TAROTICA VOO DOO

About

TAROTICA VOO DOO is an uncategorized Japanese adventure game, in development since 1993, with hand-drawn animation and simple controls. Players explore a haunted mansion, solving puzzles and fighting monsters to save a family before an airplane crashes into it. Combat is based on learning enemies' patterns, with no items or leveling up. The game was a finalist in the Nuovo Award category at the 2018 Independent Games Festival. Trading cards and badges have recently been released.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 29 reviews

graphics4 positive mentions

gameplay4 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and charming experience, blending retro aesthetics with engaging gameplay mechanics.
It features clever puzzles and a delightful atmosphere, enhanced by hand-drawn animations that add to its charm.
The development story is endearing, showcasing the dedication and creativity of the developer in bringing this project to life.

The game is quite short, taking only about 1-2 hours to complete, which may leave some players wanting more.
Some gameplay elements feel clunky and dated, reflecting its long development history and reliance on MSX-era mechanics.
The price point may be considered high for the amount of content offered, leading to mixed feelings about its value.

graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
The graphics of the game are praised for their perfection and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, featuring a neat and cute hand-drawn aesthetic reminiscent of MSX-era gameplay. Reviewers highlight the uniqueness of the visuals, which complement the clever puzzles, making it a recommended title for those who appreciate distinctive art styles.
- “The graphics are perfect and really add to the atmosphere.”
- “If any of the above sounds interesting to you or if you think the graphics look neat/cute, I can definitely recommend this game.”
- “Disclaimer: This is a point-and-click adventure game built on MSX-era gameplay, and the graphics are completely hand-drawn.”
- “The aesthetic is very neat, but the graphics may not appeal to everyone due to their retro style.”
- “While the game has a unique charm, the graphics feel outdated and lack the polish expected in modern titles.”
gameplay
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
14%
57%
The gameplay is a point-and-click adventure that emulates MSX-era mechanics with hand-drawn graphics, offering a nostalgic experience. However, it has been criticized for being clunky, boring, and glitchy, leading to a lack of engaging features.
- “The gameplay is different from any game I've ever played.”
- “Disclaimer: This is a point-and-click adventure game built on MSX-era gameplay, and the graphics are completely hand-drawn.”
- “The gameplay is clunky and boring (and glitchy).”
- “While this can be criticized as being lacking in gameplay features, it is the result of highly focusing on an experience that harkens back to older games.”
- “Disclaimer, this is a point-and-click adventure game built on MSX-era gameplay and the graphics are completely hand-drawn.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
33%
50%
The story of "Tarotica Voo Doo" is charming and is primarily conveyed through a delightful design document included with the game, which outlines the player's mission as the central narrative. Overall, the narrative is simple yet engaging, focusing on the player's objectives.
- “The story behind the development of this game is rather cute, much of which is outlined in the wonderful design document it comes packaged with.”
- “That's your mission and basically the entire story of Tarotica Voo Doo.”
- “That's your mission and basically the entire story of Tarotica Voo Doo.”
- “That's your mission and basically the entire story of Tarotica Voo Doo.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers consistently highlight that the graphics significantly enhance the game's atmosphere, creating an immersive experience that captivates players.
- “The graphics are perfect and really add to the atmosphere.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in this title is reminiscent of early video game development, featuring minimalistic sound effects and limited soundtracks, which may only appeal to those with a nostalgic appreciation for that era. Overall, it seems to lack depth and variety, potentially leaving many players wanting more.
- “You'll only get a bit of enjoyment from this title if you do not have any interest in video game development from a generation where games only had 4 colors, 1 sound effect, and maybe 2 soundtracks.”