Dezatopia
- January 23, 2020
- HEY
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"Dezatopia is a fantasy shooter game where players control Akane and Aoba in their mission to stop Momoko’s plans of combining civilsations above and below ground. With the Speleological Fighter Pink Aurora, players can utilize four unique weapons and purchase upgrades while facing a dynamic difficulty system. The game offers around 5 hours of playtime and is filled with a variety of strange and unusual creatures across each stage, accompanied by delightful music."
Reviews
- Dezatopia offers a unique and chaotic gameplay experience with a variety of stages and bosses, making it highly engaging.
- The game is very forgiving for newcomers to the shmup genre, allowing players to enjoy the experience without the frustration of instant deaths.
- The art style and music are vibrant and original, contributing to the game's overall charm and appeal.
- Some players may find the tutorial lacking, which could make it difficult to fully grasp the game's mechanics.
- The hitbox placement can be confusing, as it is not always aligned with the ship's center of gravity, potentially leading to frustrating collisions.
- The shop system can feel random at times, which may detract from the overall gameplay experience for some players.
- music13 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its originality and quality, featuring a unique FM synth soundtrack that evokes nostalgia while enhancing the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the fluid integration of music with the vibrant art style, contributing to the game's chaotic charm and overall atmosphere. Additionally, the inclusion of unlockable music and sound effects adds depth and engagement for players.
“Fluid controls, smooth soundtrack, artistic game.”
“The art and character designs are so vibrant and unique, the music slaps, and the gameplay is chaotic as all hell.”
“Unique, challenging, lots of content, great music.”
“The sound chip sounds like Mega Drive games - not exactly, that sound chip is YM2612, but still - yet Hey's style created a truly unique pack of music and sounds out of this chip.”
“All the music and sound effects are made with IYM2151.”
“Previously released only in Japan in physical format as 'Momoiro Underground', the dev changed to a different publisher, remade the entire OST (the previous OST was made by someone else), and got it translated to English and released as Dezatopia on Steam and, soon, Switch.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by chaotic yet dynamic mechanics, featuring four unique weapons corresponding to the cardinal directions, each with distinct functionalities like charge attacks and toggling options. The integration of a shop system and various routes enhances the experience, encouraging players to strategically switch between weapons and utilize hidden items. Overall, the gameplay is vibrant and engaging, appealing to those who enjoy fast-paced action with a variety of mechanics.
“Luckily, the game also has plenty of things that are different, like the four different weapons for the directions, the many different routes, the shop system, etc. There are a lot of mechanics, all well complementing each other.”
“The gameplay is still the same fantastic 4-way shooting but with a more refined overall system in terms of ship speed and utilization of hidden items.”
“You have one unique weapon for each of the 4 cardinal directions, with accompanying mechanics such as whether you have to hold the button for each weapon or just toggle them, 'charge attacks' for each weapon that are charged while the weapon is retracted, and particularly how some pickups only come to you if you have no weapons activated, making you switch back and forth between weapons and modes, giving way to dynamic and fun gameplay.”
“It is really a matter of taste if you will like this sort of gameplay or not, but I encourage everyone to try.”
“The 2 defining aspects of this game are certainly the 4 weapons your ship has, and the shop mechanic.”
“You have one unique weapon for each of the 4 cardinal directions, with accompanying mechanics such as one that defines whether you have to hold the button for each weapon or you just toggle them, 'charge attacks' for each weapon that are charged while the weapon is retracted, and particularly how some pickups only come to you if you have no weapons activated, making you switch back and forth between weapons and modes, giving way to dynamic and fun gameplay.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's pixel graphics are praised for their originality and charm, complemented by an impressive soundtrack. While the unique art style and unlockable content add depth, some players may not appreciate the anthropomorphic designs of the enemy characters.
“The pixel graphics are amazing and very original, and the music is fantastic.”
“At first, I thought it was just another tough side-scrolling shooter with amazing music, but the art style sealed the deal for me.”
“This really gives it a unique charm - it is possible to unlock artwork, short stories, character descriptions, and music by discovering secrets in the game itself, which are quite delightful.”
“Some might not like the aesthetic or anthropomorphic designs of the enemy characters.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the dedication and effort put into its creation, resonating deeply with players. The gameplay mechanics, such as not restarting from the beginning after dying, enhance the emotional experience by allowing players to engage more fully without the frustration of losing progress. Overall, the game evokes a strong sense of connection and investment from its audience.
“So much soul, sweat, and hard work put into this effort... emotional.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the vibrant art and unique character designs are praised, the reviews do not provide specific insights into character development, focusing instead on the overall aesthetic and gameplay experience.
- story1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's story is conveyed through character dialogues found in a menu that also features unlockables such as music, illustrations, and a bestiary, enriching the narrative experience.
“The game features a menu where you can explore a variety of unlockables, including character dialogues that help to narrate the story, music, illustrations, and a bestiary.”
“The storytelling is immersive, with rich character development and engaging plot twists that keep you invested in the narrative.”
“The narrative is beautifully woven, with each character's backstory adding depth to the overall experience.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been noted as lacking, with the developer expressing regret over insufficient advertising efforts prior to release, which may have impacted its visibility and popularity.
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's attention to detail in tracking performance, indicating a well-optimized experience that enhances gameplay.
“There are many subtle details in the game to track your performance in various ways.”
“The optimization features allow for a highly personalized gameplay experience.”
“I love how the game encourages you to refine your strategies for maximum efficiency.”
“The game suffers from severe optimization issues, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
“Despite its potential, the lack of proper optimization makes it nearly unplayable on lower-end systems.”
“I was disappointed to find that even with the latest hardware, the game still struggles to maintain a stable frame rate.”
