The Caligula Effect: Overdose

57%
Game Brain Score Based on 10 reviews
  • music
  • graphics
  • story
The Caligula Effect: Overdose Game Cover
The Caligula Effect: Overdose has great ideas that are often marred by uneven execution. But with its unique combat system, as well as exemplary music and illustrations, the negatives are outweighed by the positives.

Mobius. An idyllic world that exists for the sake of letting people forget about the pain and problems of reality. In this world created by a sentient vocaloid program, μ (Mu), reality and fantasy has become blurred, allowing people to relive their high school years in bliss. Yet in this seemingly beautiful and perfect world, something is amiss. Escape from this false paradise with your fellow st…

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

57%
Audience ScoreBased on 10 reviews
music3 positive mentions
  • Unique twist on traditional turn-based combat that offers a fresh experience.
  • Excellent musical soundtrack and beautiful art direction enhance the overall atmosphere.
  • Engaging story with profound messages that resonate despite the game's flaws.
  • Poor dungeon design and repetitive level layouts detract from exploration.
  • Lack of meaningful choices and a dull social system make the gameplay feel shallow.
  • The PS5 port adds nothing new and suffers from visual and animation shortcomings.
  • music5 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its excellence and ability to enhance the emotional depth of the narrative, with some reviewers highlighting a "bopping soundtrack." However, there are criticisms regarding repetitiveness, suggesting that while the music contributes positively, it may lack variety over time. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a strong point that helps elevate the experience despite other shortcomings.

    • “The unique take on traditional turn-based combat, the emotionally dark narrative, and the excellent musical soundtrack are the true rewards beneath poor dungeon design, an unimaginative causality link mechanic, and unclear objectives.”
    • “But with its unique combat system, as well as exemplary music and illustrations, the negatives are outweighed by the positives.”
    • “[Beautiful art direction, unique twist on turn-based combat, bopping soundtrack].”
    • “The Caligula Effect: Overdose has a great combat system and an entertaining story, but poor visuals, a lack of meaningful choices, repetitive music, and a lackluster social system means this is a high school reunion you probably want to skip.”
    • “Muddy visuals. Poor social system. Your choices don't matter. Lots of battles, which can be tiring. Repetitive music.”
  • graphics4 mentions

    The graphics of the game show a significant improvement on the PlayStation 4 compared to the Vita, featuring sharper visuals and better textures, though they do not fully utilize the platform's capabilities. While the character designs are visually appealing with a unique muted color palette, the overall model detail, including facial expressions, is lacking. Overall, the visuals are considered poor, contributing to a less engaging experience.

    • “The visual differences are night and day between the Vita and the much more powerful PlayStation 4, offering sharper visuals, improved textures, and fewer jaggies.”
    • “The art style has a unique use of muted colors for its great-looking character designs and portraits, creating a visually appealing experience.”
    • “The graphics are impressive, showcasing a vibrant world that enhances the overall gameplay experience.”
    • “That said, this game isn’t one to show off what the platform can do, because while the art style has a unique use of muted colors for its great looking character designs and portraits, the actual models aren’t all that detailed, such as the lacking facial expressions.”
    • “The Caligula Effect: Overdose has a great combat system and an entertaining story, but poor visuals, a lack of meaningful choices, repetitive music, and a lackluster social system means this is a high school reunion you probably want to skip.”
    • “Muddy visuals. Poor social system. Your choices don't matter. Lots of battles, which can be tiring. Repetitive music.”
  • story2 mentions

    The story of "The Caligula Effect: Overdose" is considered entertaining and features fun characters, but it is undermined by poor visuals, a lack of meaningful choices, and a repetitive soundtrack, leading some to feel that the overall experience is not compelling enough to warrant a deeper engagement.

    • “The Caligula Effect: Overdose has a great combat system and an entertaining story.”
    • “Excellent combat system, some fun characters, and an entertaining story.”
    • “The Caligula Effect: Overdose has a great combat system and an entertaining story, but poor visuals, a lack of meaningful choices, repetitive music, and a lackluster social system means this is a high school reunion you probably want to skip.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The game features a compellingly dark narrative and an excellent musical score that evoke strong emotions, overshadowing its shortcomings in dungeon design and gameplay mechanics. Players appreciate the emotional depth, which enhances the overall experience despite some gameplay flaws.

    • “The unique take on traditional turn-based combat, the emotionally dark narrative, and the excellent musical soundtrack are the true rewards of the game.”
  • gameplay1 mentions

    The gameplay features a unique approach to traditional turn-based combat and an emotionally engaging narrative, complemented by a strong musical score. However, it is hindered by subpar dungeon design, a lackluster causality link mechanic, and vague objectives.

    • “The unique take on traditional turn-based combat adds a refreshing twist to the gameplay experience.”
    • “The emotionally dark narrative enhances the overall immersion and engagement during gameplay.”
    • “The excellent musical soundtrack complements the gameplay, creating a captivating atmosphere.”
    • “The unique take on traditional turn-based combat, the emotionally dark narrative, and the excellent musical soundtrack are the true rewards beneath poor dungeon design, an unimaginative causality link mechanic, and unclear objectives.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development in the game is visually appealing with unique muted color palettes and well-designed portraits; however, the character models lack detail, particularly in facial expressions, which diminishes the depth of character portrayal.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

57% average critic score

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