Mary Skelter: Nightmares
- July 19, 2018
- Idea Factory
- 8h median play time
Solid and definitely has an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.
Get on Steam"Mary Skelter: Nightmares" is a dark dungeon-crawling RPG where players control Jack and the Blood Team as they navigate through a nightmarish living prison called the "Jail" to escape. The game features turn-based battles with eerie creatures called Marchens and the ability to escape dungeons using unique character abilities. The story is inspired by twisted fairy tales and follows the characters' journey to regain their lost humanity.
PC
Windows
PlayStation
Playstation Vita
Reviews
- Engaging story with unique dark fairy tale themes and well-developed characters.
- Fun and satisfying combat system with interesting mechanics like the blood and corruption system.
- Beautiful art style and great music that enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.
- Repetitive dungeon design with overly large maps that can feel tedious to explore.
- Technical issues such as crashes and bugs that can disrupt gameplay.
- Some characters and mechanics feel underdeveloped or lack depth, leading to a less rewarding experience.
- story215 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players praising its unique premise and character development, particularly in a dark fantasy setting involving fairy tale characters trapped in a dungeon. However, many reviews highlight predictable plot twists, a slow start, and a tendency for the narrative to feel drawn out or lacking depth. Overall, while the story has engaging elements and well-written characters, it often falls into familiar anime tropes and can be seen as mediocre or overly simplistic by some players.
“The story is unique and has many different hints to the real 'marchens' that the characters are from, as well as an excellent voice acting cast.”
“The story picks up right away and you get versed in the characters.”
“The story is intriguing and the combat is balanced well with the characters, although some combat and exploration can get repetitive.”
“The plot points are basic and straightforward, with fairly predictable plot twists but an even worse anti-climactic finish.”
“The story of this game is okay, but you can see from miles away what's going to happen since the game just makes it too obvious.”
“The story was a bit confusing but overall I had a good time playing it.”
- gameplay132 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Mary Skelter" is a blend of classic turn-based JRPG mechanics with unique features like the blood meter and corruption system, which add depth to combat. While some players appreciate the engaging dungeon crawling and character customization, others criticize the repetitive nature of battles and the overall balance, leading to a mixed reception. The game is recommended for fans of the genre who enjoy intricate mechanics and character-driven stories, but may not appeal to those seeking a more streamlined experience.
“The gameplay is surprisingly good if you like this style of RPG.”
“It's an excellent dungeon crawler with well-balanced turn-based gameplay, and a series of maps so deep that you'll need over 100 hours to even get close to finishing the game completely.”
“The gameplay is simple and easy to follow, the artwork is good, fully voiced (English/Japanese dub) and not to mention the price range is great!”
“In terms of gameplay, it's always the same... spam your strongest AoE attack and win.”
“Looks like a great dungeon crawler RPG on the outside, but it just devolves into a tedious RPG with bare-bones mechanics.”
“Even the cool blood splatter system and the jail reward system don't make up for the weak gameplay that just devolves into AoE spamming before the tenth hour is over - and the game is thirty hours long.”
- graphics61 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the unique art style and aesthetics, particularly in the dungeon designs, which blend dark themes with vibrant colors. However, some users note technical issues such as crashes and a lack of graphical options, especially in comparison to the original Vita version. Overall, while the visuals are generally well-received, they are marred by performance problems and limited customization.
“The animation and visuals are smooth, allowing for the movement to not disorient the viewer and making it so that the viewer can notice what can be done and where it's possible to go at any point of the exploration.”
“I love the dark aesthetic that is mixed in with bright color overtones to give it that nightmare-fairy tale vibe without being dull and moody.”
“The art style of the characters and dungeon is really great, and the UI fits perfectly.”
“Random graphics crashes, very upsetting that there isn't a proper fix for this.”
“Graphically a downgrade compared to the Vita/Switch versions.”
“No graphical options other than resolution.”
- music51 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting the impressive original soundtrack that complements various zones and dungeons. While some tracks may feel monotonous or forgettable, the overall composition, including battle themes and unique arrangements, is considered a standout feature that adds depth to the gameplay experience. Fans of JRPGs and dungeon crawlers will likely appreciate the diverse and engaging musical elements throughout the game.
“I've already hinted about the game's music, but I need to give extra kudos to the quality, direction, and the perfect match of music for each zone.”
“The music is great and really pushes you to want to explore more.”
“One of the best dungeon crawlers I've ever played; atmospheric with great music and fairy tale waifus.”
“The only low point I'd say the game has is probably the music; sometimes it can feel just a bit monotonous or trying to get the traveling merchant to show, but overall just a great game that's sadly overlooked and I'd call pretty underrated.”
“The ost became completely forgettable.”
“Fact is, Mary Skelter: Nightmares is a fun dungeon crawler with a decent atmosphere and adequate music.”
- grinding43 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that grinding is a significant aspect of the game, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, especially after extended playtime. While some enjoy the grind as part of the dungeon-crawling experience, others feel it detracts from the overall enjoyment, particularly due to the low enemy damage and the need for extensive farming to progress effectively. Overall, the game appeals to fans of grind-heavy RPGs, but may frustrate casual players who prefer a more streamlined experience.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The only downside is the amount of grinding required, which may put off casual players.”
“Almost all of the game's time is spent slogging through unnecessarily complex dungeons and grinding, grinding, grinding.”
“If you love grinding and exploring winding, twisting, labyrinthine dungeons, then you probably own several Etrian Odyssey games already and shouldn't be needing this review, since the differences are mostly cosmetic: more horror-oriented and with cute girls as all the characters.”
- atmosphere15 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its captivating visual design, immersive audio, and a unique blend of gothic horror and fairy tale elements, creating a distinct and engaging experience. Players appreciate the atmospheric world-building, character design, and music that enhance the dungeon-crawling gameplay, making it both challenging and enjoyable. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and depth.
“This game's visual design, audio, sound effects, and overall atmosphere blend into a fascinating experience where you want to reach the goal of the game.”
“The worlds' atmosphere, world building, characters, music, and the marchens roaming the new hellscape called jail really add to it all; it's one of my favorite games.”
“The game is a dungeon crawler first and foremost; if you're not doing fights, in the district, or engaging in some story elements, you'll be face-first in a dungeon, completing puzzles and exploring the mess of assets in your way. This environment is loosely related to something in the real world but also unrecognizable to the norm, which adds to the game's overall atmosphere.”
“There was satisfying dungeon exploration with the horror atmosphere of the dungeons, allowing for varying playstyles and very good visual design overall.”
“What I did find out, however, is that it sports a wide array of different mechanics that really help sell the setting and atmosphere.”
- character development9 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its solid and appealing designs, contributing to a unique aesthetic that fans appreciate. However, some reviews note that certain character arcs feel rushed or overly explicit, detracting from the depth of the storytelling. Overall, while the character designs and themes are well-received, the execution of character development can be inconsistent.
“It managed to become one of my top favorite franchises; the character designs are awesome, the story is engaging, and the buildup is fantastic.”
“I'm quite satisfied with how the writer handles character development. As the story progresses, you don't know who to trust and the reasons behind fighting the monsters become intriguing.”
“Big fan of all the dungeon designs aesthetically, and the character design and art style are really cool too.”
“Some character development is too rushed in an effort to display it; for example, a character may state a lesson they've learned in an overly obvious way, which is not needed.”
“While the character designs are solid, they are somewhat reused between the same classes, which detracts from the overall development.”
“The character development feels lacking, as it often fails to provide depth and nuance, leaving characters feeling one-dimensional.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by genuinely funny character interactions and scenes, contributing to an engaging story about escaping a dungeon. While some players find it lacks the depth of humor seen in other titles like Moero Chronicles, it still offers a blend of dark comedy and lighthearted moments, making it enjoyable for fans of quirky JRPGs. Overall, the humor enhances the experience, despite some mixed comparisons to other games.
“Had fun playing through the story, the character interactions were funny too.”
“The first part is a visual novel that tells a story of how these characters are trying to escape the dungeon, how they come up with plans, how mysterious things happen within the dungeon, and how these characters push onward, laughing, crying, but always moving forward to find the sun.”
“Fun game if you like dark funny JRPGs.”
- stability7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's PC port is generally stable but suffers from notable bugs, particularly in the post-game dungeon, where players frequently experience freezes and glitches that necessitate saving every few minutes. While minor visual glitches are present, they do not significantly detract from the overall experience, though the issues in the last secret dungeon can be frustrating.
“The post-game dungeon is so buggy and annoying; you need to save every 2-3 minutes or it freezes your PC.”
“I'll get the biggest flaw out of the way - I can't beat the post-game because of glitches.”
“I'm very frustrated by the amount of times I had to reload an old save because of freezes.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is highly inconsistent, with some users reporting significant stuttering and poor performance despite having capable hardware, while others find it runs smoothly with good performance. Overall, the consensus leans towards it being poorly optimized, leading to frustration among players.
“The port overall is good in my opinion; the game runs really smoothly and has great performance.”
“Finally, it has good optimization and game mechanics.”
“The game has dishonest system recommendations and it doesn't even properly take advantage of the CPU/GPU, which are at low loads despite the awful performance.”
“Its biggest problem so far is that it is very badly optimized; there are a lot of stutters in some places, which is really annoying. If they knew how to code properly, this wouldn't happen considering how strong my computer is.”
“Bad performance.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is a blend of contrasting themes, featuring a gruesome horror narrative alongside a heartwarming harem storyline that explores deep character relationships. Players appreciate the wholesome interactions and relationship events that enhance character development, though some express a desire for a more impactful emotional experience, particularly regarding the game's endings. Overall, the emotional engagement is characterized by a mix of lightheartedness and darker elements.
“Outside of combat, there are many 'relationship events' that reward you with fan service CG when you get deep enough in them, but they are mostly wholesome and help you get to know your characters more.”
“- didn't get emotionally destroyed with the bad ending.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Overall, while players feel the game offers good value for the initial experience, its replayability is limited due to repetitive dungeon crawling and a lack of variety in encounters.
“There's enough content to get your money's worth, although there isn't much replay value.”
“The post-game content offers some replay value.”
“There's enough meat to get your money's worth, although there isn't much replay value.”
“Dungeon crawling and essentially doing the same thing with little variety (exploration with hard-to-avoid encounters) doesn't leave a lot of room for replay value.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect is perceived as intrusive, with relentless and invincible foes that track players down, which some users feel detracts from the overall experience.
