The Rainsdowne Players
- September 18, 2018
- Steve O'Gorman
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Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features charming pixel art and well-written dialogue that creates a vibrant and unique fantasy setting.
- There are multiple mini-games and performance options that keep gameplay fresh and engaging, allowing players to explore different mechanics.
- The story unfolds gradually, providing a balanced pace and encouraging exploration and interaction with NPCs for hints and ideas.
- The game can feel repetitive due to the limited number of cards and the need to play the same mini-games to earn coins.
- The timer mechanic creates a rushed feeling, making it difficult to fully explore and enjoy the game at a leisurely pace.
- The user interface is clunky and unintuitive, making navigation through menus and understanding hints frustrating.
- story29 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's story revolves around building a fan base for a two-person acting troupe, featuring a charming premise and engaging mechanics that involve crafting plays using collectible cards. As players progress, the narrative deepens, shifting from reflex-based gameplay to puzzle-solving to satisfy audience demands, although some requests can be vague and challenging. Overall, the story is well-paced and complemented by lighthearted writing, making it appealing for those who enjoy narrative-driven games with strategic elements.
“Once you advance in the story, the plays become less about your reflexes and more about solving puzzles to please certain audience members; to get them to love your play and give you a new card, you have to put the proper cards in the proper order when creating your play.”
“This game is very well balanced with regards to the pace of the story and the length of each round.”
“If you're the type of person who enjoys games that focus on great, lighthearted writing, but still have well-developed game mechanics that complement the story, then you should strongly consider this game.”
“While some of the requests are easy enough to logically set up into a proper story, some requests are so vague all you can do is just keep making up different plays and hope one hits.”
“With that said though, the main story is straightforward enough; the only times I felt like I didn't know what to do next, the solution was for me to just pass through another in-game day before something happened.”
“The problem is, you only start off with a limited number of cards, and have to go exploring and fulfilling quests and minigames to unlock more.”
- gameplay17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its engaging and lighthearted writing, complemented by well-developed mechanics that enhance the storytelling experience. Players can choose between unique challenges such as dramatic sword fighting and karaoke, while an innovative card system allows for creative plot development in plays. Additionally, the easy-to-learn dodge mechanic caters to players of varying skill levels, ensuring an accessible and enjoyable experience.
“If you're the type of person who enjoys games that focus on great, lighthearted writing, but still have well-developed game mechanics that complement the story, then you should strongly consider this game.”
“[i]How[/i] you produce the plays is one of the more interesting mechanics: you pick a different 'card' for the different plot points of the play (subject, location, purpose, encounter, and outcome).”
“The dodge mechanic is thankfully easy to learn in the early parts of the game for those who are rubbish at reaction times like I am, haha.”
“There are two alternatives to putting on plays (dramatic sword fighting and karaoke) which provide different gameplay challenges, and there are other gameplay twists and surprises to keep you on your toes.”
“+unique gameplay mechanics in the play, and putting it on”
- optimization10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The optimization of performance options is generally well-received, offering players three different ways to engage, which adds variety. However, some users report difficulties with the timing of the singing performance, leading to frustration and limiting their effective choices to two. Overall, the performances are enjoyable, despite the timing issues that may affect some players.
“Between the challenge of dodging everything the audience throws at you and getting to see the characters put on these plays, these performances are very enjoyable to play through.”
“I do want to note that I personally had a lot of trouble getting the timing right for the singing performance, so in reality I only had two options for putting on a performance.”
“Again, I don't know if this is just me, or if the timing really is off for the singing performance.”
“I do want to note that I personally had a lot of trouble getting the timing right for the singing performance, so in reality I only had two options for putting on a performance.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express that the game evokes a sense of urgency, as they feel pressured to unlock and complete various tasks, which can detract from the emotional experience. This rush may hinder deeper engagement with the game's narrative or emotional elements.
- graphics3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are highly praised for their fitting and expressive art style, which effectively enhances the overall experience of the game, even with the unique design choice of characters lacking noses.
“The art style fits it perfectly, and it's all really well done and expressive, even for having no nose.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features enjoyable characters and includes several funny moments, contributing to its overall humor.
“The characters are enjoyable to read and watch, and the game has some funny moments.”
