Basements n' Basilisks: Storms of Sorcery
- February 27, 2023
- eNVy softworks
"Basements n' Basilisks: Storms of Sorcery" is a unique blend of visual novel and RPG elements, where every decision matters and outcomes are unpredictable. Encounter diverse creatures, engage in tactical combat, and navigate intricate storylines in a whimsical fantasy world. The game offers a brief but immersive experience, allowing you to forge lasting bonds with fictional characters.
Reviews
- The game captures the essence of a tabletop RPG experience, complete with humorous banter and relatable character dynamics.
- It's a charming and funny visual novel that evokes nostalgia for D&D sessions, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
- The low price point offers good value for the entertaining content, with replayability through different choices and outcomes.
- The game is quite short, often feeling more like a demo than a full experience, with limited choices and a linear story.
- Gameplay can become tedious due to excessive clicking to progress dialogue, which may detract from the overall experience.
- Some players found the humor and writing style to be hit or miss, with certain jokes feeling overused or not engaging.
- story47 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as engaging and humorous, featuring witty dialogue and a lighthearted tone, but it is criticized for being short and feeling more like a demo than a full experience. Players appreciate the interactive elements and the importance of choices, yet many express disappointment over the limited content and abrupt ending, leaving them wanting more. Overall, while the story has potential and charm, it requires further development to provide a more satisfying and complete narrative experience.
“The story, the artwork, and the music of this short visual novel are nice, and if you are a TTRPG lover, you will have a great time for sure!”
“Great witty dialogues and an intriguing story!”
“I found the plot to be engaging and the dialogues well written, and the party's dynamic worked really well for me.”
“Ultimately, there isn’t too much to the story.”
“However, the in-character story is only a snippet, like a session or two, and not an entire campaign.”
“The ending narrative gave me the impression that there would be another encounter, so I was surprised how the story ended abruptly when the credits rolled.”
- humor42 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and relatability, often drawing laughter through clever writing, meta humor, and engaging character interactions. Players appreciate the blend of funny dialogues and nostalgic references, likening the experience to playing tabletop RPGs with friends. While some found the gameplay repetitive, the overall comedic tone and witty quips contribute to a delightful and entertaining experience.
“It's a visual novel bustling with lively conversation and crosstalk, and the humor that permeates the writing and story hits home more often than not.”
“The writing is enjoyable and humorous, and I appreciated the feeling of playing a game within a game.”
“It delivers an enjoyable gameplay experience and incorporates humor and satire to create a truly unique adventure.”
- music22 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in this visual novel is widely praised for its ability to enhance the game's atmosphere, immersing players in a cozy and engaging experience reminiscent of tabletop RPGs. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as fitting and enjoyable, complementing the well-written dialogues and beautiful artwork, which together create a captivating world that players are eager to explore. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's charm and enjoyment.
“The attention to detail in the visuals and music create an immersive world that players will want to explore for hours.”
“Well-written dialogues and music that matches with the atmosphere.”
“The music really immerses you in the world and the pain that this poor GM goes through with the party will really make you feel at home.”
“The music really immerses you in the world and the pain that this poor gm (bm, sorry!) goes through with the party will really make you feel like home.”
“Artstyle, graphics, music, dice rolling and map implementation are super.”
- graphics21 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning art style and attention to detail, creating an immersive experience that complements the engaging story and humor. Players appreciate the unique aesthetic that captures the essence of tabletop RPGs, enhanced by a fitting soundtrack that elevates the overall atmosphere. Overall, the visuals are described as polished and enjoyable, contributing significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
“In addition to the good humor, this game also boasts beautiful graphics and a nice soundtrack.”
“The attention to detail in the visuals and music create an immersive world that players will want to explore for hours.”
“From the moment I started playing, I was struck by the stunning art style that truly immerses you in the game's world.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its enjoyable and straightforward mechanics, complemented by humor and satire that enhance the experience. While some players note that the party members' backgrounds feel shallow due to limited gameplay time, the overall quick pace and engaging visuals contribute to a fun adventure. The game is easy to pick up without a tutorial, making it accessible for players, and many express hope for more complex mechanics in future installments.
“It delivers an enjoyable gameplay experience and incorporates humor and satire to create a truly unique adventure.”
“Easy to play, with no tutorial as the game immediately makes you familiar with the mechanics needed.”
“This game features expertly crafted writing and satisfying gameplay, which makes it an absolute blast to play.”
“The party members' background stories are shallow due to the lack of gameplay time.”
“While there are other narrative games at a similar price that offer more gameplay hours, I do recognize and appreciate the development team's commitment to creating a niche game genre.”
“Easy to play, but there is no tutorial as the game immediately makes you familiar with the mechanics needed.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its cozy and engaging qualities, reminiscent of playing tabletop games with friends. Reviewers highlight the excellent music, well-written dialogues, and a delightful sense of humor that enhance the overall experience, creating a charming medieval vibe that appeals to both D&D enthusiasts and casual players alike.
“I really love the atmosphere that this game creates.”
“Excellent atmosphere, nice jokes, the dude reference (and more!) for an overall delightful experience, even if you are not into D&D.”
“Atmosphere, music, and art is amazing.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game offers some replayability through different dialogue options and choices that can significantly alter endings and lore, but its linear story structure may lead to similar experiences across playthroughs. Players express hope for future expansions that could enhance the variety and depth of the narrative, improving overall replay value.
“So there is definitely replay value.”
“I was able to complete a playthrough in just 30 minutes, and although there is some replay value with different dialogue, the story is rather linear and you likely will just encounter similar events with minor dialogue differences.”
“Looking ahead, I hope that the development team can use the game system they have built to expand on several storylines, offering players better replayability and a more well-rounded TTRPG adventure experience.”
“Replayable as different choices completely change up the ending and lore you experience.”