Fortune Summoners
- January 30, 2012
- Lizsoft
- 30h median play time
Fortune Summoners is a charming action RPG set in a fantasy world with dungeon exploration and real-time combat. Follow the story of three girls: Arche, Sana, and Jenni, as they uncover the mysteries of their homeland. With a unique skill system and various abilities to learn, players can customize their characters to fit their playstyle.
Reviews
- Charming and cute art style with well-designed characters and engaging story.
- Challenging combat system that requires skill and strategy, rewarding players for mastering controls.
- Great AI for both enemies and allies, making battles dynamic and interesting.
- Controls can feel clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustration during combat.
- Difficulty spikes can be overwhelming, especially for new players unfamiliar with the mechanics.
- Lack of clear direction in the story can lead to confusion and excessive backtracking.
- story249 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "Fortune Summoners" is generally described as charming and light-hearted, featuring well-developed characters and a cute premise centered around young girls attending a magic school. While some reviewers find the plot to be simple or predictable, many appreciate its engaging dialogue and the emotional connection it fosters, despite the game ending on an unresolved cliffhanger. Overall, the narrative is seen as enjoyable, though it may not appeal to those seeking more complex storytelling.
“The story is wonderful, full of surprises, but each sub-plot resolves satisfactorily.”
“I absolutely adored both the story and the art style of the game.”
“The story is charming and I found myself excitedly loading the game just to experience the next little nugget of story in cute Arche’s life.”
“The story is mediocre and the music just doesn't excel at all.”
“The story is nothing special; it doesn't have a good overarching plot or any overarching plot really, you just follow three little girls and their adventures.”
“Sadly, the story is and will always be incomplete, as the game ends in a cliffhanger that obviously would lead into subsequent games, but the developer stopped making games after this one wasn't successful enough.”
- gameplay122 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Fortune Summoners" is characterized by its challenging mechanics and depth, appealing to players who enjoy action RPGs and metroidvania elements. While some find the controls clunky and the combat frustrating, many appreciate the engaging combat system and the strategic nature of battles, which require skill and practice to master. Overall, the game offers a mix of charming visuals and a solid story, though it may not cater to those unfamiliar with its demanding gameplay style.
“The gameplay is really good and has tons of depth.”
“Cute, classy, and charming; Fortune Summoners will draw you in and spit you out once you've taken in the entertaining story, mesmerizing characters, and addicting gameplay.”
“Playing out like a cross between Castlevania, Zelda II, Demon's Souls, and mid-90s arcade games, Fortune Summoners is a delight for anyone who relishes the prospect of unabashedly 'retro' gameplay and a level of challenge that certainly doesn't pander to those who aren't willing to learn (and practice) its techniques.”
“Unfortunately, the battle mechanics are nothing short of frustrating.”
“The actual gameplay ranges from subpar to mediocre most of the time.”
“The gameplay... well, frankly, it feels very sloppy and frustrating, but it does, too, grow on you.”
- graphics80 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the charming pixel art and vibrant visuals that evoke nostalgia for retro gaming. However, players frequently report significant technical issues, including low frame rates, graphical glitches, and problems with fullscreen mode, which detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the art style and character designs are often highlighted as standout features that contribute positively to the game's appeal.
“Fortune Summoners has a number of redeeming factors, such as its well-designed characters, decent story, and outstanding graphics for a 2D JRPG in the late 2000s.”
“The sprite art is just lovely; you can see a lot of love went into the graphics.”
“It's beautiful, with an elegant, cheerful, carefully-constructed art style that makes exploration a joy.”
“You can't play in fullscreen mode without all the graphics overlapping each other and bugging out, and to even get it working on an Xbox controller you have to read through the discussion page to find a solution.”
“This game looked interesting, but I was unable to play it due to low frame rate, graphics glitches, and crashes.”
“On 'low' graphics it still stutters violently and struggles to maintain frame rate.”
- music66 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its charm and fitting atmosphere, particularly in town and dungeon settings. However, some players find it repetitive and lacking in variety, especially during battles, leading to moments where they preferred to turn it off. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally enjoyable and complements the game's visuals, it may not be memorable or diverse enough for all players.
“The town music is calming and catchy; some are lighthearted and lift the mood.”
“The soundtrack fits every situation in the game.”
“A beautiful game with top-notch graphical detail, a vibrant soundtrack, and a brilliant story presented through a very entertaining and charming script!”
“The story is mediocre and the music just doesn't excel at all.”
“The music is likely the worst part of the package.”
“The stock music sounds alright but in this case the lack of variety just made me want to turn it off.”
- grinding25 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- -8 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate a mixed perspective on grinding in the game. While some players find the grinding necessary for progression and appreciate the challenge it brings, others criticize it as tedious and excessive, particularly due to high enemy health and the need for backtracking. Overall, the game imposes level and currency caps that limit grinding, which some players see as a positive design choice to encourage skill development rather than mindless farming.
“The game is not grindy; you level up very quickly inside the dungeons while completing your current missions.”
“Grinding feels rewarding, as each session brings you closer to your goals and enhances your character.”
“I appreciate how the grinding mechanics are balanced, making progress feel satisfying without being tedious.”
“Even regular enemies have a relatively high amount of HP, making it time-consuming and tedious to progress at earlier levels.”
“Unfortunately, this game has a lot of tedious backtracking to the point where some people will be unable to skip.”
“The story itself isn't all that long, and the game limits your grinding by imposing level and currency caps that are slowly lifted as you progress through the game - and grinding truly feels like a high-effort low-reward type of thing since the experience requirement to gain one level is incredibly high and it'll take an absurdly long time to farm currency to get all the gear one wants/needs.”
- humor23 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its cute and silly dialogue, endearing characters, and a lighthearted tone that often elicits smiles and laughter. Players appreciate the clever jokes and parodies, particularly in the context of anime and RPG tropes, which enhance the overall enjoyment despite some control sluggishness. The combination of funny writing and charming visuals creates a delightful experience, making it a standout feature of the game.
“Arche is so cute and funny, and I find myself smiling, laughing, or face-palming because of how silly the conversations can be.”
“The game features a lot of hilarious and endearing dialogue (as to be expected from the wizards of Carpe Fulgur) and is basically a side-scrolling 2D sword-swinging, magic-using old-school RPG.”
“It also has a good sense of humor and a general happy theme holding it together that makes it all the more fun.”
- optimization11 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is notably poor, especially on modern Windows operating systems, leading to issues such as low FPS, display problems, and stuttering. Players often need to adjust settings extensively or play in a small window to achieve acceptable performance, with experiences varying significantly between different Windows versions. Overall, the game requires careful tweaking to run smoothly, making it challenging for those without technical expertise.
“I spent most of my initial dungeon runs in a low performance, high efficiency set of settings designed to conserve MP rather than fight with maximum power, lending towards deeper expeditions rather than ease of combat.”
“Whether you are a seasoned veteran of the RPG genre good with careful planning, preparation, and optimization, or a skilled action platform fighting game player good at skillfully controlling your character and making magic happen, the game is just easy enough that you can rely on your strengths and get by with some difficulty.”
“Since this game is quite old, please tweak the game performance to suit your PC technology through a guide so it runs buttery smooth; if not, it's unplayable.”
“Common issues, especially in Windows 10, include low FPS, multi-monitor lag, broken graphics, and stuttering.”
“Unfortunately, this game just has ridiculously bad performance.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is described as cute, colorful, and warm, evoking a strong sense of nostalgia through its charming town and characters. Players appreciate the simplistic yet elegant storyline, pleasant music, and expressive character portraits, all of which enhance the overall experience. The combination of these elements creates a delightful and engaging ambiance, making the gameplay enjoyable despite its challenges.
“The game itself brought me a lot of nostalgic feelings, from the atmosphere of the town and the people.”
“The overall atmosphere was cute, colorful, and warm.”
“The atmosphere of the game is very charming.”
“The art is definitely a double thumbs up, and the variety of character portraits for dialogue really add to the atmosphere and feeling of the game.”
- character development6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, character development in the game is praised for being engaging and enjoyable, contributing positively to the storyline and gameplay experience. While some players appreciate the cute character designs and humor, others note that the protagonist's intelligence may detract from the depth of development. Despite mixed opinions on certain aspects, many find the character arcs to be a highlight of the game.
“Good storyline, good character development, and challenging gameplay; what else could you possibly want?”
“Love the character development and it's just a fun game in general.”
“I probably would have quit halfway through if I didn't have someone cuddly cooing over the girls' character developments.”
“There is also decent character development and puzzle components, if you don't mind the protagonist being a little girl with the IQ of a grapefruit.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke a range of feelings, from laughter to tears, through its charming characters and heartwarming story. Despite the lack of additional content since its release, players appreciate the game's themes of friendship and nostalgia reminiscent of classic JRPGs, making it a must-play for fans of action RPGs with emotional depth.
“There are adorable characters and it teaches you friendship. It makes me laugh, it makes me cry; so emotional and yet funny.”
“Cute characters with swords and magic, a story that's heartwarming and light, yet engaging, with a difficulty that reminds me of classic JRPGs.”
“A must-have for lovers of action RPGs and simple, yet heartwarming stories.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the replayability offered by the diverse control styles of each playable character, enhancing the overall experience. However, the absence of randomly generated dungeons, available in the deluxe edition, limits some replay potential. Overall, the game provides more content than expected for its price, contributing to its replay value.
“Having each playable character control differently allows for lots of replayability.”
“Much longer than I thought for a $10 game and even has replay value.”
“It does not offer the randomly generated dungeons that are included in the deluxe edition for added replayability.”
“Much longer than I thought for a $10 game, but it lacks significant replay value.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern, with users reporting low frame rates, frequent crashes, and various technical glitches that hinder gameplay. While the core gameplay is solid, the overall experience is marred by these persistent issues.
“This game looked interesting, but I was unable to play it due to low frame rate, graphics glitches, and crashes.”
“The game has serious technical glitches; I shouldn't be running 10-20 fps on a platformer that takes up an eighth of my screen.”
“The gameplay itself is fairly solid, but the game client can be a little buggy at times.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users have expressed frustration with the game's monetization, particularly highlighting issues with controller support that was advertised but not functioning properly.
“The monetization model is overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
“I feel like I'm constantly being pushed to buy in-game currency just to keep up with the competition.”
“The game is fun, but the paywall is frustrating and ruins the overall experience.”