The Tale of a Common Man

About

In "The Tale of a Common Man," players navigate a medieval-fantasy world as an ordinary man seeking adventure and fortune. Through turn-based battles, players recruit allies, level up skills, and uncover secrets to build a party and defeat enemies. The game features hand-drawn pixel art and a focus on character development, offering a classic RPG experience with a modern twist. Character limit: 265 characters.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 57 reviews

story26 positive mentions

grinding9 negative mentions

The game features a compelling story with well-developed characters, making it engaging and enjoyable.
It offers a good balance of challenge with varied combat mechanics and customization options for party members.
The art style and music are appealing, contributing to a charming atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.

There are gameplay bugs and issues with enemy respawning that can disrupt the flow and enjoyment of the game.
Exploration can feel unrewarding, with many areas lacking valuable loot or meaningful side quests.
The writing and dialogue can be inconsistent, with some parts feeling rushed or poorly executed.

story
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
55%
6%
The story is generally well-received, featuring a classic revenge arc centered on Jerrat, a farmer whose family is tragically killed, prompting him to seek justice. While many players appreciate the character development and engaging narrative, some find the plot somewhat simplistic and occasionally confusing, particularly in its early stages. Overall, the game offers a satisfying conclusion and a blend of humor and emotional depth, though it could benefit from more nuanced storytelling and better worldbuilding.
- “The story is beautiful, and the character development for all party members is constructed really well.”
- “The tale of a common man—a game in 16-bit format, is very well drawn. In the story, you play as an average person, the most ordinary farmer, who is entrusted with a significant mission.”
- “A great story that draws you in immediately with an early terrible event that sets everything in motion—the murder of a 'common' farmer's (Jerrat) family that sets him on a course of revenge that will take him on a long journey of discovery and adventure.”
- “The story is a relatively standard arc about you, Jerrat the farmer, having your farm destroyed and family killed, and setting off on a journey to bring the people responsible to justice.”
- “The problem is, the other story looks so distant and hard to understand, especially since they keep on throwing names and facts without explaining the worldbuilding first.”
- “Remarkably poor writing on a technical level combined with absolutely no sense of subtlety, as Jerrat tells the player that he loves his family and will be sad now that they're dead and swears revenge because he is angry and is bad at fighting because he is a common man.”
gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of town exploration, dungeon crawling, and optional side quests, providing a well-paced experience without excessive grinding. While some players encountered bugs and criticized the writing, many appreciated the strategic depth offered by the characters and the overall balance of challenge, resulting in a satisfying gameplay experience lasting around 16 to 30 hours.
- “Great story, very well designed gameplay and well balanced challenge.”
- “Over thirty hours of exciting gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is a repetition of you going between towns and exploring dungeons, taking optional side quests along the way.”
- “Remarkably poor writing on a technical level combined with absolutely no sense of subtlety, as Jerrat tells the player that he loves his family and will be sad now that they're dead and swears revenge because he is angry and is bad at fighting because he is a common man, as the story then poorly meshes with the gameplay as Jerrat proceeds to have trouble beating up rats despite regularly going to the forest to pick mushrooms.”
- “While there were a few gameplay bugs that prevented me from finishing a quest and getting all of the secret rooms, I did enjoy my time here in Galehar!”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
11%
22%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall experience without being intrusive. Players find the soundtracks, particularly during battles, to be exciting and stimulating, contributing positively to character development and the game's atmosphere. Overall, the music is described as enjoyable and supportive, complementing the game's art and story effectively.
- “The menu music is so stimulating to go on playing.”
- “I loved 'Angry Avenger' and 'High Stakes Low Chances' battle soundtracks, so exciting!”
- “Beautiful music that supports the game without being intrusive.”
- “The menu music is so stimulating that it makes me want to keep playing.”
- “I loved 'Angry Avenger' and 'High Stakes Low Chances' battle soundtracks; they are so exciting!”
grinding
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that "grinding" in games can vary significantly; while some players find it excessive and tedious, particularly in higher difficulties, others appreciate titles that manage to minimize repetitive gameplay. For instance, "The Tale of a Common Man" is criticized for its early grind requirements, while other RPGs are praised for their pacing and lack of grinding, offering a more engaging experience. Overall, player sentiment leans towards a dislike for grinding, especially when it detracts from the story and gameplay enjoyment.
- “The game can be grindy on a higher difficulty.”
- “I started the game on normal at first, but then I stopped after a few minutes since I figured it would be very grindy; it even asked me to grind on the first screen with enemies before I could move to the second screen.”
- “Generic grinding combat paired with a story that keeps telling you to go grind.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The graphics in the game are praised for their unique art style and excellent artwork, which enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the eye-catching visuals, such as the windmill and character designs, noting that the graphics effectively complement the story and character interactions. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the enjoyment of the game.
- “The art style was unique enough, and I enjoyed my experience with this game.”
- “Artwork: I loved the windmill and Neston’s ship, Asterie’s long hair, and Grawin’s smile.”
- “Excellent artwork that completely matches the events that are taking place.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and originality, with entertaining characters and engaging storylines that avoid cheesy tropes common in other RPGs. Players appreciate the amusing NPCs and the humorous party banter, which adds depth to the gameplay experience. Overall, the blend of challenging mechanics and witty dialogue contributes to a memorable and enjoyable atmosphere.
- “Brilliant game with irreplaceable humor and interesting characters whose story you want to learn.”
- “I found the storyline refreshing and new; the characters were also funny and entertaining, but not in a cheesy way, unlike other RPG games unfortunately.”
- “The party banter was quite funny in spots (you can listen in on their thoughts sometimes).”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers praise the character development as excellent, highlighting that all party members are well-constructed and contribute to a beautiful story. This aspect, along with good music and balanced gameplay, enhances the overall experience.
- “The story is beautiful, and the character development for all party members is constructed really well.”
- “Good music, excellent character development, good story, good art, good battle choices/balance, not too much grinding, mazes are not too darn big.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game's stability has been criticized, with users reporting significant bugs and issues that detract from the overall experience, marking it as a disappointing release from Aldorlea.
- “Normally Aldorlea makes good games, but this is an awful, buggy mess.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
- “I encountered numerous glitches that ruined my experience.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game is praised for effectively conveying a range of emotions, enhancing the overall performance and player experience.
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the touching dynamics between a shy woodsman and a haughty knight, showcasing a contrast that adds depth to the characters and their interactions.
- “The team is touching, featuring a shy man of the woods alongside a haughty knight.”

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27h Median play time

23h Average play time

14-31h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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