Reverse Collapse: Code Name Bakery

95%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,003 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Reverse Collapse: Code Name Bakery Game Cover
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"Reverse Collapse: Code Name Bakery" is a narrative-driven game with a focus on character development and worldbuilding, offering suspenseful gameplay and unique mission victories. The Deluxe Edition includes the base game, a digital OST, art book, in-game item pack, and Antarctic Union Gala Attire for selected characters. This game is a MICAteam production, and can be enjoyed by both newcomers and those familiar with their previous works.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

95%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,003 reviews
story300 positive mentions
grinding26 negative mentions
  • Smooth performance with no frame dips, stutters, or crashes.
  • Great gameplay with a variety of enemy types, locations, and weapons/items/abilities.
  • Well-thought-out UX design that makes information easily accessible.
  • Stealth missions can feel tedious and overly punishing.
  • Some missions require specific strategies that can lead to trial and error.
  • The game can drag on with long cutscenes and dialogue.
  • story1,017 mentions

    The story of "Reverse Collapse: Code Name Bakery" is widely praised for its depth, emotional engagement, and intricate world-building, drawing players into a gripping narrative filled with twists and character development. While the game features a mix of mission types, including some controversial stealth missions that many find tedious, the overall storytelling is considered a standout aspect, often compared favorably to other narrative-driven games. Players appreciate the blend of visual novel elements with tactical gameplay, making it a compelling experience for both fans of the genre and newcomers alike.

    • “This game has a lot of story, and it's a sad emotional roller coaster most of the time.”
    • “The story roped me in pretty well and it was pretty creative on how they told the story in acts.”
    • “The story is truly masterful with a twist in chapter 5 that you will not only not see coming even from a few feet in front of you but rip your heart out, kick you while you're down and then laugh at your pain... and even after you finish chapter 5.”
    • “The stealth missions are brutal, some battles are hard (spamming rocket launchers on Oleg's face) and some things don't go my way so I call it bs.”
    • “The story can be overwhelming in exposition and some things feel not fully balanced out (grenades for the win!) but that's still good, it allows to fit together your own playstyles and have lots of fun with it.”
    • “The main complaint comes from the stealth missions.”
  • gameplay370 mentions

    The gameplay of "Reverse Collapse: Code Name Bakery" is widely praised for its depth and complexity, offering a mix of tactical turn-based mechanics reminiscent of titles like Fire Emblem and XCOM. Players appreciate the variety of enemy types, unique mission mechanics, and the strategic use of items and character abilities, which create a challenging yet rewarding experience. However, some find the lengthy cutscenes and certain stealth missions to disrupt the flow, while others note that the difficulty can be punishing, requiring careful planning and adaptation. Overall, the game successfully combines engaging gameplay with a compelling narrative, making it a standout in the tactical RPG genre.

    • “Great gameplay: there is a good variety of enemy types, locations, and weapons/items/abilities to use.”
    • “The gameplay is surprisingly complicated if you ramp up the difficulty, making each step matter.”
    • “Finely tuned tactical gameplay with a wide variety of actions you can perform every turn; all of the characters you get are powerful in their own ways, ensuring a balanced gameplay experience.”
    • “If you're turned off by long cutscenes, this game may not be for you; there can be long stretches between gameplay segments.”
    • “Gameplay can be frustratingly difficult, basically requires quicksaving every turn.”
    • “Many levels feel more like a punishing slog with twists or mechanics that feel more like a spiteful massive middle finger to the player.”
  • music103 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its immersive quality and ability to enhance the overall experience. Composed by Vanguard Sound, the soundtrack features a mix of electronic and emotional tracks that fit seamlessly with the gameplay and narrative, often described as "bangers" that resonate well during missions and cutscenes. Overall, the music is considered a standout aspect of the game, contributing significantly to its polished presentation and emotional depth.

    • “The soundtrack for this game fits so well with each mission and cutscene that it immerses you into the gameplay. Well done, Luminence and Vanguard Studios!”
    • “The music is nearly perfect.”
    • “Beautiful art style and visuals, amazing soundtrack, captivating storyline, interesting world building, and gameplay that grows equally challenging and fun as you play through the game. This game hits all the marks for a wonderful experience for me.”
    • “Sometimes the combat music duplicated on itself and I'm not sure what caused it.”
    • “The ost, while very edgy during the vocal parts, is still really good; think of the vocal tracks like mili's sister who smokes crack.”
    • “I wish they actually remade some of the original music other than the victory theme, which is now used in all of their games.”
  • graphics81 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their beautiful and polished art style, which combines high-quality pixel graphics and fluid animations, creating an engaging visual experience. Many reviewers highlight the stunning anime aesthetic and expressive 2D animations that enhance both the gameplay and storytelling. However, some criticism exists regarding the lack of ultra-wide support and certain UI elements, but overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature that complements the game's compelling narrative and gameplay mechanics.

    • “The artwork is quite polished and beautiful.”
    • “The game's visuals, UI design, sound design, and soundtrack are all top notch; all supported by quality Japanese voice acting with many recognizable voice actors.”
    • “Beautiful art style and visuals, amazing soundtrack, captivating storyline, interesting world building, and gameplay that grows equally challenging and fun as you play through the game, this game hits all the marks for a wonderful experience for me.”
    • “Even more insulting than the abhorrent graphics, the lack of ultra wide support in a 2024 release and the trashy UI is by far the sound design that is reminiscent of googling 'free gun sound'.”
    • “The opening CG & graphics feels like a 10s home-brewed RPG.”
    • “If some of the elements of the game like graphics/mechanics feel 'old', it's because this is a remaster of a game initially made almost a decade ago, that didn't see an international release.”
  • grinding27 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience. While some appreciate that the game limits grinding to encourage tactical gameplay and story progression, many express frustration with certain missions being overly tedious and lengthy, particularly in stealth scenarios. The game offers a balance of challenge without necessitating excessive grinding, but some players feel that the repetitive nature of certain levels detracts from the overall enjoyment.

    • “60 hours+ for the true ending (no grinding); the game has that much content, effort, and soul poured into it.”
    • “The grinding in this game feels rewarding, as every hour spent contributes to a deeper understanding of the story and characters.”
    • “I appreciate how the grinding mechanics are balanced; they encourage exploration and skill development without feeling tedious.”
    • “The gameplay itself is not bad, but I found little fun in playing because (1) they keep adding enemy reinforcements and new phases in most of the stages, making the latter too long and tedious to finish, and (2) there are frequently new enemies with special traits that must be handled with specific new items.”
    • “Tedious, overtuned, requiring a seemingly hyperspecific series of actions to even think of getting through at all, let alone an S ranking, the stealth missions in this game are abysmally terrible.”
    • “Unfortunately, if you find yourself stuck and figure that grinding for levels is the only solution, congratulations, you just softlocked the game, since you're not allowed to grind when you're on an ongoing chapter.”
  • emotional25 mentions

    The game is described as an emotional journey, often leaving players feeling deeply affected and invested in its heartfelt narrative and character relationships. Reviewers highlight the poignant storytelling, which combines moments of despair and hope, resulting in a bittersweet experience that can evoke strong feelings, including tears. The writing, character development, and unique themes, such as sacrifice, contribute to a memorable and touching gameplay experience that resonates long after completion.

    • “This game has a lot of story, and it's a sad emotional roller coaster most of the time.”
    • “The story is played straight in a very honest and authentic manner, leading to a memorable and even genuinely touching narrative; glimpses of the setting's lore are expanded upon in various confidential files strewn across the game's various missions.”
    • “It had been some time since I cried this much at the ending of a game; I can't overstate how good the writing is, the setting, the characters, the lore, everything.”
  • optimization14 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with smooth performance and no significant frame drops or crashes reported, except for some minor adjustments needed on the Steam Deck. However, there are concerns about high GPU usage on certain configurations, and the user interface could benefit from better optimization for PC players. The voice acting and visual quality are standout features, enhancing the overall experience despite some minor optimization issues.

    • “Smooth performance: no frame dips, stutters, or crashes during my entire time playing the game (except for Steam Deck, where you will need to adjust the settings a bit).”
    • “No performance drops.”
    • “- Optimization (the game runs on Unity), unlocking the FPS gets my GPU at 100% (RX6600XT) and I only get 300 FPS. Of course, that's not needed for the game, but I'm afraid it might be an issue on very low-end/old configurations.”
    • “Their UX and UI design needs improvement or optimization for PC players.”
    • “Compared to the original CNB and especially GFL Reverse Collapse, this game exceeds both in gameplay and performance optimization.”
  • humor11 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by quirky idle animations and amusing translations, providing moments of levity despite some jankiness. While it may not reach the comedic heights of titles like Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness, players find enjoyment in the absurdity of character interactions and animations, such as a bakery girl devouring a baguette. Overall, the humor is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the lighthearted moments amidst the game's more serious themes.

    • “There's some jank with the translation in a few places, but that's mostly just funny.”
    • “Characters and enemies even have funny little idle animations if you let the game sit for 30 minutes, such as the bakery girl eating an entire baguette (har har).”
    • “If you sit in the game screen for exactly 30 minutes without even moving the mouse or touching your computer, almost all characters start doing some sort of funny idle animation such as eating bread, dancing, and balling with basketballs.”
  • character development7 mentions

    Character development in the game is primarily focused on the main storyline, with limited growth for most characters, except for Jefuty and Mendo, who experience some evolution throughout the narrative. While the character designs and animations are praised for their expressiveness and charm, the overall emphasis is more on world-building and plot complexity rather than deep character arcs. The true ending route offers the most substantial character development and resolution.

    • “The story is about saving Jefuty's sister, and it gets really complex with all the time-leaping elements. The narrative also features good drama, suspense, and character development as you progress.”
    • “Just remember this is a story focused on world-building instead of character development, so don't get disappointed if the characters don't seem to grow or change, except for Jefuty and Mendo.”
    • “The true ending route is where we get a lot of the character development and answers.”
    • “Even Mendo, a character who has a very standard character design, feels vibrant thanks to the combination of Live2D sprites and animated eye candy art.”
  • replayability7 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability due to its multiple endings, extensive collectibles, and a New Game Plus mode, which encourages players to explore different story paths and unlock additional content. With a lengthy and engaging narrative that can take 60-100 hours to complete, players find significant value in revisiting the game for a richer experience. Overall, it offers a compelling reason to replay, especially for fans of turn-based strategy and immersive storytelling.

    • “The replay value of this game is quite high since there are multiple endings and collectibles that unlock even more secret paths to the story and equipment.”
    • “It also has good replay value.”
    • “Also fully offline, reasonably priced even when not on sale, singleplayer, actually challenging and with a lengthy and good story that easily takes 60-100 hours for a full playthrough (at normal difficulty) and replay value, now that's a unicorn these days.”
    • “Replay value of this game is also quite high since there are multiple endings and collectibles that unlock even more secret paths to the story and equipment.”
    • “I am not sure if it has replay value, but if you want to spend a few days reading an amazing plot and playing a turn-based strategy game, this is a great thing for you.”
    • “I haven't played too far yet so I can't really talk about replayability and game duration, however I've been enjoying it thus far (7 hours) and it doesn't seem like the story has shown any sign of stopping or stagnating yet so I'm expecting many more hours out of this one.”
  • atmosphere5 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its intense and immersive qualities, effectively conveying danger and emotional stakes through well-matched background music and character reactions. However, some users feel that certain elements, like character screams, detract from the overall experience. Additionally, the community surrounding the game contributes positively to its atmosphere, enhancing the overall enjoyment.

    • “Furthermore, the way it presents its atmosphere and the sheer danger of its stakes to the main character and supporting cast was excellently done.”
    • “Tacenda is lit; the background music is intensely awesome and matches the atmosphere of the game well.”
    • “You simply won’t find a better community atmosphere than this.”
    • “For example, when they scream, when they respond in shock, etc., this ruins the atmosphere of the story and is completely unnecessary.”
    • “If you're on the fence about purchasing the deluxe edition and worry about ruining the atmosphere of the game due to how the costumes look, no need to worry.”
  • stability3 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with only occasional microfreezes during battles and some minor translation issues. While there were expected launch day glitches, they are being addressed quickly, and players report no significant annoyances or bugs.

    • “Firstly, microfreezes occur in battle sometimes, which I haven't linked to a tangible cause yet.”
    • “Some minor translation oddities in a few places make it clear this wasn't written in English, and expected launch day glitches, which seem to be getting patched fairly fast, are the worst of the 'objective' things I can say about this game.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The game is praised for its lack of pay-to-win mechanics and microtransactions, offering a complete experience without intrusive monetization. Players appreciate the 100+ hour content and the commitment of the development team to provide regular updates and bug fixes.

    • “For starters, it's a breath of fresh air to see a 100+ hour game released without intrusive monetization or unfinished content, backed by a passionate dev team that pushes regular updates to fix the few bugs it has.”
    • “No pay to win, no microtransactions and whatnot.”
    • “No pay-to-win mechanics, no microtransactions, and no intrusive monetization.”
    • “It's a breath of fresh air to see a 100+ hour game released without intrusive monetization or unfinished content.”
    • “The game is backed by a passionate development team that pushes regular updates to fix the few bugs it has.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

12hMedian play time
25hAverage play time
2-51hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 19 analyzed playthroughs

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