GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon

Slightly above average or simply inoffensive. Fans of the genre should enjoy them a bit, but a fair few will be left unfulfilled.

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GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon is a rogue-like hack-and-slash action game set in a dark and fantastical Japanese underworld. Players control the legendary warrior Getsu Fuma as they battle through procedurally generated levels filled with grotesque yokai enemies. With fast-paced golg combat, a variety of unlockable skills and weapons, and stunning visuals inspired by traditional Japanese art, GetsuFumaDen offers a fresh and challenging take on the action genre.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

66%

Audience ScoreBased on 635 reviews

gameplay50 positive mentions

grinding64 negative mentions

Stunning art style and visuals that resemble traditional Japanese paintings.
Engaging and fun gameplay mechanics that combine elements from Dead Cells and Nioh.
Great sound design and atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.

Progression system is grindy and requires excessive farming for materials, making it tedious.
Gameplay can feel clunky and unresponsive at times, leading to frustrating moments.
Lack of variety in enemies and level design, resulting in repetitive gameplay.

gameplay
236 mentions
21 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Undying Moon" combines elements from popular titles like "Dead Cells" and "Dark Souls," featuring solid mechanics and a visually stunning art style. However, many players find the gameplay loop repetitive and lacking in depth, with poorly explained mechanics and a slow progression system that can detract from overall enjoyment. While the combat mechanics are generally well-received, the game suffers from clunky controls and a lack of engaging content, leading to mixed reviews on its replayability and overall execution.
- “If I wanted to explain the gameplay of Undying Moon in brief, I would say it's basically Dead Cells mixed with a little bit of Dark Souls.”
- “Fantastic art aesthetic, solid platforming that feels very familiar but welcomed and an addictive gameplay loop.”
- “The gameplay is a combination of the combat from Dead Cells, the look and feel of Nier, the death and rebirth mechanics, and level design from Hades.”
- “This should already be a recipe for greatness, but the game fumbles this potential because of its gameplay loop.”
- “The gameplay loop is also just lacking overall: enemies are more annoying than challenging, the grind for meta-currency is insanely long and incentivizes farming the early zones without making real progress.”
- “It baffles me that the devs put so much effort into the graphics and soundtrack of this game but the gameplay is so amateurish and dated.”
graphics
230 mentions
45 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and unique art style, reminiscent of traditional Japanese ukiyo-e paintings. Many reviewers praised the attention to detail and the immersive aesthetic, although some noted issues with visual clarity and level variety that could detract from gameplay. Overall, the art direction is considered a standout feature, elevating the game's appeal despite criticisms of its gameplay mechanics.
- “The developers have nailed the art style for Getsufumaden's revival, making the whole game look like an old Japanese painting that has come to life, with all of the enemy designs and depictions being directly based on them.”
- “The Japanese ukiyo-e art style is beautiful, and there's a huge amount of detail crammed into every nook and cranny.”
- “Gorgeous art style, exceptional enemy and world design, good soundtrack, competent gameplay - I think Konami is on to something here; it makes me dare to hope for the future of their beloved franchises.”
- “The main drawback of the graphics is that they're too crowded at times.”
- “Even though the game is not unfair in my opinion, it takes a little practice to memorize all of the enemies because some of them are kinda cheap with the visuals, especially on stage 3 where the foreground obscures your vision, not to mention that you can get hit by projectiles through the walls.”
- “In general, this game has a bit of a problem with the visuals getting in the way, especially on stage 3 where one enemy also makes purple clouds.”
music
113 mentions
50 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its outstanding soundtrack that enhances the immersive experience and complements the visuals. However, some players noted a lack of cohesion in the music styles, ranging from traditional to heavy metal, which can feel disjointed at times. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally well-received, there are criticisms regarding certain tracks and the consistency of the audio experience.
- “The haunting and atmospheric soundtrack perfectly complements the game's visuals, enhancing the overall immersive experience and drawing you deeper into the game's world.”
- “Great music and art really make this game stand out and shows how much effort they are putting into this game.”
- “Fantastic soundtrack with amazing variety from atmospheric kabuki-inspired tracks to intense power metal renditions of the original OST.”
- “But unfortunately, I cannot say the exact same thing about the music.”
- “While the music tracks are done really well, some of them make you think maybe there wasn't any clear direction as to what should be done with them.”
- “There are times when the music drops out completely and other times when it's a major distraction.”
grinding
64 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and inefficient, often detracting from the overall enjoyment. Players note that the grind for materials and upgrades is not only time-consuming but also lacks meaningful rewards, leading to a repetitive experience that can diminish motivation to continue playing. While the game features engaging combat and beautiful visuals, the overwhelming focus on grinding can make progression feel frustrating and unbalanced.
- “The gameplay loop is also just lacking overall: enemies are more annoying than challenging, the grind for meta-currency is insanely long and incentivizes farming the early zones without making real progress.”
- “After grinding materials for so long you don't really want to play the game much anymore; you've already experienced it all fighting the same enemies and learning to kill each boss stage in under 30 seconds.”
- “However, I consider that the materials and resources needed to upgrade your weapons and stats are still pretty high, and sometimes you need to clear the four stages (before you reach the final stage) over and over again to make any significant progress, which makes the experience somewhat tedious.”
story
46 mentions
9 % positive mentions
83 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely criticized for being minimal and poorly explained, leaving players confused about the protagonist's motivations and the overall narrative. While players take on the role of Getsu Fūma, the 27th leader of the Getsu clan, on a quest to defeat a demon lord and find his brother, the sparse storytelling fails to engage or emotionally invest players. Many reviewers express a desire for a more developed and coherent storyline, similar to other successful games in the genre.
- “Undying Moon sees you control the 27th head of the Getsu clan as you quest to kill the demon lord that has broken loose and unleashed hell upon the earth.”
- “From then on, what little story there is is told via a series of glowing stones that act as journal entries from your brother and the text during the loading screens.”
- “I hope there is a lot more depth to this game, with many weapons and items, and story and gameplay.”
- “The story is utterly wank; I am not quite sure why the protagonist is doing what he's doing or what the end goal is.”
- “There seems to be a story, but it's not very well explained, so I have no idea what's going on and what this is about even after seeing the short and obscure ending.”
- “In terms of storyline, there's not a lot.”
replayability
22 mentions
14 % positive mentions
73 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it engaging with potential for future content and character additions, many feel that the procedural generation lacks sufficient variety to maintain interest after a few playthroughs. The replay value is particularly appealing for completionists, but the current offerings may not satisfy those seeking diverse experiences. Developers are encouraged to enhance core systems and introduce randomized events to boost replayability further.
- “That being said, it's a very tidy package overall, with plenty of replayability, so it gets a recommendation.”
- “Looks like it will have some serious replayability with other fuma to encounter with each playthrough, so that will be interesting.”
- “-autonomous soul-leveling system adding even more depth and replay value.”
- “The replay value starts to wane after a few playthroughs, as the procedural generation fails to provide sufficient variety and freshness to keep players engaged in the long run.”
- “After you fully beat the game once, there really isn't much in terms of replayability unless you are a completionist.”
- “That said, it could really use some randomized events to make the stages more replayable.”
atmosphere
6 mentions
67 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its haunting and immersive soundtrack, which enhances the visuals and draws players deeper into the world. Reviewers note the impressive variety in the music, ranging from atmospheric kabuki-inspired tracks to intense power metal, contributing to a unique and engaging experience. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature that sets the game apart.
- “The haunting and atmospheric soundtrack perfectly complements the game's visuals, enhancing the overall immersive experience and drawing you deeper into the game's world.”
- “I love the atmosphere; if I had to compare the game, it's like Dead Cells and Nioh had a baby. However, comparing this game to either of those is unfair and doesn't give enough credit to the developers.”
- “Fantastic soundtrack with an amazing variety, from atmospheric kabuki-inspired tracks to intense power metal renditions of the original OST.”
stability
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The game has been widely criticized for its stability, with users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that significantly impact gameplay.
- “The game is buggy.”
- “It's full of glitches.”
- “The game is plagued with bugs.”
emotional
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized due to a sparse narrative that fails to engage players or foster emotional investment. This lack of a compelling story diminishes motivation, leaving players feeling disconnected from the experience. Additionally, inconsistent character mechanics further detract from the overall emotional engagement.
monetization
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The monetization model is praised for its simplicity, featuring no microtransactions or hidden costs, allowing players to fully engage with the game without distractions.
- “No microtransactions, no catches, just you and the game.”
humor
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the humor in the game, particularly highlighting the amusing options for weapons and their combinations, which contribute to an enjoyable experience.
- “I really liked this game; the soundtrack is good, and the options for weapons and combinations are hilarious.”
character development
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game features impressive character design and a visually stimulating style, showcasing strong character development despite its presumably lower budget.
- “An incredibly visually stimulating game with wonderful character design and excellent style that really comes together for a presumably lower budget game.”
optimization
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game is reported to be well-optimized, allowing it to run smoothly even on older hardware, such as a 10-year-old PC.
- “Much better optimized for my 10-year-old PC.”
- “Much better optimized with my 10-year-old PC.”