Banquet for Fools
- September 30, 2024
- Hannah and Joseph Games
Get on Steam"Banquet for Fools" is a party-based open-world adventure game where players explore the island of Invimona with four generated companions. The Vollings, shunned by deities, must farm a lucrative spice, facing challenges such as investigating a mysterious disappearance. Each companion has unique dialogue choices based on their stats, deepening their bonds as the journey progresses.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Jaw-dropping visuals and a unique art style that evokes nostalgia while feeling fresh and original.
- Engaging and fun gameplay mechanics that blend real-time action with tactical pause, offering depth and strategy.
- The developers are responsive and actively working on improvements, showing a commitment to enhancing the game based on player feedback.
- The game is currently plagued by numerous bugs and technical issues, making it difficult to enjoy fully.
- Lack of clear storytelling and tutorial guidance leaves players feeling lost and demotivated, especially at the start.
- Combat mechanics can feel awkward and unintuitive, with a steep learning curve that may deter some players.
- graphics32 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's graphics have been widely praised for their jaw-dropping visuals and unique art style, reminiscent of claymation and old-school RPGs. Many reviewers appreciate the refreshing aesthetic and detailed world-building, noting that the visuals effectively set the game's tone and atmosphere. However, some mention that while the graphics are impressive, the game still requires further development to reach its full potential.
“A refreshing and gorgeous art style.”
“The art style is beautiful and totally unique, with every detail - from the menus to the item designs - coming together to create a world that feels fully realized and consistent.”
“Absolutely gorgeous art design and aesthetic.”
“Sits looked interesting, though in my opinion the art style was still bad as it was hard to make things out.”
“There are several odd features (and art style) cash grabs that developers wouldn't touch, which is why I believe it's a passion project and will be developed to completion.”
“The art style is similar to Dark Crystal, very unique, but it doesn't quite hit the mark.”
- gameplay19 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its fun and engaging mechanics, which become enjoyable quickly despite some initial learning curves. Players appreciate the unique world and aesthetic, along with a quirky combat system that adds depth to the experience. While some mechanical balance issues are noted, the overall gameplay is described as crisp, fluid, and immersive, making it a promising title to watch as it develops further.
“Gameplay is also extremely fun once you get the hang of it (which didn't take long in my experience).”
“This is definitely an up-and-coming game you should keep your eye on; the gameplay is rich and interesting, and while the story is still in its infancy, the depth is already apparent.”
“Gameplay is crisp and fluid, feeling weighty and responsive, perfect for an action RPG.”
“Overall mechanical balance (not combat or difficulty) is all over the place.”
“I get that the designers were going for an 'old-school' feel, but some of those mechanics are gone for a reason.”
“It makes the first playthrough full of discovery right from the start, not because you get new content to explore in a game you just got, but because you’ll have to learn new and unusual systems and mechanics, a new unique world full of unfamiliar concepts, words and the way of speech.”
- story12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's story is noted for its depth and uniqueness, though it currently lacks a structured narrative that follows traditional storytelling formats, which can leave players feeling unmotivated. While the absence of quest markers and reliance on a personal notes system adds a learning curve, it encourages exploration and engagement with the lore. Overall, the storytelling is still developing, but its potential is evident, making it a title to watch.
“This is definitely an up and coming game you should keep your eye on; the gameplay is rich and interesting, and while the story is still in its infancy, the depth is already apparent.”
“The story and lore are in-depth and unique.”
“No quest or location tracking at all.”
“Like Mechajammer and Serpent in the Staglands before it, there is no quest log, or map markers or a compass pointing you in the right direction - you take notes (via a journal that you just... write in), pick up clues and ask NPCs for directions.”
“I don't mind having to track quests in notes; I just have to hope I don't forget to do so!”
- music12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its perfect integration with the ambiance and writing, creating a unique and immersive experience reminiscent of old-school vibes. Reviewers highlight the killer soundtrack and its ability to enhance the game's mystical atmosphere, contributing significantly to the overall enjoyment and aesthetic appeal.
“Everything; ambiance, writing, music (especially) are absolutely perfect.”
“The music is another big highlight.”
“The writing and music is unparalleled, it gives you a feeling of being in a mystical Icelandic saga.”
“If you have a musical instrument, you can summon a temporary animal that doesn't seem to do anything and disappears quickly.”
“It's bizarre and unique in mostly all of its aspects: gameplay, lore, graphical style, music...”
“Music is also appropriate so far.”
- atmosphere11 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its nostalgic, old-school vibe, reminiscent of classic RPGs, enhanced by unique art styles and rustic visuals. Reviewers highlight the immersive quality of the music and graphics, creating a captivating and enjoyable experience that stands out in today's gaming landscape. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a significant strength, contributing to the game's charm and potential.
“Another thing that stands out to me and makes it feel nostalgic in a similar way as the classics, is how this game just oozes atmosphere.”
“Awesome gem dripping with atmosphere, really excited to see more as it comes out.”
“And that atmosphere is of a particular old school vibe that is almost extinct nowadays; it’s often in the music and the visuals, which have a beautiful rustic roughness to them.”
“If you've played Joseph and Hannah's previous games, you know well they convey atmosphere, and they deliver in spades here.”
“Another thing that stands out to me and makes it feel nostalgic in a similar way as the classics is how this game just oozes atmosphere.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game currently suffers from significant stability issues, with users reporting numerous bugs, particularly in character creation, which detracts from the overall experience. While some players remain hopeful for improvements, the existing problems indicate that the game requires further development to enhance stability and user satisfaction.
“I was enjoying it, but it's very buggy at the moment and still needs more work.”
“I find it somewhat difficult, and the character creation is a little buggy and not as exciting as I usually like. I couldn't create the characters I really wanted or fantasized about, but I will see how it flows in-game.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, as combat often devolves into a repetitive cycle of pausing, attacking, and running, leading to a lack of engagement and excitement.
“Combat becomes a repetitive pause-attack-unpause-run cycle, which is quite tedious, to be honest.”
“The grinding feels endless and lacks any real reward, making it a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.”
“I found myself doing the same tasks over and over again, which quickly became boring and unengaging.”
