Shape of America: Episode One
- February 21, 2018
- kuklam studios
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam"Shape of America: Episode One" is a story-driven, non-linear RPG that puts you in the role of an aspiring politician during a pivotal time in US history. With a real-life calendar system, your actions and decisions have real consequences and impact the story. The unique favor system and character development add depth to the game as you navigate the world of corruption, lies, and bribery to become the President of the United States.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a charming retro aesthetic and a fitting soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- The unique political-themed storyline and innovative debate-based combat system provide an engaging and entertaining gameplay experience.
- Despite its short length, the game offers intriguing plotlines and multiple choices that keep players invested and eager for more.
- The game ends abruptly after the first episode, leaving players without resolution and feeling disappointed about the lack of continuation.
- There are numerous bugs, grammar issues, and design flaws that detract from the overall quality and polish of the game.
- The episodic format feels incomplete, and many players express frustration over the cancellation of future episodes, making it hard to recommend the game at full price.
- story9 mentions
- 89 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The story is generally praised for its intriguing themes and engaging plotlines, with a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic games. However, many users express disappointment over the abrupt ending due to canceled future episodes, leaving the narrative feeling incomplete and unsatisfying. Overall, while the story shows promise, its current state has led to frustration among players awaiting further developments.
“The storyline is intriguing, as well as the theme.”
“The story and game mechanics work perfectly.”
“Interesting story with multiple plot lines.”
“In my opinion, it's a waste of time until the game is complete and there is an end to the story.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The gameplay is well-integrated with the story, emphasizing adventure over RPG elements, though some players feel the price is high for the limited 2-3 hours of content. While there is potential for replay value through multiple choices, the experience is marred by bugs and an overly simplistic combat system, leading to mixed feelings about its current value. With future updates, the game could improve significantly.
“The story and game mechanics work perfectly.”
“With updates and more episodes, it could be a good buy.”
“5 euros is a bit much for 2-3 hours of gameplay, even accounting for some presumable replay value thanks to multiple choices.”
“In terms of gameplay, the adventure aspects of the game strongly outweigh the merits of the RPG elements, but that is largely by design.”
“There are a few too many bugs (occasional crashes, linear values can go negative, core fighting mechanic is a bit too easy) for me to say it's worth $5 in its current state, but with updates and more episodes, it could be a good buy.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their appealing retro aesthetic, reminiscent of the 80s and 90s, with a unique art style that enhances the overall visual experience.
“I really liked the aesthetics; it has a cool retro 80s vibe (though it feels a bit older, like the 90s). Perhaps in this American Union state, the 90s were like that.”
“I like the art style.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, complementing the story effectively, though some users feel it could have been improved further.
“The soundtrack is also good and fits with the story.”
“The music could have been a bit better.”
“The soundtrack feels repetitive and lacks variety.”
“The background music is forgettable and doesn't enhance the gameplay experience.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game creatively incorporates the four Greek humors as character classes, adding a unique twist to the RPG genre. Players appreciate the engaging story and the abundance of humorous references to history and popular culture, enhancing the overall comedic experience.
“Most RPGs may have white mages, thieves, etc. This game instead has the four Greek humors representing different classes.”
“Nice game with an interesting story and a lot of funny references to history and popular culture.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's stability is criticized for numerous grammar and spelling errors, dialogue issues, and glitches, which contribute to an overall perception of low quality and inconsistency in gameplay.
“There are tons of grammar and spelling issues, weird endless loops of possible throwdowns, among other dialog issues, glitches, and strange designs that make it feel pretty low-quality.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I experienced multiple bugs that disrupted my gameplay experience, leading to frustration.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for being highly immersive and engaging, contributing significantly to the overall experience.
“The game creates an incredibly immersive atmosphere that draws you in from the very start.”
“Every detail contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that keeps you on edge.”
“The sound design and visuals work together to create a truly captivating atmosphere.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
While some players appreciate the potential for replayability through multiple choices, the overall consensus is that the limited 2-3 hours of gameplay may not justify the price, leading to concerns about its long-term value.
“The game offers a wealth of choices that significantly enhance its replayability, making each playthrough feel unique.”
“With multiple endings and branching storylines, I found myself eager to replay the game to explore all the different outcomes.”
“The variety of character builds and strategies available encourages players to return and try new approaches each time.”
“5 euros is a bit much for 2-3 hours of gameplay, even accounting for some presumed replay value thanks to multiple choices.”
“Once you've seen all the endings, there's little incentive to play again.”
“The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying the game feel tedious and unfulfilling.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While some users note that gameplay mechanics could be improved, they emphasize that this does not significantly detract from the emotional investment and overall enjoyment of the game. The emotional engagement remains strong, even if certain aspects of the system feel unbalanced.
“The emotional investment in the characters and their stories kept me engaged throughout the entire game.”
“I found myself deeply moved by the narrative; it resonated with my own experiences and feelings.”
“The game masterfully blends gameplay with emotional storytelling, making every decision feel impactful.”
