Deathbulge: Battle of the Bands

99%
Game Brain Score Based on 260 reviews
  • music
  • humor
  • gameplay
Deathbulge: Battle of the Bands Game Cover
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"Deathbulge: Battle of the Bands" is a turn-based rPG where you play as a 3-piece band, DEATHBULGE, who unknowingly enter a cursed battle of the bands contest. Customize your band with 9 musically-themed classes and unique attacks, while utilizing measure effects in combat for a more dynamic experience. Explore the real-time elements in the turn-based combat, avoid random encounters, and collect band logos to sew onto your battle jacket for extra perks.

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Reviews

99%
Audience ScoreBased on 260 reviews
music77 positive mentions
grinding16 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique and engaging combat system that combines turn-based mechanics with real-time elements, making battles dynamic and strategic.
  • The humor and writing are top-notch, filled with clever jokes and charming characters that keep players entertained throughout the experience.
  • The art style and soundtrack are both vibrant and memorable, enhancing the overall atmosphere and enjoyment of the game.
  • Some players found the non-boss battles to be too long and repetitive, leading to a sense of grind during certain sections of the game.
  • The game lacks a fast travel system until late in the game, which can make backtracking tedious and time-consuming.
  • A few players noted that the game could benefit from more variety in enemy types and encounters, as some areas felt sparse in terms of combat diversity.
  • music140 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchy and energizing soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate how the music integrates seamlessly with the unique combat mechanics, creating a lively atmosphere that complements the game's humor and art style. Overall, the soundtrack is described as phenomenal, with many tracks being memorable and enjoyable, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “The music was incredibly enjoyable, and I'd love to see more of this universe.”
    • “The music is amazing and super expressive!”
    • “The soundtrack is amazing, the characters are very likeable and the combat is entertaining while being relatively straightforward.”
    • “Music loops get repetitive, too, quickly.”
    • “I think the art and map/character/enemy designs were really well done, and the music was solid (although I wish there was more of it).”
    • “The whole 'fighting with music' gameplay may seem tired and overdone, but the way that Deathbulge puts its own spin on it makes all the difference.”
  • humor127 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing, memorable characters, and a whimsical art style that enhances the comedic experience. Many players found themselves laughing out loud at the witty dialogue and absurd situations, reminiscent of classic adventure games and the creator's webcomics. While the humor may not appeal to everyone, it is described as consistently funny, charming, and integral to the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “The humor is on point and the art leans heavily into the humor to complement it.”
    • “The writing is awesome, humor is on point, story is interesting, can't remember the last time I enjoyed reading every bit of text in a game this much.”
    • “The dialogue is effortlessly hilarious and the characters are charming, unique, and memorable.”
  • gameplay73 mentions

    The gameplay of this RPG is characterized by its unique and engaging mechanics, particularly the innovative "measure bar" system that adds a fresh twist to traditional turn-based combat. Players appreciate the balance between fun, accessible gameplay and deeper tactical elements, though some express frustration with certain mechanics like the swap system and the pacing of features like fast travel. Overall, the combination of humor, charming art, and a dynamic battle system creates a memorable and enjoyable experience for fans of the genre.

    • “As someone who likes very fun, punchy RPG builds but doesn't like balancing dozens of stats and hundreds of pieces of gear, this game has a combination of clear archetypes and mechanics that feel fun and engaging to play with while not being too overwhelming.”
    • “The gameplay kept me hooked and the story absolutely moved me.”
    • “The battle system is such a refreshing update to turn-based mechanics, and I'm shocked something like this hasn't been used before.”
    • “The swap mechanic in combat while hordes of enemies got to have multiple turns for each of mine felt really frustrating; it really felt like my whole team should have been split up and the switch mechanic didn't add much to the gameplay.”
    • “I also wasn't a huge fan of the measure mechanic; I think it was missing some move that would let you move the marker around without actually affecting the board.”
    • “It feels like about 50-60% of my gameplay is random encounters, and it's by far the least fun part of the game.”
  • story61 mentions

    The game's story is widely praised for its engaging narrative, clever humor, and memorable characters, featuring unexpected twists and heartfelt moments. Players appreciate the seamless integration of side quests that enhance the main storyline, as well as the witty dialogue that keeps them entertained throughout. Overall, the story is described as a unique blend of lighthearted comedy and deeper themes, making it a standout aspect of the game.

    • “It has a great story with twists and turns, a memorable cast of characters, lots of humor with more than a few laugh-out-loud jokes, interesting combat, a variety of character builds, catchy music, and many, many secrets!”
    • “The entire narrative style, setting, and story is incredibly original and fun.”
    • “The story does a great job of blending being absolutely metal and dark yet still balanced with humor.”
    • “It's pretty short if you only complete the main quests with a little side stuff at 12 hours for myself.”
    • “The game tells its story and isn't apologetic about it, which I love. There's too often in games or media where something happens and it's all wiped away by the end; the consequences are real.”
    • “While some of them will be rewarded to you by simply proceeding through the story, others will have to be bought, found, or earned by doing side quests.”
  • graphics29 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming, cartoonish art style and vibrant visuals that effectively complement the light-hearted atmosphere and humor. Reviewers highlight the impressive character designs and slick animations, noting that the artwork is both expressive and cohesive, reminiscent of the original webcomic. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's enjoyable experience, with many players appreciating the seamless performance and engaging aesthetic.

    • “All the music is incredible, the combat style is unique, and the visuals are more stylish than anything I've ever seen.”
    • “The character design is top notch with a cohesive art style and clearly distinguishable designs.”
    • “A wonderful and charming game with impressive visuals, great writing, and a killer soundtrack!”
  • grinding16 mentions

    Players have mixed feelings about grinding in the game; while some find the combat enjoyable enough to make grinding bearable, others feel it becomes tedious and frustrating due to low drop rates for skills and diminishing XP gains. Although grinding is not strictly necessary and can be avoided, completionists may find themselves spending significant time on it to collect all items, leading to a repetitive experience. Overall, the grinding aspect can detract from the enjoyment, but the game's humor and combat system provide some relief.

    • “Every enemy in the game has a skill you can get from them, but they have an extremely low drop rate, and XP scales down as you outlevel enemies, so I reached a point where I spent a significant percentage of my playtime grinding enemies that gave me no rewards just for a chance for a low drop skill.”
    • “The problem is that some of them can be really rare, and the only way to get them is by tediously grinding.”
    • “Way too repetitive after a while, feels like grinding for the sake of grinding.”
  • character development9 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted by its exceptional art style and distinctive character designs, which contribute to a cohesive and engaging experience. While many players appreciate the humor and writing, some find the characters themselves to be unlikable. Overall, the combination of well-crafted visuals and storytelling creates a memorable character-driven narrative.

    • “The character design is top notch with a cohesive art style and clearly distinguishable designs.”
    • “Music is great, humor is the best I've ever seen, character design is peak, I could go on.”
    • “I can see what the devs were going for with each character's design, but all of them were pretty annoying and unlikable to me.”
    • “The story line is well written with bounding character development.”
  • emotional5 mentions

    The game features genuinely emotional moments that blend heartfelt storytelling with absurdity, creating memorable plot beats. Players appreciate the balance of lighthearted comedy and tension, culminating in a powerful and emotional finale that enhances the overall experience.

    • “There are some really heartfelt moments in here, and the fact that Deathbulge doesn't shy away from being sincere with its absolutely absurd world makes for some memorable plot beats.”
    • “There's some genuinely emotional moments in there.”
    • “The adventure and plot itself is very good, ending with a sick emotional finale and a perfect amount of tension throughout, even if it's mostly a lighthearted comedy during the journey!”
  • optimization5 mentions

    The game is praised for its smooth performance and lack of bugs, with players noting that it runs perfectly, especially considering its visual style. The combat system is enhanced by a unique "performance" mechanic that adds excitement and strategic depth, further elevating the overall experience.

    • “Runs smoothly, no bugs encountered.”
    • “They offer an awesome twist to already awesome combat, and they get elevated when either side uses their performance ability and things really heat up.”
    • “Also, Faye's performance made me headbang in real life every time.”
    • “It also runs perfectly well, which isn't unexpected given the style of visuals, but still worth pointing out in 2023 when even some high-profile 2D games (like River City Girls 2) launch with terrible performance.”
    • “Later parts of the game have your moves slowly build up towards a 'performance', which is a temporary power boost that absolutely turns the tide of battle in your favor with an awesome musical track backing it.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The game's cartoonish art style and fitting musical tracks create a light-hearted and humorous atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience. Each region's unique sound complements its theme, from rock and roll in 'demon' zones to upbeat tunes in 'fishy' areas, making the atmosphere a standout feature despite the gameplay being less impressive.

    • “The art style is cartoonish in its look and really fits the light-hearted atmosphere and silly jokes that the game is going for.”
    • “Each track also fits its region to a tee, from 'demon' zones that have a more rock and roll style, to 'fishy' zones sporting an upbeat and 'bubbly' atmosphere.”
    • “The main thing about this game is the humor and atmosphere/music; the gameplay isn't very impressive.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization approach of the game is praised for being honest and thoughtful, standing out in an industry often criticized for quick cash grabs. Players appreciate the developers' commitment to creating a quality experience without resorting to exploitative practices.

  • replayability1 mentions

    Users generally feel that the game lacks significant replayability, indicating that once completed, there isn't much incentive to play it again.

    • “The game lacks significant replayability.”
    • “There isn't much incentive to play through the game again.”
    • “Once you finish the game, there's little reason to return.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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