Sheryl ~The Alchemist of the Island Ruins~
- April 19, 2024
- Pakkuri Paradise
Get on Steam"Sheryl ~The Alchemist of the Island Ruins~" is a game where players explore the ruins of Abyss, an island chasm, to gather ingredients for alchemy and make a living. As the titular character, Sheryl, players will encounter various intelligent species, monsters, and ancient civilizations. The game combines low-stakes slice-of-life exploration with high-stakes drama as Sheryl uncovers a conspiracy and becomes entangled in a web of deception.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Engaging gameplay that blends real-time combat with deep crafting systems, providing a unique and fun experience.
- Rich narrative that combines slice-of-life elements with thrilling conspiracies, enhancing player immersion.
- Beautifully crafted pixel art animations and high-quality CGs that bring the game's world and characters to life.
- Controls are set up awkwardly, making remapping frustrating and leading to a less enjoyable experience.
- Some animations are laggy, particularly during menu navigation and character introductions, detracting from the overall fluidity.
- The game requires a restoration patch for adult content, which can be cumbersome to install and may limit accessibility for some players.
- story81 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 83 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "Sheryl the Alchemist of the Island Ruins" combines elements of alchemy, adventure, and a mature narrative, drawing comparisons to the Atelier series while introducing darker themes. Players engage in over 180 quests, with a main storyline that spans approximately 20+ hours, enriched by crafting mechanics that influence gameplay and character interactions. While the narrative is described as compelling and intense, it also features controversial themes, including non-consensual elements, which may affect player reception.
“The story of the game has a very good start, especially the last part of the first floor adds a dark side to the story.”
“"Sheryl the Alchemist of the Island Ruins" offers a compelling blend of action, crafting, and storytelling, reminiscent of the beloved "Atelier" series but with a distinctive, mature twist.”
“This game is surprisingly dark story-wise, which isn't something rare in the genre, but there are some things that aren't usually touched on in the genre that it just walks right into with open arms.”
“Unfortunately, there isn't much of a story and a lot of the content is non-consensual, involving trickery or defeats and traps.”
“The quest can be rather mundane as it is mostly just delivering alchemy-made items, and the quest completion can be rather slow as you need to complete them one at a time; there is no 'complete all quests' button.”
“Story is... there, I guess, and the characters are as memorable as a brick in the Great Wall of China, but those are small complaints.”
- gameplay50 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Sheryl: The Alchemist of the Island Ruins" is a blend of action RPG mechanics and crafting, featuring engaging real-time combat and a strong focus on alchemy. Players can shape the protagonist's personality through their choices, enhancing the overall experience with humor and depth, although some find the gameplay repetitive and grindy. Overall, it offers a solid mix of fun mechanics and narrative engagement, appealing to RPG enthusiasts.
“This multitude of engagement opportunities enriches the gameplay, making each interaction and discovery a valuable part of the adventure.”
“The game’s engaging mechanics and depth in crafting, combined with intense real-time combat, make it a standout choice for RPG aficionados.”
“For those who value a rich narrative intertwined with sophisticated gameplay and mature themes, Sheryl's adventure through the enchanting yet perilous abyss promises a robust and rewarding experience, concluding as a must-play title for enthusiasts of the genre seeking depth and maturity in their gaming journey.”
“Grindy gameplay, lame characters, and a 'thanks for playing' ending.”
“In terms of gameplay, it feels repetitive and has some repeating unskippable cut-scenes, which gets old pretty fast for me.”
“However, what it lacks in gameplay depth, I think the game more than makes up for it with art.”
- graphics13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a predominantly moe-inspired CG art style, complemented by pixel art for specific scenes like battles and traps. The visual presentation aligns with the game's overall theme and is influenced by the chosen game engine.
“The screenshots you see on the store page showcase the main art style used in all of the game's CGs.”
“Other scenes, especially those depicting falling in battle or getting caught in a trap, utilize a pixel art style.”
“The CG art style leans more towards a moe aesthetic rather than a lewd one.”
“The screenshots you see on the store page have the main art style used in all of the game's CGs.”
“Other scenes, especially those from falling in battle or getting caught in a trap, use a pixel art style.”
“The CG art style is more towards moe rather than lewd.”
- humor10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its humor, featuring witty dialogue and amusing quests that often include playful and risqué elements, such as selling "seeds" to a character humorously named Baron Gay. Players appreciate the combination of cute visuals and engaging gameplay, which enhances the overall comedic experience. Overall, the humor is a standout aspect, contributing significantly to the enjoyment of the game.
“Very funny, laughed a lot.”
“An atelier-like with a cute UI, funny dialogue, cool mechanics, and pretty fun gameplay.”
“However, I like the humorous quests (selling 'seed' of various species to a totally not closeted homosexual individual called Baron Gay, for example), slightly 'cute and funny' looks of our lovely protagonist, and the feeling of mowing down hordes of enemies (as it is easy to become OP).”
- grinding9 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while some players find the item farming enjoyable and the RPG experience improves over time, others criticize it for being overly grindy with lackluster characters and a disappointing ending. Players can alleviate the grind by purchasing materials to complete quests, making the experience more manageable. Overall, the game offers fun moments despite its initial grind.
“Grindy gameplay, lame characters, and a 'thanks for playing' ending.”
“If you're tired from grinding, just buy the necessary materials to clear any quests you have.”
“Pretty fun RPG overall, a bit grindy at first but then it gets better.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability due to its extensive content, featuring over 180 quests and a wide variety of items to create. Additionally, the inclusion of New Game Plus (NG+) further enhances the replay value, encouraging players to revisit the game for new experiences.
“Extensive content, including over 180 quests and a vast array of items to create, ensuring high replayability.”
“Some replayable values with new game plus (NG+).”
“Replay value is minimal.”
“There are some replayable elements with New Game Plus, but they don't add much.”
“The replay value feels lacking overall.”
- music6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game is thoughtfully curated to enhance the atmosphere of the environments, contributing to the overall mystery and adventure of the setting. Players appreciate the collectible aspect of the music, which complements the story and ambiance, inspiring a sense of exploration.
“The overall design, ambiance, music, and story bring out the mystery of the island ruins.”
“Great story, music, and ambiance; it fulfills your inspiration to become an adventurer like Sheryl.”
“The music was chosen to suit the environments.”
“The overall design, ambiance, music, and story brings out the mystery of the island ruins.”
- character development3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is praised for its multifaceted approach, which enhances the overall experience and ensures that each playthrough remains uniquely compelling.
“This multifaceted approach to character development enriches the game, making each playthrough uniquely compelling.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is predominantly peaceful, creating a serene environment for players, but this tranquility shifts dramatically when they take a tram, introducing a contrasting element to the overall experience.
“It's a game of peaceful atmosphere until you take a tram.”
