Nadia Was Here

67%
Game Brain Score Based on 29 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Nadia Was Here Game Cover
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"Nadia Was Here" is a pixel art adventure game with strategic combat. You play as Nadia, a young thief who discovers her powers in a world on the brink of destruction. Accompany Nadia on her journey to uncover the truth behind her abilities and save her world from chaos. Engage in turn-based battles, solve puzzles, and form bonds with unique characters along the way.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

67%
Audience ScoreBased on 29 reviews
story positive mentions
grinding negative mentions
  • The game features a unique and innovative battle system that combines real-time elements with strategic lane management, making combat feel engaging and dynamic.
  • The puzzles are well-designed and varied, providing a satisfying challenge without becoming frustrating, and they often require creative thinking to solve.
  • The characters are well-developed with distinct personalities, and the humor in the dialogue adds to the overall enjoyment of the game.
  • The game can feel repetitive and stretched out at times, leading to moments of boredom during gameplay.
  • Some players found the story and dialogue to be fairly standard and not particularly engaging, which detracted from the overall experience.
  • There are issues with the game's audio and control mechanics, including jarring sound effects and a lack of customization options for controls.
  • story19 mentions

    The game's story is generally well-received, featuring engaging characters and a satisfying conclusion that deviates from typical tropes. While some players find the narrative and dialogue to be simple or not particularly captivating, others appreciate its depth and the intriguing world it creates. Overall, the story complements the gameplay, making it a solid experience, though it may not be the primary draw for all players.

    • “An interesting story with a satisfying conclusion that departs from the usual 'the chosen kids save the world' tropes combined with great puzzle design makes this a solid recommendation.”
    • “The world, its citizens, and the story are all so intriguing that it kept me invested and wanting to learn more as I progressed.”
    • “The story and characters had depth and were engaging.”
    • “If you're playing this game, it's a lot more for the gameplay and less the story.”
    • “Ultimately I think folks who are interested in this game should try the demo with the combat - if it speaks to you, then grab it, if it doesn't, then it doesn't look like there's a lot else that really goes too far outside the box here, as far as I can tell from my (relatively short) playtime, other reviews, etc. The dialogue and story didn't exactly draw me in, but maybe it needed some more playtime for that. But even still, the voice of the writing based on the initial characters and such didn't lead me to believe that'd be the case.”
    • “The story is understated, but very sweet.”
  • gameplay14 mentions

    The gameplay is a refreshing take on classic turn-based mechanics, featuring well-designed puzzles and an innovative combat system that blends elements of strategy and challenge. Players appreciate the engaging worldbuilding and the balance between difficulty and accessibility, with generous respawn options that mitigate frustration. Overall, the game emphasizes puzzle-solving in both dungeons and battles, making it a standout experience for those seeking a unique RPG adventure.

    • “Well-designed puzzles, interesting fight mechanics, and lovely worldbuilding.”
    • “Combat is quick and light while still challenging -- you’ll probably die a lot (although luckily not too punishing, as respawns are generous due to autosaving), and there are some interesting and not often seen mechanics at play that turn the battles into something more similar to a combat-puzzle than a typical RPG gear/level check.”
    • “Nadia Was Here has two major gameplay features: the dungeons and the combat, which are both puzzle-based, in my opinion.”
    • “Then when it comes to the gameplay, there are a few small details plus a bigger one.”
    • “Nadia was here has two major gameplay features: the dungeons and the combat, which are both puzzle-based, in my opinion.”
    • “If you're playing this game, it's a lot more for the gameplay and less the story.”
  • music9 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its authentic NES-style chiptune soundtrack, which complements the retro aesthetic and enhances the overall experience. While some players found the music fitting and enjoyable, others noted that it didn't fully match the diverse tracks showcased in the trailers. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing positively to its atmosphere.

    • “The soundtrack is spot on for the authentic sound and has a unique style to the NES-styled OST.”
    • “I love the chiptune music, and something about that weird color palette just draws me in.”
    • “Great RPG with a unique ATB lane-based combat system, excellent music, plentiful dungeons with solid puzzles, and a good amount of side content.”
    • “Instead, I do not think much of the music that I was hearing was like that in the trailers (which play 3 different songs).”
    • “I bought the game over one of the trailers due to the music and the way battles looked, among some other details.”
    • “I love the chiptune music, and something about that weird color palette just draws me in.”
  • grinding7 mentions

    Overall, players appreciate the absence of grinding in the game, noting that it eliminates the tedium often associated with traditional RPGs. Instead of leveling up, the focus is on equipment and spell acquisition, which some find refreshing, while others feel that the lack of progression can lead to a sense of monotony. The combat system is described as engaging but can become tedious due to the required micromanagement.

    • “It never feels like a grind - because there is no grinding.”
    • “Then you better change your strategy because there is no grinding and no levels.”
    • “No random encounters and no grinding (there are no levels to even be gained, just equipment to sometimes steal and spells to learn).”
    • “Combat was an interesting novelty; fortunately for the game, there's no random encounters and grinding to do because the novelty wore thin fast due to the amount of micromanaging needed.”
    • “At the end of each area, they felt tedious to me, and I was glad when I was finally done.”
    • “The fact that Nadia the 'thief' can steal an unlimited amount of items and it never depletes during combat is pretty crazy; it's a new definition of farming, I guess.”
  • graphics4 mentions

    The graphics feature vibrant and easily readable visuals, characterized by a distinctive 8-bit pixel art style that may require some adjustment for new players. While the aesthetic appeals to fans of puzzle-driven adventure RPGs, some reviewers suggest waiting for a sale before purchasing.

    • “Great and easily readable visuals that really pop.”
    • “The graphics are quite special, and I needed the first two hours to get used to them.”
    • “The graphics and art style are very much 8-bit pixel.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is well-received, with players appreciating the distinct personalities of the characters and their unique interactions with NPCs, which contribute to an enjoyable comedic experience.

    • “I'm enjoying the characters so far; there's some good humor, and the game makes use of each one having their own niche along with different interactions with NPCs.”
    • “The humor in this game is top-notch, with clever writing that keeps me laughing throughout my playthrough.”
    • “I love how the game blends humor with gameplay, making even the most mundane tasks entertaining.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Users note that while the implementation of the action turn-based (atb) system can be chaotic, it does experience occasional freezing during actions. However, players have the option to reduce the overall speed, which can help mitigate some stability issues.

    • “The implementation of ATB can be a bit hectic, as it often freezes when taking an action, and there's also the option to reduce the overall speed by half if needed.”
    • “The game frequently crashes during critical moments, making it frustrating to progress.”
    • “I experienced numerous bugs that caused the game to freeze, disrupting the overall experience.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Users express mixed feelings about the emotional impact of the game, noting that the battle system did not meet their expectations set by the trailers, leading to a diminished emotional connection.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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