Cartridge Monsters

About

Cartridge Monsters is a single player tactical role playing game with fantasy and dark fantasy themes. It was developed by Happenstance Games and was released on February 4, 2021. It received positive reviews from players.

Cartridge Monsters is a Monster Catching RPG with over 6 hours of gameplay. 5 dungeons, 2 towns and a main story with side quests. Travel, battle and catch new monsters.

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86%

Audience ScoreBased on 22 reviews

graphics3 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

Engaging gameplay with a mix of monster collection and tactical turn-based battles, providing depth and strategic team formation.
Charming pixel art style and a nostalgic soundtrack that evoke classic RPG vibes, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
Voice command functionality adds a unique and enjoyable layer to gameplay, allowing for immersive interactions with monsters.

The game suffers from clunky controls and interface issues, making navigation and management less intuitive.
Some players experience frustrating bugs, such as ineffective auto-save systems and unbalanced boss encounters that can lead to discouragement.
The overall polish and depth of the game feel lacking, with many aspects needing improvement to reach its full potential.

gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The gameplay is generally well-received, aligning closely with traditional Pokémon mechanics and enhanced by impressive VR features. However, players express a desire for clearer explanations of certain mechanics, more detailed information on monster stats, and additional features like a Pokédex-style system to improve world-building and gameplay depth. Overall, while the core experience is solid, there are areas for improvement in user guidance and information accessibility.
- “Very good game, could use some mechanic explanations for the spirit pulse specifically, but other than that, it looks great and runs great!”
- “The VR is great and the gameplay is just incredible.”
- “Cool mechanics such as defending will block damage.”
- “There's also no evolutions and I did not see any debuffs after over 4 hours of gameplay (although there is a cure potion so it's possible there is poisoning or some debuff later on in the game).”
- “I wish there was more information on the tablet (health of monsters out of battle, max HP/MP of monsters while healing, a Pokedex-style list so you know what you have left to catch, and things like that). I also believe a Pokedex-style mechanic where you can scan new monsters to at least learn a little about them during battle would add to the world-building as well as possibly a fun mini-game mechanic opportunity.”
- “Gameplay is exactly what you'd expect from a Pokémon game.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
The graphics of the game have received positive feedback, particularly for its unique art style that blends low polygon aesthetics reminiscent of Pokémon and RuneScape, set in an engaging end-of-the-world scenario. Players appreciate the visuals for being enjoyable and not overwhelming, making it accessible for newcomers to VR gaming. Overall, the combination of appealing graphics and a fitting soundtrack enhances the gaming experience.
- “I really like the art style and the music absolutely slaps.”
- “No complaints here about the graphics.”
- “I generally have liked low polygon art style for VR games when they are well done.”
- “I can hear the comments section now... complaints on the art style left and right!”
- “One part Pokémon, sprinkle in some RuneScape style graphics, throw it into an end of the world setting and add guns!”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The story is described as captivating and well-suited for newcomers to VR, allowing players to progress at their own pace. However, some users noted that the writing quality is lacking, with grammatical issues present throughout. Overall, while the narrative may not be exceptional, the engaging visuals and enjoyable gameplay contribute positively to the experience.
- “A story that is truly captivating.”
- “I played from start to finish, and from the visual attacks to the background music for the regular fights and the bosses, it was very enjoyable. The visuals weren't too overwhelming, so for players just getting into VR, I would say this game is a good start. With its go-at-your-own-pace story, you can take the time to grind your monsters, which means it doesn't make you feel rushed to beat the game.”
- “The writing/story is nothing to write home about and there are grammatical issues all over.”
- “I played from start to finish and while the visual attacks and background music for the regular fights and bosses are very enjoyable, the story itself lacks depth and engagement.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability with smooth performance and visual appeal. However, users have noted some issues with the controller direction movement option, which is considered buggy, while full locomotion and snap turning function well.
- “Very good game, could use some mechanic explanations, for the spirit pulse specifically, but other than that, it looks great and runs great!”
- “You do have full locomotion and snap turning available, but the controller direction movement is not recommended as it is buggy.”
- “The game frequently crashes, making it nearly impossible to enjoy the experience.”
- “I encountered numerous glitches that disrupted gameplay and affected overall stability.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The music in the game is highly praised, with users noting that the soundtrack is energetic and engaging, particularly during battles, while sound effects are well-integrated and fitting. Overall, the music significantly enhances the gaming experience.
- “I really like the art style and the music absolutely slaps.”
- “I did like the battle music and none of the sound effects seemed out of place.”
- “The soundtrack is a banger!”
- “The soundtrack is a banger, but it lacks variety.”
- “I did like the battle music, but the overall sound design feels repetitive.”
- “The music doesn't match the game's atmosphere, making it feel disjointed.”