Iris and the Giant
- February 19, 2020
- Louis Rigaud
- 10h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Apple Store"Iris and the Giant" is a turn-based single-player RPG with rogue-like elements and card game mechanics. Players help Iris overcome her inner demons as they battle monsters in procedurally generated levels. The game features hand-drawn art and intuitive deckbuilding that appeals to both card game veterans and newcomers.
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Reviews
- The game features a unique and engaging deck-building mechanic where cards are consumed after use, adding a layer of strategy to gameplay.
- The art style is beautiful and minimalist, creating an atmospheric experience that complements the game's themes of mental health and personal struggle.
- The story is touching and relatable, effectively addressing themes of depression and bullying through the protagonist's journey.
- The game suffers from numerous bugs, including instances of being soft-locked and issues with card mechanics that can disrupt gameplay.
- Some players find the difficulty spikes frustrating, particularly in later levels where enemy mechanics can feel overwhelming.
- The tutorial and explanations for game mechanics are lacking, leading to confusion about how to effectively use cards and manage strategies.
- story110 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally described as simple yet impactful, exploring themes of depression, bullying, and personal struggles through a heartfelt narrative. While some players appreciate the emotional depth and art style, others find the storytelling to be overly simplistic or predictable. Overall, the story resonates with many, providing a meaningful backdrop to the gameplay, though it may not appeal to everyone.
“The story is likewise simple but with a nice underlying message that hits all the right notes, and 'beating' the final boss is pretty heartwarming.”
“The story, although simple, is told well and it is very easy to connect or sympathize with the main character.”
“The art style is gorgeous, the story themes (depression, bullying, confidence) are relatable, and the gameplay is super fun.”
“I'll start with the rough part - the story, and the woefully unsubtle way it's written, are more to be endured than appreciated.”
“But the small snippets of story we get are usually so ham-fisted, so poorly voice acted, so poorly written, that all meaning it could have had is lost.”
“But I didn't really want any of the story and found the resolution insufficient to warrant the depressive, painful memories that make up the 'story line', such as it is.”
- gameplay95 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its engaging card mechanics and strategic depth, offering a mix of straightforward mechanics with challenging puzzle elements. While some players find it simplistic or frustrating due to unclear mechanics, many appreciate the unique blend of narrative and gameplay that ties into the emotional themes of the story. Overall, it is considered a fun and rewarding experience, particularly for fans of card-based games, though it may not provide extensive hours of gameplay.
“The gameplay has a great level of challenge that doesn't overwhelm the player.”
“The game doesn't hold your hand, letting you work card mechanics out on your own, though it does provide puzzle levels that will teach you important tactics.”
“Very satisfying gameplay.”
“There are some frustrating issues -- like not having a re-shuffle option, or game mechanics not being explained properly that just leads to frustration, and not wanting to continue.”
“But it doesn't feel like it offers enough in terms of solid gameplay with likeable characters and narrative.”
“Extremely basic card play and mechanics that have zero depth or strategy.”
- graphics49 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are characterized by a unique and appealing art style that blends minimalism with atmospheric elements, often described as beautiful and engaging. While many players appreciate the aesthetic and its coherence with the game's themes, some find the simplistic visuals can hinder gameplay clarity, making it difficult to discern important details during combat. Overall, the graphics are a highlight for most, contributing positively to the game's emotional storytelling and immersive experience.
“The art style is gorgeous, the story themes (depression, bullying, confidence) are relatable, and the gameplay is super fun.”
“Graphics are lovely and I especially like how they change from a watercolor style during plot scenes to the geometric/sharp lines in the battle phases.”
“Very enjoyable card-battler roguelite, with a gorgeous and unique aesthetic to boot.”
“Given that this game is more emo than anything in the world should be, it has simplistic graphics and a more limited array of cards than many other card battlers, making it easy to discount this as an amateur attempt at the genre.”
“Graphics look like a child's coloring book; the story is thin but does the job of getting you into the atmosphere.”
“Tried to give the graphics a pass as a stylistic artistic choice, but the simplistic nature of the graphics actually makes it difficult to see what enemies are what and if they have certain armor or weapons in hand.”
- music18 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game is often described as atmospheric, haunting, and melodic, effectively complementing its beautiful art style. While many reviewers appreciate the soundtrack for its emotional depth and ability to enhance the gaming experience, some note that it can be repetitive and lacks variety. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's aesthetic, drawing players into its world, despite some criticisms regarding its depth and originality.
“The minimal aesthetic sets this apart from other games in a strangely atmospheric way, especially with how stripped down the music is.”
“The music is peaceful and tainted with sadness and hope.”
“The music is haunting and melodic, and I found myself stopping to listen to it on more than one occasion.”
“This tells us nothing (except that there is a generic bully out there), is unsubtle, and just sounds silly, and no amount of sad piano music is going to make it deep.”
“The music is the same way, although it takes a very monotone approach and can be repetitive at times.”
“It's a stereotypical modern indie game, meaning it's made by artists and writers and musicians, with minimal thought and effort put into game mechanics and testing.”
- emotional16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its touching and heartfelt narrative, which resonates deeply with players, often evoking strong feelings such as joy and sadness. While the story is simple and brief, it effectively addresses themes like social isolation and personal growth, leaving a lasting impact through its engaging gameplay and charming art style. Overall, players find the emotional journey to be both powerful and memorable, making it a standout feature of the game.
“The story is brief, told in snippets, and is heartfelt and moving.”
“I love the story, it's tearjerking at the beginning and heartwarming at the end.”
“What really impressed me was how this emotionally mature narrative about social isolation and bullying was seamlessly integrated into the card game.”
- replayability10 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while it offers unlockable challenges, alternate paths, and achievements that encourage multiple playthroughs, some players feel it lacks the depth and engagement found in other titles within the roguelike genre. Despite its short length making it easy to complete in one sitting, opinions vary on whether it provides enough content to sustain long-term replayability.
“Being short enough to complete in one sitting, the game doesn't overstay its welcome - whilst the unlockable challenges and nightmare mode alongside alternate paths and hidden routes present decent replayability.”
“Picked this game up via a random 66% Steam discount voucher, wouldn't have known about it otherwise. Great thought-out game with a rather short story but lots of achievements to aim for, making this very replayable.”
“However, this game is extremely replayable, enjoyable, and I cannot wait for the next games from the publisher and the developer.”
“The game, however, lacks replayability; once you beat the giant, there isn't much more to keep you engaged, which is expected from a game of this nature (roguelike deckbuilder).”
“It doesn't quite have the replayability of other roguelikes.”
“Being short enough to complete in one sitting, the game doesn't overstay its welcome; however, the unlockable challenges and nightmare mode alongside alternate paths and hidden routes present decent replayability.”
- stability5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is currently in early versions and is plagued by numerous stability issues, including frequent freezes, glitches, and bugs that can disrupt gameplay and progress. Players have reported significant frustrations, such as being unable to complete turns and experiencing random resets, which detracts from the overall experience.
“Good lord, so many freezes you'll wear out your alt+f4 keys.”
“The game has some glitches in it as well, like the giant's second chance ability activating infinitely and sending the player back to random points while erasing any challenge progress they've made.”
“Pretty buggy, repeatedly ran into end of turn bugs where I couldn't complete my turn without force using cards I didn't want to, ending up in a lost run.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's minimal aesthetic and stripped-down music create a unique and lovely atmosphere, enhanced by charming graphics reminiscent of a child's coloring book. While the story is thin, it effectively supports the immersive experience, allowing players to enjoy satisfying gameplay and engaging lore within a light and fun environment.
“The minimal aesthetic sets this apart from other games in a strangely atmospheric way, especially with how stripped down the music is.”
“The play itself is challenging but very satisfying and rewarding; the progression feels natural, and the atmosphere (if you just... ignore the words) is lovely.”
“Light, fast, fun core gameplay with gorgeous animation and a lovely atmosphere (I hesitate to say story because it is so sparse, but there is definitely lore).”
“The graphics look like a child's coloring book; the story is thin but does the job of getting you into the atmosphere.”
“The play itself is challenging but very satisfying and rewarding; the progression feels natural, and the atmosphere (if you just ignore the words) is lovely.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of playful mockery and lighthearted teasing, as exemplified by a scene where a character openly ridicules the protagonist for their perceived shortcomings. This blend of sarcasm and situational comedy adds a whimsical tone to the overall experience.
“One moment had me in stitches when a character pointed and laughed at our protagonist, exclaiming, 'She is so stupid, she can't even defend herself!'”
“The witty dialogue and absurd situations had me laughing out loud throughout the entire game.”
“I love how the game uses humor to lighten the mood, especially with its clever puns and hilarious character interactions.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users note that modern grinding has become significantly more efficient and productive compared to previous iterations, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
