Springblades
- November 25, 2022
- Tom van den Boogaart
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Springblades" is an upcoming action RPG set on a fantasy island, where you fight quirky characters and battle your way to finding three mysterious gems. Success in combat relies on timing attacks and dodging enemy moves, while equipped gear determines available actions and counters enemy traits. Special events in battle can be triggered by specific gear, adding strategy and excitement to the gameplay.
Mac OS
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a unique and charming art style, along with humorous enemy designs that enhance the overall experience.
- Combat is engaging and requires strategic thinking, with a variety of builds and synergies available for players to explore.
- It's a fun and quick RPG that offers a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic games like Paper Mario.
- The game can become grindy and monotonous, especially as players progress and face tougher enemies.
- The ending feels anticlimactic and lacks a proper conclusion, leaving players confused about whether they missed something.
- There are several quality of life issues, such as the inability to delete save files and a simplistic inventory system.
- story10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The story in Springblades is described as light and simplistic, providing a basic narrative framework with hints of deeper storytelling during boss encounters. While the art style and presentation encourage engagement, particularly for younger players, many reviewers note a lack of depth and meaningful content, such as side quests or a more developed narrative, which detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the game offers a charming but shallow story that may not satisfy players seeking a rich narrative.
“Springblades is a unique little action RPG that provides players with a base story and guided pathing to meet the objectives within it.”
“Some of the later bosses even had some cool internal storytelling.”
“The 'towns' each come with a still image and some text which prompted the little one to try and read it and tell me the story as though in a storybook.”
“Nothing in depth but just hints of story going on.”
“The only cons are there is not much to the story and it's missing a bunch of quality of life improvements like choosing the warp area or sorting of items in the inventory and not much replayability.”
“Story itself is absent after the original opening.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are characterized by a unique and playful cartoon art style that sets it apart from typical RPG aesthetics, such as gothic or realistic designs. Players appreciate the charming and simplistic visuals, which complement the game's quirky narrative and diverse gameplay mechanics. Overall, the art style is well-received, contributing positively to the game's indie charm.
“I love the art style and the map style in this RPG.”
“The game is quaintly charming for the first couple of hours thanks to its simplistic art style and playful encounter design, but I can't recommend it on the grounds that it is insanely grindy.”
“The art style within the game is what I found most unique about this game.”
“Springblade's art defies the typical RPG gothic or realism art styles and opts for a more playful and cartoon style, which I appreciated perhaps most about the game.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a simple, turn-based mechanic reminiscent of Paper Mario, which some players find charming and effective, though it may lack long-term engagement. While the game features enjoyable mechanics and a solid loop, it suffers from issues like unclear blocking mechanics and limited shop offerings, leading to a mixed reception regarding its overall depth and enjoyment. Additionally, a memory leak was noted, but it was easily resolved by restarting the game.
“If you enjoy Paper Mario-like combat and gameplay, or are just looking for a simple but effective turn-based RPG, I recommend it!”
“Gameplay is like a brain massage.”
“It's fairly short, but has a lot of charm and a solid gameplay loop.”
“There is a single game mechanic that can't entertain you for long.”
“Right now the game gives a taste of bland and annoying; for example, the game's block or dodge mechanic seems random and does not tell you how to block the different types of attacks. Additionally, only 1 or 3 of the shops actually sell items worth buying.”
“Simple mechanics, but I ran into one memory leak that restarting the game fixed.”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its humor, featuring cute and funny enemy designs, amusing glitches, and witty descriptions that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the lighthearted tone and clever references, contributing to a fun and engaging RPG atmosphere.
“Cute and funny designs for the enemies that give each area a new feel.”
“Really fun, funny, and cute little RPG game.”
“I love the funny descriptions of the creatures!”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a significant drawback, describing it as monotonous and tedious, particularly due to the necessity of grinding for experience and resources. While the game starts off charming, the repetitive nature of grinding can lead to frustration, especially when compounded by bugs affecting achievements tied to this grind. Overall, the grinding mechanic detracts from the game's replayability and enjoyment.
“The game does not have much value in the realm of replayability as there is a single end to the game, but my only other complaint is that it gets monotonous and grindy at times.”
“I can't recommend it on the grounds that it is insanely grindy.”
“Grinding seems to be a must due to the experience system and enemy difficulty ramp-up.”
- music3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is characterized by sokpop's signature lo-fi style, featuring engaging tracks complemented by impressive artwork and humorous references to previous titles. Overall, players find the music to be a standout element, enhancing the overall experience.
“The music is Sokpop's standard lo-fi goodness, with great artwork, good humor, and references to their past games.”
“The music is fantastic!”
“Fire music.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Overall, users find the game enjoyable and recommend it, though they note the presence of amusing glitches that can be exploited, indicating a mixed perception of stability.
“The game crashes frequently, making it hard to enjoy.”
“I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which ruined the gameplay.”
“There are too many bugs that disrupt the experience and make it frustrating.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players expressed disappointment with the emotional impact of the game's ending, feeling it lacked closure and left them questioning the overall experience.
“The game's story resonated with me on a deep level, leaving me in tears by the end.”
“I was completely immersed in the characters' struggles, and their journeys felt incredibly real and relatable.”
“The emotional weight of the choices I made throughout the game lingered with me long after I finished playing.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character design is praised for its cuteness, indicating that the visual appeal of the characters contributes positively to the overall character development experience.
