Hell Girls
- January 12, 2017
- SakuraGame
- 10h median play time
In "Hell Girls," a puzzle RPG, players strategically match gems to fight monsters with unique character skills, based on their elemental powers of fire, ice, or lightning. Anime-inspired artwork and diverse outfits add to the immersive gameplay and story, where Hell Girls save the world from corruption. Victory relies on strategy and skill, rather than speed.
Reviews
- Engaging match-3 gameplay with RPG elements that require strategic thinking.
- Cute character designs and a variety of outfits that enhance gameplay.
- Affordable price point, providing good value for hours of entertainment.
- Repetitive gameplay that can become tedious, especially in later levels.
- Poor translation and dialogue that detracts from the overall experience.
- Limited adult content, with only a few unlockable images that may disappoint players seeking more explicit content.
- gameplay235 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Hell Girls" is characterized by its strategic match-3 mechanics, which introduce unique elements such as character abilities and skill-based interactions, making it more engaging than typical titles in the genre. However, many players find the experience becomes repetitive and grindy over time, with a lack of clear explanations for mechanics leading to frustration. While the game offers decent fun and a variety of gameplay options, it suffers from balancing issues and a lack of depth in its story and overall presentation.
“The gameplay is actually quite a lot of fun.”
“Hell girls successfully marries puzzle gameplay with RPG strategy, offering a unique experience that stands out in the genre.”
“Each character brings a distinct flavor to the gameplay, making the strategic choices even more engaging.”
“The gameplay feels slow, and because there is a level system, in the end there is a lot of boring grind for souls.”
“The dialogue is banal and boring, the gameplay is repetitive, and the characters don't even have names.”
“The game gets repetitive pretty quickly and is the same basic setup/gameplay as countless mobile games.”
- story188 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is generally viewed as weak and underdeveloped, with many reviewers noting it feels generic, poorly translated, or even nonexistent. While some players appreciate the light narrative as a backdrop to the gameplay, most agree that it lacks depth and cohesion, often serving merely as a pretext for the match-3 mechanics. Overall, the story fails to leave a lasting impression, with many suggesting that those seeking a compelling narrative should look elsewhere.
“I play for a touching story and immersive gameplay.”
“Extremely fun with an engaging story.”
“The story is good.”
“The story is a hoax; the characters and the visual part overall are way too generic and 'seen it somewhere else just yesterday'.”
“There is no story, just poorly translated dialogue now and then that explains nothing--the main characters don't even have names, just 'fire maiden' (or 'fire girl' on the badge).”
“The story is rather bland and unfinished.”
- graphics99 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many users noting that while the 2D artwork and character designs are appealing, the overall graphical quality is often described as subpar or reminiscent of older technology, such as early 2000s games. Some players appreciate the cute and lewd art style, but criticize the 3D models and animations as lacking polish. Overall, the visuals are considered decent for the game's price, but there is a consensus that improvements could be made.
“I don't know, there's just something nice about the look and feel of the game; it just feels friendly and wholesome, like N64 game kind of vibes, which is what the graphics do kind of look like.”
“The graphics are quite good (price considered), and there's some nice looking CGs as well.”
“The anime-inspired artwork in Hell Girls is a visual feast, with each character boasting an array of cute and sexy outfits.”
“The graphics in Hell Girls are not that great; it looks like a tech demo from 2008.”
“The graphics could be better, and the sound levels are poorly mixed, but neither of these are game-breaking.”
“The graphics are crappy iPhone game quality, but they work.”
- music65 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as repetitive and generic, with many users noting that it consists of only a few short loops that can become irritating over time. However, some players appreciate the atmospheric fit of the music and find it enjoyable, particularly in the context of gameplay. Overall, while the quality of the music is considered decent, its repetitiveness often detracts from the experience, leading some players to turn it off entirely.
“And for the most part, the music, although it sounds royalty-free, fits the game pretty nicely and ties in with the atmosphere.”
“The soundtrack isn't one that would get on your nerves after a few hours of gameplay, and it fits the gameplay well.”
“Nice artwork, catchy music, great for long plays or short bursts.”
“Levels are pretty much all the same, the same 6-second soundtrack that loops forever and unbalanced gameplay.”
“Music is generic and repetitive.”
“Boring music (only 1 track) just repeating every couple of seconds, almost no story whatsoever in second thought, you just start the game, that is it, there is actually no story here.”
- grinding37 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game features significant grinding, which many players find tedious and detrimental to the overall experience. While some appreciate the match-3 mechanics and character upgrades, the excessive grinding often leads to frustration, particularly in later levels where difficulty spikes and strategic options become limited. Overall, the grinding aspect is a common point of criticism, with players noting it can turn enjoyable gameplay into a monotonous chore.
“Pretty decent match-3 gameplay, but it requires a lot of grinding and in some ways is excessively complex, and I think the late game really suffers because of it.”
“The game in general is a grindfest; you can't realistically finish it without grinding at some point.”
“It's a fun concept but ruined by monotonous grinding.”
- stability13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- -15 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and freezing issues that significantly hinder gameplay. While some players note that these problems do not completely prevent playability, many others describe the experience as a "buggy mess" with poor translations and inconsistent performance. A few users, however, report a relatively polished experience, indicating that stability may vary among players.
“Bug-free for me; it seemed fairly polished.”
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches.”
“I haven't encountered any stability issues; everything works as intended.”
“Buggy mess of a game that is barely playable.”
“Freezes constantly.”
“Really buggy, translations are horrible and the English is really broken and the gameplay is poor.”
- replayability12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find value in replaying levels and appreciate the long campaign, others criticize it for lacking significant replay value and challenge. The low price point makes it a worthwhile experience for some, but many agree that it doesn't offer enough incentive to revisit after completion.
“It seems like it has a lot of replay value as well.”
“Plus, the levels are totally replayable.”
“It's not a long game, but has decent replay value, so it's a bargain at the price point.”
“It's cheap enough that I feel okay recommending it, though, despite the paper-thin plot and lack of replay value.”
“My only complaint would be the replay value is almost non-existent at the time of writing my review.”
“There isn't much replay value to it, but less than $2 for about 8 hours of mostly fun match-3 isn't bad.”
- humor9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game primarily stems from its hilariously poor translations, which some players find amusing while others may find off-putting. The dialogue is described as lewd and humorous, with moments of seriousness, but the overall incoherence of the story and awkward phrasing contribute to its comedic value. While the humor is not groundbreaking, it adds an interesting layer to the gameplay experience.
“Hilarious translation issues aside, this game is pretty damn good for the price.”
“Let's get this out of the way first: the translation is hilariously bad.”
“I found it interesting and funny to play, haven't finished it yet, though.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's emotional depth, highlighting its touching story and immersive gameplay that evoke a friendly, wholesome atmosphere reminiscent of classic N64 titles. However, some critique the inclusion of anime elements and suggest that certain design choices may detract from the overall narrative context.
“I play for the touching story and immersive gameplay.”
“I don't know, there's just something nice about the look and feel of the game; it feels friendly and wholesome, like N64 game vibes, which is what the graphics kind of look like.”
“I can tell just by that design choice that this is an upstanding Christian man who developed a wholesome Christian game.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- -40 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally described as pleasant and colorful, enhancing the overall experience with fitting music that complements the gameplay. While some games, like HuniePop, offer a distinct adult-themed atmosphere, they still manage to create an engaging environment for players. Overall, the atmosphere contributes positively to the enjoyment of the match-3 genre.
“It's a pretty decent and colorful match-3 game, the mechanics are simple enough and the atmosphere of the game just feels... nice.”
“And for the most part, the music, although it sounds royalty-free, fits the game pretty nicely and ties in with the atmosphere.”
“Conclusion: the game is good, has a pleasant atmosphere, and it is interesting to play.”
“The atmosphere feels disjointed and lacks cohesion, making it hard to immerse myself in the game.”
“Despite the vibrant visuals, the overall atmosphere is flat and uninspired, failing to evoke any real emotion.”
“The game attempts to create a dark and moody atmosphere, but it often comes off as forced and unconvincing.”
- character development4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is minimal, with little to no interaction or dialogue among the three protagonists, who are primarily identified by their elemental attributes rather than personal traits. While the character designs are well-executed and equally detailed, the lack of depth in personality and story leaves the characters feeling underdeveloped.
“It's nice to see that all three girls received the same attention to their character design so that nobody feels like they were tossed in as an afterthought.”
“There are 3 characters but there is little to no character development and/or interaction between them.”
“There is very little dialogue to the point where there is no character development; characters are referred to only by their element.”
“It has a threadbare story, with the protagonists having almost no personality or character development to speak of.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions and time limits, offering a straightforward purchase model that allows players to enjoy the experience without additional costs or interruptions. This approach is seen as a refreshing change from typical mobile games that often rely on in-game purchases.
“A gem game without microtransactions or time limits that lets you play until you get stuck, frustrated, or finish after a few hours for a couple of dollars is worth it in my books.”
“No microtransactions or online store.”
“The game feels like a cash grab with its aggressive monetization tactics.”
“It's frustrating to see a game that could be enjoyable ruined by constant prompts to spend money.”
“The reliance on microtransactions makes it hard to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to pay.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Users note that while the game offers high cost performance, it suffers from optimization issues that detract from the overall experience.
“The game offers high cost performance, making it a great value for players.”
“The only problem it has is optimization issues, which can affect the overall experience.”
“The only problem it has is optimization issues.”