Heroes of Spyria
- May 26, 2023
- Vesper Studios
"Heroes of Spyria" is a classic JRPG-style game that brings nostalgic vibes from NES/SNES titles like Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy, and Legend of Zelda. Embark on an epic journey with a brave trio and a cast of supporting characters to save the world from the evil LEGION. With turn-based combat, leveling, and unlocking powerful abilities, the game offers over 20 hours of gameplay, side-quests, achievements, and hidden secrets.
Reviews
- The game features a compelling story with well-developed characters that evoke strong emotional responses from players.
- The combat system is engaging, allowing for strategic use of buffs and debuffs, and the game includes a variety of side quests that enhance the world-building.
- Despite its RPG Maker roots, the game showcases beautiful artwork and a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic JRPGs, making it a delightful experience for fans of the genre.
- The graphics and assets are largely standard RPG Maker fare, which may detract from the overall visual experience for some players.
- The encounter rate can be frustratingly high, leading to tedious grinding and interruptions during exploration.
- There are minor technical issues, such as crashes on startup for some users and a lack of polish in certain areas, including typos and inconsistent voice acting quality.
- story55 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is a classic "stop a demon incursion" plot, but it shines through its engaging character development and unexpected twists that elevate the narrative. While the main storyline is straightforward, the depth of character interactions and emotional moments create a compelling experience that resonates with players. Overall, the storytelling is well-crafted, with a mix of humor, drama, and impactful choices that enhance the player's investment in the characters and their journeys.
“This is a lovingly crafted game, with a surprisingly moving story (bonus points for re-nameable characters, of course).”
“The story was really engaging and heartfelt; it made me feel sad for these characters and happy for them too. By the end of the story, I couldn't help but have a smile on my face.”
“The characters twist fairly early on in ways you won't expect, the plot diverges into concurrent events, and the depths the story goes to get actually pretty dark and impressive.”
“The main story is pretty simple, sealed portal to an evil demon in a hell dimension held shut by several seals of protection. Very simple main story quest line, where it shines is the inter-character engagements and the individual character stories.”
“While it's 'just' another world-saving story that doesn't do anything revolutionary, it's an epic tale with some twists, a pervading sense of adventure, many great characters (including the antagonists) and their (tragic) backstories.”
“Some choices have a bit of an impact on the story (sometimes even hours later), and it's possible to decide with whom one of the characters ends up romantically, but otherwise, the story is linear and features one ending with some variations based on choices.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The graphics primarily utilize RPG Maker assets, which some may find dated, but they are enhanced by beautiful custom artwork and well-crafted cutscenes that contribute to the game's emotional depth. While the character portraits show inconsistency due to redesigns, the overall visual presentation, including the mapping and character busts, is praised for its quality and charm. The combination of these elements, along with competent music and sound effects, creates an engaging visual experience.
“Along the way, the player can admire many well-crafted cutscenes and a few very beautiful pieces of custom artwork, which are proof of how the game succeeds in making the player invested in the story.”
“The bust artwork for the characters is gorgeous, mapping is really good, the story has got me, the characters I'm already becoming invested in, and a solid battle system.”
“Graphics and assets are basically what come bundled with the engine for the most part, and I've seen it a million times.”
“My only gripes are that apparently at some point the character portraits were redesigned to look better, but a few side characters here and there retained the original portraits, and it clashes with the rest because the art style is a bit different.”
“Yes, the graphics are... well, RPG Maker graphics, but they are nicely complemented with beautiful artwork (including 19 bromides), competent music and sound effects, and a lot of heart.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be rewarding, enhancing character development and story engagement, though some note that it can become tedious at times. The game offers a balanced encounter rate and quality-of-life features that make grinding optional rather than mandatory, allowing players to enjoy the experience without feeling overwhelmed. However, some players feel that the combat can become repetitive, as basic attacks often overshadow the use of abilities.
“I trust the balance of a game to match the encounter rate: without running away from battles or grinding for levels, I expect to keep pace with the level curve.”
“There are times where the game gets tedious and the encounters become annoying, but it is so worth it when you reach the ending of the game.”
“My characters had a lot of abilities I never used because I dealt more damage with basic hits, especially if you give Winter/Rex the quadruple attack. The boss fight was just me spamming attack with two characters and one spell with the others, which was a bit boring; there was no tactics involved.”
- music6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is a mix of standard RPG Maker sounds and more captivating original compositions, with some reviewers praising the soundtrack for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and complement the visuals. While some feel the use of default sound effects is limiting, others appreciate the attention to detail and the overall quality of the music, which contributes significantly to the game's emotional impact.
“Yes, the graphics are... well, RPG Maker graphics, but they are nicely complemented with beautiful artwork (including 19 bromides), competent music and sound effects, and a lot of heart.”
“Apart from the phenomenal story, writing, and soundtrack, the other great thing is the attention to detail.”
“The soundtrack is mesmerizing and adds to the atmosphere.”
“The music, sound effects, and knock knock noise are standard RPG Maker stuff that you see in just about every game for some reason.”
“There's lots of free music and sound effects out there; break out of the box of using what comes with the game engine.”
“Yes, the graphics are... well, RPG Maker graphics, but they are nicely complemented with beautiful artwork, competent music, and sound effects.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its engaging turn-based combat and nostalgic JRPG mechanics, with many players appreciating the unique features inspired by classic titles like the 2D-era Final Fantasy games. The inclusion of a plugin for accurate playtime tracking enhances the overall experience, contributing to the game's fun and compelling narrative.
“I love turn-based combat and I enjoy using its mechanics to dominate my opposition.”
“It's a fun game with a good story and interesting twists, and I like the old-school JRPG gameplay.”
“Many of them feature a unique mechanic, and while most of them have been borrowed from certain inspirations (like the 2D-era Final Fantasy games), they are implemented competently.”
“The gameplay feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“The controls are clunky and unresponsive, which detracts from the overall experience.”
“The pacing of the game is off, leading to frustrating moments that disrupt the flow of play.”
- character development4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
"Heroes of Spyria" is praised for its exceptional character development, featuring a compelling and touching storyline filled with twists and humor. Players appreciate the depth of the characters and the rewarding experience that comes from engaging with the narrative, making it a standout title in the JRPG genre.
“Heroes of Spyria is a very rare gem in the world of JRPGs, and has one of the best storylines of games I've played, along with character development.”
“If you like character development, great and at times quite touching storylines, with rewarding grinding sprees, this is the game for you.”
“The story is engaging, humorous, and rife with character development.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted for its engaging and well-written dialogues, providing a mix of funny moments and serious themes. While some players find the humor effective and entertaining, others feel conflicted about the moral implications of certain comedic scenarios. Overall, the humor contributes positively to the character development and storytelling.
“The story is engaging, humorous, and rife with character development.”
“Script and dialogues are great (though they could have done with more proofreading), and the serious moments are as well written as the humorous ones.”
“It is funny a couple of times (10/10 will try to steal from the king again) and others I feel robbed by involuntarily robbing someone I do not want to (like a poor family's life savings).”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game delivers a deeply engaging and heartfelt narrative that evokes a range of emotions, from sadness to joy, particularly through its strong character development and touching storylines. Players find themselves emotionally invested, culminating in a satisfying and uplifting experience by the end.
“The story was really engaging and heartfelt; it made me feel sad for these characters and happy for them too. By the end of the story, I couldn't help but have a smile on my face.”
“If you like character development, great and at times quite touching storylines, with rewarding grinding sprees, this is the game for you.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by a carefully chosen color palette that evokes a spine-chilling ambiance, complemented by picturesque settings and eerie dungeons. Additionally, the mesmerizing soundtrack further enriches the overall experience, immersing players in its haunting world.
“The selection of color palette creates a spine-chilling atmosphere, from picturesque villages, forests, and mountains to spooky dungeons.”
“The soundtrack is mesmerizing and adds to the atmosphere.”