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 issues that can disrupt gameplay, though they are not game-breaking.
- The story can feel simplistic at times, and some characters lack depth, leading to a less immersive experience.
- story30 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The story features a mix of intriguing twists and basic RPG tropes, with some players appreciating its unique themes and character relationships, particularly the representation of queer characters. While some found the narrative insipid and linear, others enjoyed the depth of character development and the balance of humor and gravitas in the writing. Overall, the story is seen as engaging, though it may require prior context from earlier games for full appreciation.
“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 dudette ass kicked, the end.”
“Although Sera is the protagonist, it feels like Freya gets more story significance in the long run due to her connection to the game's main antagonist.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a straightforward turn-based RPG system with a focus on team mechanics and well-constructed puzzles, though it lacks replayability due to limited options. Battles are challenging yet balanced, allowing for strategic use of character abilities and combo skills, while the absence of random encounters streamlines the experience and minimizes grinding. Overall, it offers a concise and improved gameplay experience compared to its predecessors.
“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, and you have a ton of options with just four characters, especially when you start unlocking new combo skills. Even on normal, it was 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.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are praised for their charming pixel-art style, which offers a refreshing take on the series. Reviewers highlight the vibrant environments and likable characters, noting that the 16-bit aesthetic enhances the overall experience, making exploration enjoyable.
“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.”
- humor4 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 found certain aspects, like immersion-breaking jokes and skill progression tied to the story, to be more personal preferences than universal flaws. Overall, the humor contributes positively to the game's tongue-in-cheek tone.
“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.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its lovely and enjoyable soundtrack, which enhances the vibrant pixel art environments and complements the gameplay. Players appreciate the well-mapped musical vibes that align with the game's atmosphere, featuring memorable tunes that linger in their minds. Overall, the music significantly contributes to the game's charm and immersive experience.
“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.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users report that the game suffers from numerous visual glitches, which detract from the overall stability of the experience.
“There are glitches everywhere.”
“The glitches are pervasive.”
“They are just visual glitches.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game lacks significant replayability due to limited gameplay options and the absence of features like "new game +," leading to a consensus that it offers little incentive for players to revisit it.
“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.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players appreciate that the game lacks random encounters, making grinding feel unnecessary and enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
“This game does not have random encounters, and grinding didn't feel necessary.”
“The grinding in this game is tedious and feels like a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.”
“I found myself spending hours grinding for levels, but it felt more like a punishment than a reward.”
