Potions: A Curious Tale
- March 7, 2024
- StumblingCat
- 8h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Potions: A Curious Tale" is an adventure game where you play as Luna, a young alchemist in training. Use strategy and puzzle-solving to resolve conflicts and gather rare ingredients for potion-making. Explore seven unique biomes, discover over 100 potion combinations, and experiment with deep crafting systems. Manage resources carefully and use your environment to defeat enemies.
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Reviews
- Charming and cozy atmosphere with beautiful art and pleasant music.
- Engaging potion crafting mechanics that encourage experimentation and creativity.
- Fun and lighthearted story with references to folklore and fairy tales.
- Gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks depth in combat mechanics.
- Controls are clunky and can lead to frustration during combat and navigation.
- Level design and quest structure can be confusing, with a lack of a map or quest log.
- story125 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally described as whimsical and charming, drawing on classic fairy tales and folklore, which many players found enjoyable despite its simplicity and linearity. While some reviewers appreciated the lighthearted narrative and engaging dialogue, others criticized it for being too basic and juvenile, with repetitive fetch quests that detracted from the overall experience. Overall, the story serves as a cozy backdrop to the gameplay, appealing to those looking for a relaxing adventure, though it leaves room for deeper character development and more substantial plot elements.
“The way characters and creatures from classic tales around the world have been woven into the story is really well done and every new quest delights me with its creativity.”
“I finished the main story in about 13 hours and really enjoyed the diverse folklore and mythological references.”
“The story line so far is very cute but has the potential to tug on heart strings alongside little bits of fairy tales thrown in the mix for nostalgia but there is something new for everyone who plays this game.”
“I felt the story was just too boring and juvenile for my tastes.”
“The story is basically non-existent, which is a bit of a miss for a cozy game, especially with the user-defined tags boasting 'story rich.' I didn't have a sense of where I was progressing to, besides the consistent fetch quests I was receiving with only the barest attempt at justification.”
“The story and the characters are very shallow.”
- gameplay71 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is centered around potion crafting, ingredient gathering, and light puzzle-solving, which some players find engaging and reminiscent of classic games, while others criticize it for being repetitive and clunky. Although the mechanics allow for creativity and experimentation, many reviewers noted issues with combat and level design, leading to a mixed reception overall. While the art and story elements are appreciated, the gameplay experience can feel tedious and lacks depth, particularly in later stages.
“The core game mechanic is brewing potions, then using those potions to kill enemies and unlock new areas.”
“The gameplay loop revolves around three things: exploring the world, obtaining ingredients, and making potions.”
“It has a really fun mechanic where the player is encouraged to figure out what potions grant the best results when encountering new enemies and problems.”
“Gameplay tends to get repetitive and the level design is sometimes lacking towards the end, but the story is enjoyable enough to justify reaching the end credits.”
“Despite all that time, the gameplay is as dull as dishwater, the 2D graphics feel like relics from my childhood web browser games, and the bugs start crawling out within 30 minutes of play.”
“This is why new devs shouldn't take so long on their first game; the gameplay is boring, clunky, and tedious. It takes forever to pick up things from the ground and it locks you in animation. The story feels like it was written for children, and the very first boss fight was already so boring I was about to quit right there.”
- graphics57 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the charming and cute art style, while others criticize it for feeling simplistic and reminiscent of flash games. Although the artwork is often described as appealing and well-done, inconsistencies in style and quality, particularly between characters and backgrounds, detract from the overall visual experience. Overall, while the graphics may not be groundbreaking, they contribute positively to the game's cozy atmosphere and nostalgic appeal.
“The graphics are absolutely beautiful, sound effects and background music are on point and the writing is humorous with some laugh-out-loud moments.”
“I would totally recommend this game to everyone who loves a nostalgic adventure game with beautiful colors and graphics!”
“Wholesome atmosphere combined with charming art style creates a magical experience.”
“The graphics in Pact are not the best.”
“The budget shows: the art style seems very different between characters and backgrounds; a lot of assets feel like they're stretched to cover as much screen space as possible.”
“Despite all that time, the gameplay is as dull as dishwater, the 2D graphics feel like relics from my childhood web browser games, and the bugs start crawling out within 30 minutes of play.”
- music22 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as soothing and immersive, contributing positively to the overall relaxing gameplay experience. While some tracks are noted as forgettable, others, like the town song, stand out due to frequent exposure. Overall, the soundtrack is appreciated for its variety and ability to enhance the game's cozy atmosphere, though some players wished for more distinct musical themes for different biomes.
“The music is nice and varied enough to not get tiresome.”
“The story is nice, the graphics are good, the music is beautiful, and the controls were easy enough to understand.”
“The music is relaxing and immersive; the gameplay is very smooth and balanced.”
“Music: most of the music is forgettable.”
“My main issue with the world-building is that not every main biome has its own musical score.”
“The town song did stick in my head a bit, but that might be because you’re there so often for zone swapping.”
- humor12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a blend of cheeky pop culture references, dark lore, and tongue-in-cheek dialogue, providing a charming and cozy atmosphere. While some jokes may not resonate with everyone, many players appreciate the clever writing and humorous easter eggs that elicit genuine laughter. Overall, the game successfully combines whimsical elements with a lighthearted tone, making it an enjoyable experience.
“There's also a healthy dose of various cryptids and mythological creatures, and some cheeky-but-subtle pop culture humor that doesn't ruin the vibe but will give a chuckle.”
“The writing is funny.”
“The graphics are absolutely beautiful, sound effects and background music are on point and the writing is humorous with some laugh out loud moments.”
- grinding12 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, with repetitive tasks such as collecting ingredients and potion-making lacking engagement and efficiency. The absence of helpful features like a minimap or quest indicators exacerbates the monotony, leading to a dull gameplay experience. While the game shows potential, many reviewers feel that the current mechanics and design choices contribute to an overall sense of boredom and clunkiness.
“The issue is that the trap kiting and not having even basic tools to defend yourself with feels incredibly tedious.”
“Walking around collecting ingredients and making potions is tedious and really slow.”
“This is why new devs shouldn't take so long on their first game; the gameplay is boring, clunky, and tedious. It takes forever to pick up things from the ground, and it locks you in animation. The story feels like it was written for children, and the very first boss fight was already so boring I was about to quit right there.”
- emotional9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its whimsical and wholesome story, complemented by charming art and a magical atmosphere that resonates positively with players. However, some users express concerns about perceived emotional manipulation in the game's marketing strategies on social media. Overall, the game is celebrated for its adorable aesthetic and feel-good vibes, despite the mixed feelings regarding its promotional tactics.
“I'm really enjoying the whimsical and magical story, and the art and overall vibe is quite wholesome.”
“Adorable aesthetic with a wholesome beginning to its story.”
“Wholesome atmosphere combined with charming art style creates a magical experience.”
- character development3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted for its appealing designs and fun story, but some players feel that the potential for deeper character exploration is not fully realized in the current version. Overall, while the aesthetics are praised, the depth of character development leaves room for improvement.
“This game has a fun story and the character designs are great.”
“Quick gameplay and cute little character designs :)”
“Really cute character designs, and a solid on-paper concept that doesn't seem to be realized in this version.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is criticized for poor graphics quality, receiving a low score of 2/10, although some users report no significant performance issues aside from screen tearing.
“Performance: Aside from screen tearing issues, I had no problems running this game.”
“The optimization is impressive; I can run it smoothly on my mid-range PC without any hiccups.”
“I appreciate how well-optimized the game is; it runs flawlessly even on lower settings.”
“Graphics quality and performance are severely lacking, earning a score of 2 out of 10.”
“Performance-wise, aside from screen tearing issues, I had no problems running this game.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for its stability, with users reporting various bugs and glitches that suggest a lack of polish and experience from the developers.
“Since some bugs, glitches, and other behaviors are noticeable that expose the developer as a beginner.”
“There are several bugs and glitches that make the game feel unstable and unpolished.”
“The frequent crashes and performance issues really detract from the overall experience.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers a degree of replayability, with players noting that it maintains an engaging experience upon multiple playthroughs.
“It definitely has replayability, as each playthrough feels fresh and engaging.”
“The game offers a variety of choices that make you want to experience it multiple times.”
“With different paths and outcomes, replaying the game is a rewarding experience.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a wholesome vibe and a charming art style, which together create a magical and immersive experience for players.
“The wholesome atmosphere combined with a charming art style creates a magical experience.”
“The immersive sound design and stunning visuals transport you to another world.”
“The game's atmosphere is filled with a sense of wonder and nostalgia that captivates you from the start.”
