Just Deserts
- July 24, 2016
- Vifth Floor
- 116h median play time
Just 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.
Reviews
- The game features charming art and character designs, making it visually appealing.
- The voice acting is generally well-received, adding personality to the characters.
- The gameplay combines dating sim elements with strategic combat, providing a unique experience.
- The combat system is slow and can feel tedious, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
- There are issues with RNG elements that can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- The story lacks depth and can feel rushed, with some character arcs not fully developed.
- story115 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story in this game is generally considered simplistic and inconsistent, with many reviewers noting a lack of depth and substance. While some characters have interesting backstories, the overall narrative is often overshadowed by tedious gameplay mechanics and random quest elements, leading to frustration in progressing through the story. Despite its shortcomings, the light-hearted tone and humor can provide a charming experience for those looking for a casual dating sim rather than a complex narrative.
“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, in my humble opinion, it actually gave it a bit of charm.”
“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 character designs are fantastic. The illustrators did a terrific job.”
“The story isn't too complex, but it has its moments. Each character has their own backstories, and every date plays a role in the overall story.”
“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 in this game was very inconsistent; some parts were written and executed perfectly, while others seemed like they hired a young schoolkid to write.”
“The story itself is very rushed; if you take away all the grinding, unskippable animations, and constant pauses, you could probably finish the story in an hour.”
- gameplay49 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews are mixed, with some players enjoying the simple yet captivating mechanics of "Just Desserts," which gradually introduce new challenges and strategic elements. However, others criticize the gameplay for being repetitive, lacking depth, and suffering from clunky mechanics that detract from the overall experience. While some appreciate the engaging aspects of the game, many find it ultimately unremarkable and lacking in replayability.
“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.”
“Upon playing the game, I found it to be a jumbled mess with no focus, switching genre and pacing on a whim, trying to endear you to the girls with visual novel sections, while leaving room for the time management system and bare bones RPG gameplay.”
“The gameplay in this title makes it feel like the only redeeming quality it has is gated off by clunky, imbalanced, painful combat mechanics.”
- music31 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many praising the solid soundtrack and memorable themes, particularly the final boss's musical piece. While some players found the music enjoyable and evocative, others noted that the lack of variety and options could make it feel repetitive over time. Overall, the voice acting and character themes were highlighted as standout features that enhanced the gaming experience.
“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 voice and soundtrack are amazing.”
“The soundtrack is soothing to the ears and makes each scene more memorable.”
“The problem is, disabling the voices makes the game really soulless; the soundtrack and sound effects are very boring.”
“Music is just there.”
“Lack of options makes the music become a minor annoyance later in the game.”
- grinding15 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players have mixed feelings about the grinding aspect of the game; while some find it tedious and frustrating due to unskippable animations and repetitive combat, others appreciate the strategic elements involved. The grind can feel excessive, especially when aiming for specific endings, but it is not universally deemed overly grindy compared to other titles. Overall, grinding is seen as a significant factor that can detract from the enjoyment of the game.
“It's the only reason I don't want to play this game again; I lost over 2 hours of grinding because of this.”
“And by the way, narrative choices are basically nonexistent in this game; what determines your ending is just how lucky you were while grinding and which character you chose to grind for the most.”
“If you take away all the grinding, unskippable animations, and constant '...', you could probably finish the story in an hour.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant and appealing artwork, with many users highlighting the beautiful visuals and charming character designs. While some reviews note that the graphics are not groundbreaking, they still contribute positively to the overall experience, making the game visually enticing and enjoyable. Overall, the art style and graphics are considered a strong point, enhancing the game's charm and engagement.
“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.”
- humor13 mentions
- 92 % positive mentions
- -15 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with many players praising the fully voiced characters and witty dialogue that enhance the dating sim experience. While some moments of inner monologuing may come off as cringy, the overall comedic tone is well-received, making the interactions with characters like Jennifer particularly enjoyable. The game's lighthearted references to other media and funny situations contribute to its charm, making it a guilty pleasure for players.
“The first thing that impressed me was Jennifer's (Rachael Messer) voice acting, as well as the overall dialogue being funny and immersive.”
“This game is a guilty pleasure; the story is good, the characters are what make this game shine, and the dialogue is hilarious.”
“The visual novel had great potential, with an interesting premise and funny situations between the girls and our defacto romantic visual novel protagonist.”
“There are moments of humor that feel forced and fall flat, leaving me more confused than amused.”
“The jokes often miss the mark, relying on outdated references that just don't land.”
“The attempts at humor come off as awkward and unoriginal, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- character development5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
Overall, the character development in the game is praised for its beautiful designs and engaging personalities; however, some players feel that the limited time frame and repetitive battles hinder deeper storytelling and character growth, suggesting that a longer format could enhance the RPG experience.
“The art and character designs are all very, very good.”
“Beautiful background and character design.”
“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.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by strong voice acting, particularly from Jennifer's character, who effectively conveys both emotional depth and a carefree demeanor. However, some players felt let down by the overall emotional engagement, citing a lack of emotional resonance in certain characters and frustrations with gameplay mechanics that detracted from the experience.
“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.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Users generally find the replayability of the game lacking, noting that after completing one or two storylines, the gameplay tends to feel repetitive and unengaging. The overall longevity is rated moderately at 7/10, indicating some potential for replay but limited appeal.
“The game offers a variety of choices that significantly change the outcome, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
“With multiple storylines and character arcs, the replayability factor is high, encouraging players to explore different paths.”
“The diverse gameplay mechanics and unlockable content keep players coming back for more, ensuring a rewarding experience with each replay.”
“The only thing is that there isn't much replayability even after one or two heroines, as the gameplay becomes stale and mundane.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back; the lack of variety makes replaying feel like a chore.”
“After finishing the main story, I found no compelling reason to replay it, as the choices felt limited and the outcomes predictable.”
- 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 in the shop.
“The five heroines and their casual costumes perfectly match the game's situation, and you can 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 other 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 variety of costumes available, it fails to create an engaging or immersive experience.”