Mandinga: A Tale of Banzo
- September 17, 2021
- Uruca Game Studio
- 9h median play time
Get on Steam"Mandinga: A Tale of Banzo" is a jRPG-style game set in 1826 Brazil, where players control two heroes, Akil and Obadelê, who fight for freedom in a paradisiacal but oppressive society. The game features an innovative dice-based combat system, where every piece of gear, weapon, and skill brings unique choices. The Diceset System allows players to switch between different combat styles at any turn, offering diverse tactics in an immersive historical setting.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a unique and engaging story that explores important cultural themes, particularly around Brazilian slavery, with well-written characters and a strong narrative.
- The dice-based combat system is fresh and offers a good amount of customization, making it more engaging than traditional menu-based JRPG combat.
- The art and music are impressive, contributing to a captivating atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
- There are several quality assurance issues, including bugs, translation errors, and occasional out-of-bounds glitches that can detract from the experience.
- The game lacks a quest log or objective tracker, which can lead to confusion and aimless grinding during gameplay.
- Some combat animations are lengthy, and the randomness of dice rolls can lead to frustrating moments, especially during critical battles.
- story20 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its originality and emotional depth, featuring relatable characters whose motivations are well-developed throughout the narrative. Players appreciate the fresh themes and unique dice combat mechanics, likening the experience to classic JRPGs while expressing a desire for a quest log to enhance navigation. Overall, the story resonates strongly with players, making it a standout aspect of the game.
“This game tells an awesome story, with utterly relatable characters.”
“The story told here is one that touches my soul. I tend to look for games with Black main characters since there are so few (it helps with immersion), and so far I'm loving the experience.”
“Characters are relatable; you can easily understand their motivations given the context, and the way they develop with the story is excellent.”
“The only thing I wish this game had was a quest log; I accidentally grinded because I was stuck in the cave and didn't know where to go.”
“For those who love turn-based RPGs and are searching for a true story, this is the kind of game that you need.”
“I usually judge RPGs on their story and battle systems, and this game has a really neat combat system.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally serviceable, featuring a decent pixel art style complemented by more detailed illustrations in key moments. The combat system offers enjoyable deck-building customization, though it suffers from lengthy animations and randomness in dice rolls that can slow down battles. Overall, players appreciate the unique setting and find the experience enjoyable, with an average completion time of around nine hours.
“I enjoyed my time with it; it has a unique setting and gameplay.”
“Edit: I was able to finish the story with 9 hours of gameplay; I really enjoy this one.”
“The moment-to-moment gameplay is serviceable.”
“The combat system is fine, with the deck building allowing a good amount of customization. The only real problem I had with the gameplay is that there is no option to skip animations, and battles tend to drag a bit due to both the long animations and the randomness of the dice rolls.”
- music6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised, contributing to an impressive overall atmosphere alongside stunning artwork. Reviewers highlight the great soundtrack as a standout feature that enhances the gaming experience.
“All of that with some amazing artwork and a great soundtrack.”
“I was impressed by the art and music and the overall atmosphere of the game.”
“Music is quite nice too.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their stunning artwork, which significantly enhances the overall visual experience of the game. Additionally, the accompanying soundtrack complements the visuals effectively, creating an immersive atmosphere.
“All of that with some amazing artwork and a great soundtrack.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its impressive art and music, creating an engaging and immersive experience for players.
“I was impressed by the art and music and the overall atmosphere of the game.”
