Atlas Wept
- January 16, 2024
- Kbojisoft
Get on Steam"Atlas Wept" is a humanist retro-style RPG that follows two separate casts of characters on their own quests, with interconnected stories and themes of sincerity and empathy. The game features turn-based combat with bullet hell style dodge mechanics, as well as a variety of unique enemies. Players must fight to uncover the mystery of the entity holding up the ground beneath their feet.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a beautiful art style and engaging storytelling, reminiscent of Earthbound/Mother, which resonates emotionally with players.
- The combat system is fun and innovative, incorporating unique mechanics that keep battles interesting and engaging.
- The characters are well-written and relatable, with a story that explores deep themes of humanity, loss, and self-discovery.
- The lack of cloud save functionality is a significant drawback, leading to potential loss of progress for players who uninstall the game.
- Some battles can feel drawn out and tedious, which detracts from the overall pacing and enjoyment of the game.
- There are several typos and minor issues in the dialogue and gameplay mechanics that could benefit from further polish and refinement.
- story33 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely praised for its depth, character development, and emotional resonance, with many reviewers highlighting its engaging world-building and themes of loss, happiness, and perseverance. While some found the pacing to improve significantly in the latter half, others noted initial confusion in the plot. Overall, the storytelling is considered a standout feature, with a mix of humor and poignant moments that resonate with players.
“A game with a surprisingly deep and meaningful story.”
“Atlas Wept has obvious influence from the Earthbound/Mother series with its overall style, particularly towards the end of the game; however, it distinguishes itself through its world-building and story of loss, happiness, conflict, and perseverance.”
“The story feels intensely personal, like the developers were bursting at the seams to tell it, and I feel all the better for having experienced it.”
“Some of the storyline was a little confusing at first, but it kept me intrigued enough to want to finish it.”
“One piece of advice I got in school is that the more times a story tells its themes, the worse it is.”
“The story builds gradually enough for you to start not fully knowing or understanding what is going on.”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a blend of turn-based RPG and shmup/bullet hell mechanics, drawing inspiration from titles like Mother 3 and Undertale, which creates an intriguing experience. While battles can be enjoyable, they may become repetitive and drag on, with some players finding the difficulty adjustable through healing item mechanics. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a mixed bag, with innovative elements like a stagger system remix and self-buffing after death, but the world design feels somewhat disconnected and bland.
“Intriguing world inspired by mythology, touching story, and engaging mix of shmup/bullet hell and turn-based RPG gameplay.”
“The gameplay is great, the music is great, the art is stylized in a way that works particularly well for the game.”
“There is even a mechanic that makes fights easier; should you die in a fight, you can buff yourself so you can go back in and have an easier time with the fight.”
“It's not perfect; the battle mechanics get a bit tired by the end, and some of the battles really feel like they drag on.”
“Gameplay was admittedly a mixed bag; I have never played a real Touhou game, so I struggled with every new attack, but it was strangely easy even though I struggled with dodging. I eventually upped the difficulty after both parties got four members; I think my problem was that I could carry too many healing items.”
“For the maps: they are largely too bland, and it rarely feels like Septimus is an actual world but rather just gameplay segments put together for you to go through.”
- emotional9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke strong feelings, with players reporting tears during both the trailer and gameplay. The touching relationships and personal connections within the story resonate deeply, though reactions may vary based on individual experiences. Overall, the game is noted for its impactful emotional moments, capable of delivering significant emotional weight.
“I knew I was in for something special when the trailer made me cry.”
“Her relationship to Dezi is also very cute, and everything about them made me feel warm and fuzzy inside.”
“Some parts will hit closer to home than others between different people, but this game is big on dealing emotional damage.”
- music9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game is a standout feature, with party members' songs enhancing gameplay and emotional moments, such as a poignant title track during battles. While many players appreciate the jazz elements and the integration of the soundtrack into different gameplay scenarios, some find certain tracks, particularly the metro train music, to be annoying. Overall, the music is generally well-received, though opinions vary on specific tracks.
“Most party members of the second party know a song as part of their being; extra-diegetically, it's the character's motif.”
“Singing is an option in battle, and each has an effect, costing no resources—just the action. Singing the same song in consecutive actions boosts the effects.”
“I loved the music a lot; there was a jazz battle track, and there was one moment where the title track played over a fight that got me teary.”
“Beautiful story, fun combat, terrible soundtrack.”
“Music: decent (it's classic bit music, but the metro train music is so annoying with that bang noise).”
“Music: decent (it's classic bit music, but the metro train music is so annoying with that bang noise).”
- graphics5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The graphics are characterized by a quirky 16-bit art style reminiscent of Earthbound, which some players find charming and engaging. While the visuals are generally considered decent, there is a consensus that improved pixel art could enhance the game's appeal. Overall, the unique art style and lovely dialogues contribute positively to the gaming experience.
“Lovely art style and dialogues.”
“The game's got a fun combat system with a unique and fun art style with a lot to offer.”
“The earthbound/Mother-like graphics and mechanics similarity had me intrigued at first and the battles were fun.”
“The Earthbound/Mother-like graphics and mechanics similarity had me intrigued at first, but ultimately fell short.”
“Graphics 3/5: quirky 16-bit style, which is the only thing it has in common with Earthbound.”
“Graphics: decent, but honestly, if the developers had better pixel art, it would have received more attention.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of childish dialogue and mature insights, creating a unique dynamic that is both funny and poignant. The characters' awareness of their youth adds to the intentional humor, making their interactions relatable and engaging.
“The characters know they are kids, so some more childish dialogue makes sense and can be intentionally humorous at times.”
“Many games have children and young teens cast as the heroines and heroes, but this cast has a maturity coupled with their child-like wonder that makes the dialogue funny and poignant.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Replayability is rated 3/5, indicating that it can be enjoyable to revisit the game after some time, particularly for players interested in uncovering missed content or mastering combat mechanics. However, the motivation to replay may vary based on individual preferences.
“Replayability 3/5: Depending on your desire to cover what you missed or master the combat, it would be worth a sit down a few months or a year down the line.”
“Replayability 3/5: Depending on your desire to cover what you missed or master the combat, it might be worth a sit down a few months or a year down the line.”
“The game lacks significant changes in subsequent playthroughs, making it feel repetitive after the first run.”
“While the initial experience is enjoyable, there isn't enough variety to encourage multiple playthroughs.”
