Just Deserts
- July 24, 2016
- Vifth Floor
- 6h median play time
Get on SteamJust Deserts is a sci-fi action dating sim game, where you protect a city from alien attack and pursue your dream girl. The game features English voice acting for 5 heroines, with multiple endings based on your relationship status. Gameplay includes battle sequences, day/night cycles, and the use of items for gifts or support. A theme song and hundreds of items are also included.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game features fully voiced characters, which enhances the overall experience.
- The soundtrack is enjoyable and adds to the atmosphere of the game.
- The character designs are appealing, and the interactions with the heroines are engaging.
- The combat system is tedious and slow, with unskippable animations that can drag out battles.
- The story lacks depth and can feel basic, with some quests being frustratingly difficult to complete.
- There are issues with the user interface, such as the inability to buy or gift multiple items at once, which can lead to repetitive clicking.
- story185 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally perceived as basic and inconsistent, with some players finding it enjoyable while others criticize it for lacking depth and coherence. Many reviews highlight the charm of the characters and their backstories, but note that the quest system can be tedious and frustrating, often hindering story progression. Overall, while the narrative has its moments and can evoke emotions, it is often overshadowed by gameplay mechanics that detract from the storytelling experience.
“The story itself is kind of basic but it had its moments, and I enjoyed all of the endings, especially the single ending which really encapsulated that lonely feeling of parting with people you are close to.”
“Some of the dialogue was a bit cringe, but as someone who enjoys a good story being told, overall it didn't make me think any less of the game; in fact, it actually gave it a bit of charm.”
“The story itself is really nice and it has some great CGs.”
“The game does lack story in just about every manner possible, and even when there were story elements, I felt like they were placed weirdly.”
“The story itself is very rushed. If you take away all the grinding, unskippable animations, and constant '...', you could probably finish the story in an hour.”
“There's not much of a plot here; the story is pretty much limited to its introduction right at the start of the game and its climax at the end.”
- gameplay71 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the reviewed titles presents a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the interesting mechanics and addictive puzzle elements, particularly in "Just Desserts," while others criticize the stiffness, repetitiveness, and lack of depth in mechanics across various dating sim aspects. Many reviews highlight a disconnect between engaging story elements and tedious gameplay, with some noting that unexplained mechanics and grindy systems detract from the overall experience. Overall, while there are moments of enjoyment, the gameplay often feels simplistic or flawed, leading to a lack of replayability and engagement.
“Just Desserts is a delightful and addictive puzzle game that will satisfy your craving for fun and strategic gameplay.”
“The gameplay mechanics in Just Desserts are simple yet captivating.”
“Each level introduces different dessert types, creating a sense of anticipation as you unlock new challenges and explore unique gameplay mechanics.”
“The gameplay is very repetitive and uninteresting.”
“The only thing is that there isn't much replayability even after one or two heroines, as the gameplay becomes stale and menial.”
“On the other hand, the bad aspects of the game kick in so hard after that brief hour of joy and then you start to feel how repetitive the dating options are, and how grindy the game mechanics tend to be.”
- music50 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack as catchy and enjoyable, particularly highlighting specific tracks like the menu and shop themes. However, some players found the music repetitive or lacking depth, suggesting that it can feel soulless without the voice acting. Overall, while the soundtrack is often described as solid and memorable, opinions vary on its overall impact on the gaming experience.
“In my opinion, the soundtrack was a real bop, especially the menu track.”
“An interesting premise, a distinct & fully-voiced cast (with some actual depth besides ecchi stereotypes!), an amazing soundtrack, & actual gameplay to accompany the visual novel itself.”
“The theme song is amazing, the plot is good, the soundtrack, albeit repetitive, was still able to evoke emotions during important events (dates and such) and the CGs are fantastic; the illustrators did a terrific job.”
“The problem is, disabling the voices makes the game really soulless; the soundtrack and sound effects are very boring.”
“The soundtrack... well... other people keep praising it, but honestly, I did not find it to be anything special.”
“Lack of options makes the music become a minor annoyance later in the game.”
- grinding34 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with many players expressing frustration over unskippable animations and a lack of strategic depth in combat. While some find the grinding manageable or even relaxing, the overwhelming reliance on it to progress through the narrative and achieve endings detracts significantly from the overall enjoyment, leading to a recommendation to avoid the game unless one specifically enjoys grind-heavy mechanics.
“The combat, while simple and easy to deal with, was however extremely tedious because you cannot skip through all the animations, which in turn really made the main game feel like it was dragging on too much.”
“Most of the game will be spent on repetitive grinding.”
“My playtime is probably a bit above average in order to get all the endings, but that playtime is not spent reading; it's 90% relentlessly clicking through totally vapid and tedious 'battles' that have no strategy whatsoever, and repeating the same actions, buy-this-thing quests, and grinding out 'gift items' because the lowest value items have the best affection reward.”
- graphics19 mentions
- 74 % positive mentions
- 16 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant and appealing artwork, with many reviewers highlighting the beautiful character designs and overall visual quality. While some mention that the graphics are not groundbreaking, they contribute positively to the game's charm and enjoyment. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong aspect, enhancing the gaming experience with their enticing aesthetic.
“From mouthwatering cupcakes to luscious pies, the artwork and design of the game are vibrant and enticing.”
“The battles are fun enough, characters charming enough, and visuals appealing enough to keep you coming back for more.”
“Amazing visuals, seriously this visual novel is eye candy.”
“The game's not exactly bad, but the pacing is slow, and the artwork's nice, but not exactly fantastic.”
“The visuals are pretty, and the characters are drawn well.”
- humor18 mentions
- 94 % positive mentions
- -11 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding the dialogue and character interactions genuinely funny, particularly enjoying the protagonist's comedic moments and the humorous situations that arise, such as swimming with a character who fears water. However, others noted that while there are amusing elements, the humor can sometimes fall flat or feel cringy, especially during attempts at deeper storytelling. Overall, the game's charm lies in its character-driven humor and pop culture references, making it a guilty pleasure for many players.
“One thing I found hilarious was that you can swim with Jennifer even though she can't swim and has a fear of swimming.”
“The visual novel had great potential, with an interesting premise and funny situations between the girls and our de facto romantic visual novel protagonist.”
“This game is a guilty pleasure; the story is good, the characters are what make this game shine, and the dialogue is hilarious.”
“There are moments of humor that feel forced and fall flat, making the experience more awkward than entertaining.”
“The jokes often miss the mark, leaving me feeling more confused than amused.”
“The attempts at humor rely too heavily on clichés, which makes them predictable and unoriginal.”
- character development6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its unique daily events that provide exposure to the characters, enhancing their personalities and designs. However, some players feel that the limited time frame and repetitive battles hinder deeper storytelling and character growth, suggesting that a longer format could have allowed for more substantial development. Overall, while the character and background designs are well-received, the gameplay mechanics may detract from the potential for richer character arcs.
“The art and character designs are all very, very good.”
“They get quite a bit of exposure and character development thanks to unique daily events.”
“Although the character design, personalities, and map exploration are really good, I have to say that the 28-day time limit and the very dull unskippable battles almost ruined the game for me.”
“The game could have been longer, like an actual RPG, with more story and character development.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game receives mixed reviews; while some praise Jennifer's voice acting for effectively conveying emotion in both serious and comedic scenes, others criticize the overall emotional impact as lacking depth and coherence. Attempts to blend humor with serious themes often result in a disjointed experience, leaving players feeling disappointed rather than moved.
“Jennifer's actress is by far the best, easily selling her more emotional scenes, while still sounding quite carefree and natural in her comedic scenes.”
“Especially Jen, her voice acting was on-point, very emotional.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while it offers multiple ending routes that can provide enjoyment for players who wish to explore different outcomes, many reviewers note that the core gameplay can become repetitive and lacks significant variation after the initial playthrough.
“Since there are many ending routes, the game is very replayable. I had only cleared one, and it was enjoyable; I expect the other ones to be similar.”
“Longevity/replayable = 7/10”
“The only thing is that there isn't much replayability even after one or two heroines, as the gameplay becomes stale and mundane.”
“Though there’s a lot of replay value, it will be exactly the same as your first playthrough with no changes, just cut-scene variations and that is it.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is reported to have significant stability issues, with users highlighting numerous bugs that detract from the overall experience. These problems are described as tedious rather than challenging, indicating a need for improvements in stability.
“The game can be pretty buggy.”
“I don't mean that in a 'the difficulty is high and I'm a baby' way, but in a 'the game is just that tedious and buggy.'”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by the five heroines' casual costumes, which align well with the game's setting, and players can further customize the ambiance by purchasing additional costumes from the shop.
“The five heroines and their casual costumes perfectly match the game's situation, and you can also buy other costumes in the shop to create different atmospheres.”
“The game's atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into its world with stunning visuals and sound design.”
“Each location in the game has a unique atmosphere that enhances the storytelling and keeps you engaged.”
“The five heroines and their casual costumes match the game's situation, but the overall atmosphere feels lacking and uninspired.”
“While you can buy different costumes in the shop to change the atmosphere, it doesn't significantly enhance the game's overall feel.”
“The atmosphere is inconsistent, and despite the potential for variety with costumes, it fails to create an engaging environment.”
