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 breakout and match-3 mechanics, providing a fresh and engaging gameplay experience.
- The characters, writing, and overall aesthetic are charming and relatable, creating a wholesome and enjoyable atmosphere.
- The sound design and visuals are exceptional, contributing to a captivating and immersive experience that players find hard to resist.
- Some players found the gameplay mechanics to be unfair at times, particularly with gem patterns and AI difficulty spikes.
- The story mode, while sweet and simple, may not satisfy those looking for a deep narrative experience.
- There are some minor issues with typos and awkward dialogue that detract from the overall polish of the game.
- story17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game's story mode introduces a cast of quirky characters and presents a lighthearted narrative reminiscent of fighting game storylines, blending humor with a surreal aesthetic. While some players find the plot simplistic and driven by arbitrary events, the writing and character interactions are praised for their charm and emotional depth. Overall, the story mode is seen as a refreshing and entertaining addition, appealing to those who enjoy a softer narrative experience alongside engaging gameplay.
“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 4 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.”
- gameplay15 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a unique and addictive twist on the classic breakout formula, involving the strategic destruction of cascading gems. While some players find it hard to predict gem spawns, leading to occasional frustration, the overall mechanics are praised for their freshness and engaging nature. The combination of fun characters, a humorous narrative, and solid match-3 puzzle elements contributes to a delightful gaming experience that many recommend.
“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's a unique twist on breakout and I couldn't get enough of it really.”
“The gameplay is top notch and super addicting.”
“Ironically, I wasn't fond of the gameplay aspect at all.”
“When I first saw this game, I wasn't sure what was so special and different about the gameplay.”
“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.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are widely praised for their beautiful, surreal visuals and a consistent aesthetic that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the trippy, dream-like quality of the art, which is complemented by an excellent soundtrack and sound design. The unique presentation style creates an engaging atmosphere that encourages exploration and interaction with the artwork throughout the game.
“It has beautiful, surreal visuals paired with great sound effects and an excellent soundtrack.”
“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.”
“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.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be a wholesome and emotionally uplifting experience, praising its touching story, relatable characters, and humorous writing. The combination of engaging gameplay and trippy aesthetics contributes to a healing atmosphere that resonates deeply with players, making it a highly recommended title.
“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.”
“This game is very wholesome and healing.”
“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.”
- music5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its quality, catchiness, and ability to enhance the overall experience, complementing the beautiful visuals and comforting environment. Reviewers highlight the excellent soundtrack as a standout feature, contributing to the game's charm and immersive atmosphere.
“The music has beautiful, surreal visuals paired with great sound effects and an excellent soundtrack.”
“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 feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“While the game has a lot of strengths, the music is forgettable and doesn't enhance the experience.”
“The soundtrack is underwhelming and fails to match the game's overall 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 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, and I will be recommending this game to everyone who can stand to listen to me.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % 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 engaging dialogue and unique character designs contribute positively to the overall 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.”
“I appreciate how the characters evolve throughout the game, adding depth to the overall experience.”
