Flash Step.
4- The music and backgrounds are lovely as well, every "watercolor-like" and I'm hopeful for more. Reminds me of Okami in a very good way.
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Cons:
1- So- these are minor, the demo itself isn't at all polished, for example, it had little tutorial cards to explain mechanics as they became relevant, all except for when I came across a pit I couldn't cross. The only clue as to what to do was-- something I didn't see right away, graffiti foot prints that were aiming to show I could run against the walls to cross the chasm. Well- it was only like--- 5 minutes of me trying it using the "flash step" instead and failing and then backtracking cause-- I didn't know if I went the wrong way, before I saw the feet and was like-- oh...now I feel dumb. Given that the other mechanics were explained with tutorial cards-- I feell...why not this one? Just a little off. But its a minor grip. Bigger issues would be that it seems in "School Demo" you have like...maybe some life sim things- but- they aren't implemented at all. The clock is stock at 8:00am and the students, I guess, can be clicked on, but all the options to talk or engage-- don't work. So-- why leave that in the demo? Maybe-- take it out for now until its fully implemented, or...at least...partially existant.
2- The voice actors need direction. Its so much better to have like Animal Crossing squeeks than...dead on arrival voice actors. They are just reading the lines. They need to be acting them. And for that to happen- they need direction. None of the voices are bad, the acting itself is...not there and that's half the point of voice acting. To act them. So the director needs to redo these lines and get the actors to emote- and make it feel like-- they care. Cause as is, they don't.
3- Minor grip- when you half cutscenes and the characters speak but their faces don't move or they don't move their mouths- its a little jarring. Now- I don't need much in this department- I'm acquainted with VNs, it ain't a thing to me. But, in this case, they are emoting throughout the cutscene, if its not to much trouble, a mouth flap would-- maybe add?
4- Probably my biggest gripe and the only one that I think needs to be altered for the full game.
Why isn't the flash step like...a sustain air jump? So, if I jump and then do flash step-- I don't-- move forward in the air horizontally and then fall- I just-- show up again on the screen...but lower to the ground. I think-- it needs to be like a mid air push forward -- without the gradual fall- so, you could have more platforming that required it. Its a nice touch, and...I really was expecting it, seeing how the flash step worked on the ground in combat. I was... so disappointed when it didn't work that in the air. I think-- it really should.
5- I know its a demo, but I didn't get a full grasp of the story at all. But also-- why end the main demo on a cliffhanger for the first boss fight. Let me do the fight man. I wanna do it! I guess I'll have to wait for full release to do it. lol.
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Overall- the game has all the pieces to make something really cool.
I hope they all come together! Its a very brief demo. But- I had fun, and I'm excited for the full thing.
Wishlisted and awaiting updates.
