Alluna and Brie Re-Tentacled
- April 10, 2019
- Lached Up Games
In "Alluna and Brie: Fragments of Time," players navigate a series of puzzle-filled environments, using the unique abilities of two sisters to unlock the mysteries of their family's past. With gorgeous visuals and challenging gameplay, this adventure game encourages cooperation and creative thinking to repair the fabric of time itself. Solve intricate puzzles and uncover hidden secrets in this beautifully crafted experience.
Reviews
- The game features a humorous and engaging story with well-written characters that keep players entertained.
- The combination of visual novel and RPG elements provides a unique gameplay experience, reminiscent of games like Persona.
- The Australian setting and humor add a charming and fun twist, making the game enjoyable for fans of quirky narratives.
- The gameplay can become repetitive at times, particularly the turn-based combat and dungeon exploration.
- The user interface lacks mouse support and has confusing color schemes, making navigation difficult for some players.
- The game heavily relies on knowledge from the previous title, which may confuse new players who haven't played Max's Big Bust.
- gameplay22 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, featuring simple dungeon mechanics and a turn-based combat system that lacks depth and polish, leading to repetitive encounters. However, the integration of dating mechanics for world-building adds a unique touch, and the overall experience is enhanced by engaging writing and characters. While the game offers a solid visual novel experience, it suffers from interface issues and could benefit from a more refined combat system.
“This game thankfully avoids some of that by using the dating mechanics as a vehicle for world building, which is nice.”
“It's a great effort for a team not used to balancing an RPG, just in terms of nailing a gameplay loop, partly thanks to the fun writing and characters.”
“Regardless, Alluna and Brie makes for a really interesting and engaging title with more than 20+ hours of gameplay and plenty more to explore thereafter.”
“The gameplay lacks polish and there are too many fights, but the game developer is going to overhaul it all in the near future.”
“Attack animations take far too long, there are no interesting mechanics to take it past the most bare-bones RPG experience, and it doesn't really serve the story all that much other than to be the butt of a few jokes about the tropes in use.”
“Cons: gameplay can be repetitive at times, story leans too much on knowledge of prior releases, really should have mouse input.”
- story20 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The story is characterized by its zany and humorous tone, featuring entertaining characters and engaging side events that enhance the overall experience. However, it heavily relies on knowledge from previous titles, which may confuse newcomers, and some players find the narrative to be linear and less involved compared to earlier games. Overall, while the comedic elements and character interactions are praised, the story's depth and originality are seen as lacking.
“The characters, like in Neptunia, are funny, and you can’t wait to do their side events or advance the story because it’s fun, funny, and entertaining.”
“I really liked the story, but I do not think it is standalone as it is marketed: I found several jokes funnier due to things I had known from the previous game.”
“Great game with a funny storyline.”
“The story is fine, though it doesn't feel as involved as the previous title, which isn't helped by being broken up by the JRPG elements.”
“The plot leans heavily on events of the developer's previous game, Max's Big Bust, in a way that can cause confusion to anyone who hasn't played that game.”
“Very linear story dealing with monster girls trying to take over the world for the most part.”
- humor16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its fun, irreverent style, reminiscent of titles like "West of Loathing" and "Neptunia," featuring Australian lingo and a heavy use of cursing that adds to its comedic effect. Players appreciate the well-written dialogue, entertaining characters, and the engaging side events that enhance the overall experience. The game's charm lies in its over-the-top humor and clever commentary on anime and visual novel tropes, making it a must-play for fans of the genre.
“Really fun and funny game! It doesn’t take itself seriously like 'West of Loathing' or 'Neptunia', and it takes place in Australia, so the Australian lingo and humor are really funny. There’s way more cursing than 'Neptunia'; they say the F-word a lot, but it’s so overdone that it’s funny.”
“This charm comes through in the game's well-written dialogue and legitimately funny jokes.”
“It has a wonderful sense of humor and is certainly a must-play if you played the previous game in the series.”
- music8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as catchy and enjoyable, with highlights including an 80's-themed track that stands out. However, some users find the overall quality inconsistent, noting issues with volume levels and repetitive elements. While the music may not be universally praised, it complements the gameplay well, particularly in the visual novel context.
“The music is very good, especially the 80's-themed 'night' theme of the game, but the volume is all over the place.”
“Sound: 10/10 great sound effects, music was catchy and fun.”
“Some music pieces are pretty catchy, but if it's raining, be prepared to hear a whiny dog in the background... sometimes the music makes you want to switch it at times, but it doesn't make me want to throw my computer out.”
“Music is more of the same.”
“Some music pieces are pretty catchy, but if it's raining, be prepared to hear a whiny dog in the background. Sometimes the music makes you want to switch it, but it doesn't make me want to throw my computer out.”
“Again, the music is kinda meh, but the gameplay, as in a visual novel, is really enjoyable.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are highly praised, with a perfect score of 10/10 for its character and environment designs. The art style, particularly the chibi versions of characters, enhances the overall experience, contributing to the game's humor and engaging combat.
“The spin-off/sequel to Max's Big Bust, this game carries on the good writing and over-the-top humor as well as the overall art style.”
“Visuals: 10/10! Loved the design of all of the characters, enemies, and buildings!”
“I really like the art style of the characters, especially their little chibi combat versions, and I actually enjoy the combat more than I was expecting.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding mechanics in the game tedious, often detracting from the enjoyment of the romance elements. The repetitive nature of these tasks can make the experience feel more like a chore than an engaging narrative journey.
“They do all tend to get rather grindy fairly quickly, though, and will end up feeling more like a chore you do to get to the next bit of writing.”
“Even if you like romance, which I do, these mechanics tend to be tedious compared to just having a single linear love interest and actually writing something impactful or full of actual drama.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is generally perceived as lacking significant replayability, with users expressing doubts about its value for repeated playthroughs.
“I don't see this game having any replay value to speak of.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to play it again.”
“The lack of varied outcomes makes replaying feel tedious.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with minor bugs reported that do not significantly impact gameplay.
“Slightly buggy in places, but nothing game-breaking.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally solid, receiving a performance rating of 8/10. While some users experienced minor crashes in the startup menu when using the mouse, switching to arrow keys effectively resolved the issue.
“The optimization in this game is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
“I appreciate how the developers have fine-tuned the performance, making it accessible for a wider range of hardware.”
“The game runs seamlessly after the latest patch, showcasing the team's commitment to optimization.”