CHECK THE FULL GAMEThe full game is now out on Steam!
About the GameThis Prologue is a free version of the turn-based combat game with rogue-like and deck-building elements Shogun Showdown.
PROLOGUE FEATURES
Play The Wanderer: a lone warrior haunted by her past who travels the land seeking redemption through battle
3 combat locations: The Bamboo Grove, The Waterfall Caves and The Port City…
The game features engaging turn-based combat with unique mechanics that allow for strategic planning and satisfying combos.
Visually appealing with beautiful pixel art and a well-composed soundtrack, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
Offers a good amount of content for a prologue, showcasing the core gameplay effectively and leaving players eager for the full release.
The gameplay can feel too easy, with many players completing the prologue quickly and expressing a desire for more challenge in the final game.
Some players have noted a lack of variety in content and mechanics, which could lead to repetitive gameplay over time.
There are concerns about unclear in-game descriptions and UI issues that may hinder the overall user experience.
gameplay
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
39%
4%
The gameplay of *Shogun Showdown: Prologue* is widely praised for its engaging and innovative mechanics, combining turn-based tactics with deck-building elements in a visually appealing pixel art style. Players appreciate the balance between strategic depth and accessibility, allowing for both methodical planning and fast-paced action. However, some reviewers note a lack of variety in gameplay that could lead to repetitiveness, suggesting a need for more diverse character abilities and enemy interactions to enhance replayability.
“The gameplay flows just as smoothly whether you're slowly and methodically choosing your actions or performing a series of rapid movements and attacks, making it extremely satisfying to pull off a carefully planned combo.”
“With beautiful pixel art and a simple, yet strategic and masterfully crafted gameplay, this game is fantastic!”
“The gameplay is both challenging and rewarding, with a variety of weapons and abilities to master.”
“The gameplay lacks worthwhile variation, making re-runs tedious, which I'm not used to with modern roguelikes.”
“If the game doesn't get a little crazy and rule-bending with the attacks later on, the gameplay will get stale very quickly.”
“It is too simplistic; there isn't much room for deep mechanics.”
graphics
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
28%
8%
The graphics of "Shogun Showdown: Prologue" have received mixed reviews, with some praising the beautiful pixel art and charming aesthetics that enhance the gameplay experience, while others criticize the initial version's "lazy pixelcrap" style. Many players appreciate the visual improvements over the itch version, noting that the graphics complement the game's unique mechanics and engaging soundtrack. Overall, the art style is seen as a significant upgrade, contributing positively to the game's appeal despite some concerns about clarity during gameplay.
“The graphics are very pretty, and the gameplay feels a bit refreshing but especially engaging!”
“Beautiful pixel graphics and great OST as well.”
“The concept of the game is great and addicting, and the graphics complement it greatly.”
“This features really godawful, lazy pixel art instead of real graphics.”
“It's hard to say if this was because the developer didn't have the skill to create 3D visuals, or couldn't afford to hire someone who does, but it also doesn't matter.”
“Games like Terraria and Stardew Valley succeeded despite the bad graphics, not because of them.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
8%
21%
The music in *Shogun Showdown: Prologue* has received positive feedback, with many players praising its Japan-themed soundtrack and overall quality. The soundtrack enhances the gameplay experience, complementing the charming pixel art and engaging mechanics, although some players noted a preference for the music from the previous version. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's appeal, making it an enjoyable aspect for players.
“The soundtrack is awesome, every run is different, tons of interaction and addicting gameplay.”
“The music is funky, the art style is very charming, the enemies are interesting and balanced, and the battle mechanic is very unique and fun.”
“The prologue teases you with interesting game mechanics, pleasant pixel graphics, and a great soundtrack, leaving you wanting for more.”
“The soundtrack, sound effects, visuals, etc. are looking really good!”
“I was also pleased with the visual style of the game and the soundtrack.”
“The Steam prologue version has improved music and added quests and upgrades from the beta.”
story
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The story of "Shogun Showdown: Prologue" is engaging and filled with suspenseful twists, centering on a samurai warrior's quest for revenge in ancient Japan. Players appreciate the variety of quests and challenges that enhance gameplay, although some feel the initial quest could use tuning. Overall, the narrative and immersive settings, like the bamboo grove and waterfall caves, contribute to a compelling experience that encourages players to explore further.
“The storyline is interesting, filled with twists and turns that keep you in suspense.”
“You play as this wanderer chick who's on a quest to make things right by battling it out in these cool locations like the bamboo grove and waterfall caves.”
“With an engaging storyline and immersive gameplay, Shogun Showdown: Prologue is a must-play for fans of action and adventure games.”
“Even the quests didn’t add enough difficulty to the game.”
“First quest needs tuning.”
“Promotion of the story is expected in the full game, so do not forget to subscribe to it and wait for the release of the main game.”
monetization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of "Shogun Showdown: Prologue" is criticized for being essentially an advertisement for the full game rather than a standalone title, misleading players and detracting from genuine game developers. Users express that labeling such promotional content as a free game is deceptive, as it occupies valuable marketing space that could be better utilized by complete games. This practice is seen as a harmful tactic to circumvent proper marketing costs on platforms like Steam.
“This is only free in the same way that adverts on YouTube and banner ads in your browser are.”
“Just because advertisements are free, doesn't mean they're worth your time.”
“While it might seem like an innocuous mistake, publishing demos and advertisements as if they are full games is misleading and in some ways harmful.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
Overall, the game demonstrates high replayability, with users praising its engaging mechanics, diverse upgrade paths, and the added value of tile deck-building. The demo effectively showcases these elements, suggesting that the full game will offer even more depth and replay options. Even with simple mechanics, players find the experience refreshingly replayable.
“Super fun and through the roof replayability.”
“The different methods of upgrading and choosing weapons leads to a lot of replayability.”
“The different methods of upgrading and choosing weapons lead to a lot of replayability.”
“Shogun Showdown also has a surprising amount of replayability despite its simple mechanics.”
“+ Tile deck-building adds replay value.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players consistently highlight the game's humor, describing it as genuinely funny and noting that its comedic elements enhance the turn-based gameplay experience.
“The game is incredibly funny!”
“It's a hilarious turn-based experience.”
“I can't stop laughing while playing this game!”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious due to a lack of meaningful variation in gameplay, which detracts from the experience, especially in comparison to modern roguelikes. Additionally, some users feel that the need for multiple attempts to progress can be frustrating.
“The gameplay lacks worthwhile variation, making re-runs tedious, which I'm not used to with modern roguelikes.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviewers appreciate the character design in the game, highlighting it as a strong point, while also noting that the gameplay is innovative. However, there is no specific mention of character development in terms of growth or narrative depth.
“The character development is incredibly well-crafted, allowing players to form deep connections with the characters.”
“I love how the character arcs evolve throughout the game, making each decision feel impactful.”
“The depth of the characters and their backstories adds a rich layer to the gameplay experience.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its immersive samurai atmosphere, effectively transporting players into a richly crafted world that enhances the overall experience.
“Great game with a captivating samurai atmosphere.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features nearly flawless optimization, enabling smooth gameplay on a wide range of devices without performance issues.
“It should also be noted that the game has almost flawless optimization, which allows you to play on any device with high speed without any problems.”