Franzen

About

"Franzen" is a Micro-RPG set in the Holy Lands of Branzen, where a tear in the sky called 'The Scream' has been corrupting the land for eighteen years. As amateur Technomancers Franz and Lefsa Dellia, you'll engage in snappy turn-based combat and explore a vibrant world filled with diverse enemies and items to uncover the mysteries and dark secrets of this rapidly decaying world. With a fast-paced, grind-free leveling system, "Franzen" offers a unique and engaging RPG experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

99%

Audience ScoreBased on 110 reviews

story28 positive mentions

grinding7 negative mentions

Franzen offers a unique and atmospheric narrative with engaging world-building and character development, making it a captivating experience.
The game features a distinctive art style and a well-composed soundtrack that enhances the overall immersion and enjoyment.
As a free RPG, it provides a concise and entertaining adventure without unnecessary grinding, appealing to fans of classic JRPGs.

The combat system is criticized for being unbalanced and lacking depth, leading to frustration during encounters.
Some players experienced technical issues, such as bugs and performance inconsistencies, which detracted from the overall experience.
The pacing of the story can feel rushed at times, leaving some plot points and character developments underexplored.

story
79 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
61%
4%
The story of the game is a blend of straightforward narrative and rich world-building, featuring a married couple, Franz and Lefsa, navigating a dark, steampunk world filled with political intrigue and emotional depth. While some players find the pacing too rapid and the plot somewhat generic, many appreciate the engaging character interactions and the thoughtful exploration of themes like love and empathy. Overall, the narrative is concise and immersive, offering a satisfying experience despite its brevity.
- “The story is swift, to the point, and beautifully empathetic.”
- “Set in a dark, steampunk world high above the clouds, Franzen is the story of potbellied lizardman Franz Delia and his odd little six-armed wife Lefsa, two technomancers studying the long-term effects of a disastrous event known only as 'the scream' several years prior, and its bringing of monstrous daemons into their world.”
- “Their quest takes them to the pinnacle of the tower city of Akon and beyond to distant islands in the sea of clouds, through a well-paced narrative that explores themes of empathy, political struggles, and the desire to see the good in people.”
- “If you're looking for a story that keeps you on your toes, I would advise you to look elsewhere.”
- “The plot of the game is largely unremarkable, but the world-building and character interactions are detailed and realistic; character dialogues are kept brief but are overflowing with personality.”
- “It's a story that tackles politics, despair, hatred, love, relationships, community, and other themes in a 'lovingly bloated' manner - never quite managing to bring out the full potential of either one before showing another down its gullet due to the pace it needs to keep up.”
music
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
44%
8%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and immerse players in the experience, blending retro chiptune elements with orchestral and rock influences. Reviewers noted that the soundtrack is not only enjoyable and memorable but also complements the game's art and narrative, creating a cohesive and engaging world. Many players expressed a desire for a downloadable soundtrack, highlighting the music as a standout feature that significantly contributes to the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “The music seamlessly blends a retro chiptune aesthetic with organ-like and even orchestral sensibilities, even adding some heavier rock riffs.”
- “The music in this game is absolutely wonderful to listen to; I was happy to run into enemies in the mercury mines just because of the battle music.”
- “The soundtrack evokes nostalgic feelings of classic JRPG titles while still feeling fresh and inspired.”
- “The only thing missing from this game is a downloadable soundtrack.”
- “As much as I love Scumhead's music and lore and cast, the moment-to-moment gameplay is bog-standard, menu-driven JRPG combat.”
- “Edit: forgot to mention about the music, aside from being simple tracks, every place has its own music, and they're not bad.”
gameplay
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
54%
11%
The gameplay in this RPG Maker title is characterized by simple, turn-based mechanics that are reminiscent of classic JRPGs, offering a serviceable experience that supports the narrative rather than standing out on its own. While some players appreciate the engaging blend of exploration, puzzle-solving, and decision-making, others find the combat shallow and occasionally hindered by technical issues. Overall, the gameplay is enjoyable for those familiar with the genre, but it may not satisfy players seeking depth or innovation.
- “Gameplay is a frame for the story and themes; it's as entertaining and varied as it needs to be to provide an enjoyable experience.”
- “[b]🎮 Engaging gameplay mechanics[/b] the game features engaging gameplay mechanics that blend exploration, puzzle-solving, and decision-making, offering a diverse and captivating experience.”
- “The gameplay, on the other hand, is bog-standard old-school JRPG grind.”
- “As much as I love Scumhead's music and lore and cast, the moment-to-moment gameplay is bog-standard, menu-driven JRPG combat.”
- “Despite its short length, Franzen feels like a fairly well-realized SNES RPG adventure both gameplay and story-wise, cutting out all of the fluff typically present even in indie RPGs, and once again its writing is incredibly potent within that shorter timeframe.”
graphics
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
59%
11%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique and imaginative art style that draws inspiration from SNES-era JRPGs, featuring bizarre and dark visuals that enhance the overall atmosphere. While the visuals are praised for their creativity and charm, some players note a lack of polish and consistency that detracts from the aesthetic appeal. Overall, the game's distinctive art and cohesive design make it a worthwhile experience for fans of quirky indie titles.
- “Absolutely fantastic art style, the characters and monsters are delightfully strange and dark.”
- “The artwork in the world of Franzen is metallic, bleak, and in many cases, unnervingly creepy, but that's what's so charming about it.”
- “It's a beautiful, silly, bite-sized game with a positive message and a stunning aesthetic.”
- “While Franzen boasts a unique art style, certain aspects of the visual presentation lack polish.”
- “Improving visual coherence and consistency would elevate the game’s aesthetic appeal.”
- “Some players may find certain aspects of the visual presentation lacking polish or refinement, impacting the overall aesthetic appeal.”
atmosphere
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique and immersive qualities, featuring a well-crafted art style, a dark orchestral soundtrack, and a reserved color palette that enhances the overall experience. While the sound design is generally adequate, it occasionally falls short of fully complementing the atmospheric narrative, which is rich in intrigue and mystery. Overall, players appreciate the compelling storytelling and the cohesive elements that create a captivating game world.
- “Beautifully written game, great art style and atmosphere.”
- “The soundtrack is also well done given the limited budget - it fits the situations, it delivers atmosphere, and it doesn't become annoying after two loops.”
- “From the reserved color palette to the dark orchestral soundtrack to the weird-cute character designs, everything just fits together and creates a very particular atmosphere.”
- “It's like a combination of ambient and industrial that fits really well with the setting and the general atmosphere of the game.”
grinding
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
10%
70%
Reviews on grinding in the game are mixed; while some players found it unnecessary to reach the end, others experienced issues with character scaling and balance after spending significant time grinding. The game offers opportunities to become overpowered through grinding, particularly with a merchant that sells powerful items, but many players noted that traditional grinding isn't required to enjoy the game or succeed in combat. Overall, the grinding experience can vary, with some players finding it quick and manageable, while others felt it could lead to diminishing returns.
- “The combat feels like in the classic Final Fantasy games and is nothing to write home about, but it serves its purpose and is not grindy!”
- “You receive one core from most boss fights and can purchase more for 1000 gold, and provided you gain an understanding of your characters' abilities, the game's four-element system, and equip your characters accordingly, no grinding is necessary, as advertised on the Steam page.”
- “The scaling is completely off: normally, grinding is set off by diminishing returns.”
- “Literally spent 2 hours grinding in the game to make one of my characters overpowered and now she does 0 damage.”
- “There's a merchant later in the story that can help you become insanely overpowered if you spend the time grinding, and overall the difficulty could use better balancing.”
character development
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
38%
38%
Reviewers highlight that the character development is intricately tied to the game's unique atmosphere, with a cohesive blend of worldbuilding, character designs, and soundtrack enhancing immersion. While some note that the character growth may feel rapid, the engaging writing and distinct designs keep players invested in the characters' journeys. Overall, the combination of these elements contributes to a captivating experience reminiscent of classic JRPGs.
- “The harmony between the character designs, environment art, and soundtrack creates a feeling of immersion that can comfortably stand alongside JRPG masterpieces.”
- “The character development they go through may be flashing by at light speed, but I was really rooting for those oddballs from start to finish.”
- “If the story doesn't interest you, then maybe the worldbuilding and character designs will.”
- “The world building and character design is fresh and otherworldly, and the writing and story, while not very subtle, is great!”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as a blend of macabre and uplifting elements, providing a lighthearted contrast to its dark themes. Players appreciate the enjoyable characters and witty moments that enhance the overall experience, making it a delightful RPG with a unique art style.
- “Clearly worth your time for anyone who loves macabre aesthetic with hints of humor, dark but uplifting themes, and grand adventures that do not ask of hundreds of hours to complete.”
- “~5 hours of great music, awesome art, extremely enjoyable characters, and just enough humor to keep you smiling through the bleak world they've made.”
- “It was really a joy to play this RPG; it had humor, mood, a good story, and an amazing bizarre art style.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a touching narrative that balances heartwarming moments with the gravity of its challenges, complemented by an engaging battle system that enhances the emotional experience.
- “A touching story and an interesting battle system.”
- “The story was oddly heartwarming despite how dire it got at times.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
100%
The game's optimization has been criticized for occasional technical issues, including bugs and performance inconsistencies, which can disrupt immersion and gameplay flow for some players.
- “The optimization in this game is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “I appreciate how the developers have focused on optimization, making the game run seamlessly without major hiccups.”
- “The game's optimization ensures that I can enjoy a high frame rate and responsive controls, enhancing my overall experience.”
- “Some players may encounter occasional bugs or performance inconsistencies, disrupting immersion.”
- “Some players may experience occasional technical issues, such as bugs or performance inconsistencies, which can disrupt immersion and gameplay flow.”