A Healer Only Lives Twice

About

"A Healer Only Lives Twice" is a command-select strategy game where you play as a Priest, tasked with healing and supporting a Knight ally in battle against monsters. Use your skills to manage HP, increase abilities, and advise your ally on enemy attacks. Manage your limited torches and gather resources as you level up and fight through increasing monster difficulty. Make your way to the next tier before your torches burn out.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 107 reviews

gameplay9 positive mentions

grinding5 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and engaging experience for players who enjoy the healer role, with a focus on resource management and strategy.
Despite its short length, the gameplay is fun and challenging, providing a satisfying sense of accomplishment as players learn the mechanics.
The trial mode and various gameplay modes add replayability and depth, allowing players to test their skills in different scenarios.

The game suffers from a lack of clear instructions and tutorials, making it difficult for new players to understand the mechanics and controls.
Many players find the torch management system frustrating, as running out of torches often leads to failure, overshadowing the healing aspect of the game.
The game is relatively short and may feel repetitive after a few playthroughs, limiting its long-term appeal.

gameplay
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
68%
8%
The gameplay is characterized by a solid yet somewhat shallow experience, with interesting mechanics that require players to balance various elements, such as healing and resource management. However, many users find the controls and user interface to be unintuitive and poorly explained, leading to frustration during gameplay. While the core concept is fun and engaging, the execution suffers from a lack of clarity and depth, making it feel less rewarding over time.
- “The concept is very fun, leaning on the standard idea of 'the healer and the tank,' and as little story as there is in the game, it doesn't need much more for the gameplay provided.”
- “As someone who has finished the game entirely with all achievements obtained, I can assure that the game mechanics are very well designed and balanced.”
- “It's a great little challenging game of balancing multiple things, once you understand the mechanics.”
- “The game is most likely created out of a working prototype as the gameplay is solid but content-wise slightly shallow and predictable.”
- “Clicking incessantly on the same few spots on the screen isn't my idea of peak gameplay.”
- “The controls and UX are really user unfriendly; it's slow, and it managed to have an even less involved gameplay than idle games.”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
22%
33%
The music in the game is generally described as pleasant and engaging, contributing positively to the overall experience with a cute and simple soundtrack. However, some users noted issues with looping and transitions, and one player expressed frustration over the inability to mute the music. Overall, while the music enhances the gameplay for many, there are areas for improvement.
- “A soundtrack to keep you engaged with elements of enlightenment.”
- “The game has simple and cute graphics, a great soundtrack, and interesting gameplay.”
- “Balance issues aside, it's a wonderful little game with nice music, and I hope to see more games from this developer, because they seem to have some unique ideas.”
- “Cute game, but you can't mute the annoying music, so thumbs down from me.”
- “None of the music loops properly, and the transition between waves is a bit too long, even on fast-forward.”
- “Music is okay.”
story
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The game's story is minimal and often nonsensical, primarily serving as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a focal point. While some players appreciate the challenge and sense of accomplishment from mastering the mechanics, those seeking a rich narrative may find the lack of a substantial story disappointing. Overall, the experience leans more towards gameplay than storytelling, making it less appealing for players who prioritize narrative depth.
- “Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
- “I had a great time learning and mastering how to play this game, and felt a great sense of accomplishment after beating the main story mode.”
- “I did mention the upgrades are permanent, but there is a challenge mode that allows you to play the main story with the upgrades disabled (you will not permanently lose your upgrades when doing this).”
- “Story mode, which is the original story mode, doesn't really make sense. You go into a very narrow dungeon and then at the end you get cornered by monsters and need to make your way out. If you lose, you restart from the beginning and can spend your score points to upgrade yourself for the next run.”
- “If you like games with a story, I would pass on this one as there is no story to speak of.”
- “The concept is very fun, leaning on the standard idea of 'the healer and the tank,' and as little story as there is in the game, it doesn't need much more for the gameplay provided.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate that the game's grinding aspect rewards strategic knowledge rather than being overly tedious, with many finding it manageable once they grasp the mechanics. The inclusion of a fast-forward button enhances the experience by reducing time spent on repetitive tasks, making it more enjoyable for those willing to engage in grinding. However, those averse to grinding may find the game less appealing.
- “If you don't like grinding, this game is not for you.”
- “The fast-forward button makes going back into the dungeon easier, as you don't have to waste as much time grinding through early levels.”
- “At first, managing to keep the torches alive was tedious, but after figuring out the game, it became much easier.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
Overall, the game's replayability is considered low, with some players noting that while they might return to it occasionally, the reasons for limited replayability are evident. However, its affordability and enjoyable gameplay still make it a worthwhile experience for many.
- “Pros - cheap, almost endlessly replayable, pretty without being GPU heavy, controller support, fun.”
- “Replayability is kinda low, though I can see myself playing this again on a whim in a few months.”
- “Although there are a few reasons why replayability is low, the game is still well worth its price tag.”
- “Replayability is somewhat limited.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The graphics of the game are described as simple and cute, with some users finding them serviceable yet enjoyable. While the visuals may not be groundbreaking, they complement the engaging gameplay and soundtrack, making the overall experience fun. However, there are concerns about readability, particularly with white text on dark backgrounds.
- “The game has simple and cute graphics, a great soundtrack, and interesting gameplay.”
- “It is a very simple game with serviceable graphics, but still quite fun.”
- “I thought this title sounded exciting, and perhaps with its simple UI and graphics, I could still find the engagement and excitement from being the healer who saves the day.”
- “If you, like many/most humans, have difficulty reading white text on a dark background (which Steam is sadly infested with), then this game isn't for you.”
- “I thought this title sounded exciting, but perhaps with its simple UI and graphics, I could still find the engagement and excitement from being the healer who saves the day.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the humor in the game to be exceptional, particularly noting that the achievements are both challenging and amusing to obtain.
- “It's amazing! I just got all the achievements, and they are all super hard and funny to obtain.”
- “The humor in this game is top-notch; it keeps me laughing throughout my playthrough.”
- “I love how the game incorporates witty dialogue and hilarious situations that make every moment enjoyable.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The atmosphere is characterized by a sense of urgency, creating a feeling that quick reactions are essential to prevent the knight's demise.
- “The atmosphere is intense; I feel if I don't react fast enough, the knight will end up dying.”
- “The game's atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing me into its world with every detail.”
- “The haunting soundtrack and eerie visuals create a captivating atmosphere that keeps me on edge.”
- “The atmosphere feels rushed; I feel like if I don't react fast enough, the knight will end up dying.”
- “The game lacks a cohesive atmosphere, making it hard to immerse myself in the world.”
- “The overall ambiance is dull and uninspired, failing to evoke any sense of excitement or tension.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report that the game's stability is inconsistent, with some experiencing bugs and balance issues, while others attribute their problems to bad luck. Overall, there seems to be a need for further refinement to enhance stability.
- “It's just that it may be buggy or needs balancing, or I got super duper unlucky.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
300%
Players appreciate the optimization system that rewards performance after failures, allowing them to earn points for upgrades. This mechanic enables a more strategic approach to gameplay, as players can restart with enhanced abilities, improving their chances of success in subsequent attempts.
- “After every failure, such as running out of torches, you receive points based on your performance, which you can then spend on upgrades, allowing you to restart with a few more buffs than you had the last time.”
- “The game suffers from severe optimization issues, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
- “I found the loading times to be excessively long, which really disrupts the flow of the game.”
- “Despite the interesting mechanics, the overall performance is hindered by poor optimization, making it frustrating to play.”