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."
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- Dezatopia offers a unique and forgiving gameplay experience, allowing players to enjoy the game without the usual frustrations of wall collisions and instant deaths.
- The game features a vibrant art style, dynamic music, and a variety of stages and bosses, making it visually and audibly appealing.
- With its deep scoring system and multiple routes, Dezatopia provides a wealth of content and replayability, catering to both casual players and those seeking a challenge.
- Some players may find the tutorial lacking, which could make it difficult for newcomers 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 moments.
- The shop system and some secret pickups can feel random or inconsistent, which might detract from the overall experience for some players.
- music26 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its unique and vibrant FM synth compositions, reminiscent of classic Mega Drive sounds, which enhance the overall chaotic gameplay experience. Players appreciate the smooth soundtrack and the ability to unlock additional music and sound effects, adding depth to the game's charm. Overall, the music is described as a standout feature that complements the impressive pixel art and fluid controls.
“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 the style created a truly unique pack of music and sounds out of this chip.”
“All the music and sound effects are made with iym2151.”
“The soundchip 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.”
“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.”
- gameplay16 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by chaotic yet dynamic 4-way shooting 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, allowing for strategic weapon switching and item utilization. Overall, while the gameplay may appeal to specific tastes, it offers a vibrant and engaging experience that encourages experimentation.
“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.”
“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.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's pixel graphics are praised for their originality and charm, contributing significantly to its overall appeal. Players appreciate the unique art style and the ability to unlock additional content, such as artwork and stories, though some may find the anthropomorphic character designs less appealing. Overall, the graphics enhance the experience, making it stand out in the side-scrolling shooter genre.
“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, I reckon though.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight the game's emotional depth, emphasizing the significant effort and passion invested in its creation. The mechanics, such as forgiving checkpoints and health systems, enhance the player's experience, allowing for a more engaging and heartfelt journey.
“So much soul and sweat and hard work put into this effort... emotional.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the reviews highlight the vibrant and unique art and character designs, they do not provide specific insights into character development itself. Overall, the focus seems to be more on the visual and auditory experience rather than the depth or growth of the characters.
- story2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's story is conveyed through character dialogues and is complemented by a variety of unlockables, including music, illustrations, and a bestiary, which enhance the narrative experience.
“It also has a menu where you can check a bunch of unlockables, including dialogues between characters which are used to tell the story, music, illustrations, a bestiary, etc.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized due to a lack of advertising efforts prior to its release, which has affected its visibility and popularity. Users express concern for the developer's situation, indicating that better marketing could have improved the game's financial success.
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is praised for its attention to detail, allowing players to track their performance through various subtle metrics. This feature enhances the overall gameplay experience by providing valuable insights into player progress.
“There are many subtle details in the game to track your performance in various ways.”
