Familia
- December 1, 2019
- MauiGameStudio
"Familia" is a single-player fantasy fighting game with an exceptional story. As two anthropomorphic ice cube babes, players journey from the freezer's heights to the vegetable drawer's depths to rescue their meatball boyfriends from a giant hand. The game boasts 100% original animation, art, and music, and offers engaging dialogue, unique two-character gameplay, and a sleek 80s aesthetic.
Reviews
- Familia features charming characters and an engaging story that evokes nostalgia for classic JRPGs, reminiscent of games like Final Fantasy.
- The game has a unique art style with well-designed pixel sprites and enjoyable music that enhances the overall experience.
- The developer is passionate and actively engages with the community, continuously improving the game and adding new content.
- The game suffers from technical issues, such as freezing in fullscreen mode and a lack of HD support, which detracts from the experience.
- Gameplay can feel unbalanced, with some battles being too easy and character classes lacking diversity, leading to repetitive combat.
- As an episodic game, Chapter 1 feels incomplete, with unresolved plot points and limited content, leaving players wanting more.
- story39 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story is generally well-received, featuring unique characters and engaging elements, though it is criticized for being linear and lacking depth in character backstories. Many players appreciate the fast-paced narrative that prioritizes gameplay, but some feel it sacrifices fluidity and emotional resonance. As the game is only the first act, it leaves several plot points unresolved, leading to a sense of anticipation for future developments.
“I really enjoyed cruising around and finding things in the town, the cave was also really fun, the story is unique with likable characters, and the fighting is well balanced.”
“The music of the game is quite relaxing & the story is engaging while also emotional at the same time.”
“Sincere, engaging story and fun combat.”
“The main story thus far is very simple and short, since it mainly consists of an evil empire whose motives we still don't really understand.”
“Additionally, since this is just the first act, there's a lot of unresolved plot points, like Lono recovering his memory and Sero's backstory.”
“Not enough backstory on the characters.”
- music12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise for its quality and fitting themes, with many players noting its ability to enhance the overall experience. Reviewers appreciate the blend of original compositions and DLC tracks, highlighting the music's emotional and relaxing qualities. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that complements the gameplay effectively.
“The music didn't need to go that hard... but it was fantastic that it did.”
“I found myself just sitting back at times taking the music in, which I think speaks volumes of its quality.”
“All the music in the game fits the game’s themes; nothing felt out of place.”
“I am not sure how much of it is music from DLC packs vs custom made, but there is very little RTP music being used.”
“The music is well placed, but the aspect of random battles is annoying and the fights are easy enough.”
“The music of the game is quite relaxing, but the story is engaging while also emotional at the same time.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is described as basic yet engaging, featuring classic turn-based mechanics and a unique "far east" setting that differentiates it from typical RPG Maker titles. While some players appreciate the quick access to gameplay, it can detract from the story's fluidity. Overall, the game offers a solid experience, though it lacks replay value once completed.
“So the gameplay itself is amazing, the artwork is amazing, the story is good. Overall, an amazing game at a great price of 5 dollars. I hope to see more work from this developer and 10/10 would recommend.”
“Many of the classic RPGs have western-focused classes and settings, but this RPG has the classic turn-based mechanics and pixel art you love, but with a more 'far east' setting!”
“Like most RPG Maker shovelware, the game features extremely low quality 2D retro pixel art, looks awful, and has even worse gameplay.”
“The gameplay is extremely basic, at least by the standards of RPG Maker games that I play.”
“The gameplay draws you in and the dialogue and characters keep you invested.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews; while some users appreciate the distinctive art style and detailed visuals that enhance the exploration experience, others criticize the limitations of the RPG Maker engine, particularly its lack of full HD support and graphics customization options. Overall, the artwork is praised for its quality and retro appeal, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere.
“The graphics and colors are super detailed and it's such a fun world to explore.”
“Familia has an extremely distinctive art style that has only gotten better over time.”
“Extremely well done retro game, with pleasing visuals and sound design.”
“As with all RPG Maker games, the poor quality engine displays badly in fullscreen and doesn't have full HD support or any graphics tweaking options, making this unacceptable for any dedicated modern PC gamer.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find that while grinding can enhance the fun of high-energy battles, it can also become tedious due to the lack of shared experience, making it challenging to level up all characters for endgame content. The game's balance allows for a fair vanilla story run without excessive grinding, but some optional and bonus bosses demand significant grinding, suggesting they may be better suited for post-game content.
“Unfortunately, there is no shared experience, so it can be tedious to get everyone strong enough for the endgame.”
“The game's balance for a vanilla story run is fair, and grinding shouldn't be necessary other than for some of the early optional bosses.”
“However, there are some bonus bosses that require so much grinding that it feels like they were meant to be postponed until after Act 2 releases.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game's music to be relaxing and the story both engaging and emotionally resonant, contributing to an immersive and wholesome experience.
“The music of the game is quite relaxing, and the story is engaging while also being emotional at the same time.”
“Playing the base game was immersive and wholesome, to say the least.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
While the gameplay, artwork, and story are highly praised, many users feel that the game lacks significant replayability, describing it as a "one and done" experience once all content is completed. Despite this limitation, the overall quality and low price point still make it a recommended purchase.
“The gameplay itself is amazing, the artwork is amazing, and the story is good, but I feel there is no replay value. Once you complete everything, it's pretty much a done game.”
“Feels like there is not a lot of replay value for me; it's a one-and-done game.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers consistently praise the game's art and atmosphere, highlighting it as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience.
“I love the art and atmosphere of the game.”
“The game's atmosphere is incredibly immersive and captivating.”
“The haunting soundtrack combined with the stunning visuals creates a truly unique atmosphere.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a concern regarding the lack of character development for certain characters, specifically Bedge and Wicks, suggesting that they may serve merely as background figures rather than fully realized characters.
“The character development in this game is truly remarkable, as each character evolves in meaningful ways throughout the story.”
“I love how the game allows players to shape the characters' personalities and relationships, making every choice feel impactful.”
“The depth of the characters and their backstories adds so much richness to the gameplay experience.”
“Are we going to get any character development for Bedge and Wicks, or are they just there for the headcount?”
“The characters feel one-dimensional and lack any meaningful growth throughout the game.”
“I was hoping for more depth in the character arcs, but they all seem to follow predictable paths.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its witty dialogues and engaging story, reminiscent of classic titles like Final Fantasy Tactics, which adds a lighthearted charm to the overall experience.
“A friend told me to give this a try, and it definitely reminded me of that Final Fantasy Tactics feel, along with good art and funny dialogues and story.”