Shanghai Office Simulator
- May 5, 2023
- Logoi
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreWhat’s really going on in those offices in the Far East? Do they really work 210 hours a week, getting paid pennies on the dollar? Find out the answers to these questions and more, unless of course, you fear KANG GE, overlord of the cubicles, in which case you wouldn’t last a minute in Shanghai...
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features an interesting concept that combines deckbuilding, visual novel elements, and office simulation, providing a unique gameplay experience.
- The visuals and character designs are appealing, contributing to an enjoyable aesthetic that enhances the overall experience.
- The game has a promising premise and mechanics, with potential for engaging storytelling and character interactions.
- The lack of a complete English translation leads to confusion and frustration, making it difficult for players to fully understand the game mechanics and story.
- There are significant bugs and issues with core gameplay functions, such as the happiness UI, which can hinder the overall experience.
- The game currently lacks depth in its card mechanics and challenge, making battles feel unengaging and repetitive.
- story10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's story features a compelling premise that blends humor and office dynamics, making it enjoyable despite some translation issues that affect coherence. Players navigate a card-battling journey through a corporate environment, progressing from low-level positions to higher ranks, with a mix of visual novel elements enhancing the narrative experience. Overall, while the storytelling has potential, improvements in translation could elevate its clarity and impact.
“A silly card battler where you join a company where you start off in the low rung and progress through the story trying to reach the top.”
“The story and the characters are great; basically, you start at an early age to begin working in an office, then you have to succeed in this office for a long, happy life. Your energy represents your 'years of work'; when you spend all the energy bar, you finish one year of your life. There is a lot of depth in stats and other elements, and the idea is great even with the visual novel factor (I don't generally like visual novel games).”
“It does have a mix of visual novel, card battler, and management, which is quite cool as the visual novel parts occur during the story, while the card battler happens when you fight enemies, giving it a similar feel to other card battlers like Slay the Spire.”
“I wish the English was better, so that the story was more coherent. Some events are mixed up (e.g., being an old man and then suddenly getting married with the image of a young man).”
“What about the story then?”
“This indicated that the option got unlocked throughout the story - they just did not tell me about it.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a variety of mechanics, both during battles and in exploration, but suffers from a lack of clear explanations, leading to a trial-and-error learning process. While the card combat system is engaging and visually appealing, it struggles in the early to mid-game due to limited card options and mechanics. Players have noted bugs and localization issues, but these are expected to improve as the game is still in early access.
“There's plenty of mechanics developed, including both in-fight effects as well as things to do outside battles.”
“The card battles are very similar to Slay the Spire, plus two new mechanics like combos and perks.”
“The deck battle card section is really good; the design, visuals, and mechanics are smooth and fun to play.”
“For the same reason, all the above-mentioned mechanics and possibilities are not explained well; it's pretty bothersome having to find out how it all works by trial and error.”
“It needs some polish in the English localization as well as being better at explaining its gameplay systems.”
“There are bugs (such as that it did not let me close a window at the end of my gameplay), but you have to keep in mind that it is early access, and all that is surely going to be corrected and improved.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- -14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their engaging anime-inspired art style, which effectively blends elements of card battles and visual novels. Players appreciate the well-designed characters and overall aesthetics, contributing to an entertaining visual experience that enhances the storytelling. Despite some concerns about translation quality, the visuals are considered a strong point of the game.
“A fun game with a great art style, a mash-up between card-based fights and visual novel.”
“I love the visuals of the game, with the nicely designed anime-like characters.”
“The aesthetics are very nice, and I can imagine the story to be kind of entertaining.”
“The graphics are underwhelming and lack the polish expected from a modern game.”
“The art style feels inconsistent, making it hard to immerse myself in the game world.”
“Character designs are generic and fail to stand out, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is well-received, with players enjoying its fun and amusing storytelling, particularly in the context of an office setting. Despite some translation issues, the comedic elements contribute positively to the overall experience, enhancing replayability through different choices.
“Apart from the perfect genre fusion, the story aspect is also pretty enjoyable and it's pretty fun and funny, to be honest.”
“This game is a lot of fun and well done; it's very humorous with the story—it's like working in an office.”
“Funny thing is, a bit before that I clicked on my money and nothing happened.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users appreciate the character design and concepts, indicating a positive reception towards the creativity and visual appeal of the characters, though specific details on character development are not extensively discussed.
“Overall, I like the ideas and character design.”
“The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character.”
“I appreciate how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their journeys feel authentic and engaging.”
- music1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game features an upbeat soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, contributing to a lively and engaging atmosphere.
“The soundtrack is very upbeat.”
