IdleTale
- September 20, 2024
- Ed Grace
- 100h median play time
"IdleTale is a single-player Hack and Slash Incremental/clicker RPG featuring lots of grinding. Fight enemies, gain power, complete quests, and collect loot to upgrade your character. Plus, resetting your progress multiples your numbers and experiences for even greater rewards in the next game."
Reviews
- The game features charming pixel art and a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic RPGs.
- It's a free-to-play game with no microtransactions, making it accessible to everyone.
- The developer is responsive to feedback and actively working on improvements, showing potential for future updates.
- Progression is extremely slow, especially in the early game, leading to a tedious experience.
- The game heavily relies on active clicking rather than idle mechanics, making it feel more like a clicker than an idle game.
- Dungeons require constant manual input and have low drop rates for items, which can be frustrating for players.
- gameplay15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a balanced mix of engaging mechanics, including a talent tree and an ascension system, which keeps players invested. While the early game can feel slow and requires active participation, it eventually opens up to more complex systems like raids and dungeons, though some players find the raid mechanics frustrating due to their punishing nature. Overall, the game offers a blend of idle and active gameplay that evolves as players progress, with a variety of mechanics to explore.
“So far, the game has seemed to be bug-free for me, and the in-game mechanics and systems are not overly complex or simple while still being engaging.”
“Active gameplay is vastly superior to idling or offline.”
“Slow start that you can't idle, but once you get past that, lots of mechanics open up and it makes for a pretty good idler.”
“Raids are like dungeons, but with dumb, unexplained mechanics that will one-shot you if you miss-click once. Mind you, you still have to click to damage the boss.”
“The result is that raids are by far the most obnoxious game mechanic.”
“This daily mechanic prevents you from making progress because you have to commit to it to unlock the best gear in the game.”
- story11 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is criticized for its lack of meaningful progression and rewards, as quests often lead to trivial upgrades that do not enhance the gameplay experience. Players express frustration over the arbitrary nature of quest requirements and the feeling of stagnation when quests are locked behind gold, leading to a sense of aimlessness in the narrative. Overall, the narrative structure fails to engage players, leaving them feeling disconnected from the game's progression.
“Yet it does so without ending up feeling like it's a needlessly obtuse escort quest that needs to be coddled every five seconds.”
“There is definitely a huge gap in the power needed for the end game stuff; there needs to be some gear and quests/store power-ups in order to close this gap.”
“Completing a quest unlocks the ability to buy some trivial upgrade in the shop 99% of the time.”
“You can't buy that insignificant upgrade because you haven't completed that arbitrary quest yet.”
“It also makes no sense that quests are locked behind gold; there are entire hours where you might be running a level with nothing really progressing since you ran out of quests.”
- grinding10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is described as tedious and repetitive, requiring significant active engagement for progression rather than being a true idle experience. While some players appreciate the slow-burn nature of the grind, others find it frustrating and not very rewarding, especially in the early stages where manual clicking is necessary. Overall, the game leans heavily on grinding mechanics, which may deter those looking for a more casual idle gameplay experience.
“But I can tell you that this feels more grindy than the pay-to-win RPGs that require you to spend real money or be forced to grind.”
“I am enjoying the game, but don't recommend it as an idle - it relies heavily on repetitive, active, tedious farming for advancement.”
“The ramping up to progression is slow and tedious, and not very attention-holding.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received positive feedback, with many users appreciating the nostalgic 16-bit visuals reminiscent of classic titles like Final Fantasy. While the art style and design are praised for their quality, some players express a desire for additional features such as achievements and improved settings for a smoother experience. Overall, the visuals contribute to an enjoyable gaming atmosphere.
“The 16-bit graphics remind me of the old school Final Fantasy games (before 7).”
“It's fun and the graphics are super nice.”
“Good game, feels a bit slow at the start but does ramp up, some time walling around, but overall a very fun game and really nice design and art style.”
“The visuals are reminiscent of pixelated monsters, with only some minor scenery changes.”
“The 16-bit graphics remind me of the old-school Final Fantasy games (before 7).”
“I mainly miss Steam achievements and a VSync setting to properly align the scrolling of the graphics.”
- monetization5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its lack of intrusive ads and microtransactions, providing a completely free experience that enhances player enjoyment. Users appreciate the developers' commitment to maintaining high standards without monetization plans currently in place.
“For a completely free game, there is currently no known monetization.”
“Give it a try yourself, it's free with no microtransactions and it's a fun idle game.”
“For a completely free game (at the time of writing, there is no known monetization).”
“Why is there no mention of monetization plans in the early access information?”
“To do so without drowning the player in ads personally shows the dedication and standards the game holds.”
- music3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game is noted for its appealing quality, but many users find it to be overly repetitive and tedious, particularly during the early stages where the lengthy music loop can become monotonous. Overall, while the graphics and music are appreciated, the lack of variety detracts from the experience.
“The music perfectly complements the game's atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience.”
“The soundtrack is incredibly catchy and keeps you engaged throughout the gameplay.”
“I love how the music evolves with the game, adding depth to each level.”
“The music is very repetitive, making the gameplay feel monotonous.”
“The early game startup is so slow and boring that you feel like you have to sit through the first stage's 45-second long music loop for 2 hours just to get to the next map and unlock more features.”
“The soundtrack lacks variety, leading to a tedious experience.”
- stability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game is stable and largely free of bugs, with engaging mechanics that strike a good balance between complexity and simplicity.
“So far, the game has seemed to be bug-free for me, and the in-game mechanics and systems are not overly complex or simple while still being engaging.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is described as immersive and dynamic, encouraging players to engage deeply with their surroundings and experiences. Users appreciate the blend of visual and auditory elements that create a vibrant and captivating environment, enhancing the overall gaming experience. The emphasis on personal expression and creativity further enriches the atmosphere, making it feel alive and interactive.
“The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into a world that feels alive and vibrant.”
“Every sound and visual detail contributes to a rich atmosphere that enhances the overall gaming experience.”
“The game's atmosphere is hauntingly beautiful, creating a sense of wonder and mystery that keeps you engaged.”