Return to abyss 重返深渊

80%
Game Brain Score Based on 112 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • story
Return to abyss 重返深渊 Game Cover
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"Return to Abyss: Joychasing 2023" is a rhythm-based action game where players dive into the abyss to the beat of electronic music. Equipped with a variety of weapons and abilities, players must battle enemies and bosses in challenging, fast-paced combat. With its vibrant visuals and immersive atmosphere, "Return to Abyss" offers a unique and exhilarating experience for fans of rhythm games and action titles.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 112 reviews
graphics9 positive mentions
story3 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique weapon evolution system that allows for diverse builds and strategies, enhancing replayability.
  • Visually appealing with a charming art style and smooth animations, making the gameplay experience enjoyable.
  • Offers a good balance of challenge and accessibility, making it suitable for both casual players and genre veterans.
  • The English translation is poor, leading to confusion about game mechanics, upgrades, and quests.
  • Progression can feel grindy, requiring repeated runs to unlock characters and upgrades, which may deter some players.
  • Some weapons and upgrades are unbalanced, with certain choices being significantly more effective than others, leading to a lack of variety in gameplay.
  • gameplay37 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the mechanics confusing and lacking clarity, leading to frustration, especially with boss encounters. While some appreciate the game's graphics and the introduction of new mechanics across levels, others criticize it for being grind-heavy and monotonous, with a few praising its unique take on the vampire survivors genre. Overall, the gameplay experience is marred by bugs, unclear mechanics, and a reliance on grind rather than skill-based progression.

    • “It's a vampire survivors-like game, but with acceptable graphics and upgrade mechanics.”
    • “Yeah - the graphics are very nice, the levels are actually a little bit interesting (have different hazards), new difficulties seem to actually introduce new mechanics instead of just inflating stats and you can actually unlock new upgrades/characters with earned currency so you have a lot of influence over how you progress.”
    • “It has a few issues, largely with translation, but the gameplay is tight and not just a straight vampire survivor's clone like so many others.”
    • “But within a given run, gameplay can become monotonous as very few enemies or situations feel noteworthy, which gets worse the more you replay it.”
    • “It's an extremely infuriating game with beyond frustrating bosses and mechanics, and absolutely 0 clarity and descriptions.”
    • “Unfortunately the game's core gameplay design revolves around grind-based progression and challenge.”
  • graphics28 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming anime aesthetic that appeals to fans of the genre, featuring unique art styles and impressive visuals. While the overall graphics are well-received, some players noted issues with animation synchronization and loading times that detract from the experience. Despite these drawbacks, the art style and visual design are highlighted as standout features, contributing to the game's appeal.

    • “It innovates in small ways, and has an anime aesthetic that will please a certain audience.”
    • “The art style is great, I loved going to the hub and finding that it was a bar area with multiple NPCs inside you can talk to.”
    • “Super fun to play, the music track is awesome and the graphics are really good.”
    • “The graphics are pretty simple, paper doll style.”
    • “Bosses' animations don't sync well with their actions, so for example you'll often find yourself taking damage, and the boss will perform the damaging attack 2-3 seconds later (so there is a 2-3 second delay between mechanic and its visuals).”
    • “Additionally, there are very visible load times for most new graphics.”
  • story13 mentions

    The game's story is described as basic and somewhat obscured by translation issues, making it difficult for players to fully appreciate the lore and character-focused narratives. While there are numerous quests and character interactions that add depth, the overall storytelling feels underdeveloped compared to the engaging gameplay mechanics and content available. Players express a desire for more substantial story elements, such as dialogues and music, to enhance the experience further.

    • “Plenty of heroes to unlock, many evolutions to play around with, and more involved story than you find in most of these games in this genre.”
    • “Visually intriguing, massively interesting, and pretty unique weaponry that becomes shockingly powerful real quick, plenty of content from the start, and even some lore, story, and a hub to talk with characters, create potions, unlock cool stuff, and so much more.”
    • “It also means that the little bit of story/lore this game, even if it's a bit basic, has sadly fallen through the cracks as you can just about piece together what the author actually wanted to say.”
    • “Considering a lot of the story (and unlocks) are character-focused, it's a shame that the translation gets in the way of enjoying the same.”
    • “Add story dialogues, music, and art to that and you get a completely different and engaging game that should be a lot more popular than it is currently.”
  • grinding12 mentions

    The reviews indicate that grinding is a significant aspect of gameplay, with some players finding it tedious and unbalanced, particularly in "Return to Abyss," which is noted as one of the most grind-heavy games in its genre. While some players appreciate the need for grinding to unlock upgrades and progress, others criticize it for feeling excessive and frustrating, although recent balancing patches have improved the situation. Overall, the grinding experience varies, with some players finding it manageable while others feel it detracts from the game's enjoyment.

    • “Each map is exponentially harder than the one before, which requires grinding the meta-upgrades.”
    • “It's all about grinding permanent upgrades until you survive the ridiculous stat checks.”
    • “Great ideas being suffocated by absolutely garbage grinding-based balancing, like they made a horrible mobile game but at the last seconds flipped it as a messy p2p game.”
  • optimization8 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing severe stuttering and low frame rates, particularly on initial maps, while others report a smoother experience. Comparisons to other games in the genre highlight a lack of performance polish, leading to disappointment for some users. Overall, while there are hopes for future improvements, current performance issues are a significant concern for many players.

    • “Super optimized, much better than Vampire Survivors.”
    • “I have not experienced any performance glitches or slowdowns.”
    • “A hot stuttering mess.”
    • “Severe stuttering right from the start of the game.”
    • “I should not be stuttering at all, but on the very first map the very first time you play when things have only begun, I'm only getting 40-45 fps.”
  • music5 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its uniqueness and the engaging atmosphere it creates, particularly during gameplay. While it may not be the best soundtrack in the genre, it complements the experience effectively, especially with the addition of unlockable music records. However, some users noted that the impact sounds for skills could be improved to enhance the overall audio experience.

    • “Add story dialogues, music, and art to that and you get a completely different and engaging game that should be a lot more popular than it is currently.”
    • “Super fun to play, the music track is awesome and the graphics are really good.”
    • “It doesn't have the best soundtrack you'll ever hear in one of these games, but it is unique and still really good to fight to.”
    • “Background soundtrack is fine, but all these skills don't have the impact sound to them.”
    • “There are even new music records you can unlock to play back at the bar in which you upgrade everything, talk to other characters, and take a break from the action.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    Players highlight the strong replayability of the game, driven by the excitement of discovering over 20 weapon evolutions and the depth provided by numerous unlockable characters and weapons. The potential for various synergies between these elements further enhances the game's replay value.

    • “There is lots of depth and replayability.”
    • “Expect plenty of replayability with all the unlockable characters, weapons, and possible synergies between them.”
    • “The novelty of discovery drives replayability, as you test at least 20 weapon evolutions before unlocking anything.”
    • “There isn't much incentive to replay the game after completing it once.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is appreciated for its light-heartedness and ability to provide moments of relaxation, despite not being as engaging as other titles in the genre. Players find it amusing that the game functions well, especially in contrast to many similar vampire survivor clones, and they enjoy the ongoing updates and optimizations.

    • “It's not as actively engaging as other games in the genre, but it's almost completely functional, which is hilarious since a lot of vampire survivor clones are not. It is still being provided with occasional updates and fixes.”
    • “Nice game, funny, and a moment to relax. Good optimization.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Overall, users report a mixed experience with stability; while some have not encountered any performance glitches or slowdowns, others have noted the presence of glitches and balance issues that affect gameplay.

    • “There are some glitches and balance issues, e.g.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development in the game is noted for its strong effort in design and art, though some reviewers feel it doesn't surpass the benchmark set by "Vampire Survivors." Overall, while the character development is appreciated, it may not be groundbreaking within the genre.

    • “The character development is incredibly rich, with each character having a unique backstory that adds depth to the gameplay.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making each decision feel impactful and meaningful.”
    • “The attention to detail in character design and progression really enhances the overall experience.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Users appreciate the monetization model for avoiding low-quality games filled with ads and loot boxes, suggesting a more favorable experience without intrusive monetization tactics.

    • “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, with constant ads and loot boxes that disrupt the gameplay experience.”
    • “I find the in-game purchases to be excessive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending a lot of money.”
    • “The reliance on microtransactions takes away from the overall enjoyment, as it feels like you can't progress without paying.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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