Chantelise - A Tale of Two Sisters

75%
Game Brain Score Based on 458 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Chantelise - A Tale of Two Sisters Game Cover
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In "Chantelise - A Tale of Two Sisters," players control Chantele, a young woman transformed into a sorceress, as she explores a vibrant fantasy world to defeat an evil curse. Using various spells, Chantele battles enemies, solves puzzles, and collects treasures in this action-packed, anime-style adventure game with a captivating storyline and colorful graphics. The game's unique gameplay mechanics and engaging story make it a must-play for fans of action-adventure games.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

75%
Audience ScoreBased on 458 reviews
story52 positive mentions
grinding38 negative mentions
  • Charming characters and engaging story that keeps players invested.
  • Unique magic system that allows for creative spell combinations.
  • Fun hack-and-slash gameplay with a nostalgic PS1-era aesthetic.
  • Frustrating camera controls that hinder gameplay and navigation.
  • High difficulty level, especially with bosses, can lead to frequent deaths and grinding.
  • Limited healing options and no traditional leveling system make progression feel tedious.
  • story160 mentions

    The game's story is generally described as simple and charming, often featuring cutesy characters and a straightforward plot that revolves around two sisters and their quest to break a curse. While some players found the narrative engaging and humorous, others criticized it for being predictable or lacking depth, with a few noting that the gameplay sometimes overshadowed the story. Overall, the story is seen as a pleasant aspect of the game, though not groundbreaking, and it serves as a decent backdrop for the action and character interactions.

    • “I was invested in the story, even if it wasn't groundbreaking.”
    • “The story is cute and whimsical, and actually pretty interesting.”
    • “The story is catchy - and the setting and characters aren't bad either.”
    • “The story is... there, I guess.”
    • “Don't play it for the story, there's nothing there.”
    • “The story is too convoluted to understand or care about.”
  • gameplay109 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing its clunky mechanics, poor camera angles, and repetitive enemy-clearing tasks. While some appreciate the nostalgic feel and simplicity reminiscent of PS1-era games, others find the combat frustrating and dated, leading to a lack of engagement. Overall, the gameplay is described as a blend of enjoyable moments and significant flaws, making it a hit or miss experience depending on player expectations.

    • “The gameplay gets intense as Lil Jon and Shakespeare navigate through challenging levels.”
    • “The gameplay is very smooth and fluid.”
    • “There's a nice balance of cute art, excellent music, and solid yet challenging gameplay.”
    • “There is no controller compatibility to make people's lives easier, the camera positioning mechanic is extremely disorienting and annoying to keep track of.”
    • “The first boss you come across is harder than it should be because the mechanics of this game are so clunky.”
    • “The gameplay is trite, the controls are, as one of my favorite game reviewers would say, absolute shit on cheesy biscuits™, the camera controls even more so, from what I've experienced so far the upgrade market is very limited and pretty linear and the four-way sprite graphics are not made for 360° view.”
  • graphics86 mentions

    The graphics of the game evoke a strong sense of nostalgia, reminiscent of the PS1 era, with a blend of 2D sprites and 3D environments that some players find charming despite their dated quality. While the art style is generally appreciated for its cuteness and character design, many reviews note that the visuals can be awkward and lack polish, leading to mixed feelings about their overall execution. Overall, the graphics are seen as a defining feature that appeals to fans of retro aesthetics, though they may deter those seeking modern visual fidelity.

    • “The artwork is pretty good and the graphics still hold up today, in a sort of retro style way.”
    • “Add that wondrous old-school aesthetic that plants the look of the game firmly into the PlayStation (one) days, and you’ve got a winner in my book.”
    • “Very strong PS1-era vibes with the graphics, too, which can definitely add to the charm depending on your tastes.”
    • “The graphics are a strange combination of 2D sprites (for the characters, special effects, and certain objects in the background like trees...) interlaced in a 3D environment made of polygons.”
    • “Aesthetically, this game wasn't all that pleasant to look at; the graphics were rather dated, even for an indie game.”
    • “Chantelise is a very simplistic action-RPG with PS1-era graphics and bare-bones gameplay.”
  • music49 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it charming and fitting for the gameplay, while others describe it as forgettable or dull. Many appreciate the soundtrack's liveliness and nostalgic feel, though some criticize it for being repetitive during extended play. Overall, the music is generally considered decent to good, but not exceptional, with a few standout tracks that resonate with players.

    • “Beautiful to look at, charming music, sounds and characters, and feels good to clobber enemies with your moveset.”
    • “The soundtrack is amazing and the boss battles are really creative and strategic!”
    • “Lovable characters, cute music, and wonderful visuals justify its price and the effort necessary to reach the ending.”
    • “The soundtrack is okay but forgettable, and I find myself stabbing my ears from the constant beeping from the stupid low HP warning sound.”
    • “The music is just dull droning background music.”
    • “Also, since you will be grinding a lot, the music will start to feel repetitive and you will eventually be like 'this music is killing me' past a certain point.”
  • grinding38 mentions

    The reviews highlight a prevalent issue with grinding in the game, describing it as excessive and often tedious, with players frequently needing to farm for coins to upgrade health and equipment. While some find the grinding entertaining and rewarding, many express frustration with the repetitive nature of the gameplay and the lack of meaningful progression, leading to a mixed overall experience. Despite the grind, the game's challenge and unique style may appeal to fans of the genre.

    • “Too much grinding to get the good loot.”
    • “Bad camera, bad controls, forced grinding and literally no progression in moveset or attacks.”
    • “Grinding in this game is also a little vexing, as you will die a lot; the only way to counter it is to grind to get better stats, but there are no level-ups in this game. Instead, it is replaced by gold which you will use to buy better equipment, and this would not be an issue if there weren’t so few equipment slots.”
  • humor23 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its quirky and cute dialogue, while others find it overshadowed by clichéd and lame moments. Many reviews highlight the entertaining character interactions and funny scenarios, such as the absurdity of gameplay mechanics, but note that the humor can be inconsistent. Overall, the game offers a lighthearted experience that may appeal to fans of cute aesthetics and offbeat comedy, despite some shortcomings in storytelling and dialogue quality.

    • “The comparisons to Dark Souls are, hilariously, spot on.”
    • “It's fun, the dialogue is funny at times, and it's very relaxing to play.”
    • “And the translation is so funny you cannot help but love the game, despite its obvious flaws.”
  • replayability7 mentions

    The game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the variety offered by different items, secret treasures, and time trials, others find it lacking due to its short length and limited content. A few reviewers highlight the enjoyment of speedrunning as a significant factor in replay value, suggesting that it may appeal more to those interested in competitive play. Overall, opinions vary, with some enjoying the replay aspects while others feel the game has a short lifespan.

    • “Has some nice replayability with different items, secret treasure, and time trials.”
    • “As for why this game grew on me as the best among the three from the same publisher (Recettear, Fortune Summoners & Chantelise) would probably be because of its replayability and speedrunning enjoyment.”
    • “I have to admit to this being the only game I have been speedrunning, but that's largely because of its high replayability value (especially when compared to Recettear and Fortune Summoners).”
    • “It's also quite short for an action RPG and has little replay value.”
    • “Now I still enjoyed the game, mind you, it just has a very short lifespan with little replay value.”
    • “Overall, I'm glad I played this game; it was fun while it lasted. Unfortunately, I don't see all that much replay value, though.”
  • optimization5 mentions

    The game's optimization has been criticized, particularly regarding keyboard controls, which can lead to frustrating misinputs during gameplay. While the control scheme is simple to learn, the lack of effective optimization detracts from the overall experience, especially for PC users.

    • “My first point is with the keyboard optimization.”
    • “Although I am not against games being hard, with the poor keyboard optimization, the game becomes relatively annoying when you die because you mispressed a key or were pressing 'D' when you should have been pressing 'S' (because typically with camera controls on keyboard without mouse optimization, it is WASD with 'A' being left and 'D' being right).”
    • “Overall, good game but a little on the older side with poor optimization for PC.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players find moments of heartbreak, particularly in the interactions between characters, others express frustration and disappointment with the overall experience. The game offers a sense of relief and a bittersweet resolution, but the emotional highs are often overshadowed by feelings of irritation and a desire to move on after completion.

    • “And hearing Chante trying to get Elise to wake up never stops being a little heartbreaking, especially since she is completely helpless without you.”
    • “How many times did I smash my controller to the side of my drawer due to frustration and impatience; I lost count. I'm just glad I finished this game and got a sort of happy ending for the sisters. Never touching it again for the rest of my life; I am done.”
    • “The game tries to evoke emotions but ends up feeling flat and uninspired.”
    • “I expected a deep emotional experience, but the characters felt one-dimensional and unrelatable.”
    • “The story had potential, but the execution was so lackluster that I couldn't connect with it emotionally.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Reviews highlight that while the character designs are praised for their quality and appeal, the overall character development in the game falls short compared to other titles like Recettear and Fortune Summoners, which offer better storytelling and gameplay. The immersive gameplay and well-designed NPCs are noted, but the lack of depth in character progression is a common critique.

    • “Best graphics of any game I own, immersive gameplay, NPCs with incredible character design and progression.”
    • “I liked the game structure, music, and character designs.”
    • “Character designs are nice.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Overall, players report that the game's stability is generally good, with only a few glitches encountered late in the game and a single crash noted. The ability to save anytime alleviates concerns about losing progress, making for a mostly smooth gaming experience.

    • “Post game update: I love you, but your review of this is poor. The game is fun, and I only encountered about 2 glitches, both late in the game. You can save anytime, so there's no worry about losing progress if the game crashes (which only happened once to me). The weakest point in the game is chapter 2 with that crab boss, but after that, the difficulty spike is much more fair.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere is significantly enhanced by the inclusion of authentic Japanese voice acting, which adds depth and immersion to the storytelling experience.

    • “The Japanese voice acting adds a rich layer to the story, enhancing the overall atmosphere.”
    • “The game's environment is beautifully crafted, immersing players in a captivating atmosphere.”
    • “The haunting soundtrack perfectly complements the visuals, creating an unforgettable atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the game world.”
    • “Despite the beautiful graphics, the overall atmosphere is dull and fails to evoke any real emotion.”
    • “The sound design is underwhelming, which detracts significantly from the intended atmosphere of the game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

7hMedian play time
11hAverage play time
7-20hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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