Castle Morihisa
- February 10, 2022
- Smokingbear Studio
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"Castle Morihisa" is a permadeath, action strategy game set in feudal Japan. As a ronin, you must navigate through the procedurally generated castle, battling enemies and making decisions that affect the game's outcome. With multiple character classes, a day-night cycle, and various events, each playthrough offers a unique challenge.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a beautiful Japanese aesthetic with great art and music, enhancing the overall experience.
- It offers a variety of characters and unique mechanics, such as the talent system, which adds depth to the gameplay.
- The game is approachable for newcomers to the genre, providing a casual start before ramping up the challenge.
- The game suffers from significant balance issues, with some enemies and bosses being overly difficult compared to the player's capabilities.
- Many players feel that the game lacks depth and variety, leading to repetitive gameplay and limited strategies.
- There is a heavy reliance on RNG, which can lead to frustrating experiences and a lack of control over outcomes during runs.
- gameplay31 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Castle Morihisa is characterized by its engaging mechanics, including unique character abilities and a talent tree that adds depth, though it draws heavy inspiration from Slay the Spire, leading to some criticism for lack of originality. Players appreciate the creative artwork and challenging card-based mechanics, but note issues with balance and certain mechanics that can feel underdeveloped or confusing. Overall, while the game offers a fresh take on the genre, it may not fully satisfy those seeking entirely new gameplay experiences.
“On top it has gorgeous graphics, and enough new mechanics (talents and character specialization) to be engaging and feel fresh and new.”
“Each character has at least 2 unique mechanics, and a separate pool of cards.”
“If you like 'Slay the Spire', this game has even better mechanics and other improvements for your journey!”
“It's like a buffet for what skins you want because the gameplay is all the exact same.”
“Art is very very good, gameplay is meh but the worst part is balance: some monsters are incredibly strong and some bosses are even impossible to beat.”
“However, there's a lot of issues with the game's mechanics and translation issues.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 7 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their gorgeous art style, creative design, and cohesive themes, particularly appealing to fans of Japanese fantasy aesthetics. Players appreciate the vibrant visuals and animations, which enhance the overall gameplay experience, making it a standout in the deckbuilding genre. However, some reviewers noted that while the graphics are impressive, the lack of new mechanics and progression elements may detract from long-term engagement.
“On top it has gorgeous graphics, and enough new mechanics (talents and character specialization) to be engaging and feel fresh and new.”
“What I love about this game is the art style and the whole Asian theme.”
“If you like medieval Japan as a setting, then you'll like the aesthetics and vibe of Castle Morihisa.”
“The artwork is creative, but the graphics feel outdated.”
“The graphics lack detail and polish, making the game feel less immersive.”
“The visuals are underwhelming and do not match the expectations set by the game's premise.”
- music8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its fitting choices and retro style that complements the Japanese fantasy aesthetic. The use of traditional instruments, such as woodwinds, enhances the overall experience, contributing to a pleasant atmosphere during gameplay. Overall, while the music is considered a strong point, some players feel it could be further elevated with additional progression elements.
“Pleasant fighting experience with wonderful musical accompaniment utilizing Japanese woodwinds (shakuhachi?).”
“The musical choices and sound effects feel appropriate.”
“The game's art and music are quite retro, and I quite like the style.”
- story2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is criticized for lacking a satisfying conclusion, as players only receive a scoreboard after defeating the final boss without any narrative closure. While side quests offer engaging challenges and rewards, the overall storytelling feels incomplete, leaving players wanting more context and resolution regarding the characters and plot.
“The side quests feel repetitive and lack depth, often just requiring you to block damage or defeat a set number of enemies for minimal rewards.”
“There is no story conclusion; after defeating the final boss, you are left with just a scoreboard. A little flavor text about the outcome of the investigation or the fate of your character would have been appreciated.”
“The narrative feels incomplete and unsatisfying, leaving players yearning for more context and closure after the main events.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight the unique character design and the distinctive setting of feudal Japan, noting that this combination contributes to a refreshing approach to character development in the game.
“The unique character design, set in feudal Japan, offers a refreshing take on this style of game.”
“The depth of character development allows players to truly connect with the story and its characters.”
“Each character's growth feels organic and meaningful, making the journey all the more engaging.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers decent replayability due to its talent and challenge system, allowing for quick runs of about an hour, making it easy for players to revisit.
“Decent replayability thanks to the talent and challenge system. It takes about an hour or so on a fast run, making it feel pretty easy to replay overall.”
“Decent replayability thanks to the talent and challenge system, takes about an hour or so on a fast run, so it felt pretty easy to replay overall.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players note that Castle Morihisa encourages a grind-heavy approach, requiring them to engage in repetitive battles to gradually improve their chances of success.
“Castle Morihisa's mechanics are actually pushing the player towards more grindy fights where you need to stack the odds in your favor and win each fight bit by bit.”
“The constant need to grind for resources makes the game feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
“I find myself spending hours grinding for levels and items, which takes away from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
