HEARTBEAT

About

HEARTBEAT is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Shepple and was released on December 12, 2018. It received positive reviews from players.

"Heartbeat" is a character-driven game with 20+ hours of story and multiple endings. As Eve Staccato, a human Conjurer, you maintain peace between humans and Mogwai in a world full of wonder and danger after a great war. Explore, befriend characters, and indulge in leisure activities, with allies assisting you on and off the battlefield.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 816 reviews

story161 positive mentions

grinding37 negative mentions

Incredibly heartwarming story with charming characters and engaging gameplay.
Beautiful pixel art and a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
Offers a variety of content, including multiple endings and post-game challenges.

The game suffers from bugs and crashes, which can disrupt gameplay.
Some players find the combat system to be repetitive and lacking depth.
The story can feel slow-paced at times, making it hard to stay engaged.

story
508 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
65%
3%
The story of the game is widely praised for its heartwarming and engaging narrative, featuring well-developed characters and a mix of lighthearted and darker themes. Many players appreciate the depth of the lore and the emotional resonance of the plot, which evolves from simple beginnings into a more complex tale involving relationships, purpose, and personal growth. However, some critiques mention a slow start and occasional predictability, with varying opinions on the overall execution and pacing of the story.
- “The world-building and character development is on point and you get attached to them more and more as the story progresses.”
- “The story is really well written with multiple possible endings, most of which you can get in just one playthrough.”
- “I'm not going to spoil it, but the story is really going to take you places, it'll start with you having to buy milk, maybe helping out a puppy find a thief and end up being a tale about war, relationships, purpose, destiny, guilt and forgiveness.”
- “My interest in the story drained as it went on.”
- “First of all, the story and characters are very thin, and some of the speaking styles are so weird that I honestly don't believe anyone would ever talk like that without any irony involved or having some real issues.”
- “There's essentially no story or likable characters, and while dungeon designs are fine, battles become annoying fast, while treasures you find are mostly useless money.”
music
274 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
33%
3%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many players praising its catchy and diverse soundtrack that complements the charming pixel art and engaging story. Reviewers noted that the music enhances the emotional tone of the game, featuring personalized themes for characters and a variety of genres that keep the experience fresh. While some mentioned occasional repetitiveness in battle themes, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is a standout feature, making it a memorable aspect of the game.
- “The soundtrack is so good, I legit just kept listening to it after I finished the main story.”
- “Heartbeat is one of the most charming RPGs I've played in a long time, all of the characters are fun and well thought out, the music is catchy, the enemy designs are cute and colorful, and everything just gels really well together.”
- “The music of Heartbeat perfectly complements the art style and story.”
- “However, the only criticism I have of the soundtrack is that there are too many tracks that are a rehash of the main theme.”
- “Soundtrack was not memorable.”
- “Though, I personally did get tired of the general battle music after a bit.”
gameplay
245 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
68%
4%
The gameplay of the game is a mix of traditional turn-based RPG mechanics with some unique twists, such as the "buchi" shapeshifting mechanic and a focus on character dynamics. While many players appreciate the charming aesthetics, engaging story, and solid writing, opinions on the gameplay vary widely; some find it enjoyable and fresh, while others criticize it for being repetitive and simplistic, particularly in the late game. Overall, the game offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic RPGs, but its appeal may depend on individual preferences regarding gameplay depth and complexity.
- “The gameplay is really well thought out and enjoyable, both the battle and puzzle mechanics.”
- “Solid writing, charming character designs and overall engaging gameplay from start to finish.”
- “The gameplay reminds me of Pokémon Ranger, where you don't actually have a 'team' per se but you partner with different characters that have different skills to solve different obstacles, which I enjoy immensely.”
- “Unfortunately, the gameplay is too simplistic and yet too grindy at the same time.”
- “Grind, having to repeatedly run back to the bed to sleep because there's no sustain in the game and so on have no place in a game with so little RPG mechanics leading to a lack of rewards doing all of this.”
- “But the gameplay is unfortunately very boring.”
graphics
165 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
50%
2%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming pixel art style, vibrant colors, and nostalgic appeal reminiscent of classic RPGs like Pokémon and Earthbound. Reviewers highlight the attention to detail and the overall aesthetic, which enhances the game's heartwarming story and engaging gameplay. While some note that the graphics are better than typical RPG Maker titles, they also emphasize that the visuals contribute significantly to the game's charm and overall experience.
- “Memorable characters, excellent music, and gorgeous artwork make this game an unforgettable experience.”
- “The graphics are gorgeous and take you back to the times of Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire and such.”
- “It's full of beautiful, colorful graphics that really make everything pop and feel full of life.”
- “But it also shows that in the end, graphics and presentation only do so much for you.”
- “The resolution, like typical for RPG Maker, is relatively low; therefore, it's recommended to keep the game in windowed mode, especially since it has the typical GBA-type look and you don't want to stretch that over a 4K screen.”
- “The only issue I've encountered is a graphical glitch when operating the item or alchemy menus.”
emotional
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its incredibly heartwarming and wholesome story, which resonates emotionally with players, often leading to tears during poignant moments. Its charming visuals, engaging music, and a likable cast of characters enhance the emotional experience, making it feel nostalgic and respectful of the player's intelligence. While it may come off as cheesy at times, the blend of humor, challenge, and heartfelt storytelling creates a unique and memorable emotional journey.
- “It was an emotional ride and I even cried at certain points for some of the characters.”
- “You're eventually going to fall for at least one of them, becoming so emotionally attached that you'll feel what they feel, and may even be brought to tears when they experience hardships or worse.”
- “This game is wholesome and heartwarming beyond words, with charming visuals, great music, and a likable cast of characters, while still providing a fun challenge at times.”
humor
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
91%
9%
The humor in the game is described as quirky and charming, featuring a mix of silly puns, funny dialogue, and unique character interactions that often lead to genuine laughs. However, some players feel that the humor can become repetitive and stale over time, suggesting that the writing might benefit from a more serious approach to character development. Overall, while the humor is appreciated by many, it also faces criticism for being inconsistent and at times overshadowed by heavier themes.
- “I personally enjoyed exploring the pixely top-down 2D adventure complete with puzzles, quirky humor (an illegal fish shaped like male genitals, dramatic and diminutive (yet deceptively strong) 'tiny oni's who're prone to eating dog mogs), collection achievements, strategic turn-based battles, hidden areas, and multiple endings.”
- “It's one of the top RPGs I've played this year and between the humor, the characters, the retro graphics, and the banging music, this game is a masterpiece in my eyes.”
- “The story is chock-full of fun, lovable characters, and a quirky but self-aware sense of humor that I love because it doesn't feel too heavy-handed.”
- “This game drips with really unfunny mental illness masquerading as light-hearted adventure.”
- “There are characters who I think are supposed to be funny, but they're too old for the jokes to land, and it just makes me sad instead.”
grinding
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
90%
Overall, the game's grinding aspect is mixed; while some players appreciate the minimal grinding required for achievements and main story progression, others find certain side quests and challenges tedious and grind-heavy. Many reviews highlight that the game avoids excessive grinding, offering a more streamlined experience, but some players still experienced moments of significant grinding, particularly for specific challenges or completionist goals.
- “The design isn't grindy, and combat is much more entertaining than in the average RPG owing to a faster pace, with levels coming quickly, granting full heals, and foes being felled very quickly - they even make an effort to flee in the overworld when you're over-leveled.”
- “This means no grinding, which is one of my favorite things in an RPG.”
- “Unfortunately, the gameplay is too simplistic and yet too grindy at the same time.”
- “Granted, these side-quests are extremely tedious and sometimes too cryptic; it doesn't help that there are no guides made—as far as I know—so when I needed help in finding or doing something, I had to search for the correct keywords within the Steam discussion boards.”
- “I also spent far too much time grinding Mott's DNA forms.”
character development
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
76%
15%
9%
Character development in the game is generally well-received, with players noting that the engaging writing and charming character designs foster a strong attachment to the characters as the story unfolds. While some reviewers felt that the characters themselves lacked depth, the overall presentation, including the cute dialogue and solid gameplay, contributed positively to the experience. However, there are mixed feelings about the character designs, with some praising their creativity while others found them somewhat confusing in terms of gender representation.
- “The world-building and character development is on point and you get attached to them more and more as the story progresses.”
- “This game is a great time with a solid story theme and amazing characters easily helped with the stellar character design and dialogue.”
- “Ok storyline, good character design and development, good soundtrack, and it's lengthy enough if you care to read dialogue and do side quests.”
- “I think unless you really like the character designs and you don't mind supporting hateful people, you'd be better served playing one of the many other good RPGs out there instead.”
- “When it comes to the character designs, I couldn't tell who was a boy or a girl half the time, although eventually I learned that almost the whole cast is female.”
- “I think unless you really like the character designs and you don't mind supporting hateful people, you'd be better served playing one of the many other good RPGs out there instead.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its colorful and cute art style, reminiscent of Pokémon games, complemented by enjoyable music and a fun story. Players find the overall ambiance engaging and charming, enhancing their gaming experience.
- “The atmosphere of this game is cool; I also think Eve is a cute character as well.”
- “It has the atmosphere of a Pokémon game; the music is nice, the art is very cute and colorful, and the story is fun.”
- “Nevertheless, it is worth a try with that colorful atmosphere.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with multiple users reporting frequent freezes that disrupt gameplay. These bugs detract from the overall experience and indicate a need for further optimization.
- “Too bad there are bugs where my game suddenly freezes.”
- “Sometimes the game just freezes.”
- “Sometimes the game just freezes.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
The game has limited replayability compared to its Pokémon counterpart, as it features only a few playable characters. However, the strong character development and engaging writing contribute to a more enjoyable experience during playthroughs.
- “Though only a few are playable, they all get their little development, and the good writing makes them all very likeable.”
- “Unlike its Pokémon equivalent, this game does not have much replay value.”
- “Though only a few are playable, they all get their little development and the good writing makes them all very likable.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally stable, with users reporting occasional stuttering and a few minor visual bugs, but no crashes.
- “Some stuttering at certain points, no crashes, and one visual bug that occurred only a couple of times.”
- “Some stuttering at certain points, no crashes, and one visual bug that occurred only a couple of times.”