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Bloomtown: A Different Story

Bloomtown: A Different Story is a turn-based JRPG where bartering your soul with Satan is the least of your worries. The games’ quirky characters and unconventional story are a highlight and pull you in instantly. Sadly, the inquisitiveness and allure drop rather quickly due to an overabundance of mechanics and inconvenient design making Bloomtown wilt away.
81%Game Brain Score
story, music
grinding, replayability
87% User Score Based on 734 reviews
Critic Score 52%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPCPlaystation 4Playstation 4Playstation 5Playstation 5Steam DeckSteam DeckWindowsWindowsXbox OneXbox OneXbox Series X|SXbox Series X|SPlayStationPlayStationXboxXbox

About

"Bloomtown: A Different Story" is a narrative-driven game that explores the life of a young adult, Mia, in the town of Bloomtown. Players will navigate Mia's relationships, make choices that affect her story, and uncover the town's hidden secrets. Through stunning visuals and branching dialogue options, the game invites players to experience a heartfelt and immersive adventure.

Bloomtown: A Different Story screenshot
Bloomtown: A Different Story screenshot
Bloomtown: A Different Story screenshot
Bloomtown: A Different Story screenshot
Bloomtown: A Different Story screenshot
Bloomtown: A Different Story screenshot
Bloomtown: A Different Story screenshot
Bloomtown: A Different Story screenshot
Bloomtown: A Different Story screenshot
Bloomtown: A Different Story screenshot
Bloomtown: A Different Story screenshot
+15

87%
Audience ScoreBased on 735 reviews
story163 positive mentions
grinding54 negative mentions

  • Beautiful pixel art and animations that create a charming atmosphere.
  • Engaging story with well-written dialogue and interesting characters.
  • Fun turn-based combat that incorporates strategy and demon collection.
  • Combat can feel tedious and unbalanced, with a high miss rate and lack of meaningful mechanics.
  • No manual save option, which can lead to frustration if players need to exit unexpectedly.
  • Some quests and mechanics are poorly explained, leading to confusion and missed opportunities.
  • story
    500 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Bloomtown: A Different Story" is generally well-received, praised for its engaging writing, character development, and emotional depth, often drawing comparisons to popular series like "Persona" and "Stranger Things." While many players appreciate the humor and charm, some critiques highlight pacing issues and a lack of clarity in quest progression, leaving certain plot points feeling underdeveloped. Overall, the narrative is described as heartfelt and immersive, with a mix of lighthearted and serious themes that resonate with players.

    • “The story centers on a group of children navigating big, often tragic problems, yet the writing captures their perspectives with authenticity and care.”
    • “The aesthetics (pixel art at its absolute best!), the creativity, the atmosphere, the animations, the music, the astounding love of detail... the mature story, often funny and witty, with interesting side quests, mild, teenage-appropriate horror, tackles many serious topics and never shies away from sincere depictions of loss, friendship, education, child-parent relationships, youthful attempts at orientation or sibling warfare.”
    • “This game is refreshing to have a story that is sincere and impactful, I won't give too many details, but the mission where it ends with a beautiful daisy interaction.”
    • “Just don't be fooled by what the demo promises in terms of gameplay and story.”
    • “The story feels... phoned in.”
    • “I feel like entire story beats are missing.”
  • music
    298 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in this game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchy and memorable soundtrack that evokes comparisons to titles like Persona 5. The battle music, in particular, is highlighted for its energetic and engaging quality, although some players noted that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, enhancing the game's atmosphere and gameplay experience.

    • “The music is equally impressive, rivaling even Persona at times.”
    • “The soundtrack is packed with unforgettable tunes—I found myself humming them so much that my boyfriend surprised me with the soundtrack!”
    • “The music during battles, in particular, is epic and really pumps you up, adding a lot of excitement to the fights.”
    • “Only downside was the music got a little repetitive in combat after a while.”
    • “I can understand it gets some influence from Persona, but in this particular game, the combat music does not fit at all.”
    • “In dungeons, you have this bland 2 track audio, but in battles you have a whole-ass song complete with vocal track.”
  • gameplay
    197 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the game is a blend of engaging turn-based combat and life-simulation mechanics reminiscent of the Persona series, offering a fun and accessible experience for newcomers. However, many players noted issues with repetitive gameplay, unclear mechanics, and a lack of depth in certain systems, leading to a mixed reception overall. While the charming pixel art and music enhance the experience, some players found the gameplay to be somewhat shallow and lacking in variety as the game progressed.

    • “The combat mechanic is fun and does not lend itself to repetitive button mashing.”
    • “The gameplay is fun; I am now a fan of turn-based battles.”
    • “Overall, Bloomtown is an absolute triumph, blending a compelling narrative, fun gameplay, and an irresistible atmosphere into an unforgettable experience.”
    • “The game has two sides: the art is excellent, but there are so many serious problems with the gameplay and progression systems that it really feels like the developers didn't know what they were doing (or at least I hope they didn't).”
    • “Despite the charming aesthetic and inoffensive core gameplay loop, I really can't tolerate the incredible amount of trivia unrelated to anything in the game, none of which has any manner of learning opportunity whatsoever, and the seeming majority of which result in immediate failure of whatever side quest or stat gain opportunity without recourse.”
    • “Very fun for the first 2 chapters before falling off hard with its repetitive gameplay loop.”
  • graphics
    165 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many users praising its charming pixel art style, attention to detail, and vibrant animations. Reviewers highlight the nostalgic yet fresh aesthetic, comparing it favorably to classic RPGs and noting its ability to create an engaging atmosphere. Overall, the visuals are considered the standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal alongside its music and storytelling.

    • “One of the best games ever, this game boasts a super cute pixel art style and amazing animations.”
    • “The art style is absolutely gorgeous and the attention to detail is phenomenal.”
    • “The graphics are amazing and very polished, and it is one of the best-looking pixel games I have played recently.”
    • “There are so many interesting things to look at but you can't interact with most of them, so I'm unsure whether the game is unfinished, had issues with scope, or the things are just there for aesthetics.”
    • “I really wanted to like this game; if the game felt finished and didn't have these massive problems, I would have really loved it because it has everything else down: the combat (pretty average), the exploration, art style, atmosphere, the music, but they all feel like fractions of a whole.”
    • “The graphics aside from the quest and map issues are very pretty.”
  • grinding
    54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the inclusion of farming and crafting elements, many find them tedious and unnecessary, often preferring to purchase items instead. The combat is frequently described as excruciatingly tedious, with long animations and repetitive encounters that detract from the overall experience. Fast travel features help alleviate some of the tedium, but the game's pacing and mechanics leave several players feeling frustrated and disengaged.

    • “It's tediously door after door, room after room, most absolutely irrelevant.”
    • “There's a lot of pointless buildings and areas which makes the map huge and therefore tedious to walk around.”
    • “The story seems fun, but the combat is excruciatingly tedious.”
  • humor
    46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever and witty dialogue, often drawing comparisons to the styles of "Scott Pilgrim" and "Gravity Falls." Players appreciate the mix of funny moments, pop-culture references, and character interactions, although some find the initial dialogue a bit cringeworthy before it improves. Overall, the humor contributes significantly to the game's charm, making it an enjoyable experience filled with memorable lines and amusing scenarios.

    • “The dialogue is hilarious, the story is great, and the combat is fun.”
    • “The game has a lot of funny moments, dialogues, and discrete references to pop culture.”
    • “There is a lot of reading dialogue, but it's written well and there's a lot of snark and humor to it that I found myself chuckling at.”
  • atmosphere
    40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its blend of humor and horror, reminiscent of 80s classics like "Stranger Things" and "Stand By Me." Players appreciate the detailed pixel art, immersive environments, and a compelling narrative that captures a nostalgic yet spooky vibe. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as engaging and memorable, contributing significantly to the overall experience.

    • “Overall, Bloomtown is an absolute triumph, blending a compelling narrative, fun gameplay, and an irresistible atmosphere into an unforgettable experience.”
    • “The environments are beautifully crafted, full of details, animations are well done, there is a lot of humor in the way some characters are shown, and it contributes beautifully to this 'summer spent in a decrepit mysterious town' atmosphere.”
    • “The aesthetics (pixel art at its absolute best!), the creativity, the atmosphere, the animations, the music, the astounding love of detail, the mature story, often funny and witty, with interesting side quests, and mild, teenage-appropriate horror, tackles many serious topics and never shies away from sincere depictions of loss, friendship, education, and child-parent relationships.”
    • “If you're here for the chill atmosphere, you won't care about this.”
    • “I really wanted to like this game; if the game felt finished and didn't have these massive problems, I would have really loved it because it has everything else down: the combat (pretty average), the exploration, art style, atmosphere, the music, but they all feel like fractions of a whole.”
    • “The atmosphere is much like 'Stranger Things' with a lot of references to the 80s.”
  • emotional
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of heartwarming and heartbreaking experiences, particularly within the charming setting of Bloomtown and its residents. While some players found the story to be simple and lacking the emotional depth of other titles, many appreciated its wholesome themes of friendship, loss, and hope, complemented by an impressive soundtrack and engaging gameplay. Overall, the game evokes a mix of feelings, balancing moments of joy with underlying sadness, though not all players felt a strong emotional connection throughout their experience.

    • “A lot of heartbreaking experiences which hide inside the charm of Bloomtown and its residents.”
    • “Bloomtown: A Different Story is a heartfelt gem that deserves far more attention than it has received.”
    • “A very sweet and well put together RPG with a heartwarming story of friendship, coming of age, moving through loss and hope.”
  • replayability
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is viewed as a mixed bag; while the anticipation for a prequel/sequel and the introduction of more playable characters enhance replay value, some players feel that the current content lacks sufficient replayability.

    • “A prequel/sequel is much anticipated yet highly replayable.”
    • “More playable characters - Preston became one of my favorites after the little quest with him.”
    • “[*] not much replayability”
    • “I know I would if it were playable!”
    • “Which... increases replayability, I guess?”
  • character development
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The character development in the game is noted for its depth, providing a challenging and engaging experience. While the animation and art are generally well-received, some users feel that the character designs themselves lack distinctiveness. Overall, the combination of fun combat and a robust character development system enhances the gameplay experience.

    • “Challenging fights and a deep character development system.”
    • “Challenging fights and deep character development system.”
  • optimization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with users noting rough performance in certain areas, particularly in the forest. Additionally, there are calls for improved animations to enhance combat flow and more diverse weapon art to enrich the overall experience.

    • “It would be nice to see the art for the different weapons, just to add more flavor, and some optimizations of animations to make combat flow more smoothly.”
    • “Performance was a bit rough in some parts, especially in the forest, but overall the optimization has improved the gameplay experience.”
    • “Performance was a bit rough in some parts, especially in the forest; I had to tough it out.”
    • “It would be nice to see the art for the different weapons, just to add more flavor, and some optimizations of animations to make combat flow better.”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy of the game is perceived as a cash grab, leveraging appealing art and similarities to more successful titles to attract players.

    • “This honestly feels like a cash grab trying to use nice art and a resemblance to better games to rope players in.”
  • stability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is criticized for its numerous glitches and instability, leading many users to feel that it is not recommendable in its current state. Despite being a new release, the prevalence of technical issues significantly detracts from the overall experience.

    • “However, it is a new game, so I expected a lot of glitches; it's just that I cannot recommend the game in its current glitchy state.”

Buy Bloomtown: A Different Story

18h Median play time
16h Average play time
12-30h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

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