Phoenotopia: Awakening
- January 21, 2021
- Cape Cosmic
- 40h median play time
Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.
Get on SteamIn Phoenotopia: Awakening, players assume the role of Gail, a young girl tasked with protecting her village after a mysterious spaceship crash lands. Explore a vast open world, battle enemies, and solve puzzles in this action-adventure game with Metroidvania elements. Discover the truth behind the invading entities and restore peace to the world.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- Charming art style and beautiful pixel graphics that create an immersive world.
- Engaging story with well-developed characters and humorous dialogue.
- Variety of puzzles and secrets that reward exploration and clever thinking.
- Combat can feel clunky and frustrating, especially with short melee range and stamina management.
- Lack of a map or quest log makes navigation and tracking progress tedious.
- Difficulty spikes can be punishing, leading to frustration during certain boss fights.
- story357 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally well-received, characterized by charming characters, engaging dialogue, and a whimsical world that invites exploration. While some players find the main plot simplistic or lacking a strong antagonist, many appreciate the depth of world-building and the emotional resonance of side quests and character interactions. However, the absence of a quest log or map can lead to confusion and slow pacing, detracting from the overall narrative experience.
“The story and world are more fleshed out; if you're the type of person who enjoys talking with NPCs and reading descriptions, the dialogue and flavor text in this game is such fun to read.”
“The story is engaging, the art and music are beautiful, and it has a great sense of adventure.”
“The flow of the game is deeply immersive with charming characters everywhere you look, fun jokes, good wit, a staggering level of internal consistency, and a story that's always going in interesting directions.”
“The story feels a little incoherent at times, but gameplay is good.”
“The main problem of the game is the combat mechanic (there are also fewer save points than necessary in the castle, but let's talk about what bothered me the most - I think that for the advancing of this story, combat shouldn't even exist).”
“The story was interesting but a bit lackluster and anti-climactic.”
- music284 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its variety, emotional depth, and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere. Tracks range from catchy and upbeat to somber and reflective, effectively complementing the game's environments and narrative. While some players noted occasional issues with abrupt silence or repetitive themes, the majority found the soundtrack to be a standout feature, often describing it as phenomenal and memorable.
“The music is absolutely amazing.”
“The soundtrack is beautiful, the story is enthralling, and the gameplay is satisfying.”
“The music is catchy, memorable, and emotional.”
“Sometimes the music stops suddenly, just like that, for many seconds... don't know if it's a bug or supposed to happen.”
“The background music is sometimes just dead silent.”
“You spend so much time in the city that you get sick of hearing the same music and sick of seeing the same motif.”
- gameplay212 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its challenging mechanics, intricate puzzles, and engaging exploration, while others criticize its clunky controls, repetitive combat, and punishing difficulty spikes. Many reviews highlight the charming pixel art and music, but note that the combat system can feel simplistic and frustrating, particularly due to poorly implemented mechanics like stamina management. Overall, while the game offers a rewarding experience for those willing to invest time in mastering its systems, it may not appeal to everyone due to its steep learning curve and occasional design flaws.
“The gameplay is simply fantastic; there are tons of smart interactions in the game design, and the puzzles really test your spatial perception: whether it's activating a switch by angling your slingshot the right way, using projectiles to knock moonstones off their platform, piling up boxes and bombs to gain barely enough height to reach a platform, or completing parkour sections full of arrow traps with well-synchronized jumps.”
“The worldbuilding and aesthetics of the game are charming and memorable; the gameplay combines platforming and exploration with puzzles and secrets beautifully, and the combat system takes some getting used to but it has an incredible amount of creative expression and depth later on.”
“This game sets a really high bar for indie games; the story, gameplay, and mechanics come together to deliver an experience that is heartwarming, challenging without being stressful, and a lot of fun overall.”
“Game has all the potential of being a solid game, but is let down by repetitive, uninteresting enemies, combat and puzzles, barely passable controls and platforming mechanics, and a distinct lack of basic quality of life features like being able to travel from one side of a town to the other at any decent speed without leaving the town and just going to the other entrance.”
“Controls are janky, floaty, and frustrating, but worst of all is that it's one of those games that makes you play tedious little collection, cooking, farming, and fetch minigames, and the reward is a little bit of gameplay of the platform adventure game that you actually want to play.”
“The gameplay is not good enough to sustain this amount of content.”
- graphics133 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming pixel art style, vibrant colors, and smooth animations, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances exploration and storytelling. Many reviewers highlight the attention to detail in the environments and the overall aesthetic appeal, comparing it favorably to classic titles like The Legend of Zelda. However, some critiques mention that while the visuals are appealing, they may not be as polished in certain areas, and the simplistic art style can occasionally obscure gameplay elements.
“The visuals boast simple yet expressive sprites and incredible backgrounds with notably high attention to detail in the environments, and the music is a standout.”
“The artwork is unique, vibrant, and super charming with each and every area being unique and distinct, accompanied by music that is downright mouthwatering, some of the best I've ever heard in a game.”
“The graphics are lovingly polished low-res pixel art in a style that's both cute and easy to read.”
“The graphics/pixel art are quite lazy.”
“Said characters, and the world they inhabit, are rendered in a somewhat 'blobby' pixel art style, which limits the amount of inherent detail present in any particular sprite or setting and can occasionally make background and foreground elements difficult to parse.”
“Frustration with this just barely exceeds my appreciation for the artwork and story writing.”
- humor53 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its creativity and charm, with witty and engaging dialogue from NPCs that often elicits genuine laughter. Players appreciate the lighthearted tone and the clever writing, which enhances the overall experience without overshadowing the main storyline. The combination of funny animations, endearing characters, and humorous interactions contributes significantly to the game's appeal, making it a standout feature for many reviewers.
“Every NPC you come across either gives a hint towards quests/combat, interesting lore about the world, or well-written and funny dialogue.”
“The humor in this game is on point, and the NPC dialogues are fun and provide necessary information; these minor details show that this game took years to craft.”
“I literally fell out of my chair on more than one occasion laughing at some of the jokes that got thrown my way.”
- grinding45 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for being tedious and frustrating, with players noting that the combat and various minigames feel more like chores than enjoyable challenges. Many reviews highlight the excessive need for grinding coins and items, which detracts from the overall experience and makes progression feel slow and unfulfilling. While some players appreciate the exploration elements, the overwhelming sentiment is that the grinding mechanics are poorly designed and detract significantly from the game's enjoyment.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“It can be a bit grindy sometimes.”
“The hitbox is terrible and because the controls are so clunky and everything you want to do is so tedious, it's a real chore.”
“Controls are janky, floaty, and frustrating, but worst of all is that it's one of those games that makes you play tedious little collection/cooking/farming/fetch minigames, and the reward is a little bit of gameplay of the platform adventure game that you actually want to play.”
“It's slow, tedious, limp, and stays that way - it's the first 30 minutes of every mediocre metroidvania when you have 0% of your arsenal, except that it never gets any better over the course of 6 hours.”
- atmosphere23 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its immersive and engaging qualities, enhanced by a fitting soundtrack and visually rich environments. Reviewers highlight the diverse atmospheres across different locations, from bustling towns to serene landscapes, creating a compelling experience that evokes a range of emotions. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered one of its standout features, drawing comparisons to beloved titles like Okami and Ori.
“Exploring is always satisfying and the environments are dripping with an unmatched atmosphere through its soundtrack and visuals.”
“Whether lighthearted, cheery, wacky, intense, creepy, or somber, the music and sound effects do a great job setting the atmosphere.”
“If you're here for the atmosphere, you won't be disappointed.”
“From the bustling town of Daea to the incredibly relaxing Moonlight Ravine, this game gets atmosphere down so well that it joined the ranks of Okami and the Ori games to get me to genuinely tear up purely off of the atmosphere that the graphics and music provided.”
“Out on the periphery, the grueling portions of the journey are further softened by Phoenotopia's uniquely inviting vibe; while many games of this ilk tend to revel in their cruelty, constructing worlds full to bursting with oppressive and foreboding atmosphere, the developer here chose to buck the trend and keep the overall mood light, humorous, and cartoonishly charming.”
- emotional23 mentions
- 96 % positive mentions
- -9 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its wholesome and touching story, complemented by excellent world-building, character design, and a memorable soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the balance of lighthearted moments with darker themes, creating a rich emotional investment in the narrative and characters. While some find the gameplay repetitive, the heartfelt dialogues and impactful story elements leave a lasting impression, making it a standout title in the indie game scene.
“The mood is often lighthearted and wholesome, but it has a bit of a dark side too, especially when you start learning about what happened in the past.”
“Not to mention that the dialogues and events outside the story bits only added to the emotional investment in the world itself and the characters.”
“The ending credits almost made me cry and I can't wait for the next game!!!”
“The story lacks depth and fails to evoke any real emotions.”
“I felt no connection to the characters or their struggles.”
“The emotional moments felt forced and unconvincing.”
- stability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game performs well on the Steam Deck, requiring only a simple aspect ratio adjustment in the settings. However, it suffers from significant bugs that can render it unplayable for some users.
“It runs great on Steam Deck; just needs an aspect ratio adjustment, which is easily accessible through the game's settings.”
“The game maintains a steady frame rate, providing a smooth experience even during intense action sequences.”
“I haven't encountered any crashes or bugs, making my gameplay experience incredibly stable and enjoyable.”
“It is buggy to the point of being unplayable.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it impossible to progress.”
“I experienced constant lag and glitches that ruined the experience.”
- character development2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is praised for its appealing presentation, including beautiful character designs and animations. Reviewers highlight a touching story that enhances the overall experience, complemented by well-crafted world design and engaging challenges.
“The character development is beautifully presented, with lovely designs and impressive animation work.”
“The touching story, combined with the world design and character design, creates a deeply engaging experience.”
“The character development is enhanced by the music, challenges, and secrets that enrich the overall narrative.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight the game's strong replayability and potential for further development, suggesting that players can enjoy multiple playthroughs and new experiences.
“I would say the game has a lot of replayability and development potential.”
“The variety of choices and outcomes keeps me coming back for more.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh, thanks to the dynamic events and character interactions.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy has been criticized for its poor sponsorship and advertising efforts, which have contributed to a lack of visibility and awareness for the game.
“The reason it hasn't been heard of that much is because of its poor sponsorship and advertisement.”
“The monetization model feels exploitative, pushing players to spend money to enjoy the game fully.”
“I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to progress without spending.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players note that mastering combat and movement significantly enhances performance in both boss fights and parkour challenges, indicating that optimization in gameplay mechanics is crucial for success.
“Mastering both the combat and movement gives you a huge boost in performance when tackling bosses and parkour.”
“The optimization of skills and abilities allows for a seamless gameplay experience, enhancing both strategy and execution.”
“Fine-tuning your character's loadout can significantly improve your efficiency in missions and challenges.”
