Steven Universe Unleash the Light

94%
Game Brain Score Based on 220 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Steven Universe Unleash the Light Game Cover
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"Steven Universe Unleash the Light" is a turn-based RPG based on the popular animated TV show. Players form a team of Crystal Gems and other characters to fight against enemies and solve puzzles. The game features a new storyline, with unique abilities and customization options for each character. It supports cross-platform play, allowing up to four players to team up in local or online co-op mode.

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Reviews

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 220 reviews
story9 positive mentions
stability4 negative mentions
  • The game features engaging turn-based combat that allows for strategic planning and character synergy, making battles enjoyable.
  • Fans of Steven Universe will appreciate the nostalgic elements, character interactions, and the inclusion of beloved characters like Lapis and Bismuth.
  • The game has a charming art style and offers a fun, casual RPG experience that is accessible to both new players and long-time fans of the series.
  • The game is a significant downgrade from its predecessor, Save the Light, with less exploration and a more linear, mobile-style gameplay that feels restrictive.
  • Many players have reported bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including issues with character abilities and progress not being saved.
  • The story and character development are considered lackluster, with some fans feeling that the game does not live up to the narrative depth of previous titles in the series.
  • story31 mentions

    The story of the game is generally viewed as lackluster and not as engaging as its predecessor, "Save the Light," with some players finding it fun yet shallow, primarily serving as a nostalgic experience for fans of the "Steven Universe" series. While it features beloved characters and entertaining dialogue, the narrative lacks depth and context for newcomers, making it more appealing to existing fans. Overall, the gameplay is prioritized over storytelling, resulting in a mixed reception regarding the story's quality and coherence.

    • “An engaging story with the characters you should know and love from Steven Universe; there's something here for you even if you aren't into the series.”
    • “The story is funny and the characters are really nice, including three new characters: Connie, Lion, Bismuth, and Lapis Lazuli!”
    • “Steven Universe's latest RPG installment capitalizes on improving the mechanics, skills, and story of the previous games, while also making it much more accessible to those on mobile.”
    • “For me though, the story was lackluster and boring; to sum it up, the only real points that you'd need to know are that there are now two prisms more and you have to deactivate them.”
    • “You don't have to be a Steven Universe fan to enjoy this; the game can stand on its own, however, the story doesn't explain itself for people jumping onto the series at this point, nor does it really remind you of previous story beats.”
    • “Not to say this isn't a love letter to fans of the show, it's just that gameplay comes first over story and context.”
  • gameplay30 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising the introduction of new mechanics like positioning and party formation, which enhance strategic combat, while others criticize the uneven mechanics, repetitive battles, and numerous bugs that disrupt the experience. Many players noted a downgrade from previous titles, particularly in exploration and story integration, leading to a more linear and less engaging gameplay experience. Overall, while the game offers some fun and unique elements, it struggles with balance and polish, leaving some fans disappointed.

    • “I absolutely love the positioning mechanic; I hope many other JRPGs adopt this style of positioning.”
    • “This is a good game with remarkably intuitive JRPG battle mechanics.”
    • “It's bright and colorful and has super smooth gameplay.”
    • “Mechanics are not well thought out and lead to uneven play. The bosses are boring and can often be beaten on your first turn. Bugs can consistently pop up, and some break the game, like Emethist getting infinite freebies, letting you beat any combat in one turn.”
    • “Just hope you weren't a fan or won't miss the more free out-of-combat gameplay that 'Save the Light' had.”
    • “Instead, I got a 'sequel' to the first game which lacks some of the story flow from one, the battle mechanics from one but not two, the upgrade system for items taken from two but in a most obnoxious way (basically, get ready to repeatedly go in and out of maps to farm), and some really lackluster repetitive battles.”
  • graphics6 mentions

    The game's graphics are praised for their charmingly simplistic art style, with some users considering it the best among the series for its refinement and smoothness. However, there are mixed opinions, as some feel the visuals are less impressive compared to previous installments, particularly due to the lack of 3D exploration. Overall, the graphics are described as decent, contributing to an enjoyable gameplay experience.

    • “The game has a very charmingly simplistic art style; I personally believe it's the best of the three games in terms of how refined and smooth it looks.”
    • “It definitely has the best graphics and many more features and abilities to choose from, compared to the first and second game.”
    • “Cute graphics and easy gameplay!”
    • “The visuals are worse too.”
    • “Graphics are decent but without the 3D exploration aspect, it's so much less fun.”
  • music5 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players praise it as amazing and appealing to fans of similar series, others find it boring and criticize the lack of variety, particularly in battle themes compared to previous installments. Overall, the soundtrack seems to be a divisive aspect of the game.

    • “I'd recommend this to fans of Steven Universe and people who are new to the series as a whole; the music in this game is amazing.”
    • “In short: this is a great game, it looks amazing and I like the music.”
    • “The music doesn't change in combat unlike the second game, which adds a unique layer to the experience.”
    • “The music was really boring from what I played.”
    • “Even the battle music is disappointing, and I've read it doesn't change like it did in the previous game.”
    • “The music doesn't change in combat like it did in the previous game; the status upgrade system forces the player to farm levels, and enemies can also get stronger, reminiscent of Final Fantasy VIII mechanics.”
  • stability4 mentions

    Overall, players report that "Rose's Room" is stable, with only minor visual glitches and a specific issue with fusions not splitting upon defeat. The game's simplistic screen-to-screen movement appears to mitigate potential physics-related glitches, contributing to a generally positive experience without significant bugs.

    • “The only issue I encountered with Rose's Room was some visual glitches and the fact that fusions wouldn't split when defeated. Overall, these are just minor nitpicks and don't sway me to view this game negatively.”
    • “In fact, the simplistic screen-to-screen movement actually helps prevent the physics glitches that plagued Save the Light.”
    • “In the end, I'm fine with going back to the simple map exploration because it leaves less room for glitches, and the combat is my focus in how fun these games are anyway!”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding in the game to be typical for achievement hunting, though some express frustration with the Palace of Light due to its high encounter rate and the overshadowing effect of the black hole mode. While grinding can feel redundant, those who enjoy it or are comfortable with certain strategies being more effective may appreciate the experience, especially with the addition of new characters and mission modes in recent updates.

    • “As I mentioned, I got all achievements for this game, and mostly it was the usual grinding you'd expect from undertaking a process like this, but one main, glaring issue with the process was the Palace of Light.”
    • “I understand this is the endgame location and the idea behind the high encounter rate was likely for grinding purposes (or just general difficulty), but with the inclusion of the black hole mode, it makes the palace feel redundant.”
    • “If you like grinding or you're okay with some options being obviously and drastically superior compared to others, you will enjoy this game.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability through its dungeon crawler elements and multiple game modes, including the black hole and rose's room, which provide endless fun and challenges. Additionally, the inclusion of achievements tied to both modes encourages players to engage in extensive gameplay to achieve 100%. The introduction of new, well-balanced characters further enhances the replay value, making it a compelling experience overall.

    • “I believe it was genius to add a dungeon crawler-esque experience into this game; it adds to the replay value quite a lot, especially considering there are achievements tied to both game modes. If you want 100% achievements, you'll have to grind both considerably.”
    • “The black hole and Rose's room game modes are a lot of fun and add basically infinite replayability. The new characters are also a ton of fun and surprisingly well balanced, and the story is an amazing side plot to the show.”
    • “I believe it was genius to add a dungeon crawler-esque experience into this game; it adds to the replay value quite a lot (especially considering there's achievements tied to both game modes, so if you want 100% achievements, you'll have to grind both considerably).”
    • “It has a ton of features and is definitely replayable!”
  • humor2 mentions

    The game is praised for its humor, featuring a funny story and likable characters, including new additions like Connie, Lion, Bismuth, and Lapis Lazuli. Players recommend it for its comedic elements and engaging character interactions.

    • “Best game and funny game, I recommend.”
    • “The story is funny and the characters are really nice, including the three new characters: Connie, Lion, Bismuth, and Lapis Lazuli!”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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