Pendula Swing: The Complete Journey
- March 7, 2020
- Valiant Game Studio
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam"Pendula Swing: The Complete Journey" is an episodic adventure game with a story inspired by swinging 1920s America, but set in a fantasy world. Play as Brialynne, a fallen hero on a quest to retrieve her lost sword, meeting diverse characters and making choices that impact the world. This complete edition includes all 5 episodes, with unique challenges, branching dialogues, and professional voice acting.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features excellent worldbuilding and a unique 1920s fantasy atmosphere that immerses players in a diverse and socially relevant narrative.
- The music and art design are above average, enhancing the overall experience and complementing the game's themes.
- The story explores important social issues and character diversity, providing a fresh take on traditional fantasy tropes.
- The gameplay experience is marred by numerous bugs, including disappearing keys and unresponsive NPCs, which can hinder progress and enjoyment.
- Quest lines are often too straightforward and repetitive, leading to a lack of engagement and excitement during gameplay.
- The dialogue can feel shallow and scripted, detracting from character development and making interactions less meaningful.
- story37 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it dull, repetitive, and plagued by bugs that hinder quest progression. While the main narrative and character development are appreciated for their inclusivity and emotional depth, many feel that the quest structure is too linear and lacks meaningful choices. Overall, while some players enjoyed the story and its atmosphere, others were left wanting more depth and resolution in both the main and side quests.
“The game does a pretty great job of letting you shape the main character's personality, and the romances are a cute and completely optional addition that don't interfere with the main story.”
“This game, put simply, has some of the most heart I have ever encountered in a story-driven game.”
“If you enjoy a powerful story that explores 'being different' from most games in the genre, then by all means, don't miss this gem.”
“The quest lines are way too straightforward, repetitive, and plain.”
“Boring and illogical story with bland characters that have no personality.”
“There were multiple occasions where I had quests stuck on my list that were already completed, as well as a few times where talking to characters out of the intended order seemed to prematurely close out dialogue lines that were critical to completing side quests.”
- music8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game is consistently praised for enhancing the overall atmosphere, with a lovely jazzy soundtrack that complements the beautiful graphics and world-building. Reviewers highlight the music's role in immersing players in the story, making it a significant aspect of the game's appeal. While some critiques focus on character design and narrative, the musical score remains a standout feature that enriches the gaming experience.
“I'd like to give it a recommendation because I really like the concept of being a retired female hero; also, the world-building and the music are above average.”
“The graphics are beautiful, the music is lovely, and the characters are interesting.”
“Visually speaking, the world looks wonderful, cozy, and lushly lit, and the jazzy soundtrack makes the game a joy to listen to as well.”
“The music feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“While the visuals are stunning, the soundtrack doesn't match the game's atmosphere and can be quite jarring.”
“The music is forgettable and doesn't leave a lasting impression, which is disappointing for a game with such a rich world.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent bugs that can hinder progress, such as disappearing objects and unresponsive NPCs. While some players report minor glitches, others experience more severe problems that affect gameplay and achievement completion. Overall, the game's stability is a major concern, with many unresolved issues and a lack of save options exacerbating the situation.
“This game is very buggy to the point that important objects suddenly disappear, NPCs repeat themselves or do not talk at all, making it impossible to continue and to get all the achievements.”
“Glitches (some of which have been known about for years without being resolved), and no ability to save your game or have separate saves to protect against glitches.”
“I like the idea, and I think I would enjoy the game if it weren't for the frequent glitches.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its exceptional worldbuilding, effectively blending 1920s aesthetics with fantasy elements. Reviewers highlight the immersive experience created by the cozy exploration of a fictional town reminiscent of 1920s New York, complemented by a lovely soundtrack that enhances the storytelling.
“Great worldbuilding and 1920's atmosphere.”
“Pendula Swing weaves together three different layers: the basic tropes and stereotypes reflect fantasy, the atmosphere is set in the 20s, whilst the story centers on very current topics and questions.”
“Great atmosphere in this cozy exploration of the highs and lows of a fictional fantasy town inspired by 20s New York.”
“The atmosphere feels disjointed, with the blend of fantasy tropes and 1920s setting not coming together cohesively.”
“While the game attempts to tackle current topics, the overall ambiance lacks depth and fails to immerse the player.”
“The setting is visually appealing, but the atmosphere feels hollow and fails to evoke any real emotional response.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The gameplay features standard RPG mechanics with a focus on questing, where players frequently interact with various characters who offer errands. While there are minor bugs and typos present, they do not significantly impact the overall experience.
“Elven flappers, goblin agitators, dwarven mechanics, orc singers, and human tradesmen add a unique flavor to the gameplay.”
“The gameplay is standard RPG quests, where every second character you meet has errands for you to run.”
“There are a few minor bugs and typos here and there, but nothing that affects gameplay.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The graphics are a mix of primitive 2.5D visuals that can be demanding on system resources, yet they are complemented by beautiful aesthetics and engaging character designs, alongside a lovely musical score.
“The graphics are beautiful, the music is lovely, the characters are interesting.”
“Rather primitive 2.5D graphics that made my computer work harder than some of the newest AAA games.”
“The graphics look outdated and lack the polish expected from modern titles.”
“Textures are low resolution and the overall art style feels uninspired.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted to be genuinely funny, although it is sometimes overshadowed by bugs that can detract from the experience.
“It's actually kind of hilarious, but still a bug.”
“The humor in this game is top-notch, making even the most mundane tasks entertaining.”
“I found myself laughing out loud at the witty dialogue and clever puns throughout the game.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the replayability of the game due to its multiple subplots that can change based on player choices, encouraging them to explore different outcomes in subsequent playthroughs.
“Many subplots can take different turns depending on your choices, so there is a significant level of replayability.”
“Many subplots can take different turns depending on your choices, so there is some level of replayability there.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted to be inconsistent, as players often encounter characters who are initially engaging but are then abandoned after their quests, leading to a lack of meaningful follow-up or growth in relationships.
“I've already mentioned the relationship and character development, but frequently, you meet characters and then never go back to them once your quest with them is done.”
“The character development feels shallow; many characters are introduced but lack depth and meaningful interactions.”
“I was disappointed by how quickly characters are forgotten after their initial story arc, leaving little room for growth or connection.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be a deeply emotional experience, characterized by its wholesome and beautiful elements that resonate with them on a personal level.
“This game is wonderful, wholesome, and beautiful.”
“The emotional depth of the characters truly resonated with me.”
“I felt a profound connection to the story that left me in tears.”
