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Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass

Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass Game Cover
93%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, character development
94% User Score Based on 513 reviews
Critic Score 90%Based on 1 reviews

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Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass Game Cover

About

Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass is a single player role playing game with horror and comedy themes. It was developed by HousekeepingGames and was released on August 7, 2018. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"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.

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Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass screenshot
Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass screenshot
Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass screenshot
Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass screenshot
Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass screenshot
Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass screenshot
Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass screenshot
Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass screenshot
Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass screenshot
Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass screenshot
Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass screenshot
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94%
Audience ScoreBased on 513 reviews
story72 positive mentions
grinding89 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique transformation mechanic that allows players to switch between different forms, each with their own abilities, adding depth to combat and exploration.
  • The writing is engaging and emotional, effectively balancing humor with darker themes, making the story both touching and thought-provoking.
  • The game offers a substantial amount of content, with a main story that can take 30-50 hours to complete, along with numerous side quests and optional dungeons.
  • The game can be grindy, especially on normal difficulty, which may frustrate players who prefer a more streamlined experience.
  • Some players found the pacing to be slow, particularly in the early hours, with a lack of direction leading to confusion about where to go next.
  • The graphics, while charming, can sometimes feel inconsistent, with some enemy designs being less appealing than others.
  • story
    343 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass" is a complex blend of whimsical charm and profound emotional depth, exploring themes of childhood innocence juxtaposed with darker undertones. While many players appreciate its rich narrative and character development, some find the execution disjointed and the pacing uneven, leading to mixed feelings about its overall impact. The game is praised for its ability to evoke strong emotions, though it may require players to engage deeply with its symbolism and optional content to fully appreciate the story's nuances.

    • “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.”
    • “The mix of unsettling themes and tragic story interwoven into a happy, upbeat, and nostalgic motif is something that really makes this game engaging for me.”
    • “The characters are fun and lovable, and the story pulls off an appropriate blend of bleak nihilism, magical adventure, and zany humor.”
    • “Thus far the narrative has come across as discombobulated, less interested in a driving plot and more in placing you in a succession of cheerful, twee environments and then slapping you over the head with horror seemingly out of nowhere.”
    • “The story is heavily fragmented. You only get small pieces of the story on many occasions.”
    • “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.”
  • gameplay
    192 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass" is a blend of traditional turn-based RPG mechanics with innovative features like the imagination mechanic, allowing players to transform into defeated enemies and customize their abilities. While many players appreciate the strategic depth and variety in combat, some find the gameplay can become tedious or grindy, particularly in boss encounters. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging mechanics, charming atmosphere, and substantial content, making it a noteworthy entry in the RPG Maker genre.

    • “Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass hits a nice middle ground between quality of life and complexity, with simple stats and clearly defined mechanics but enough room for strategy in a fight.”
    • “The gameplay takes huge inspiration from its predecessors, most obviously in the job class system.”
    • “The imagination mechanic is amazing 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.”
    • “Things got a bit tedious as the game’s actual gameplay is fairly generic in terms of RPG Maker games.”
    • “Unfortunately, the game is not very fun for the majority of its gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is... passable.”
  • music
    190 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in "Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass" is widely praised for its quality and variety, with many tracks perfectly complementing the game's atmosphere and emotional tone. Reviewers highlight standout pieces that enhance both the gameplay experience and the storytelling, noting that the soundtrack features a diverse range of styles that keep players engaged throughout their journey. While some tracks may not resonate with everyone, the overall consensus is that the music significantly elevates the game's charm and immersion.

    • “Every track in the game is an 11/10 that heightens the impact of its scene perfectly, whether it's excitement, unease, terror, or emotions that you didn't know it was possible for game music to pull out of you.”
    • “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 music starts out pretty bad, but as the game progresses, I can tell the dev(s) got better at composing since the later songs are good (they don't loop properly though).”
    • “I had to mod the game and replace very battle song after motion sickness.”
    • “In a few places, the music can be pretty repetitive, especially if you're grinding.”
  • grinding
    91 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 appreciate the challenge and see it as a necessary part of the experience, others feel it detracts from the overall enjoyment and immersion, especially in relation to the story. The introduction of an easy mode has been noted as a helpful option for those looking to minimize grinding, allowing for a more streamlined gameplay experience.

    • “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.”
  • emotional
    86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of "Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass" is widely praised for its ability to evoke a range of feelings, from laughter to deep sadness, often within the same scene. Players describe the game as a heartfelt journey that tackles themes of life, loss, and the complexities of growing up, with many noting its capacity to make them cry at various points. The balance of humor, quirky characters, and darker undertones creates a unique emotional rollercoaster that resonates strongly with fans of RPGs.

    • “This game made me cry for multiple different reasons, multiple different times.”
    • “It's both touching and hilarious, with plenty of secrets to discover and fun ways to interact with the world.”
    • “Jimmy and the pulsating mass captivates with its heartfelt narrative, infused with humor and warmth.”
  • graphics
    82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass" are a blend of charming, Earthbound-inspired aesthetics and retro 8-bit visuals, which some players find delightful while others see as simplistic or lacking depth. The art effectively complements the game's dark themes and humor, creating a unique atmosphere that resonates with many, despite some criticisms regarding its overall visual appeal. Overall, the artwork is praised for its creativity and consistency, contributing significantly to the game's immersive storytelling experience.

    • “The art is gorgeous, cleanly shifting between pacific and horrifying, or even downgrading the graphics to 8-bit for a story beat.”
    • “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 surrealist atmosphere that I immediately fell in love with.”
    • “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.”
  • humor
    71 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 dialogue and charming characters, though some jokes may not resonate with everyone. The game effectively balances lighthearted moments with unsettling themes, creating a unique experience that is both funny and emotionally impactful.

    • “It's both touching and hilarious, with plenty of secrets to discover and fun ways to interact with the world.”
    • “The characters are fun and lovable and the story pulls off an appropriate blend of bleak nihilism, magical adventure, and zany humor.”
    • “Jimmy and the pulsating mass does a great job of pulling you in with humor and charm and shocking you out of it with stabs of the macabre.”
  • atmosphere
    34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its quirky yet haunting qualities, enhanced by a captivating soundtrack that complements various settings, from eerie dungeons to vibrant towns. Players appreciate the immersive world filled with imaginative creatures and secrets, making exploration a joy, although some feel that frequent battles can detract from the overall sense of wonder. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, drawing comparisons to beloved RPGs like Earthbound while offering its own unique charm and depth.

    • “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 most creepy 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 of the game.”
    • “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 history is a more stylish approach at what Lisa did, with a colorful and vibrant world full of humor... but also, full of 'unspeakable horrors', as said in the description, with some sections that really disturbed me, even more than what I ever thought because of that happy/grotesque world contrast.”
    • “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
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the gradual progression and depth of main characters, particularly family members, others feel that many party members lack memorability and depth until later in the game. Despite strong character designs, the overall impression is that character development could have been more consistent and engaging throughout the experience. However, as the story unfolds, some players find themselves warming up to the characters, indicating that the development may improve as the game progresses.

    • “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 his very own defined personality, and the way the game tells you this is fantastic.”
    • “None of the party members are interesting characters, though I do get the sense that most of their character development has been backloaded to the end of the game.”
    • “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.”
  • optimization
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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'd imagine, some occasional crashes here and there.”
    • “The game does have some stuttering in larger areas.”
  • replayability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players highlight the game's extensive optional dungeons and secrets, which enhance exploration and significantly boost replayability. However, some users feel that the overall replay value is 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

    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.”
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90%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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50h Median play time
49h Average play time
40-75h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass is a role playing game with horror and comedy themes.

Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass is available on PC, Mac OS and Windows.

On average players spend around 49 hours playing Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass.

Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass was released on August 7, 2018.

Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass was developed by HousekeepingGames.

Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass is a single player game.

Similar games include Chained Echoes, CrossCode, Sea of Stars, Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling, Look Outside and others.