Potato Flowers in Full Bloom
- March 10, 2022
- Pon Pon Games
Get on Steam"Potato Flowers in Full Bloom" is a narrative-driven visual novel centered around the theme of memory loss. You play as a young woman who wakes up with no memories, trying to uncover the truth of her past and reconnect with her loved ones. The game features multiple endings based on your choices throughout the story.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- Charming and fun dungeon crawler with a lighthearted story and adorable graphics.
- Engaging combat system that requires strategic thinking and offers a variety of character customization options.
- Well-designed dungeons with thoughtful layouts, shortcuts, and a rewarding exploration experience.
- The game can feel short, leaving players wanting more content after completion.
- Some players may find the difficulty spikes frustrating, especially in certain encounters.
- The translation quality is rough in places, which can lead to confusion regarding mechanics and story elements.
- graphics35 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming and simplistic art style that evokes a comforting atmosphere, appealing to players who appreciate cute and low-poly aesthetics. While not high-powered or photorealistic, the visuals effectively convey character and emotion, enhancing the overall immersive experience. The game's diorama presentation and attention to detail in animations contribute to its engaging and heartwarming narrative.
“I love the graphics and the story; you can tell that the game was built with heart.”
“The visuals are simple, but consistently charming, and able to convey a lot of characterization with very little detail.”
“Although the game has a very simple and innocent art style, there is clearly a lot of love and care put into the world immersion and gameplay.”
“The graphical polish is sparse, the UI is often unintuitive, and there is still minor but noticeable jankiness everywhere (like the music tracks that don't quite loop).”
“Yes, it obviously isn't a high-powered, cinematic RPG with photorealistic graphics and real-time combat.”
“Graphics - not something that's often a plus in this genre - either overdone to comedy or 30 years pixelized out of date.”
- story34 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized as charming and lighthearted, with a minimalist yet poignant narrative centered around themes of rebirth and exploration in a post-apocalyptic world. While the plot is simple and often secondary to gameplay, players find it surprisingly heartfelt, with emotional moments that resonate despite the lack of complex world-building. Overall, the story adds a delightful layer to the dungeon-crawling experience, enhanced by cute visuals and engaging character interactions.
“I love the graphics and the story; you can tell that the game was built with heart.”
“The story was surprisingly heartfelt, deeper than expected for how the initial introduction seemed, though it is still a dungeon crawler focused on crawling the dungeon rather than long read-along story segments.”
“As for the story, if that matters to you, it's really heartwarming with all the pieces of the story scattered throughout the game, and it all pays off when you get to the end.”
“The story is extremely barebone - if a complex narrative or intricate world building is something you're looking for, you will not get any of that here.”
“There is a lot of story dump if you talk to the different people but most of it really isn't relevant to how you progress; it more or less just fleshes out the world you are in.”
“A straight-up dungeon crawler that lets you take a party of up to three customizable adventurers into the depths of an abandoned labyrinth in search of magically treated potato seeds that will grow in the poisonous soil of a world blasted by a fantasy apocalypse -- but the story is secondary, really.”
- gameplay29 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Potato Flowers in Full Bloom" is engaging and streamlined, featuring solid mechanics that encourage active participation rather than autopilot play. While it offers familiar turn-based dungeon crawling elements, it introduces unique features like a stamina system and enemy type weaknesses that add depth to combat. Despite some minor issues with translation and tutorial guidance, the game is praised for its charming aesthetic and thoughtful design, making it a delightful experience for fans of the genre.
“Gameplay consistently keeps ramping up through the dungeons.”
“The gameplay is solid and resists being autopiloted.”
“The combat system has some unique mechanics, notably the stamina system, that make you think about each individual round instead of just mashing attack.”
“In any case, this game doesn't break the mold in terms of mechanics, so if you're familiar with other turn-based dungeon crawlers, you'll probably find it to be more of the same, at least mechanically.”
“If you're looking for a challenge and invested gameplay, then you might be a bit disappointed.”
“Mechanically, the game is as deterministic as it gets.”
- grinding23 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 91 % negative mentions
Overall, the reviews indicate that grinding in the game is minimal and often optional, with many players appreciating the balance that allows for a fun experience without excessive time commitment. While some players noted that certain aspects of the game may require occasional grinding, particularly for character leveling or drop farming, the mechanics in place make it less tedious compared to traditional dungeon crawlers. The game encourages experimentation and offers shortcuts that alleviate the grind, making it accessible for players who prefer a more streamlined experience.
“Well balanced, no grinding, respects your time.”
“Certainly not grindy or difficult compared to the dungeon crawlers that I'm used to.”
“Extremely grindy and repetitive.”
“It seems grinding and optimizing are a must, so you may not like it if you are into more rapid games.”
“That inevitably means tons of slow grinding.”
- music13 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its charm and pleasantness, contributing to a cozy and atmospheric experience. While some players note that the soundtrack can feel repetitive and reminiscent of other games, it effectively enhances the gameplay and complements the charming aesthetic. Overall, the music is considered a strong point, adding to the nostalgic and engaging feel of the dungeon crawler.
“Apart from that, the music is nice and the atmosphere of the game is cozy and sweet :)”
“The soundtrack is great, I liked the art style, and the pacing of everything feels good.”
“I played the demo and got instantly charmed by the music, art style, and gameplay.”
“Music is pay-to-use stuff I've heard in other games before, but still very pleasant.”
“Sound and music get the job done - and that's about it.”
“The graphical polish is sparse, the UI is often unintuitive, and there is still minor but noticeable jankiness everywhere (like the music tracks that don't quite loop).”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its surprisingly heartfelt story, which, while simple, resonates deeply with players through its rewarding and heartwarming moments. Users appreciate the engaging narrative, particularly the touching scenes, such as the dark elf girl’s emotional connection to her potato seedlings. Despite its brevity, the game leaves a lasting impact, making players wish for more content to extend the experience.
“The story is not overly complex, but it's drip-fed to you in a way I found rewarding and heartwarming.”
“As for the story, if that matters to you, it's really heartwarming with all the pieces of the story that are all over the game, and it all pays off when you get to the end.”
“All in all, I felt this game was quite engaging and addictive, a cute little RPG with an aesthetically pleasing style and a heartwarming tale to tell.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by its cozy and sweet visuals and music, creating an inviting environment where even monsters appear adorable. It intentionally avoids tension, allowing players to engage with static enemies at their own pace, enhancing the overall relaxed experience.
“The music and visuals are atmospheric, and not only the characters but even the monsters look adorable.”
“The music is nice, and the atmosphere of the game is cozy and sweet.”
“It does not try to create a tense atmosphere, allowing you to choose when to interact with the static enemies on the grid.”
“It does not try to create a tense atmosphere, and thanks to all the enemies being just static elements of the grid, you choose when to interact with them.”
“The game lacks any real sense of immersion, making it difficult to feel invested in the world.”
“The overall ambiance feels flat and uninspired, failing to evoke any emotional response.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while it offers a charming experience and serves as a good entry point for newcomers, some players feel it lacks depth for repeated playthroughs. A new game+ mode could enhance longevity, but those who enjoy exploring alternative puzzle solutions may find additional value.
“All in all, this is a fun, if sometimes simple-feeling dungeon crawler with plenty of replay value, a charming story, and a nostalgia-inducing soundtrack. If you're a fan of the genre, you'll have fun, and if you're totally new to first-person dungeon crawlers, this is a great entry point with a low price that lets you explore the more 'hardcore' side of dungeon crawlers.”
“My only major complaint is that it's too short; a new game+ mode would have been appreciated just to extend the replayability a bit, because this game is too heartwarming to be over so soon.”
“Don't expect a lot of replayability unless you enjoy finding alternative solutions to puzzles you've already solved, but what's there is a great self-contained dungeon crawl.”
“My only major complaint is it's too short; a new game+ mode would have been appreciated just to extend the replayability a bit, because this game is too heartwarming to be over so soon.”
“All in all, this is a fun, if sometimes simple-feeling dungeon crawler with plenty of replay value, a charming story, and a nostalgia-inducing soundtrack. If you're a fan of the genre, you'll have fun, and if you're totally new to first-person dungeon crawlers, this is a great entry point with a low price that lets you feel out the more 'hardcore' side of dungeon crawlers.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is praised for its good performance, featuring fast load times between floors and minimal initial preload, which enhances the overall experience.
“The game offers excellent performance with fast load times between floors, making the experience seamless. The minor preload at the beginning is definitely worth it.”
“I appreciate the optimization in this game; it runs smoothly and efficiently, enhancing my overall enjoyment.”
“The optimization is impressive, resulting in quick transitions and minimal lag, which keeps the gameplay fluid and engaging.”
