The Secret of Varonis
- March 1, 2024
- Wombat Logic
Get on Steam"The Secret of Varonis" is an indie Gameboy-style RPG that takes you back to the gaming heyday of 1989. Choose a party from humans, espers, robots, and monsters, each with unique leveling schemes. Explore six diverse worlds, employ over 500 combat items and abilities, and uncover the secrets of the sealed city of Varonis. Enjoy retro mechanics without the grind, with optional field encounter mode. What lies beyond the gate? Discover it in this old-school RPG. *323 characters.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game is a fantastic homage to the classic SaGa/Final Fantasy Legend games, capturing their spirit while incorporating modern quality-of-life improvements.
- Players appreciate the customizable party system and the balance between different character types, making for engaging and strategic gameplay.
- The visuals and music effectively evoke nostalgia for the Game Boy era, while the story, though simple, is enjoyable and well-written.
- Some players found the inventory management cumbersome, with limited space and stack limits making it difficult to manage items effectively.
- A few bugs and glitches were reported, although the developers are responsive and actively working on fixes.
- Certain mechanics, such as the esper mutation system, can feel frustrating or underwhelming, leading to dissatisfaction with character progression.
- gameplay32 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "The Secret of Varonis" is a nostalgic homage to the classic Game Boy Saga titles, featuring turn-based battles, charge-based mechanics, and customizable party options, all enhanced with modern quality-of-life improvements. While some users noted occasional bugs with the HUD, the overall mechanics are praised for their depth and transparency, making the game accessible and engaging for both newcomers and veterans of the genre. The addictive gameplay loop of exploration, progression, and combat, combined with a charming retro aesthetic, contributes to a highly enjoyable experience.
“This game has all the thematic charm of the original Saga/Final Fantasy Legend titles with an incredible amount of mechanical depth and transparency.”
“All in all, gameplay is superb, with replay value I have only begun to discover the depth of, 20+ hours in.”
“The gameplay is addicting and the story is simple but enjoyable.”
“The side HUD can be buggy sometimes in not displaying the right health totals or party members, but it can be toggled off/on. Besides that, I didn't encounter any gameplay-related bugs.”
“I had Final Fantasy Legend 1, 2, and 3 growing up, but with little explanation of the mechanics, I never made much progress in them.”
“Without spoiling too much, I found it provided compelling reasons for disagreements between two separate 'good guys.' The story is definitely secondary to the exploration of game mechanics for me, but the storytelling is more than just serviceable to move things forward.”
- story22 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The story is generally well-received, described as a solid and enjoyable experience that pays homage to classic RPGs while offering its own unique spin. While some reviewers note that the narrative is basic, they appreciate its engaging characters, competent writing, and the way it complements the gameplay mechanics. Overall, the story is seen as a pleasant surprise that enhances the game's charm without overshadowing its primary focus on exploration and mechanics.
“And for an indie retro game, the story actually holds its own.”
“It captures the gloomy and sometimes psychedelic mood of the first game, while also featuring a captivating mysterious story, much like the second game.”
“The story and characters are fantastic and immersive.”
“Story is definitely basic, but doesn't overstay its welcome, which is appreciated.”
“The story feels like a Final Fantasy-style narrative, but it's a lot more refined.”
“There are several twists and subversions of the classic formula, but without altering the feel of the story too much from its classic roots, which I appreciate.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their nostalgic Game Boy aesthetic, effectively capturing the charm and simplicity of classic JRPGs. While the design and overall visual experience are celebrated, some players expressed a desire for more variety in monster sprites. Overall, the visuals, combined with the sound, create an engaging and immersive experience that resonates with fans of retro gaming.
“It’s an aesthetic and tonal package that, while certainly not everyone’s cup of tea, hits its inspirational mark with picture-perfect accuracy.”
“The developers nailed the Game Boy aesthetic with the graphics and sound.”
“It was a simpler time where graphics weren't the end all be all, story wasn't quite the monster it is now, combat was straightforward but complex enough, and music was catchy and toe-tappingly upbeat.”
“If even a sliver of you enjoys a time where games were simple yet deep, or you crave the aesthetics of monochrome, you owe it to yourself to play Secret of Varonis.”
“Well strap in, because this game nails the classic-era aesthetic, mechanics, and the overall feel perfectly, all with some nice, modern quality of life improvements thrown in.”
- music9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game is a nostalgic homage to classic Game Boy titles, featuring catchy chiptune tracks that evoke the styles of legendary composers like Nobuo Uematsu and Kenji Ito. While the soundtrack is solid and thematically appropriate, some reviewers feel it lacks the memorability of the original compositions it draws inspiration from. Overall, the music complements the game's visuals and enhances the old-school charm, making it a delightful experience for fans of retro gaming.
“The secret of Varonis wears its Game Boy saga inspiration on its sleeve, from the 8-bit-styled color palette and over-the-shoulder perspective in battle, to the chiptune soundtrack and effects reminiscent of its inspiration’s legendary composers like Nobuo Uematsu (Saga I/II), Kenji Ito (Saga II), and Ryuji Sasai (Saga III).”
“Music and visuals are a treat, and the story has that old school snap and charm to its writing.”
“The soundtrack has a decent variety and is pretty solid overall, but nothing quite as memorable as Nobuo (but that isn't a fair comparison haha).”
“The Secret of Varonis wears its Game Boy saga inspiration on its sleeve, from the 8-bit-styled color palette and over-the-shoulder perspective in battle, to the chiptune soundtrack and effects reminiscent of its inspiration’s legendary composers a la Nobuo Uematsu (Saga I/II), Kenji Ito (Saga II), and Ryuji Sasai (Saga III).”
“The music captures the feel of older Game Boy games but is usually pretty catchy and thematic.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game effectively reduces the tedium of traditional grinding by eliminating random encounters while still allowing players to engage in them if desired. Gold grinding can be challenging, particularly with multiple characters, but players have the option to customize their experience by changing enemy appearances or opting for a no-grind mode for added difficulty.
“Moreover, while overworld battles are standard, you can also change enemies to appear as NPCs on the map or even choose the finite enemy 'fixed' mode for no grinding and an even greater challenge.”
“Gold grinding can be intense, especially if you have more than one human or esper in your team.”
“The game manages to take away some of the tediousness of the old games, such as no more random encounters, although you can still choose this, but still captures the spirit of them.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players highlight the game's impressive replayability, noting its depth and customization options that cater to various playstyles. With over 20 hours of gameplay, many feel they have only scratched the surface, suggesting a rich experience that encourages multiple playthroughs.
“All in all, gameplay is superb, with replay value I have only begun to discover the depth of, 20+ hours in.”
“It clearly aimed to replicate them while also making them more accessible and less obtuse, delivering on a satisfying and highly replayable game.”
“There is a good amount of customization options based on how you prefer to play RPGs, as well as tons of replayability because of the variety of different possible party loadouts.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The optimization in the game is noted for its balance between character archetypes from previous installments, enhanced by quality-of-life improvements for monsters and espers, making gameplay enjoyable for both casual and optimized experiences. Additionally, the game humorously incorporates extreme performance enhancements, adding a unique twist to character development.
“From a design perspective, the character archetypes and races sort of split the difference between Saga I and II, but with some quality of life improvements to monsters and espers in particular that make them a lot more fun for both casual and optimized playthroughs.”
“The game is poorly optimized, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
“I can't believe how much the game struggles to run smoothly on high-end hardware; it feels like a beta version.”
“Despite having a powerful PC, I still experience long loading times and lag, which is incredibly frustrating.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with users reporting minimal gameplay-related bugs. However, some have experienced occasional issues with the side HUD not displaying accurate health totals or party members, though this can be toggled off and on.
“The side HUD can be buggy sometimes, not displaying the correct health totals or party members. However, it can be toggled off and on, and aside from that, I didn't encounter any gameplay-related bugs.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress without constant restarts.”
“I experienced several instances of lag and frame drops, which severely impacted my overall enjoyment of the game.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Many players found the game's ending to be deeply moving, with some expressing that it brought them to tears.
“I cried at the ending.”
“The story touched my heart in ways I never expected.”
“I felt a deep connection to the characters and their struggles.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted as a delightful addition that complements its engaging party-building and fast-paced combat, enhancing the overall experience and encouraging players to keep playing.
“An amazing tribute to handheld RPGs with great party building, fast-paced combat, a bit of humor, and a story that makes me want to play for just fifteen more minutes each time.”
