Jishogi
- June 23, 2022
- Lab Rabbit Games ltd
Get on Steam"Jishogi" is a single-player adventure game with an intriguing and emotionally charged story. The game uses chess and shogi pieces as a theme in its spatial puzzles, which are accessible to players of all levels. Players follow the story of Otonashi Mayu, a bullied and mysterious shogi prodigy, as she is targeted by her relentless bully, Fifield, who uses magic to invade Mayu's mind. The game explores the fragile nature of the mind invasion spell and the deep, dark secrets that lie within Mayu's consciousness.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- The story is incredibly well-written, featuring deep character development and emotional complexity that resonates with players.
- The puzzles are unique and challenging, providing a satisfying gameplay experience that complements the narrative.
- The game successfully combines elements of visual novels and strategy, offering multiple endings and choices that enhance replayability.
- The pacing can be slow, particularly due to the character's movement speed and the frequency of backtracking, which can disrupt the flow of the story.
- Some players may find the puzzle difficulty to be overwhelming, especially in the later stages, which can detract from the overall experience.
- The exposition-heavy storytelling can feel bloated at times, with long passages of text that may hinder immersion.
- story99 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of *jishogi* is widely praised for its depth, character development, and emotional resonance, often described as its strongest aspect. Players appreciate the unique and engaging narrative that explores complex themes through well-written characters, although some note that the pacing can be slow due to the puzzle elements. While the storytelling is compelling, there are critiques regarding the exposition-heavy lore presentation, which some players feel detracts from the immersive experience.
“The story of jishogi (in my opinion) is its strongest point.”
“It's clear a lot of love was put into it, and it shines in how you get drawn into this story of a bizarre relationship between two young girls going through some heavy turmoil.”
“I'm enthralled by the story it tells of two girls at odds with one another, whose hidden pain and dark secrets drive them both more than they realize.”
“One gripe I did have with the storytelling, though, is that much of the lore presented in this game is unfortunately told in long-winded exposition you find in books.”
“Sometimes, it would take over an hour just to experience maybe 5 minutes of story, just to go back to another hour of puzzles.”
“The puzzles really started to drag by the end; they got super difficult and felt more like an obstacle to the part I actually cared about (i.e. the story).”
- music19 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its emotional depth and atmospheric quality, enhancing the overall experience and immersion. While most tracks are considered fantastic, some players noted a dip in quality with the endgame puzzle music. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a standout feature, with many expressing a desire for a separate release of the original soundtrack.
“One of the best games I have ever played, incredible story, music, and art.”
“Randomly came across this and ended up really loving it, the puzzles are tough but well designed, the music is wonderfully atmospheric and very reminiscent of old PC games which I love.”
“Musics carried me through those puzzles, but the endgame puzzle music was a bit stinky.”
“Music: except for one track during the final puzzles, I genuinely thought each score was amazing.”
“I only wish the OST was released separately.”
- gameplay17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The gameplay primarily revolves around chess and shogi-inspired puzzles, which, while thematically relevant, do not require players to have prior knowledge of these games. Many players find the puzzles challenging and complex, potentially alienating casual gamers who are more interested in the story. Although the puzzles are unique and satisfying to solve, they may benefit from better balancing and integration with the narrative to enhance the overall interactive experience.
“The gameplay centers around chess and shogi.”
“I can't think of a single game that replicates the style of gameplay seen in this one.”
“Overall, gameplay-wise and in the context of writing - puzzles are a good thing, you don't just get the information you want at will and whim, but you overcome challenges in acquiring them, and in solving them you get even more satisfaction - in getting through and in mining a piece of the story.”
“And while I did appreciate the gameplay, the complexity of the puzzles and the way they functioned just didn't work for me (and I assume the same goes for many others).”
“Although shogi and chess are thematically part of this game, the gameplay itself does not lend to a more interactive experience with the characters.”
“The gameplay can be clunky at times.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game effectively takes players on an emotional journey, featuring well-developed characters and a range of endings that span from dark to wholesome. Its storytelling is nuanced, presenting relatable emotions and experiences without being overly dramatic, while also managing to convey a significant amount of emotional depth in a concise format. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to evoke genuine feelings and tackle complex themes in a thoughtful manner.
“The experiences you have with the characters take you on an emotional roller-coaster.”
“But to make it so that the entire world presented looks natural, the emotions are not ostentatious or cringe-worthy, the reactions are ones you can and even want to believe in, and the memories are down-to-earth but emotional and familiar to many is a very hard task.”
“It's well-written and emotionally powerful.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics of *jishogi* are described as charming, with a pixel art style reminiscent of RPG Maker, despite the creator's dissatisfaction with the sprite work. The visuals complement the game's visual novel aesthetic and are enhanced by a strong soundtrack, contributing to an engaging overall experience.
“This is matched by both the artwork and the soundtrack.”
“The pixel art is really nice to look at, especially for the memories, as it has that RPG Maker aesthetic that I do like, although the game was actually created in Godot.”
“And it's this challenge that makes jishogi seem jarring compared to its visual novel aesthetic.”
“If it weren't so late at night, I'd still be playing it because the puzzles are addictive, the story seems interesting enough so far, and the pixel art is really nice to look at, especially for the memories, as it has that RPG Maker aesthetic that I do like although the game was actually created in Godot.”
“The creator, Prism, apparently wasn't entirely happy with the sprite work, but honestly, I found all the visuals to be really charming, even the rougher or simpler sprites.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while the puzzles are engaging and fit well within the game's premise, they can become tedious, especially towards the end. The slow movement of the character adds to the backtracking frustration, making the overall experience feel drawn out for some. Puzzle enthusiasts may appreciate the content, but others may find it repetitive.
“The player character moves slowly, which is completely appropriate as you begin to explore an unfamiliar space, but tedious once you start backtracking.”
“A puzzle enthusiast might enjoy all the puzzle content, but I found it kind of tedious near the end.”
“It basically functions how a good puzzle game should, although a few of the challenges can get tedious after a while.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive quality, evoking a range of emotions such as mystery, empathy, and joy through its well-designed environments and music. The soundtrack, reminiscent of classic PC games, enhances the tense and engaging atmosphere, making the overall experience captivating and memorable.
“I can't help but note the excellent atmosphere overall - everything feels as you might assume, walking through your own and others' shards of history and emotions - mystery, sympathy, empathy, and even joy for the achievements.”
“Almost all of the tracks are a bop that set the tense atmosphere really well.”
“Randomly came across this and ended up really loving it, the puzzles are tough but well designed, the music is wonderfully atmospheric and very reminiscent of old PC games which I love.”
