Mr. Saitou
- March 23, 2023
- Laura Shigihara
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam"Mr. Saitou" is a heartwarming non-combat game with humor and friendship at its core, presented in a charming art style. As an overworked office worker transported to a fantasy world, you'll encounter strange creatures and explore the "Edudungeon." With a short playtime, original soundtrack by Laura Shigihara and Toby Fox, and a blend of office culture and fantasy, it's a unique and memorable experience.
Reviews
- Genuinely uplifting and life-affirming with a beautiful story full of quirkiness and excellent humor.
- The game features stunning pixel art and a fantastic soundtrack, enhancing the emotional weight of the narrative.
- Short but impactful, it offers a heartwarming experience that resonates with players, especially those dealing with life's challenges.
- The game is quite short, taking only about 2-3 hours to complete, which may deter some players looking for more content.
- Some players feel the price point is too high for the amount of gameplay offered, leading to concerns about replayability.
- While the story is touching, some characters may come off as stereotypical or underdeveloped, leaving players wanting more depth.
- story161 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The story of "Mr. Saitou" is a charming, heartwarming narrative that blends humor and emotional depth, exploring themes of work-life balance and personal fulfillment through the whimsical journey of its lovable characters. Despite its brevity, the game delivers a meaningful and relatable experience, enhanced by beautiful pixel art and an enchanting soundtrack. Players appreciate the simple yet impactful storytelling, making it a delightful choice for those seeking a short, story-driven adventure.
“I cannot recommend this enough for its beautiful art and music, its wonderful story and emotional weight.”
“Mr. Saitou is a short and sweet side-story to its predecessor Rakuen, which lets us return to the magical world of Rakuen.”
“The storytelling in this game is absolutely incredible and impressively done in a 2-4 hour gameplay time.”
“Despite being so short, it tells such a sweet story that made me want to see more of the world.”
“The story writing is filled with humor and emotion.”
“The characters are all relatable and the story touches on some real life things that did get me pretty good in the feels.”
- music116 mentions
- 66 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in "Mr. Saitou" has been widely praised for its beauty and emotional depth, with many reviewers highlighting Laura Shigihara's exceptional composition skills. The soundtrack, which includes some reused tracks from "Rakuen," complements the game's charming pixel art and enhances the overall experience, creating a delightful atmosphere that resonates with players. Overall, the music is described as a standout feature that elevates the game's storytelling and emotional impact.
“The music is fantastic, the puzzles are fun but not too crazy.”
“I adore Laura Shigihara's musical style, and the soundtrack for Mr. Saitou absolutely lives up to the masterpiece that was the Rakuen soundtrack.”
“The music and atmosphere of the game bring the story to another level.”
“You literally spend less time in some areas than it takes to play a full track of music.”
“Considering that the specialty of the developer is music, it befuddles me as to why the pacing in this game couldn't be a bit better (i.e. had a bit more content in each area) so you could actually hear some of the amazing music.”
“However, I think the points I made above wouldn't have taken an extraordinary amount of time, and wouldn't require any new art assets, puzzles, or music to be made, yet would allow the game to have more of the impact which it deserves.”
- emotional100 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its heartwarming and touching narrative, which resonates deeply with players, often evoking tears of joy and sadness. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to break through emotional barriers, offering a blend of humor and heartfelt moments that leave players feeling uplifted and inspired. Despite its short length, the game effectively delivers a meaningful story filled with beautiful art, music, and relatable characters, making it a highly recommended experience for those seeking a wholesome escape.
“Truly touching and heartbreaking. As someone who has suffered severe depression for many years, this game actually managed to break through my emotional barrier and make me feel something for the characters and feel hopeful.”
“This game was so wholesome and left me in tears of joy, sadness, and pure warmth in my heart!”
“Mr. Saitou is a wonderfully charming story-based game full of wonder and whimsy that is life-affirming and will leave you uplifted, featuring incredible pixel art and an exceptional soundtrack. It has a touching story filled with hope and positive messages while dealing with heavier topics in a subtle and respectful manner.”
- humor54 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Mr. Saitou" is widely praised for its quirky, absurd dialogue and heartwarming moments, blending lightheartedness with deeper themes. Players appreciate the game's ability to balance funny, memorable characters and situations with emotional undertones, creating a charming experience that elicits genuine laughter. Overall, the game is described as a delightful mix of humor, cute art, and engaging storytelling, making it a joy to play.
“The script was hilarious and you can really feel the passion put into this little piece.”
“Fantastically quirky and hilariously absurd dialogue.”
“The whole game is a joy to experience; I was grinning like a maniac for most of it and several times had me laughing out loud.”
- graphics31 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and cute art style, which evokes a nostalgic feel reminiscent of retro pixel art while incorporating modern touches. Players appreciate the stunning visuals and attention to detail, which enhance the overall experience and emotional impact of the story. The combination of beautiful artwork and a captivating soundtrack creates a memorable ambiance that resonates with players.
“Stunning visuals.”
“Despite the story and puzzles for the game being quite simple, it still leaves a very memorable impact on the player because of its stunning visuals and extremely lovable characters!”
“Beautiful and funny little game with outstanding graphics and such love and attention to detail.”
“The game doesn't stand alone on its aesthetics, though.”
“I have no qualms about the visual art style, it's retro pixel art reminiscent of the 16-bit era (with a modern touch).”
“The artwork and music is always so colorful, happy, and bubbly.”
- gameplay14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Mr. Saitou" is straightforward and easy to grasp, typically lasting around 2-3 hours, with simple mechanics and puzzles that prioritize narrative over complexity. While it may not offer extensive side quests or challenging gameplay, it compensates with a heartwarming story, charming characters, and a delightful soundtrack, making it a recommended experience for those who appreciate narrative-driven games. Overall, the game is described as a whimsical adventure that effectively conveys deeper themes through its engaging storytelling.
“The foundations of RPG Maker show here as everything gameplay-wise is easy to pick up.”
“The gameplay is very simple, but if you love a good narrative, I highly recommend this game.”
“Don't expect a whole lot of gameplay - the puzzles are stupendously easy - but instead, expect to go on a heartwarming journey with your everyday guy, who manages to rediscover that the world can be full of wonder.”
“Despite the price, it has a maximum of 2 hours of gameplay.”
“It's not a game that is going to 'wow' you with gameplay and mechanics, as everything is very basic and easy to learn.”
“Don't expect a whole lot of gameplay - the puzzles are stupendously easy.”
- character development5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by its adorable character designs and relatable struggles, which resonate with players. While the game successfully balances humor and heartfelt moments, some reviewers feel it falls short in pacing and depth, preventing a full recommendation at full price. Overall, the charming visuals and engaging cutscenes contribute positively to the character experience.
“The character designs are really cute and they struggle with oh so painfully relatable hardships.”
“Amazing little game that hits all of the notes I love; it's hilarious and heartfelt, has fantastic character designs, an absolutely banging soundtrack, and pivots from silly to serious so hard you'll get whiplash.”
“Graphics/sound: 10/10 - as with Rakuen, another exceptional job with sprites, character designs, and also cutscenes (yes, there are a couple major cutscenes in this one).”
“Don't get me wrong, I definitely do like this game, and it does have its charm, but in its current state I cannot really give it a full recommendation at full price as I feel like it fell short in just a few areas in terms of character development and pacing.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by its cute and relaxing vibe, enhanced by lovely music and charming characters. Players appreciate the unique moments created through engaging conversations and atmospheric exploration, which collectively elevate the storytelling experience.
“A cute, relaxing game - with a wonderful atmosphere, a short but lovely story, relaxing music, and lovable characters.”
“Each moment is unique and interesting, whether it's snappy conversations with wacky characters, atmospheric exploration, or even math.”
“The music and atmosphere of the game bring the story to another level.”
- stability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game demonstrates strong stability, with users reporting smooth performance, including compatibility with the Steam Deck.
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches.”
“I appreciate how stable the performance is, even during intense gameplay.”
“Also runs great on Steam Deck!”
