Of Blades & Tails

82%
Game Brain Score Based on 128 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Of Blades & Tails Game Cover
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"Of Blades & Tails" is a turn-based RPG inspired by classic Hack & Slays and games like Tales of Maj'Eyal or Stoneshard. As Reik, a fox tribe member, you embark on a quest to save the realm from evil. Gain experience, unlock new abilities, and navigate through different animal tribes while improving your equipment and forming alliances or avoiding enemies. The game features accessible and entertaining action-RPG gameplay with no permadeath, and its lore is inspired by the classic Point & Click Adventure Inherit the Earth.

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Reviews

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 128 reviews
story5 positive mentions
grinding10 negative mentions
  • The game features a solid tactical combat system with a variety of viable builds and character customization options, allowing players to play in their preferred style.
  • The art style and character design are charming, complemented by a pleasant soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • Exploration is rewarding, with numerous secrets and treasures to discover, making the world feel alive and engaging.
  • Combat can feel unbalanced and tedious, especially when facing multiple enemies, leading to a frustrating experience for players.
  • The game suffers from a lack of variety in enemy types and repetitive gameplay, which can diminish the overall enjoyment over time.
  • There are significant issues with itemization and progression, including confusing mechanics and limited inventory management, which can hinder the gameplay experience.
  • story44 mentions

    The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it generic and lacking depth, primarily consisting of repetitive quests that lead players from one town to another. While the setting and character design are appreciated, many feel that the narrative lacks meaningful progression and connection, with NPCs serving mainly as quest dispensers. However, there are positive notes about the intriguing plot and exploration elements, suggesting potential for a more engaging story in future updates or sequels.

    • “The story is explicitly inspired by the classic point-and-click adventure 'Inherit the Earth', set in a post-human world of animal folk.”
    • “I'm invested in the story and loving what I've seen so far; can't wait to see where the game goes from here!”
    • “The ambient sounds and music for the game are great and set the mood very nicely, and the side quests and NPC dialog push you to explore the world and make the game feel more alive and active outside the zone you're currently in.”
    • “The main quest sends you along this clear, literal road from point A to B to C as various unhelpful people tell you 'go meet the next guys'.”
    • “There are no factions with their own storylines, as in other games, except two very short guild sequences.”
    • “The intro and final quest imply you're going to be doing something involving ancient humanity, but the final boss was not well explained or connected to anything.”
  • gameplay27 mentions

    Quasimorph features complex character building and turn-based gameplay that emphasizes strategic decision-making, with a focus on exploration and unique item discovery. While the mechanics are accessible for beginners, the interface can hinder gameplay visibility, and the open-world experience is somewhat limited by difficulty levels. Overall, the game combines engaging combat with tactical depth, rewarding players for mastering both their abilities and enemy patterns.

    • “Quasimorph is another example of complicated character building, loadout, inventory management, and turn-based gameplay where the turn bears substantial weight.”
    • “You get a simple mechanics but complex turn-based combat in which you will constantly use potions and other consumables; not all games can boast of this.”
    • “The mechanics are simple and easy to pick up, but the tools you're given to manipulate those mechanics to your advantage add a level of tactics to combat, heavily rewarding players for understanding both their own skills and the enemy's.”
    • “But game and upgrade mechanics aside, my biggest gripe with this game lies in its interface.”
    • “The ability to open massive side panels that cover over a third of the gameplay screen, and completely obscure important gameplay if you happen to be standing near the edge of the map.”
    • “Another problem is that the open-world gameplay is limited by difficulty level.”
  • music17 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, featuring a mix of stock tracks that are pleasant and memorable, enhancing the overall atmosphere with high-quality pixel art. While the battle theme is criticized for being overused and interrupting the background music, players appreciate the dynamic and engaging soundtrack that complements various environments. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's immersive experience, with many looking forward to future updates.

    • “The local locations are incredibly comfortable and beautiful thanks to high-quality pixel art, and all this beauty is complemented by pleasant music that will never get boring.”
    • “The ambient sounds and music for the game are great and set the mood very nicely, and the side quests and NPC dialog push you to explore the world and make the game feel more alive and active outside the zone you're currently in.”
    • “Hearing the music and watching the main screen landscape already absorbs you into the game’s atmosphere.”
    • “The one battle theme is overused and because it so frequently interrupts the background songs and makes them start over, I didn't fully appreciate some of the others until I happened to get some peaceful minutes and finally learned there's a 'battle music' toggle in the options menu.”
    • “The one battle theme is overused and because it so frequently interrupts the background songs and makes them start over, I didn't fully appreciate some of the others until I happened to get some peaceful minutes and finally learned there's a 'battle music' toggle in the options menu.”
    • “Music is all stock, but it’s fine – some tracks are even memorable.”
  • graphics17 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming and simplistic 2D pixel art style that effectively supports its exploration and combat focus. While some players appreciate the cute aesthetic and world-building elements, others note the lack of animation and graphical settings options. Overall, the art style is well-received, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere and engagement.

    • “I like the artwork quite a bit, and it has some nice world building.”
    • “The charming art style makes for a beautiful environment to explore, with sound design that really helps bring the world to life around you whether you're taking a relaxing stroll through the woods or cautiously checking around every corner of a cave.”
    • “The graphics are simple in that there's very little animation; the hero bobs like a paper cutout.”
    • “As of this review, there isn't a way to lower graphical settings like particle effects and colored lighting toggles and such.”
    • “Graphics are simplistic but cute, easily conveying a variety of bandits, bugs, and botanical baddies to sling arrows and spells at, or to rush up to in order to slash or bash.”
  • grinding10 mentions

    Reviews highlight a mixed experience with grinding in the game. While some players find it tedious, repetitive, and frustrating, others appreciate the balance of exploration and quests that mitigate the grind. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a significant but polarizing element, with some players feeling it detracts from the enjoyment while others find it manageable.

    • “It's bland, boring, and grindy, repetitive in a frustrating way.”
    • “Combat is severely unbalanced and tedious, and it's the only real thing to do (other than the really simple sokoban level).”
    • “Everything is way too tedious and gradual, over the 'challenging' threshold and into the 'I'm mad at you for playing this' basement.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive music and visually appealing landscapes, creating a charming and positive RPG setting. Players feel as though they are embarking on a real-life adventure, contrasting sharply with darker, more violent themes found in other games.

    • “Hearing the music and watching the main screen landscape already absorbs you into the game’s atmosphere.”
    • “When you enter the game, you find a unique RPG with a lovely setting and a positive atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is reminiscent of an adventure you would want to experience in real life, rather than a gory mess.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization model is praised for being straightforward and fair, featuring a one-time payment that offers good value for the quality of content provided. Unlike many competitors, it avoids microtransactions, pay-to-win mechanics, and NFTs, leading users to view it as a refreshing alternative in the gaming market.

    • “It's just a cash grab when you compare it side by side with any of its peers.”
    • “There is just a one-time payment with a very decent price compared to the included quality content, no microtransactions, no pay-to-win, no NFTs, and all the other nonsense.”
  • humor2 mentions

    Players find the humor in the game to be clever and situational, particularly enjoying the absurdity of mundane quests, such as fetching basic healing herbs for experience points. This blend of irony and lightheartedness adds a comedic layer to the gameplay experience.

    • “The humor in this game is spot on, especially when you visit a city and receive quests like 'go and fetch me 4 basic healing herbs for some XP.'”
    • “The comedic elements really shine through in the dialogue and quest descriptions.”
    • “I love how the game incorporates humor into its quests, making even mundane tasks feel entertaining.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Reviewers appreciate the character design, highlighting it as a strong point in the game's overall character development.

  • stability1 mentions

    Users report significant stability issues, including incomplete item collection for quests, visual glitches, and imbalanced damage mechanics, which detract from the overall gameplay experience.

    • “I had to vacuum clean both of the dungeons several times, and in the end, I was left with only half of the items needed for quest completion. Plus, there were visual glitches and some strange damage balance issues that people are reporting.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress without losing significant progress.”
    • “I encountered numerous bugs that disrupted my gameplay experience, including freezing and unexpected errors.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    Users have suggested several quality of life improvements for optimization, including a re-centering camera feature for mouse control, enhancements to the path-finding algorithm, and advanced difficulty mechanics.

    • “I've submitted some items for quality of life improvements, like re-centering the camera feature on the mouse, optimizations in the pathfinding algorithm, and some suggestions for advanced difficulty mechanics.”
    • “I've submitted some items for quality of life improvements, like a re-centering camera feature on the mouse, optimizations in the pathfinding algorithm, and some suggestions for advanced difficulty mechanics.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

39hMedian play time
28hAverage play time
5-50hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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