Sparkles & Gems
- April 23, 2021
- resnijars
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Get on itch.io Store"Sparkles & Gems" is a unique spin on the classic ball-and-paddle game, featuring wild power-ups and a deep, emotional story. Join four protagonists - Softie Meow, Sandway, OAT, and Geometry Clown - on a journey of self-discovery and adventure in Story Mode, presented in a visual novel-esque style. Experience laughter, tears, and self-reflection as each character navigates their own personal struggles and aspirations. Note: This summary is based on the game's description and is not an official review.
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Reviews
- The game features a unique and delightful blend of gameplay mechanics, combining elements of Breakout, Columns, and Puyo Pop in a fresh and exciting way.
- The characters, writing, and overall aesthetic are charming and relatable, creating a wholesome and engaging experience.
- The sound design and music are excellent, enhancing the gameplay and making it satisfying to play.
- Some players found the gameplay aspect to be lacking, feeling that it didn't meet their expectations.
- The story mode may feel simplistic and arbitrary compared to more complex narrative-driven games, which could disappoint some players.
- There are occasional issues with gameplay balance, such as unfair gem patterns and difficulty spikes in Treasure Mode.
- story15 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story mode of the game introduces a cast of quirky characters and presents a lighthearted narrative reminiscent of fighting game storylines. While some players find the plot simplistic and somewhat disjointed, the writing and humor are praised for their charm and emotional depth, creating a unique and surreal experience. Overall, the story is seen as a refreshing twist on traditional narratives, appealing to those who appreciate a more whimsical and compassionate approach.
“There's a story mode in which you get to know the characters of the game, from Oat the ferret plushie to Sandway the business horse, and it presents a fun tale similar to a fighting game storyline.”
“The writing is great, the story and its characters are very touching, and I absolutely adore the game's humor. It really goes well with the trippy aesthetics the game has, like a mushroom fever dream.”
“What makes this game something truly special and likely to make my game of the year list is the story mode.”
“The plot isn't great and seems like a series of arbitrary events to make the four characters fight each other, but the dialogue is fun to read and I enjoyed the surreal character designs.”
“As for the story mode, I'll be honest that it took a moment to grow on me.”
“It seems like a huge oversight to not have this option as it wouldn’t be hard to add and I don’t always want to play story missions/gauntlet.”
- gameplay13 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a unique and addictive twist on the classic breakout formula, focusing on hitting cascading gems to clear groups of three or more. While many players find the mechanics fresh and engaging, some express frustration with the unpredictability of gem spawns, which can affect achieving perfect clears. Overall, the gameplay is praised for its delightful blend of match-3 puzzle elements and charming character interactions, making it a standout experience despite some minor criticisms.
“An enchantingly weird offering from resnijars, the core gameplay loop involves hitting cascading gems with a ball and paddle, aiming to hit as many gems that have three or more of the same type grouped together to destroy them.”
“The gameplay is top notch and super addicting.”
“The gameplay is familiar but delightful; the characters are relatable, the writing is genuinely funny and surprisingly touching, and I will be recommending this game to everyone that can stand to listen to me.”
“Ironically, I wasn't fond of the gameplay aspect at all.”
“One other gripe with the gameplay I had is that it’s hard to predict when gems spawn in, so getting a perfect clear, which gives you a huge advantage, seems to happen pretty randomly.”
“But this game doesn't have any such gameplay.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are widely praised for their unique and trippy aesthetic, likened to a "mushroom fever dream," which enhances the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the consistent visual style and engaging artwork that captivates players, making it one of the most aesthetically pleasing games they've encountered. The combination of vibrant visuals and a fitting soundtrack creates an immersive atmosphere that resonates with players.
“One of the most aesthetically on-point games I've ever seen in my life.”
“A really special gem of a game with a perfectly consistent visual aesthetic and a rocking soundtrack.”
“The characters, sound design, writing, and general aesthetic are all so pleasing and inspiring to my own art.”
“The characters, sound design, writing, and general aesthetic are all so pleasing and inspiring to my own art.”
“I find it interesting; I use the word 'wander' from talking about spatial games, which have artworks spread around space. Here, it's the same feeling but with artworks adorning a 'X to continue' linear presentation. It's almost like 'wandering' more than wandering itself because there is no need to make a map.”
“The dev's interesting weird style gives lots of energy for engaging with any design, appealing to anyone more interested in the artwork aspect.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its wholesome and touching narrative, featuring relatable characters and humorous writing that enhances the emotional experience. Players appreciate the blend of engaging gameplay with a heartfelt story, making it a memorable and recommendable experience.
“The writing is great, the story and its characters are very touching, and I absolutely adore the game's humor. It really goes well with the trippy aesthetics the game has, like a mushroom fever dream.”
“The gameplay is familiar but delightful, the characters are relatable, the writing is genuinely funny and surprisingly touching. I will be recommending this game to everyone who can stand to listen to me.”
“This is so wholesome!”
- music4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its catchiness and ability to enhance the overall experience, contributing to a comforting environment and consistent visual aesthetic. Reviewers describe the soundtrack as "rocking" and memorable, making it a standout feature of the game.
“The music is also really catchy and gets stuck in your head quite easily.”
“A really special gem of a game with a perfectly consistent visual aesthetic and a rocking soundtrack.”
“The music's pretty good too; in short, go buy the game, it's great.”
“The music is repetitive and quickly becomes annoying.”
“The soundtrack lacks variety and fails to enhance the gameplay experience.”
“The music feels out of place and doesn't match the game's atmosphere.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is highly praised for its clever writing and relatability, effectively complementing the trippy aesthetics. Reviewers find it genuinely funny and touching, enhancing the overall experience and making it a standout feature worth recommending.
“The writing is great, the story and its characters are very touching, and I absolutely adore the game's humor. It really complements the trippy aesthetics, like a mushroom fever dream.”
“The gameplay is familiar but delightful, the characters are relatable, the writing is genuinely funny and surprisingly touching. I will be recommending this game to everyone who can stand to listen to me.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is perceived as lacking depth, with the plot feeling disjointed and primarily serving to facilitate conflict among the four characters. However, the dialogue is engaging, and the unique character designs add a layer of enjoyment to the experience.
“The dialogue is fun to read, and I enjoyed the surreal character designs.”
“The character development is engaging, making each character feel unique and memorable.”
“The interactions between characters add depth to their personalities and enhance the overall experience.”
