Shape of America: Episode One

About

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Shape of America: Episode One screenshot

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 42 reviews

story9 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features a unique blend of political themes and RPG mechanics, allowing players to engage in verbal 'Throwdowns' that add depth to the gameplay.
The retro 90s aesthetics and soundtrack create an immersive atmosphere that resonates with players, enhancing the overall experience.
Despite being short, the game offers an intriguing storyline and engaging character development, leaving players eager for future episodes.

The game ends abruptly after the first episode, leaving players without resolution and feeling unsatisfied with the incomplete story.
There are numerous bugs, grammar issues, and design flaws that detract from the overall quality and polish of the game.
The cancellation of future episodes has left many players feeling disappointed, as they were looking forward to a more complete narrative experience.

story
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
8%
23%
The game's story is described as intriguing and well-integrated with its mechanics, featuring political themes and multiple plot lines. However, many players express frustration over the abrupt ending due to canceled future episodes, leaving the narrative feeling incomplete. While the writing has room for improvement, the nostalgic feel and character development are appreciated, making it a promising start for those hoping for a continuation.
- “The storyline is intriguing, as well as the theme.”
- “Great start to what I hope is going to continue to be a great story.”
- “Interesting story with multiple plot lines.”
- “In my opinion, a waste of time until the game is complete and there is an end to the story.”
- “The writing is not that superb; I think there's a lot more room for the characters to grow their backstory, but you will really appreciate the current state of it.”
- “The game also has this visual novel-like story progression which leads to these political battles.”
gameplay
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
29%
43%
The gameplay is characterized by a well-integrated story and mechanics, featuring impressive graphics and multi-layered elements, though it leans more towards adventure than RPG. While there are multiple choices that can influence outcomes, some players feel the price is high for a short experience, and technical issues like bugs and an easy combat system detract from the overall enjoyment. With potential updates, the game could improve significantly.
- “The story and game mechanics work perfectly.”
- “Great graphics & multi-layered gameplay.”
- “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.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics are praised for their appealing retro aesthetic reminiscent of the 80s and 90s, with a unique art style that enhances the multi-layered gameplay experience. Overall, users appreciate the visual design and its nostalgic charm.
- “I really liked the aesthetics; it has a cool retro 80s vibe (though it felt a bit older than that).”
- “Great graphics and multi-layered gameplay.”
- “I like the art style.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
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 often too loud, drowning out important sound effects.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game creatively incorporates the four Greek humors as character classes, adding a unique twist to the RPG genre. Players appreciate the humorous references to history and popular culture, contributing to an engaging and entertaining narrative. Overall, the humor is well-received and enhances the game's charm.
- “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, lots of funny references to history and popular culture.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game's stability is criticized for numerous grammar and spelling errors, dialogue glitches, and design flaws, contributing to an overall perception of low quality and a lack of polish.
- “There are tons of grammar and spelling issues, weird endless loops of possible throwdowns, and other dialogue problems that contribute to a low-quality experience.”
- “The game is plagued by glitches and strange design choices that severely impact its stability.”
- “Overall, the lack of polish and numerous technical issues make the game feel unstable and unrefined.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviewers consistently highlight the game's atmosphere as 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 captivating atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Players feel that while the game offers some replayability through multiple choices, the overall gameplay duration of 2-3 hours makes the price of 5 euros seem excessive.
- “The game offers a lot of replay value thanks to the multiple choices available, making each playthrough feel unique.”
- “With various paths and endings to explore, the replayability factor is high, encouraging players to dive back in.”
- “Each decision you make leads to different outcomes, ensuring that no two playthroughs are the same.”
- “5 euros is a bit much for 2-3 hours of gameplay, even accounting for some presumed replay value due to multiple choices.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and play it again.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices means that replaying the game feels more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
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 in the face of gameplay challenges.
- “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.”