For a Vast Future
- November 1, 2022
- Retreaux Games
- 10h median play time
Get on Steam"For a Vast Future" is a post-apocalyptic survival game set in a retro-futuristic world. You must gather resources, craft tools, and build shelters to survive the harsh radioactive environment while uncovering the mysteries of the past. Fight or avoid aggressive mutants and make strategic decisions to ensure your survival in this open world RPG.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- For a Vast Future is a charming homage to 90s handheld RPGs, featuring smooth gameplay, a unique ammo-based combat system, and a well-crafted retro aesthetic that resonates with fans of the genre.
- The game offers a generous resource management system, allowing players to experiment with different strategies and playstyles, while also providing free respec options for character upgrades.
- The music and sound design are standout features, enhancing the overall experience and evoking nostalgia for classic Game Boy titles.
- The narrative and character development are often criticized for being shallow, with flat characters and heavy-handed writing that fails to deliver on the game's ambitious themes.
- Combat can become repetitive and lacks challenge, as many players find the game too easy, with little need for grinding or strategic depth as they progress.
- The limited inventory management and lack of shops for item purchases can lead to frustrating gameplay moments, particularly when players need to backtrack for resources.
- story44 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story of "For a Vast Future" is generally well-received, praised for its compelling plot, solid worldbuilding, and engaging setting, reminiscent of classic Game Boy RPGs. While some reviewers noted that the narrative relies heavily on exposition and could benefit from more "show" rather than "tell," others appreciated the game's direct storytelling approach and the depth found in its lore. Overall, the story is considered a strong aspect of the game, despite some critiques regarding its execution.
“Short and sweet, For a Vast Future has a compelling plot, solid backstory, and especially scratches that aesthetic itch that I experienced with the saga (Final Fantasy Legend) games all those many years ago.”
“No, rather than beating the player over the head with long-winded soliloquy and narrative, the game chooses instead to let the player discover the story on their own terms.”
“Don't sleep on the story, either - there is a lot of lore in bookshelves and in recordings, and the world feels really well-created as a result.”
“I loved the setting, but thought there was too much writing for the amount of actual story present.”
“The story, however, is probably one of the weaker aspects.”
“On the subject of exposition—the game's story is really quite light on the surface.”
- music30 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many reviewers praising its incredible quality and energetic chiptune soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience. The tracks effectively convey themes of adventure and mood, contributing significantly to the game's inviting atmosphere and retro vibe. Overall, the music is considered one of the strongest aspects of the game, appealing especially to fans of 8-bit chiptunes.
“The game is incredibly inviting once you're even mildly invested, and I believe the music is its strongest pillar in that regard.”
“Quite often there is a theme of adventure and drive in the music that aims to move you forward, but there's an excellent contrast with some more moody tracks that aid in backing the game's exposition.”
“This game is well-polished, captures a perfect retro vibe, has a soundtrack that absolutely slaps, is respectful of your time as a gamer, and most importantly extremely fun.”
“But the music.”
“Music:”
“Love the fast paced battles and the soundtrack is as fresh as it gets.”
- gameplay28 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its smooth, simple mechanics and quick-paced, turn-based combat, emphasizing item management over skills. While the retro-inspired visuals and audio are praised, some players noted a lack of depth and a self-defeating gameplay loop, with bugs occasionally hindering the experience. Overall, it offers a compact RPG experience that is addictive and fun, though it may become less compelling as players progress.
“For a Vast Future is a bite-sized RPG with Game Boy inspired graphics, interesting gameplay, and a decent story and characters.”
“The combat is snappy, the plot is good, fun, and well-paced, and it's filled with loads of quality of life conveniences and mechanics I love in JRPGs - save anywhere, power up with skill points (free to re-spec!), weapon upgrades, abundant drops for crafting new ammo and wargear, and more.”
“From a motorcycle that you get early on that lets you travel each area at breakneck speed, to the sparse story exposition and clear direction given to the player, every gameplay element is designed to expedite progress and keep the player moving along.”
“This creates somewhat of a self-defeating gameplay loop, which is often poor design.”
“To say nothing of at least a few bugs and oddities I encountered that periodically hindered the gameplay experience.”
“A foundation is there for a solid JRPG, but unfortunately, the gameplay is a bit weak.”
- graphics24 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of "For a Vast Future" effectively capture the Game Boy-inspired aesthetic, with a well-suited art style that complements the game's setting and story. While the visuals are generally polished, some players find the 4-color palette and small sprites can be visually frustrating at times, detracting from the overall experience. Despite these limitations, the graphics and audio are praised for their quality, appealing particularly to fans of retro gaming.
“The graphics nailed the Game Boy inspired style it's going for, and the art style is perfectly suited to the setting and story.”
“Graphics and music are great and fit the Game Boy style well.”
“Considering the constraints of the retro aesthetics, the visuals and audio are top notch, with fairly standard turn-based JRPG gameplay built around item management rather than skills.”
“The 4-color Game Boy aesthetic is honestly hurting the game visually more than helping.”
“It's trying to go for a Final Fantasy Legend/Saga 1-3 aesthetic, but it can be a bit of an eyesore at times, and the small sprites can make telling what is what frustrating.”
“Guy's Guns, a weapon upgrade shop, seems to have received a lot of attention in regards to polish, and it demonstrates how far the game's visuals could have been pushed had the developers had the time and resources to do so.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate that grinding is optional and generally quick, making it less tedious compared to traditional RPGs. However, there are suggestions for improving inventory management, such as sorting or displaying items in a standard list format, to further enhance the experience. Overall, the game successfully minimizes the grind while maintaining an old-school RPG feel.
“The icons look great, but a way to rearrange or sort the inventory or being able to display it as just a standard list would go a long way to making it much less tedious.”
“This is a fairly good implementation of an old school style RPG, but one that largely avoids some of the things that made them tedious.”
“Grinding is optional, but even if you do it, the grind is over pretty quickly.”
- character development4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development is criticized for being underwhelming, as the small character designs hinder the ability to discern their personalities and dimensions. This lack of distinction among characters detracts from the overall depth and engagement with their development.
“Character development is well-crafted and engaging, allowing players to form a deep connection with the characters.”
“The characters are rich and multi-dimensional, making their journeys feel meaningful and impactful.”
“The character arcs are thoughtfully designed, providing a satisfying sense of growth and evolution throughout the game.”
“Character development feels like cliff notes.”
“Characters are a little too small to get a read on their personalities or dimensions. One small gripe I have with the art is that the character design lacks enough distinction to differentiate one from another.”
- stability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game demonstrates excellent stability, particularly on the Steam Deck, where users report smooth performance.
“Runs great on Steam Deck.”
