A Healer Only Lives Twice

76%
Game Brain Score Based on 92 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • story
A Healer Only Lives Twice Game Cover
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"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.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station Vita
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

76%
Audience ScoreBased on 92 reviews
gameplay6 positive mentions
grinding5 negative mentions
  • The game offers a unique and engaging experience focused on resource management and healing mechanics, providing a fun challenge for players.
  • Players appreciate the clever gameplay design that allows for strategic decision-making, making each run feel rewarding despite the game's simplicity.
  • The charming graphics and music contribute to an enjoyable atmosphere, making it a pleasant game to play during short sessions.
  • The game suffers from a lack of clear instructions and tutorials, leaving players confused about controls and mechanics.
  • Many players find the torch management system frustrating, as running out of torches often leads to unavoidable deaths, overshadowing the healing aspect.
  • The game is criticized for being repetitive and lacking depth, with limited replayability once the mechanics are understood.
  • gameplay32 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by an interesting blend of mechanics that revolve around healing and dungeon exploration, but it suffers from a lack of clear instructions and a user-unfriendly interface. While some players find the core mechanics engaging and well-balanced once understood, many express frustration with the controls, slow pacing, and the convoluted torch and red orb systems. Overall, the game offers a charming yet clunky experience that may appeal to those who enjoy challenging gameplay, but it requires patience to navigate its initial confusion.

    • “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.”
    • “A cute puzzle arcade-y take on old-school healing and dungeon delving mechanics.”
    • “It's a great little challenging game of balancing multiple things, once you understand the mechanics.”
    • “I can't comment on the gameplay at all because I was clicking madly around the screen trying to decipher what exactly I'm supposed to be doing and how.”
    • “The controls and UX are really user unfriendly, it's slow, and it managed to have an even less involved gameplay than idle games.”
    • “Make no mistake, this is a five dollar game with about five dollars worth of gameplay here.”
  • music9 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players find it relaxing and pleasant, others criticize it for being repetitive and annoying, with issues like unmutability and poor looping transitions. Overall, it is described as simple yet engaging, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere despite some balance concerns.

    • “A soundtrack to keep you engaged with elements to enlightenment.”
    • “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.”
    • “The music is simple, but pleasant to listen to each time the dungeon is revisited.”
    • “The music is a hellish annoying loop that is unmutable.”
    • “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.”
  • story7 mentions

    The game's story is minimal and often deemed nonsensical, primarily serving as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a focal point. While it conveys a moral about perseverance, players seeking a rich narrative experience may find it lacking, as the story mode consists of repetitive dungeon runs with little narrative depth. Overall, the game prioritizes gameplay mechanics over storytelling, making it less appealing for those who value a strong narrative.

    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “Story mode, which is the original story mode that 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.”
    • “Story mode, which is the original story mode that 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.”
    • “If you like games with a story, I would pass on this one as there is no story to speak of.”
  • graphics5 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some users finding them cute or serviceable, while others describe them as ugly and simplistic. Additionally, issues with readability, particularly with white text on dark backgrounds, detract from the overall visual experience. Despite these criticisms, some players still find enjoyment in the game's aesthetic.

    • “The graphics are good.”
    • “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.”
    • “The graphics seemed cute in the store but are actually just really ugly.”
    • “If you, like many people, 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.”
  • grinding5 mentions

    Players appreciate that the game's grinding mechanics reward strategic knowledge rather than being overly tedious, making the experience more engaging. While initial challenges can feel repetitive, the introduction of a fast-forward feature alleviates some of the grind, allowing for quicker progression through earlier levels. However, those averse to grinding may find this aspect 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.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    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, many still find it worth the price due to its affordability and enjoyable gameplay.

    • “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.”
  • humor1 mentions

    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; I found myself laughing out loud at the clever dialogue and situations.”
    • “Every quest has a hilarious twist that keeps you entertained and eager to see what happens next.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    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 like 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.”
    • “I love how the atmosphere shifts with the music and visuals, creating a truly captivating experience.”
    • “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.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Users report that the game experiences occasional bugs and may require balancing, though some attribute issues to personal misfortune. Overall, stability appears to be a concern for many players.

    • “It's just that it may be buggy or needs balancing, or I got super unlucky.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
    • “I experienced constant lag and disconnections, which ruined the overall experience.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    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 each restart provides players with additional buffs to enhance their chances of success.

    • “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.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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