Absinthia
- February 15, 2022
- Joshua Keith
- 15h median play time
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Get on itch.io StoreAbsinthia is a single-player Fantasy Turn Based Strategy game with an intriguing story that takes about 15 hours to beat. As the story's protagonist, scorned Knight Freya, and her apprentice Sera fight to protect their home, players will experience a traditional turn-based jRPG battle system, colorful handheld-style pixel art, and an original soundtrack. The game offers difficulty options to cater to various player skill levels, ensuring a challenging yet enjoyable experience.
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Reviews
- The game features a charming pixel art style and a well-crafted soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- The story includes unexpected twists and well-developed characters, making it engaging and enjoyable.
- Combat is strategic and balanced, with a variety of skills and combination attacks that keep battles interesting.
- The game is relatively short, with a playtime of only 10-15 hours, which may leave some players wanting more.
- There are glitches present, including visual bugs that can disrupt gameplay, though they are not game-breaking.
- The writing can be inconsistent, with some characters feeling underdeveloped and certain plot points lacking depth.
- story60 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story features a mix of basic RPG tropes, such as the quest to defeat a villain, but is enhanced by unexpected twists and nuanced themes, particularly around character relationships and LGBTQ+ representation. While some players found the narrative insipid and linear, others praised its engaging writing and character depth, leading to a generally positive reception despite some criticisms regarding pacing and character focus. Overall, the story is described as well-crafted, with a balance of humor and gravitas, making it enjoyable for those seeking a rich narrative experience.
“The story took me by surprise, given its unexpected twists and turns.”
“I really enjoyed the story and the relationships built between the characters.”
“The plot starts out rather simple, but there are plenty of twists and developments to keep the player engaged, and the writing style has a perfect balance of gravitas and humor, featuring a cast of playable characters who are tight-knit and have strong personalities.”
“The story is insipid; most characters are uninteresting.”
“You travel this brief story on a 'hermetic' linear road to have this character defeated, the end.”
“The story itself is rather basic (find and kill the big bad villain) with a slight twist here and there, but the story's themes and what it explores are quite rare and nuanced.”
- gameplay20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as a straightforward turn-based RPG with a focus on team mechanics and challenging battles, offering a balanced experience despite its short length. While the game lacks replayability and has limited gameplay options, it features well-constructed puzzles and eliminates random encounters, allowing for a more direct experience with the option for automatic battles to reduce grinding. Overall, it improves upon its predecessors while maintaining a solid balance between story and gameplay.
“The closeness of the cast in terms of writing meshes well with the team attack mechanic in battle.”
“The dungeons are not too puzzle-heavy, but the puzzles that are present are well-constructed, in which the mechanics of the puzzle are very easy to figure out but thought is required to proceed.”
“In terms of gameplay, it is a fairly straightforward turn-based RPG, but the battles can be really tough. You have a ton of options with just four characters, especially when you start unlocking new combo skills. Even on normal difficulty, it strikes the right balance of challenge.”
“There are not many options gameplay-wise, so there is no replayability value or encouragement.”
“In terms of gameplay, it is a fairly straightforward turn-based RPG, but the battles can be really tough, and you have a ton of options with just 4 characters, especially when you start unlocking new combo skills. Even on normal, it was the right balance of challenge.”
“In the gameplay, it does not have random encounters, so it leans towards a more direct RPG without much grind. Although if you need it, you have the option of automatic battles, so it would not be an annoying grind.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming 16-bit pixel art style, which offers a refreshing aesthetic for the series. Reviewers highlight the vibrant environments and likable characters, creating an enjoyable visual experience that complements the game's old-school turn-based RPG mechanics. Overall, the art style is considered a standout feature, enhancing the game's appeal.
“The art style is a breath of fresh air in the series.”
“It has a lovely pixel art style and enjoyable music, resulting in vibrant environments that are fun to explore.”
“Graphics are great and the environments are gorgeous.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with likable characters and well-timed dialogue that balances comedic moments effectively. However, some players noted a reliance on referential humor and occasional immersion-breaking jokes, which may not appeal to everyone. Overall, the humor aligns with the game's tongue-in-cheek tone, though individual preferences may vary.
“The humor was on point with all characters being likable.”
“The dialogue is funny when it needs to be and knows when to rein it back.”
“Maybe the only downside for me would be the over-reliance on referential humor, but it does fit the mostly tongue-in-cheek tone of this game.”
- music8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its pleasant and memorable soundtrack, which enhances the vibrant pixel art environments and complements the gameplay. Reviewers appreciate the well-mapped areas that align with the musical themes, creating an immersive experience that remains enjoyable even when the game is idle. Overall, the tunes are catchy and contribute significantly to the game's charm.
“The soundtrack is lovely and pleasant to listen to even if you leave the game idling in the background.”
“It has a lovely pixel art style and enjoyable music, resulting in vibrant environments that are fun to explore.”
“Music fits well with the game and has some great 'stick-in-your-head' tunes.”
- stability8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from numerous visual glitches that significantly impact stability, with users consistently reporting their prevalence throughout the gameplay experience.
“There are glitches everywhere.”
“There are glitches everywhere.”
“There are glitches everywhere.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game lacks significant replayability due to limited gameplay options and the absence of features like "new game +" that would encourage players to revisit it. Many users express frustration over the lack of incentives to replay the game.
“There are not many options gameplay-wise, so there is no replayability value or encouragement.”
“A pain in the ass without a 'new game +' feature or replayability value.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate that the game lacks random encounters, making grinding feel unnecessary, which enhances the overall gameplay experience.
