Scarlet Maiden
- September 15, 2023
- Otterside Games
- 4h median play time
"Scarlet Maiden" is a single-player erotic action game with excellent gameplay and wonderful visuals. As Scarlet, the last Maiden of the Sacred Flame, players venture through randomly generated dungeons in the Underworld, battling enemies and partaking in humorous and lewd activities to defeat the Prime Evil. The game features good music and a variety of abilities and equipment to enhance gameplay.
Reviews
- The game features a charming art style with well-animated pixel graphics, making it visually appealing.
- Gameplay is engaging and fun, with a solid combat system and a rewarding progression mechanic that keeps players coming back.
- The integration of adult content is humorous and adds a unique twist to the roguelike experience without being overly intrusive.
- The game is relatively short, with only a few levels and bosses currently available, leading to a quick completion time.
- There are issues with control mapping, as the default settings can be awkward and lack the ability to rebind keys effectively.
- The adult scenes are brief and may not satisfy players looking for more extensive erotic content, and there is currently no gallery feature to revisit them.
- gameplay134 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its solid mechanics, addictive roguelite structure, and fluid movement, making it enjoyable even beyond its adult content. Players appreciate the fast-paced combat and the integration of lewd elements into the gameplay, although some note that the difficulty can be unbalanced and the content may become repetitive over time. Overall, it offers a fun and engaging experience with charming pixel art and a compelling gameplay loop.
“The gameplay is remarkably good!”
“The gameplay is solid, especially when you find a build type you really like.”
“Incredibly fun game, reminds me a lot of Rogue Legacy and after getting the movement down, the gameplay is why it keeps me playing over the hentai.”
“The only difference you will see among different weapons are various stat boosts - such as a chance to do critical damage - which don't encourage any variation in gameplay and really just boil down to trying to get whatever weapon has the highest DPS.”
“There isn't much in the way of scenes currently since a lot of them, especially on enemies, are repeat visuals and the gameplay, although fluid, doesn't really change from one run to the next.”
“Overall gameplay: Very difficult gameplay causes death within about 2 minutes of starting the dungeon and you can't actually build up enough points to purchase an upgrade in the respawn area since it just goes away.”
- graphics35 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their charming art style, smooth animations, and detailed visuals, contributing to an overall appealing aesthetic. While some players noted a desire for more content and variety, the polished graphics and unique design elements have left a positive impression, enhancing the gameplay experience. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, even in the game's early build.
“Actual good gameplay, charming art style, everyone looks like they're having a good time.”
“The graphics are nice, detailed, and well made.”
“The art style is consistent and gorgeously animated.”
“It may get better, but as it stands, most of my issues are with aesthetics and the distribution of labor, so I will likely not play the upcoming updates.”
“There isn't much in the way of scenes currently since a lot of them, especially on enemies, are repeat visuals and the gameplay, although fluid, doesn't really change from one run to the next.”
“Just wish there was more graphically intense pixel art for scenes.”
- story33 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally considered to have potential but is often described as simplistic or threadbare, with some players appreciating its originality and character-driven quests. While it may not be groundbreaking, it effectively integrates with the gameplay and offers some replay value through NPC story arcs and side quests. Overall, the narrative is seen as a pleasant surprise for a game in the NSFW genre, balancing lewd content with engaging mechanics.
“Going on quests to resolve the story arcs of different NPCs adds a lot of replay value and will keep the player coming back.”
“Beautiful pixel art, top-notch sounds, hilarious characters, and a surprisingly great story.”
“This game is a great example of incorporating hentai into the gameplay without slowing it down or just using it for plot purposes.”
“The story has potential but is threadbare.”
“You are the slutty hero maiden, go vanquish the evil!....come on, did you really expect a deep story?”
“The story is very simple and the roguelite elements are nice.”
- humor32 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its blend of lewdness and silliness, with many players finding the comedic elements to be both entertaining and well-executed. Reviewers highlight the game's funny characters, humorous sexual encounters, and clever dialogue, often comparing its comedic style to parodies rather than traditional hentai. Overall, the game successfully balances engaging gameplay with a lighthearted and amusing atmosphere, making it a fun experience for those who appreciate its unique humor.
“A hilarious and extremely well-made roguelike.”
“Funny cutesy style, humorous sexual encounters that make this feel like a parody more than just a hentai game.”
“The game is incredibly hilarious.”
- music19 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its pleasant and fitting nature, while others criticize its repetitiveness due to limited tracks per zone. While many find the soundtrack enjoyable and well-suited to the gameplay, there is a consensus that more musical diversity would enhance the overall experience. Overall, the music is generally seen as a positive aspect, but improvements are desired to prevent it from becoming monotonous.
“The level design feels good with each one having a theme and music to match.”
“Fun mechanics, good art, and an incredible soundtrack.”
“Music is pleasant and never gets grating while going through runs, which is very important to me personally.”
“The OST could use some diversity; each zone only has one song that plays repeatedly, and I think at least one more per zone would be satisfying for me at least.”
“There is only one music track for all levels of the game, which plays endlessly on a loop.”
“The music gets repetitive fast; I believe because it is on a short loop or something.”
- replayability12 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability, with players enjoying the randomized dungeon layouts, enemy spawns, and loot rooms that create a fresh experience each run. However, some reviewers noted that replay value diminishes after the initial runs due to limited enemy and boss variety, suggesting that additional content, such as difficulty options or new game modes, could enhance replayability further. Overall, the compelling gameplay loop and quest-driven narrative contribute positively to the game's replay value.
“The game is very replayable, offering a new experience each time.”
“Going on quests to resolve the story arcs of different NPCs adds a lot of replay value and will keep the player coming back.”
“The gameplay loop is very replayable and refreshing due to randomized dungeon layouts, enemy spawns, and loot rooms.”
“Maybe an infinite dungeon mode or a room gauntlet or boss rush would help with replayability.”
“I also think a difficulty choice (easy, medium, hard, etc.) would greatly benefit the game and add good replay value that the game is lacking as of right now.”
“My only hope is that when they finish updating, it has enough content to be as replayable as something like Dead Cells.”
- stability7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 57 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally positive, with most players reporting a smooth experience and minimal bugs or glitches. However, some users noted occasional issues, particularly with the Linux version freezing randomly, while the game performs well on other platforms, including the Steam Deck.
“This game runs great on the Steam Deck and has full controller support.”
“Runs great and is a blast with each run through, randomly generating new maps.”
“A couple of bugs/glitches.”
“Room for improvement; the Linux binary freezes randomly, however, it works fine under Proton.”
“A few glitches here and there, but a fun experience with actual gameplay.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat excessive, with some describing it as repetitive and unbalanced, particularly in later stages where enemies become more challenging. However, many appreciate the overall fun and engaging gameplay, suggesting that the grind can be acceptable if approached with a focus on enjoyment rather than speed. The lack of additional content and features, such as a gallery mode, has also been noted as a drawback.
“Repetitive, grindy, unbalanced. Later stage enemies can't be staggered and the teleporting elf will shank you 95% of the time due to bad hitboxes. Bosses are bullet sponges unless you fully max out your character. There is no gallery mode for viewing animations, no boss defeat scenes, and only 3 zones which can be completed in less than 2 hours!”
“Can get a bit grindy with the playthroughs, but altogether the interface is simple and quick. The scenes are fun, the figures are great, the animation is just enough to get the animation going, and the action is a perfect balance of engaging and invigorating.”
“Don't expect to play one-handed, but ludicrous mechanics, lots of grinding, or crazy perfect timing aren't necessary either.”
- character development4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Character development is praised for its strong and attractive design, though some reviewers note a repetitiveness in the aesthetics. The integration of sexual interactions as a mechanic for progression adds a unique and engaging layer to character development, despite some concerns about excessive focus on physical appearance.
“The character design is superb, even without the excessive focus on physical attributes.”
“The character design is all around very well done, and the gameplay mechanics that involve character interactions for progression are really fun.”
“The character design is attractive, but it becomes repetitive and overly focused on sex appeal.”
“While the character design is well done, the reliance on sexual interactions for basic gameplay mechanics feels excessive.”
“The character designs are appealing, but the emphasis on sexual themes detracts from the overall character development experience.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for delivering smooth performance, especially given its lightweight size, though some users find the default keyboard controls lacking and suggest customization options. Additionally, it is noted to be well-optimized for the Steam Deck, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
“Really good performance making it feel quite smooth (though I suppose this is to be expected for a game under 1GB).”
“A well-crafted roguelike; while each individual run is fairly quick, the game runs smoothly and the platforming is comfortable and intuitive.”
“Steam Deck optimized.”
“The default controls are, in my opinion, not very optimized (keep in mind I'm playing on keyboard), but you can change the controls in the main menu.”
“The game feels like it was not optimized for the Steam Deck, leading to performance issues.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotional depth, with players reporting a strong connection to the narrative that evokes significant feelings, including frequent tears during gameplay. It is characterized as a wholesome experience that balances casual fun with impactful storytelling.
“Within my 3.1 hours of playing this masterpiece, I cried over 24 times.”
“Really wholesome game.”
“Nice wholesome game if you're just looking for some casual fun, very fun.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a fun and humorous tone, enhanced by vibrant sprites and animations, creating a generally cheerful and engaging experience. Players appreciate the lighthearted and playful vibe, which complements the gameplay effectively.
“The atmosphere is fun and humorous as well.”
“If you want to play a good roguelike, see some great sprites, animations, have great gameplay, and experience a generally off-putting atmosphere during it, I recommend giving this game a shot.”
“It just adds to the cheeriness of the overall atmosphere.”