Castle of the Underdogs
- April 14, 2023
- House of Pandas
Get on SteamCastle of the Underdogs is a comedy JRPG game inspired by Suikoden and FFX, with strategic turn-based combat, mass recruiting and a castle HQ. Join Hikaru, a mischevous and carefree girl that learns magic, in an absurd adventure where she must recruit dozens of friends in order to restore the peace in the Bestann Federation despite spreading chaos to most places she steps on.
Reviews
- Castle of the Underdogs is a charming and humorous RPG that successfully combines elements from classic JRPGs, offering a unique and engaging experience.
- The battle system is innovative and requires strategic thinking, utilizing a 'shatter' mechanic that encourages players to exploit enemy weaknesses.
- The game features a memorable cast of quirky characters and witty dialogue, making it a delightful and entertaining journey that keeps players invested.
- The game is relatively short, with Chapter 1 taking only 8-10 hours to complete, leaving players wanting more and feeling abruptly cut off at a cliffhanger.
- Some players have noted issues with repetitive music and a lack of distinct environments, which can detract from the overall experience.
- As the game is still in development, there are concerns about its incomplete story and mechanics, leading to uncertainty about future content and updates.
- humor15 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in this game is consistently praised for its light-heartedness and clever writing, with many players finding themselves laughing out loud at the witty dialogues and amusing character interactions. The comedic timing and memorable cast contribute to a charming experience that helps players forget their troubles, making it a standout feature of the game. Overall, the humor is described as both engaging and well-integrated into the gameplay, enhancing the overall enjoyment.
“This game had me smiling and laughing... if you are going through some tough times and like JRPG-type games, pick this one up.”
“Some parts had me bust out laughing, and I don't remember video games ever doing that to me.”
“The writing here is funny, and it has good use of comedic timing with its scripting system.”
- story11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The story is engaging and humor-infused, effectively blending JRPG elements with charming characters and a catchy soundtrack. However, it ends on a significant cliffhanger, leaving players eager for more, while the current content feels incomplete as it only represents a small portion of the overall narrative. Despite some pacing issues, the quirky quest and character interactions are recommended for those seeking a unique gaming experience.
“The story leaves you at a pretty significant cliffhanger - I found myself really excited for what is to come, only for the chapter to end.”
“The soundtrack slaps, the characters are all charming (and some of them are hilarious), the story is simple and quickly hooks you in.”
“Yes, there's a bunch of fourth wall drops, and the main character is hyper and self-centered, but they still manage to stamp out important story beats without needlessly trying to toss jokes into it.”
“All mechanics and graphics seem final, but the story ends right when you think it's starting to take off.”
“I think it's still in development so the plot is totally incomplete though (presumably episode 1 only 15% of the whole game).”
“There is a 'new game plus' like mode where you can run around to collect any items, monster guide information, or recruits you have missed, but with the game still being only in its opening hours, it can be a little jarring to grind to a screeching halt just when the story is really speeding up.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a blend of mechanics reminiscent of classic RPGs like Suikoden, Final Fantasy, and Octopath Traveler, allowing players to recruit party members and utilize strategic formations. Combat involves exploiting enemy weaknesses for enhanced damage, while the humor and quirky animations add a lighthearted touch to the experience. Overall, the gameplay is solid, offering adjustable difficulty levels to cater to different player preferences.
“The combo attacks are silly as hell, and I imagine that if I got more of those, the team composition will be a really fun mechanic to play with.”
“The gameplay is solid, and the difficulty setting lets you auto-pilot or struggle through a nightmare depending on your preference.”
“All mechanics and graphics seem final, but the story ends right when you think it's starting to take off.”
“Mechanically, the game is a toss-up between mechanics found in Suikoden, Final Fantasy, and Octopath Traveler in that you recruit party members to a castle and have formations, switchable party members, and equipment screens that look like they're from Suikoden.”
“Combat is where the Octopath-styled mechanics come into play, where you have to figure out weaknesses and then 'shatter' the enemy to deal more damage.”
- music7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its upbeat and cheerful nature that complements the lighthearted tone. However, some players find the music in the initial zone repetitive after extended play, leading to a desire for more variety. Overall, while not everyone is a fan of video game music, the soundtrack is considered enjoyable and enhances the gaming experience.
“The soundtrack is pretty great too and often adds to the lighthearted tone of the game.”
“The soundtrack slaps, the characters are all charming (and some of them are hilarious), the story is simple and quickly hooks you in.”
“The music is great, it's upbeat and cheerful.”
“Honestly, the music in the first zone/village gets repetitive.”
“I never was one for video game music anyway; I'm the type that always has a podcast or my own music playing while I game.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The graphics are characterized by a blocky, Minecraft-inspired aesthetic that, while initially off-putting to some, ultimately fits the game's unique art style and small development team. The visuals are smooth and well-executed, striking a balance between realism and pixel art, which allows for quick animations and humor. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's charm and playability.
“The world has a Minecraft-like aesthetic, which initially turned me off since I wasn't a Minecraft player. However, if I hadn't recognized the blocks, I wouldn't have known; it just feels like a different art style fitting for a small dev team game.”
“I bought it due to the style of the graphics and how absurd it seemed.”
“By not going super-realistic or overly simplified with pixel art, they struck a balance that allows for quick, one-off jokes through their artwork and animation.”
“The world has a Minecraft-like aesthetic, which would have turned me off if I had known before starting, as I'm not a Minecraft type of player. However, if I hadn't recognized the blocks, you wouldn't know it; it just feels like a different art style fitting for a small dev team game.”
“All mechanics and graphics seem final, but the story ends right when you think it's starting to take off.”
“By not going super-realistic, nor overly simplified for pixel art, they struck a balance that allows for quick, one-off jokes through momentary artwork and animation.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find that grinding is largely unnecessary in this game, as it is easy and enjoyable, with humorous dialogues. However, those aiming to collect all badges may choose to engage in grinding.
“The grinding in this game feels endless and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I find the grinding mechanics to be overly repetitive and not rewarding at all.”
“The amount of grinding required to progress is frustrating and detracts from the overall experience.”
