Terra Incognita Chapter One: The Descendant
- December 15, 2014
- Back To Basics Gaming
- 3h median play time
In "Terra Incognita Chapter One: The Descendant," players navigate a rich, hand-drawn world as a young explorer seeking his missing father. The game features strategic combat, puzzle-solving, and a compelling narrative set in a steampunk-inspired universe. With its distinctive art style and emphasis on character development, it offers a memorable adventure gaming experience.
Reviews
- The game has a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic RPGs, appealing to fans of the genre.
- Despite being unfinished, the game offers an engaging story and interesting characters.
- The soundtrack is enjoyable and adds to the overall atmosphere of the game.
- The game is plagued by bugs and crashes, making it frustrating to play.
- It has been abandoned by the developers, with no updates or new content since 2015.
- The gameplay is repetitive and lacks depth, with many players feeling it is more of a demo than a complete game.
- story84 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it intriguing and reminiscent of classic JRPGs, while others criticize it as cliché, unfinished, or lacking depth. Many appreciate the potential for development and the engaging side quests, but note issues with character development and storytelling execution. Overall, the narrative shows promise but requires further refinement and expansion to fully realize its potential.
“I love the story so far and it's very easy to follow!”
“This is a very interesting game, with an amazing story, and amazing gameplay!”
“The story is interesting and I like the look of the retro graphics.”
“It's just an unfinished and unpolished intro to a story.”
“No storyline to speak of.”
“The story is pretty bad.”
- gameplay48 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying its retro style and solid mechanics, while others criticize it for being repetitive, underdeveloped, and plagued by bugs. Many users noted that the game feels incomplete, with limited content and a lack of updates since its early access release, leading to a perception of it as abandonware. Overall, while some aspects like combat mechanics and storyline are praised, the gameplay experience is marred by interface issues and a lack of depth.
“The gameplay can make you sick at first without a controller, but with a controller it becomes more comfortable to play.”
“The combat mechanics are smooth, and the UI is polished amazingly.”
“This is a very interesting game, with an amazing story, and amazing gameplay!”
“The gameplay is way too repetitive, and the graphics feel cheap and recycled.”
“The gameplay is basic; there really isn't any inventory system, or stat building, or much 'RPG' element to varying your character.”
“These hiccups are super common and will happen several times per minute, absolutely destroying the flow of gameplay.”
- music45 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many players praising its uplifting and fitting nature that enhances the overall experience. While some users noted inconsistencies in volume levels across different areas, the soundtrack is generally regarded as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere. However, a few players expressed mixed feelings, with some finding certain tracks less appealing.
“Great thing is the music of the game, especially the one at the first map with the skaava monsters!”
“The music is, simply put, perfect.”
“I am rather impressed by the music in the game - it really does help to set the tone of scenes and environments.”
“Lots of royalty free music used but there's no sources for anything anywhere, and it makes me wonder how much of the work was original.”
“No, just no. Don't buy this game; the theme song is horrible, please, I can't get it out of my head.”
“The music is not very good.”
- graphics36 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are a mixed bag, with many reviewers noting a nostalgic pixel art style reminiscent of classic RPGs like "Breath of Fire" and "Suikoden." While some appreciate the retro aesthetic and find it charming, others criticize the animations for being glitchy and the overall visuals for feeling cheap and repetitive. Overall, opinions vary widely, with some praising the graphics as fitting for the genre, while others find them subpar and uninspired.
“Pretty graphics (strongly reminding of the first two Suikoden games), okay story with potential to get better, and a great soundtrack.”
“Great graphics, if you ask me.”
“The animations are strange; they cut in and out at times, the game does not harbor any modern graphics settings (480p 'full' screen or tiny windowed mode only), and the story feels it necessary to teach you how to push buttons and play a JRPG as though it were the first one ever made.”
“The gameplay is way too repetitive, and the graphics feel cheap and recycled.”
“The graphics are a mix of custom, edited, and ripped resources.”
- humor12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, featuring funny dialogues and amusing character interactions that enhance the experience. While some players find the humor inconsistent, others appreciate the blend of serious and comedic elements, particularly in side quests. Overall, the game offers a fair amount of humor that can be particularly enjoyable when viewed through a playful lens.
“This game is inspiring, amazing, and sometimes funny.”
“There is a funny part at the beginning when Alexis says, 'He's a tough little guy,' and Leon says, 'Little!?'”
“Characters are funny, and the dialogue is well done, to say the least.”
- stability8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been criticized due to numerous game-breaking glitches that hinder progress, particularly in the early areas. While players acknowledge the presence of bugs as typical for early access titles, they express frustration over issues like freezing during battles and lengthy cutscenes. Overall, there is hope that the developers will address these stability concerns to enhance the gaming experience.
“From what I understand, this game has a huge map and many hours of gameplay, but it can't seem to get some game-breaking glitches out of the way that prevent you from getting past the first main area of the game.”
“The developer is fully aware of the glitches in the game and has had ample time to fix them.”
“The cutscenes take way too long; I want some action, and when I minimize the game, it just freezes, so I can't do other stuff while playing this snail-paced game.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players have mixed feelings about grinding in the game; while some find it necessary for upgrading gear and completing achievements, others appreciate the balanced experience that minimizes excessive farming. The grind for gold can feel tedious, especially when significant amounts are needed for upgrades, but the overall battle frequency is manageable.
“Grinding achievements: yes (grind gold... ~ 15,000 when a monster drops at most 100)”
“This game needs to be finished. I just farmed around searching for somewhere to go, and then I searched a community guide and realized it's not finished. The only thing left to do was go to a dungeon which was supposed to be 'hard,' but due to the farming, super badass Tybalt kicked his ass.”
“- farming gold for upgrading gear”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised, with many users noting that it enhances the overall experience and complements the gameplay effectively.
“The atmosphere of the game is incredibly immersive and captivating.”
“The game's atmosphere perfectly complements its storytelling.”
“Every detail contributes to a rich and engaging atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired.”
“I expected a rich, immersive environment, but it fell short.”
“The game lacks the atmospheric depth that would make it engaging.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game currently suffers from optimization issues, particularly with slow transitions between menu and gameplay, which is somewhat expected for an early access title. Players hope for improvements in this area in future updates.
“The game runs smoothly after the latest optimization updates, making the experience much more enjoyable.”
“I appreciate how the developers are continuously working on optimization; it really enhances the overall performance.”
“The loading times have significantly improved thanks to recent optimizations, allowing for a more seamless gameplay experience.”
“But this lack of optimization is to be expected from an early access.”
“It's slow to go into menu mode and back into gameplay, though I'm hoping that gets optimized in the future.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's monetization approach, noting that the developers seem focused on creating a quality experience rather than prioritizing profit, which fosters a positive reception and ongoing engagement with the game.
“The monetization system feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
“I appreciate the game, but the constant push for in-game purchases really detracts from the overall experience.”
“While the game is fun, the monetization tactics are frustrating and make it feel like a pay-to-win scenario.”