Regalia: Of Men and Monarchs
- May 17, 2017
- Pixelated Milk
- 233h median play time
Regalia: Of Men and Monarchs is one of the better products to come from the crowd-funded scene. Fans of classic JRPGs will find much to enjoy, especially with the lighthearted characters and story.
Regalia: Of Men and Monarchs is a tactical RPG with a focus on strategic combat and kingdom management. After a failed gambling trip, your legacy - a once-glorious royal castle - is sold to pay off your debts. Now, you must explore the world, battle monsters, and rebuild your kingdom. Along the way, you'll meet memorable characters and make important decisions that will affect the story.
Reviews
- Engaging and humorous writing with well-developed characters.
- Fun and challenging tactical combat system that encourages strategic thinking.
- Beautiful art style and high-quality voice acting enhance the overall experience.
- Frequent loading screens can disrupt the flow of gameplay.
- Combat can feel repetitive and frustrating due to RNG mechanics and line of sight issues.
- Time management mechanics may feel restrictive and lead to a sense of urgency that detracts from exploration.
- story492 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mix of humor and lightheartedness, featuring well-written characters and engaging side quests that add depth to the narrative. While some players appreciate the comedic elements and the unique blend of RPG mechanics, others find the main plot to be shallow and lacking in substance, with a few noting that it can feel forgettable or overly simplistic. Overall, the story serves as a fun backdrop for the gameplay, but it may not satisfy those seeking a deeply immersive narrative experience.
“The story and its characters are interesting and have a good balance between being clear and understandable and having a more nuanced layer underneath.”
“The comedy was on point, the gameplay extremely engaging, and the character and story extremely lovable.”
“This game is charming and well written, with an incredible story and some of the most lovable characters I've ever seen.”
“The game’s story is one of the worst I have ever experienced.”
“Story: the story is shallow and bland; if you expected a detailed and well-built kingdom-building game like Ni no Kuni or Pathfinder: Kingmaker (both great games), then you will be very, very disappointed.”
“The story here is very bland; you hardly will be excited for anything, and reading through it at times can feel more of a task. The ending is somewhat fine and has a few highlights, but that is it.”
- gameplay225 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, featuring solid tactical RPG mechanics that can be both engaging and frustrating. While many players appreciate the unique character abilities and strategic depth, others criticize repetitive combat, unbalanced mechanics, and a lack of depth compared to other titles in the genre. Overall, it offers a decent experience with enjoyable elements, but also significant shortcomings that may detract from the overall enjoyment.
“All in all, you will have a good time with the game; the mechanics are quite solid and can deliver a really complex experience.”
“These core mechanics and how they interact with each other, although unbalanced at times, are very well thought out and they create an engaging gameplay experience that will leave the player wanting to explore all of the possibilities that the game has to offer.”
“If I had to sum up this game in one word, it would be 'enjoyable.' The artwork is great, the voice acting is as good as I have ever witnessed, the story is clever and unique with all of its characters being quite original, and most importantly, the gameplay itself is well-tuned and fun.”
“The worst thing about this game is without a shadow of a doubt its annoying mechanics; the combat is annoying and repetitive, the kingdom mechanics are a chore more than anything else and feel annoying. There are also useless mechanics that you use only once in the entire game and never find again, like the whole negotiation mechanics in which you use only once to negotiate an annoying quest regarding a dragon and two peasants.”
“After a while, I do find the gameplay repetitious; had the game not ended when it did, it would have been a drag.”
“My main criticism would be that the gameplay mechanics feel a bit basic compared with other tactical RPGs; the mechanics just lack depth and options.”
- humor161 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and ability to poke fun at anime and JRPG tropes, with many players finding the dialogue and character interactions genuinely funny and engaging. However, some reviews note that the humor can be hit-or-miss, with certain jokes feeling forced or overly reliant on pop culture references. Overall, the game is characterized by a lighthearted tone, quirky characters, and a mix of witty and absurd humor that appeals to a broad audience, though it may not resonate with everyone.
“Great humor and the characters all feel different.”
“The story and characters are charming and hilarious.”
“I found it relaxing, funny, entertaining, and above all... fun.”
- graphics101 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their vibrant and unique art style, combining both 2D and 3D elements that create a visually appealing experience. Many reviewers highlighted the colorful, cartoonish aesthetics and expressive character designs, which contribute to an enjoyable atmosphere, although some noted occasional blurriness. Overall, the visuals are considered above average, enhancing the game's charm and complementing its lighthearted narrative.
“Lush and vibrant graphics, fantastic voice-acting and a SRPG to boot!”
“Beautiful graphics and unique characters with amazing voiceovers in an entertaining story which can be utterly hilarious at times.”
“The graphical quality is excellent and you can judge this for yourself from the store page.”
“I could complain that diplomacy/factions are a wasted potential, that it has a time limit and every period of the game looks almost the same or that the graphics are too blurry and dull.”
“Graphics are pseudo isometric 2D with bright cartoony aesthetics.”
“Real shame because I love the art style.”
- music67 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its catchy and pleasant qualities, while others find it simplistic and occasionally repetitive. The soundtrack is noted for its situational variety, enhancing the overall experience, though some feel it lacks a broader range of tracks. Overall, the music is described as enjoyable and well-integrated, contributing positively to the game's charm and atmosphere.
“The soundtrack is also fantastic and will draw you in.”
“All in all, I do recommend this game earnestly; it has a fun story, enjoyable characters with stellar voice acting, wonderful art and music, and all around impressed me a lot more than I expected.”
“The characters are full of charm, each one is unique, the battles are a lot of fun (and hard!! especially those with bosses) and the soundtrack/dubbing are great.”
“Music: it's okay, nothing bad, but nothing exceptional either; it can get repetitive after a while... a 6.5 for it.”
“Music and sound effects don't irritate me, but they also don't stand out in my memory.”
“If you like elevator music, buy the OST!”
- grinding47 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 66 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a mixed reception regarding grinding in the game. While some players appreciate the absence of traditional grinding mechanics, noting that character development is tied to social interactions rather than combat, others find the repetitive tasks and time constraints tedious, leading to a sense of frustration. Overall, the game offers a unique approach to character growth but may feel slow-paced and laborious for those expecting more dynamic gameplay.
“There is scaling and no grinding, so enjoy the battles as tactical challenges.”
“+ party level / no grinding: basically all party members share the same level, which is good because all party members are relevant and available for any content.”
“++ no grinding and no repeated battles so far, a big plus.”
“As a result, the dungeon runs stop becoming fun and quickly turn into tedious slogs, where rather than looking forward to playing them, I was looking forward to the end so I wouldn't have to do them anymore.”
“The game relies on grinding certain tasks by deadlines, and the cycle repeats itself.”
“The game is slow and forces you to do tedious chores.”
- character development16 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is primarily achieved through equipment and perks rather than traditional leveling, with players praising the gorgeous character design and detailed art. While bonding experiences provide some engaging storylines and personal quests, the overall character development is described as interesting but not particularly deep or thought-provoking. The game is not primarily focused on character development or plot, which some players find lacking.
“Each bonding experience also has a storyline with that character that offers some nice character development or personal quests.”
“I love the art, character design, and solid voiceover, which makes the game even more enjoyable.”
“No grinding and no leveling; character development is solely through equipment and perks.”
“Bear in mind, this isn't really the sort of game you play for either the character development or the plot - both are ludicrous, and you shouldn't expect either to leave you thinking for more than 2 seconds after you close the game.”
- replayability12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its high replayability, with players enjoying the variety of characters and choices that significantly impact gameplay. Many users highlight the fun and charm of the game, noting that there are multiple characters to unlock and different strategies to explore, enhancing the overall replay value.
“It is a really fun and charming game that has a ton of replayability!”
“I'm still not finished, but this game has a lot of replay value as there are still 4 characters I still haven't used and more to unlock.”
“I'm still not finished, but this game has a lot of replay value as there are still 4 characters I haven't used and more to unlock.”
“So a lot of the difficulty may also be down to your choice of characters, which I think also heightens the game's replayability.”
“Replayability.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
User experiences with stability are mixed; while some players report no technical issues or crashes, others frequently encounter freezes and bugs. There is a sentiment that the developers are aware of these problems but lack the intention to address them.
“Constantly freezes.”
“They know it's buggy and they have no intention of fixing their bugs.”
“Constantly freezes.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is criticized for performance and technical issues that become apparent during extended play sessions, contributing to an overall unpolished feel. Additionally, the user interface and character models are described as lacking quality, which may disappoint players accustomed to AAA titles. While leveling up offers minor perks, their impact on gameplay is minimal.
“The main downside is that it tends to have performance and technical issues that make themselves present whenever you are doing a long gaming session. Coupled with the UI and models having a cheap look, it makes the game feel unpolished. If you are used to AAA game releases, it will definitely feel underwhelming.”
“As you level up, you can choose some perks that add 2% here and there, but they have minimal impact on the character's performance in battle.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a charming blend of silliness and seriousness, creating a light-hearted yet engaging experience. Players appreciate its cute JRPG style, which contributes to an overall delightful ambiance.
“The game has a nice mixed atmosphere of silly yet serious, and it fits well.”
“Cute JRPG with a light-hearted atmosphere that simply oozes charm.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game "Regalia" is noted for its heartfelt storytelling and the evident love and care put into its development, though some players feel that this emotional depth does not translate into an enjoyable gameplay experience.
“There was clearly a lot of love put into Regalia; it's a heartfelt game.”
Critic Reviews
Regalia: Of Men and Monarchs Review - Barely Regal
While Regalia: of Men and Monarchs never excels in any one area, the unique mix of gameplay elements really comes together to provide an experience that's worth having. If you're a fan of JRPGs, SRPGs, or a fan of the British tradition of absurdist fantasy comedy, there's something here for you to enjoy.
70%Regalia: Of Men and Monarchs (Nintendo Switch)
Regalia is a fun tactical RPG with a strong narrative element. It’s not without it’s issues – mainly loading times – but it’s a well-designed and content-rich game nonetheless.
70%Regalia: Of Men and Monarchs
Regalia: Of Men and Monarchs is one of the better products to come from the crowd-funded scene. Fans of classic JRPGs will find much to enjoy, especially with the lighthearted characters and story.
85%