Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass

About

"Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass" is a Japanese-style RPG inspired by SNES-era games and Yume Nikki. Players navigate the dream world of an 8-year-old boy, Jimmy, as he confronts an alien entity threatening his family. The game features turn-based combat, exploration, and monster transformations that offer new ways to interact with the world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 484 reviews

story68 positive mentions

grinding88 negative mentions

Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass is a heartfelt and emotional RPG that successfully blends whimsical and dark themes, creating a unique narrative experience.
The combat system is engaging and allows for strategic depth through the use of Jimmy's transformation mechanic, which provides various abilities and roles in battle.
The game features a vast amount of content, including numerous side quests, hidden areas, and a rich world to explore, making it a great value for its price.

The game can be grindy, especially on normal difficulty, which may frustrate players who prefer a more streamlined experience.
Some players may find the pacing uneven, with certain sections feeling drawn out or lacking in meaningful progression.
The graphics and art style, while charming, may not appeal to everyone, and some enemy designs can feel inconsistent.

story
326 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
76%
3%
The story of "Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass" is a deeply emotional and complex narrative that explores themes of childhood innocence and existential horror through the perspective of an eight-year-old boy. While many players praise its rich writing and ability to evoke strong feelings, some criticize its pacing and fragmented delivery, which can lead to confusion and a sense of disconnection from the overarching plot. Overall, the game is recognized for its unique storytelling approach, blending whimsical elements with darker undertones, making it a memorable experience for those who appreciate narrative depth in RPGs.
- “The story in 'Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass' is phenomenal, expertly crafted to present a story from the perspective of a child while also handling serious subjects amazingly.”
- “It's very sad, and you are going to hear that about the game’s story a lot, but I think emphasizing how sad the story is undersells how rich the writing is.”
- “Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass has a deeply creative and meaningful story, juxtaposing childhood innocence with frightening horror.”
- “The story is heavily fragmented.”
- “The story drags on and on, and it's okay to have cushioning between important moments, but the cushioning is usually filled with boring characters and scenarios.”
- “There's clearly a deeper, more symbolic story here, but the disappointment comes from expecting to submerge yourself completely only to find that the water is just a foot deep.”
gameplay
185 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
66%
2%
The gameplay of "Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass" is characterized by its unique mechanics, particularly the transformation system that allows players to switch roles mid-battle, adding depth and customization to combat. While it draws inspiration from classic JRPGs, it also incorporates innovative elements like the imagination mechanic and a variety of puzzles, making for a rich and engaging experience. However, some players noted that the gameplay can feel grindy and challenging, with certain battles requiring significant strategy and patience.
- “The gameplay takes huge inspiration from its predecessors, most obviously in the job class system.”
- “The core concept of Jimmy's imagination being used to change forms to alter your combat style and how you interact with the world is really clever, and gives a lot of depth to your main character (both mechanically and in the story).”
- “The imagination mechanic is so good and allows for a good amount of customization for Jimmy and the manuals also add some customization for the other party members which means you can tackle bosses in different ways depending on what you think may be the most effective.”
- “A lot of their mechanics feel like excuse mechanics– wanting to evoke the feeling of a classic JRPG without providing interesting gameplay scenarios.”
- “Unfortunately, the game is not very fun for the majority of its gameplay.”
- “This and the bland and slow overworld sections make gameplay a chore.”
music
182 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
50%
2%
The music in "Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass" is widely praised for its high quality, variety, and ability to enhance the game's atmosphere, with many standout tracks that fit the diverse environments and emotional tones throughout the game. While some players noted a few less favorable tracks, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is memorable and engaging, contributing significantly to the game's charm and immersive experience. Many reviewers highlighted the impressive number of unique tracks, ensuring that players rarely experience repetition during their journey.
- “The music is fantastic and fitting for every area and dungeon; genuinely the only song on the OST I can say I dislike is from the mad queen's nightmare dungeon, and that track is meant to sound off-putting and discordant.”
- “The music is so varied, catchy, and suits the situations/areas so well; the unspeakable horrors are inspiringly eerie and so damn mysterious and interesting.”
- “The soundtrack is amazing, with wide variation, and there's no moment where I got bored of hearing the same soundtrack many times.”
- “The music starts out pretty bad, but as the game progresses, I can tell the developers got better at composing since the later songs are good (they don't loop properly though).”
- “In a few places, the music can be pretty repetitive, especially if you're grinding.”
- “I bloody well stuck my boots to the ground and I sank 35+ hours into this title that was becoming increasingly abysmal with its gameplay, bosses, storyline, and I hate to say it, its music that after only a few differentials became grating on the ears.”
grinding
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
98%
The reviews indicate that grinding is a significant aspect of the game, with many players finding it tedious and time-consuming, particularly on normal difficulty. While some players appreciated the challenge and found it rewarding, others felt it detracted from the overall experience and immersion, leading to frustration, especially during boss encounters. The option to switch to easy mode is frequently mentioned as a way to mitigate grinding, allowing players to enjoy the game without excessive time spent on level grinding.
- “Has incredibly well-designed JRPG combat with good customization, transparency about what skills do, challenging bosses, and very little to no grinding as long as you're doing side content.”
- “But it could be an amazing game if it had a 'story mode' difficulty that requires little to no grinding, better pacing, and better level design where players are far less likely to miss optional areas.”
- “This was one of the most tedious and tiring adventures with what feels like little to no payoff and frustrating level design.”
- “The sheer amount of time I spent grinding ruined a good portion of the experience for me.”
- “The game expects a lot of level grinding and trial and error to overcome a number of bosses.”
graphics
81 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
62%
4%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising its colorful, Earthbound-inspired aesthetic and unique character designs that enhance the storytelling. While some players appreciate the charming and imaginative visuals, others criticize them as simplistic or lacking in detail, suggesting that the graphics may not appeal to everyone. Overall, the art style is seen as a fitting complement to the game's themes, balancing cheerful and dark elements effectively.
- “The earthbound-inspired artwork is a treat for the eyes, and Jimmy's empathy mechanic allows for a wide array of varied playstyles and strategies.”
- “Everything about this game is wonderful; the graphics and music are fantastic, creating a dreamlike and surreal atmosphere that I immediately fell in love with.”
- “The art style and the characters are all so very unique and fun.”
- “The art style is flat and lifeless.”
- “When I first saw the game, I had my reservations about the art style and how it seemed 'cheap', almost MS Paint-y.”
- “Graphics aren't great; I understand the creator is going for that Earthbound look, but there's a lot of simple colors and structures that don't really look great, and I feel this will hurt the game's sales a lot more than he thinks.”
emotional
77 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass" is widely praised for its ability to evoke a deep and varied range of feelings, from laughter to tears, often within the same scene. Players describe the narrative as heartfelt and touching, with moments that explore themes of life, loss, and the complexities of growing up, resulting in an emotional rollercoaster that resonates long after the game ends. The balance of humor, horror, and poignant storytelling creates a unique experience that many find profoundly affecting and memorable.
- “Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass captivates with its heartfelt narrative, infused with humor and warmth.”
- “As you go through the game, you realize there's something deeper going on, and it's a really emotional and beautiful ride.”
- “This game had moments that had me cheer and laugh, but there were also moments that genuinely made me feel emotional.”
humor
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass" is a standout feature, blending quirky, dark, and heartfelt elements that evoke a wide range of emotions, from laughter to sorrow. Players appreciate the clever writing and charming characters, noting that the game balances lighthearted moments with unsettling themes effectively. While many jokes land well, some players feel that a few attempts at humor fall flat, but overall, the game's unique blend of comedy and emotional depth resonates strongly with its audience.
- “There is so much heart in this game; it is hard for one game to have so many tender moments and such fun humor (both of the incredibly smart and incredibly dumb varieties), while also including such sorrowful and genuinely unnerving bits.”
- “The characters are fun and lovable, and the story pulls off an appropriate blend of bleak nihilism, magical adventure, and zany humor.”
- “This game is also freakin' hilarious, with tons of jokes and small gags that made me grin ear to ear and laugh extremely loud at points.”
atmosphere
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
55%
9%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive design, captivating music, and varied environments, which enhance both exploration and combat experiences. Players appreciate the balance of lighthearted and eerie elements, with standout soundtracks that significantly contribute to the overall mood. While some find the frequent battles detract from the sense of wonder, the rich, atmospheric world filled with secrets and imaginative creatures makes it a standout title in the genre.
- “The areas and dungeons are really cool in design and atmosphere, and there are so many of them, including tons of optional dungeons with secret boss fights which adds so much to the game.”
- “The game's soundtrack only adds to the atmosphere, as it has some of the creepiest tracks you might ever hear in a game, along with some of the most emotional songs for sad parts of the game, and even relaxing songs for some of the lighter parts.”
- “Everything about this game is wonderful; the graphics and music are fantastic, creating a dreamlike and surreal atmosphere that I immediately fell in love with.”
- “Jimmy wishes he had more time to appreciate the game's atmosphere, especially in some of the more frightening areas, but being thrown into battles so much would often detract from his sense of wonder and fear, and just made him annoyed.”
- “It's got interesting mechanics and a bizarre atmosphere, but some glaring issues may ruin the experience for most players.”
- “When the atmosphere is dark, the themes tend to be very eerie.”
character development
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
45%
27%
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the creative storytelling and the gradual fleshing out of main characters, others find certain characters lack depth and memorability. The main cast, particularly family members and key figures, are noted for their distinct personalities, though some characters feel underdeveloped and could benefit from more depth as the game progresses. Overall, the character design is praised, but expectations for deeper development remain.
- “I was impressed by the creative storytelling in this game and the character development.”
- “The main characters being your family members and Punch Tanaka are quite fleshed out; more are better fleshed out than others, and this character development steadily progresses throughout the game.”
- “There is excellent character development right now; every character of the main team has their own defined personality, and the way the game tells you this is fantastic.”
- “However, outside of this part of the game, she has little to no character development, and if I took her out of the game, the story would not suffer that much.”
- “Maybe the only negative thing I can say is that I expected a deeper character development, but hey, I'm just 8 hours in, and the characters I meet in the world are pretty interesting.”
- “However, his actual character design is just a big cat-thing with an evil smile.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
33%
50%
The game's optimization is notably poor, with frequent lag, stuttering, and frame rate drops, particularly in larger areas. Users have reported issues such as lack of PS4 controller support and occasional crashes, although a beta build is available that may improve performance. Overall, these technical shortcomings can detract from the gaming experience.
- “The game also has performance issues and can get very laggy, especially when recording.”
- “The game, in its standard state as an RPG Maker game, is kind of a mess - massive amounts of stuttering and slowdown, doesn't have PS4 controller support, the font had to be changed to a much more generic looking one, and I imagine there are some occasional crashes here and there.”
- “The game does have some stuttering in larger areas.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
The game offers high replayability due to its numerous optional dungeons and secrets that encourage exploration. While some players find it to have excellent replay value, others perceive it as low, indicating a mixed reception on this aspect.
- “The game has tons of optional dungeons and secrets to discover, which both rewards exploration and increases replayability.”
- “Five years later, it's definitely still the best game I've ever played. Outer Wilds came close to beating it, but this has better replay value.”
- “5 years later, definitely still the best game I've ever played (Outer Wilds came close to beating it, but this has better replay value).”
- “Replayability: [b][low][/b]”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent bugs, noticeable frame rate drops, and crashes when accessing certain areas, particularly after the first act. Visual glitches also occur, impacting menu usage, though these may be resolved with future patches.
- “Occasionally, the FPS will drop and things will run sluggishly, especially noticeable in the areas immediately following the end of the first act (such as in Legato's bank and in most of the river area). I've noticed crashes while accessing the game's many banks, and a few visual glitches that usually dissipate upon entry and exit from the overworld (although they do prohibit use of the menu while active). As mentioned prior, these issues are technical in nature and could be ironed out with patches.”
- “The game is buggy.”