Break the Loop
- May 16, 2024
- Mastodonte
Get on Steam"Break the Loop" is a turn-based strategy game where players form a team of four heroes from a selection of 12 and travel through time to defeat an abyssal monster threatening humanity. Create a personalized timeline by choosing from various random events, including treasures, merchants, and multiple-choice dialogues, to gain power and prepare for the final battle. Strengthen your heroes by utilizing their unique skills and passives.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a unique and engaging combat system with a variety of character abilities and combos, providing depth and replayability.
- The art style and animations are highly praised, with many reviewers noting their charm and quality, making the game visually appealing.
- The developers are responsive to feedback, making adjustments to balance issues quickly, which shows a commitment to improving the player experience.
- A specific boss encounter is considered overly punishing and can lead to frustrating gameplay, detracting from the overall experience.
- The game suffers from a lack of route diversity and variability in events, which can make runs feel repetitive over time.
- There are concerns about long-term replay value due to a limited number of characters and areas, which may not sustain player interest after initial runs.
- gameplay28 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its smooth introduction and digestible mechanics, making it accessible yet deep, allowing for creative builds and strategic combinations. It effectively integrates unique elements from other roguelikes, such as an energy system that influences turn order, while maintaining a fun and engaging combat loop. Despite some minor criticisms regarding certain mechanics, overall, players find the gameplay enjoyable and worthy of exploration.
“I play a lot of roguelikes from the obscure to the popular, and I'm not sure any game's intro animation and mechanic explanation is as smooth and digestible as this one.”
“Although the mechanics are quite simple, there's a lot of depth to the game since it provides a whole lot of possible combinations on tactics as well as all sorts of funny in-game events (the PTW vending machine really gave me a chuckle), which I am still exploring.”
“The energy system means you can boost teammates in the action order or delay enemies, a sort of JRPG-like mechanic that's integrated seamlessly into the Darkest Dungeon-style single-file combat by making fighters on both sides line up in their current turn order.”
“I wonder if my low HP team can handle another battle or if I should heal up instead? This aspect is mostly missing, which is the secret sauce of the roguelite gameplay loop.”
“I'm not sure what other modifications they make to the gameplay yet - perhaps they will address some of these problems.”
“Although the mechanics are quite simple, there's a lot of depth to the game since it provides a whole lot of possible combinations on tactics as well as all sorts of funny in-game events (PS: the PTW vending machine really gave me a chuckle), which I am still exploring.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a simple yet effective style, featuring charming pre-fight artwork and smooth action animations. The art style is often described as cute and reminiscent of 90's cartoons, adding a whimsical touch to the overall experience. While the visuals are appealing, some players note that technical issues can detract from the enjoyment of the game.
“Visuals are simple but effective with some great looking pre-fight artwork and cool action animations.”
“Plus, don't even get me started on the art style, which is so cute, and the animations are really smooth!”
“The characters are quirky, the art style is super cute with its 90's cartoon aspect.”
“Don't let the graphics put you off or fool you; this is a tactically crunchy game with some whimsy, sure, but also a lot of dark humor to it.”
- replayability10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the variety offered by different characters, which enhances initial replayability and makes for enjoyable early runs. However, there are concerns about the game's long-term replay value, with many reviewers noting that while it is fun for a few playthroughs, it may not sustain interest over time.
“The characters are all different enough to bring variety and replayability to the run.”
“I enjoyed my time with it; it's enjoyable for a few runs, though I worry about replay value.”
“I enjoyed my time with it; enjoyable for a few runs, though I worry about replay value.”
“Just don’t expect longer-term replay value.”
“While not a problem for the first few run-throughs, it does not bode well for longer-term replay value.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a rich blend of humor, combining subtle slapstick elements with dark comedy, particularly evident in its character and enemy designs, as well as amusing in-game events like the "ptw vending machine." While the mechanics are straightforward, the humor adds depth and charm, enhancing the overall experience. Players appreciate the thoughtful visual humor that complements the game's tactical complexity.
“Although the mechanics are quite simple, there's a lot of depth to the game since it provides a whole lot of possible combinations on tactics as well as all sorts of funny in-game events (ps: the PTW vending machine really gave me a chuckle), which I am still exploring.”
“The way battles start, the character and enemy design, the death animations... every visual aspect is basically 10/10 amazing, original, and funny in a subtle, thoughtful slapstick way.”
“Don't let the graphics put you off or fool you; this is a tactically crunchy game with some whimsy, sure, but also a lot of dark humor to it.”
- story4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story is generally considered minimal and not a primary focus of the game, with players noting that while the quirky characters and cute 90's cartoon art style are enjoyable, the narrative can be jarring and detracts from the overall experience. Despite its simplicity, the game is still appreciated for its charm and aesthetic rather than its storytelling depth.
“The characters are quirky, the art style is super cute with its 90's cartoon aspect. The story may not be the main focus, but it complements the overall experience.”
“Sometimes this makes the effects of an item or ability hard to decipher, but mostly it's just jarring and takes you out of the game story, which is annoying because it's pretty consistent across the game.”
“The characters are quirky, the art style is super cute with its 90's cartoon aspect, but the story isn't much, and that's not what we're after in these kinds of games.”
