Mistress of Maids: First Castle
- April 5, 2019
- Aleksandr Golovkin
Get on SteamTurn-based, but fast-paced, roguelike-game when you do not need to think over each turn and count the HP. Mistress of Maids: First Castle is a playable alpha of the game we are currently working on.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a simple yet addictive gameplay loop that keeps players engaged.
- The art style is cute and visually appealing, adding charm to the overall experience.
- There is potential for strategic depth with various skill trees and item combinations.
- There is no sound or music, which detracts from the overall immersion.
- The game lacks variety, featuring only one enemy type and minimal animations.
- Progression can be frustrating due to high enemy levels and the need to purchase items to pick them up.
- gameplay8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as highly addictive, featuring a compelling main loop that encourages players to seek out more levels. While initially appearing simple, the mechanics reveal depth through a skill tree, a prestige bonus system, and a unique item collection process that balances challenge and enjoyment. Overall, it offers a fun and engaging experience reminiscent of roguelite games, despite some initial sound design issues.
“Lots of work still needed, but the main gameplay loop is extremely addictive. I keep finding myself hoping for more levels to try and make my character overpowered.”
“It sounds too dead-simple to be interesting, but the complexity comes from a pool of stacking randomly dropped items, comparable to 'Risk of Rain'. The skill tree, while seemingly basic, is engaging with the potential to juggle various combinations and strategies, along with a push-your-luck mechanic of retiring from dungeons early for a 'permanent' chest or risking it all for better rewards.”
“A game that looks boring on the surface, but inside is a pretty fun mechanical experience—a good take on roguelites.”
“It's one thing to not have music during the gameplay, but it feels really weird watching the beginning cutscene without any sound whatsoever.”
“It sounds too dead-simple to be interesting, but the complexity is from a pool of stacking randomly dropped items, comparable to 'Risk of Rain'. The pool is substantial but smaller than many similar games, and you collect far more duplicates than most titles in the genre. The skill tree also seems overly basic at a glance but is rather engaging in terms of the potential to juggle various combinations with short and long-game strategy, along with a push-your-luck mechanic of retiring from dungeons early for a 'permanent' chest or risking it all to see if you can go another 5 floors for better chances of a better chest.”
“You find items everywhere, but you have to buy them to pick them up. While this sounds weird and mechanically cumbersome, it turns out that it's balanced exceptionally well, making it extremely enjoyable.”
- story7 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game lacks traditional written or spoken dialogue, yet its storytelling is evident and engaging, particularly for fans of nuanced narratives like those in Dark Souls. While some players appreciate the underlying story, others feel that a more developed narrative could enhance the experience. Overall, the existing story, centered around the character John Izuna, resonates with familiar themes but leaves room for improvement.
“It could be cool to have a story added to it.”
“This game has no written story or spoken NPC dialogue.”
“But the storytelling is very obvious, and seeing as I am a hardcore Dark Souls fan, I know how good storytelling can be hidden and uncovered.”
“Spoilers ahead: John Izuna, the legend of the currently employed maid, or mistress of maids: first castle, as it's shortened to; is a story all too familiar to the American public.”
- music6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate a significant absence of music and sound effects in the game, with players expressing disappointment over the lack of audio during both gameplay and cutscenes. Many users are urging the developers to incorporate sound and music before the game's release to enhance the overall experience.
“It's one thing to not have music during the gameplay, but it feels really weird watching the beginning cutscene without any sound whatsoever.”
“There is no sound (music or sound effects) whatsoever.”
“There's also no sound effects or music.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a retro 2D pixel art style, which some players criticize as a result of budget or skill limitations, leading to a perception of poor quality. However, others appreciate the cute aesthetic and smooth visuals, indicating a mixed reception regarding the overall graphical presentation.
“Visuals are great and the game is smooth.”
“The only thing going for this game is the cute art style.”
“Aesthetic.”
“They chose to use 2D retro pixel art instead of modern PC graphics... why?”
“Presumably due to a lack of talent, skill, or budget to create better graphics.”
“Regardless of the cause, the graphics are terrible.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of "Mistress of Maids: First Castle" is criticized as exploitative, being described as a demo or advertisement for a full game rather than a standalone experience. Reviewers label it a cash grab, likening it to a poorly executed asset flip, and recommend avoiding it due to its lack of substance.
“Mistress of Maids: the first castle is not a full game; it's a demo/advertisement for the full game by the same name.”
“The developers copied a template for making a crappy JRPG, even worse than an RPG Maker asset flip, and dumped it on Steam as a cash grab.”
“While this is 'free', it's not even a full game; it's just a spam/advertisement for an asset flip cash grab and should be avoided.”
