Orogenesis
- May 17, 2018
- Samu
In "Orogenesis," players assume the role of DUDE, on a quest with friends Pipe and Tea to gather four Genesis Orbs and uncover the mountain's secrets. The game features a massive tiled overworld reminiscent of classic Zelda titles, with turn-based combat and retro-style art. Explore dungeons, complete side-quests, and confront hidden evils in this game of discovery and adventure.
Reviews
- The game features unique and visually appealing graphics, with a distinct art style that captures a retro feel.
- The story is filled with interesting characters and lore, providing a compelling narrative experience.
- The music is well-composed and enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.
- The combat system is simplistic and can become tedious, lacking depth and strategic elements.
- There are significant bugs and softlock issues that hinder gameplay, with some remaining unresolved for years.
- The story feels linear and underdeveloped, with a lack of meaningful interactions and character development.
- story15 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its compelling worldbuilding and unique characters, while others find it simplistic and unoriginal, often comparing it unfavorably to previous works by the developer. While the narrative offers a blend of lighthearted adventure and deeper lore, it is criticized for being linear and lacking in depth, with sparse dialogue and a standard fantasy plot. Overall, the game's visuals and soundtrack are praised, but they do not fully compensate for the shortcomings in storytelling.
“Short, fun game focused primarily on story, making it an entertaining RPG since there isn't a lot of grinding.”
“The first half of the story is about a wholesome adventure about the boys going to get some orbs and meeting some friendly faces along the way, but as it progresses, it gets more serious and drops lots of deep lore.”
“The story was enjoyable, filled with unique and fun characters that were a joy to explore, along with the addition of recurring characters from Samu's previous projects, which is a nice little detail for real fans.”
“The story is simplistic and bland.”
“This was well below what Samu can do with a plot and overall design.”
“Story's standard fantasy fare and dialogue is sparse.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game evoke a nostalgic Game Boy aesthetic, reminiscent of classic Zelda titles, featuring unique and varied artwork alongside quirky NPC designs. While some reviewers note a lack of creativity in certain aspects, the overall visual presentation is praised for its pleasing retro style and beautiful surreal elements, complemented by good music and enemy design.
“The aesthetics of the game are very pleasing to the eyes and ears.”
“I love the game's art style, which captures the classic old-school retro feel of Game Boy consoles with a limited color palette.”
“+ Gorgeous graphics and beautiful surreal style.”
“Graphics are very reminiscent of a Zelda Game Boy game with the usual weird NPC designs, although they're somewhat less creative this time.”
“Generally, these sorts of games offer an interesting story that's different from more established developers, but it seems like they used up all their creativity with the visuals.”
“The artwork is unique and varied, but the story turns out to be a bit more unoriginal than you'd expect; however, it's still neat.”
- music7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and enjoyment, with standout tracks that enhance the overall experience. While some players find the soundtrack memorable, others feel it lacks distinctiveness beyond a few highlights. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, complementing its art and design.
“The music was very good, which is something else his works are known for.”
“Furthermore, the game's music is boppin'.”
“Lacks a little bit of story but the art and soundtrack make this game more than enjoyable.”
“The music does its job fairly well; none of the tracks are bad, but they are also not very memorable to me, excluding the theme that plays for the witch who brews mana-increasing potions in the first town.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game minimizes grinding, focusing instead on story and strategic resource management, as players earn money rather than experience from battles. While some find the lack of grinding refreshing, others feel that the combat can be tedious and largely pointless. Overall, the game offers a unique approach to RPG mechanics by reducing the emphasis on traditional grinding.
“I mean, we all know what to expect from an RPG Maker game, but this game manages to become more tedious than average - even with zero grinding involved.”
“Samu's games do not rely on grinding in order to defeat tough enemies; there are a limited number of enemies you can face and you get no experience from fights, only money, which means spending your funds wisely is a major part of the game.”
“Grinding and mostly pointless combat.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally considered functional for an RPG Maker title, providing a satisfactory experience without innovating or redefining the genre. Players are primarily drawn to the compelling story and worldbuilding, while the visual and auditory aesthetics enhance the overall experience. However, the gameplay may not appeal to everyone, and potential players should assess their interest based on initial impressions.
“Despite the rumors about the developer, if you can separate the art from the artist, they're great games with distinct visual designs, great worldbuilding, and the gameplay is at least okay for an RPG Maker game. It's not breaking any barriers or redefining RPG Maker combat, but it works. Ultimately, you play for the story and the world with games like this, and they're both pretty compelling. It's not for everyone, but you can use your eyes; if you think from a glance you'd like this, then you might. If you think you might not, then you probably wouldn't.”
“Gameplay aside, the aesthetics of the game are very much pleasing to the eyes and ears.”
“The gameplay feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I found the controls to be clunky and unresponsive, which detracted from the overall experience.”
“The pacing of the gameplay is off, leading to frustrating moments that break immersion.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is perceived as overly forced and attempts to blend edgy jokes with comedy, often resulting in a cringe-worthy experience. Some users find certain elements amusing, but others criticize the inclusion of offensive stereotypes, suggesting that the humor misses the mark.
“Pretty epic funny haha”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received mixed feedback, with some users criticizing the inclusion of a racially insensitive character design that feels out of place in the fantasy setting. However, the overall aesthetic of the overworld, characterized by distinct themes and a blend of cute and morbid elements, has been appreciated.
“I'm also really not down with a character design that makes no sense in a fantasy world like this.”
“Each part of the overworld has a distinct color that gives it a theme and identity, while the world and character design is cute and morbid.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Overall, while users report encountering some minor bugs and glitches, none are considered severe, indicating a generally stable experience.
“You might encounter other minor bugs and glitches, but none of them are as severe.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I experienced constant frame drops and stuttering, which ruined the overall experience.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game transitions from a lighthearted adventure filled with camaraderie to a deeper, more serious narrative that reveals significant lore, enhancing the overall emotional impact as the story unfolds.
“The first half of the story is about a wholesome adventure with friends going to collect orbs and meeting friendly faces along the way, but as it progresses, it becomes more serious and reveals a lot of deep lore.”
“The emotional depth of the characters really pulls you in, making you feel their struggles and triumphs throughout the journey.”
“I was genuinely moved by the story's twists and turns; it beautifully captures the essence of friendship and sacrifice.”