Ira
- October 3, 2023
- ABShot
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam"Ira is a single-player Action game with great graphics and an outstanding soundtrack. As a young girl chosen to restore order to a world invaded by chaotic creatures, players must find the remnants of Ira using an arsenal of 166 different bows and strategic 'perks' in this character-based shooter with roguelike elements."
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Ira features a gorgeous art style, engaging character design, and a wonderful soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- The gameplay is fun and challenging, with a variety of enemy patterns and entertaining boss fights that keep players engaged.
- The game has strong potential as a roguelite, with interesting mechanics and a satisfying progression system once players become familiar with it.
- The game suffers from a severe lack of healing opportunities, making it difficult for players to recover from damage during runs.
- Some design choices, such as limiting passive item slots and the chaotic debuff system, can feel unfair and detract from the overall enjoyment.
- There is a noticeable lack of meta progression and meaningful rewards between runs, which can lead to a repetitive gameplay experience.
- gameplay24 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a risk-reward chaos mechanic reminiscent of RPGs, encouraging players to balance room clearing for experience against potential debuffs. While the enemy variety and engaging boss battles contribute to an enjoyable core experience, some players find the gameplay loop becomes repetitive over time, and criticize the poorly designed challenge pillars that detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the game maintains a fun bullet hell roguelite essence.
“The gameplay was also very enjoyable.”
“There's a decent enemy variety with different bullet hell patterns and the bosses are also very entertaining to engage with; all this makes the core gameplay pretty fun.”
“I'm guessing the intentions of the developers was to make a risk-reward mechanic where you clear every room and get as much experience at the risk of getting a debuff, or you try to beeline to the next area as fast as possible.”
“However, as I progressed through the game, I noticed that the gameplay loop is becoming bland and repetitive.”
“The challenge pillars are probably one of the most poorly designed risk and reward mechanics I have ever seen in a game.”
“The game's genre leaves it open to have achievements that encourage players to use its mechanics more, or give some meaning to their runs, yet the developers never capitalized on this idea.”
- music14 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is consistently praised for its sweetness and pleasantness, enhancing the overall experience alongside the beautiful character design and artwork. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as wonderful, with specific favorites noted for area 2 and the menu, contributing to a smooth and enjoyable gameplay atmosphere. Overall, the music is seen as a strong aspect of the game, complementing its appealing visuals and engaging combat.
“The soundtrack is absolutely wonderful.”
“The soundtrack is always pleasant to listen to, with the music for area 2 and the menu being my favorites among all of them.”
“The art style, music, and combat are great; it also runs very smoothly.”
- story12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's storytelling is appreciated for its interesting elements and sense of progression, which enhances the gameplay experience. However, some players feel that the narrative could be further developed, as interactions with characters are limited and do not fully flesh out the world. Overall, while the gameplay shines, the story aspect may benefit from deeper exploration and expansion.
“I am in love with the gameplay and interesting storytelling.”
“Unlocking new skills, spending the currency you have accumulated, and getting extra story tidbits give the game a sense of progression. Not only do players' past failures in completing a run allow them to get stronger and better prepared, but it also makes them feel that whatever they did so far wasn't for naught.”
“The conversations with the apostles you have unlocked are limited, and the developers have not used this opportunity to flesh out the world and the story.”
“Sad story.”
“There's no reason to do it anyway; you can talk to the apostles you have unlocked, but the conversations are limited and the developers have not used this opportunity to flesh out the world and the story.”
“The developers have not used the opportunity to flesh out the world and the story.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are highly praised for their gorgeous art style, smooth performance, and impressive sprite-based 2D visuals. Users commend the character design, UI, and overall aesthetic, noting that it rivals other top titles in the genre. The combination of art, music, and combat enhances the visual experience significantly.
“The game has a gorgeous art style that gives even Hades a run for its money.”
“The sprite-based, 2D graphics of the game look really good, and the design of some emblems/icons is great.”
“The art style, music, and combat are great; it also runs very smoothly.”
- character development6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight the character design as visually appealing, complemented by sweet music and engaging boss fights. Overall, the artwork and user interface contribute positively to the game's aesthetic, enhancing the overall experience.
“I absolutely love the character design and art; it is very pretty, the music is sweet, and the bosses are really cool.”
“The character design is very pretty, with sweet music and really cool boss fights.”
“Very nice artwork, UI, character design, and music.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers appreciate the game's atmosphere, suggesting that it is immersive and engaging, but express a desire for an easier mode that allows players to fully enjoy the experience without the challenge of difficult gameplay. This indicates that while the atmosphere is a strong point, accessibility could enhance its appeal to a broader audience.
“The atmosphere in this game is absolutely captivating, drawing you into its world with every detail.”
“The immersive environment and stunning visuals create a unique atmosphere that keeps you engaged.”
“Every sound and visual element contributes to an incredible atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be surprisingly wholesome for an early access title, highlighting its emotional depth and positive atmosphere.
