The Tenth Line
- March 16, 2017
- Sungazer Software LLC
- 8h median play time
Get on Steam"The Tenth Line" is a charming RPG with hand-drawn art and unique combat mechanics. You play as a prince and his loyal bodyguard, exploring a vibrant world filled with mystery and danger. The game features puzzle-solving, turn-based battles, and character development, providing an engaging and immersive experience.
Mac OS
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
PlayStation
Reviews
- The game features a unique and in-depth combat and leveling system that rewards experimentation and min-maxing.
- Characters are well-crafted with distinct personalities, and the story is engaging with several twists.
- The charming soundtrack and visuals contribute to an overall enjoyable experience.
- The initial information overload and complex mechanics can be overwhelming for new players.
- Inventory management and tedious micromanagement detract from the gameplay experience.
- Clunky 2D platforming mechanics and the need to navigate each character through levels multiple times can feel like a slog.
- gameplay200 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a complex mix of mechanics that can initially overwhelm players, featuring unique turn-based combat, character progression systems, and micromanagement elements. While the depth and originality of the mechanics are praised, many reviewers noted issues with clunky platforming, tedious inventory management, and a steep learning curve that may deter some players. Overall, the game offers a charming experience for those willing to invest time in mastering its systems, but it could benefit from simplification and polish in certain areas.
“The gameplay is a bit hard at first, but after a few fights, you start to remember the defend phase and extra abilities in certain phases.”
“An initially steep learning curve conceals a beautiful gem of interesting gameplay and charming storytelling.”
“Combines a lot of unorthodox mechanics in terms of character progression, combat, leveling, etc. I am still getting a grip on how to pilot this thing, but so far it's really fun just exploring all the new mechanics.”
“But it suffers from the initial information overload, tedious inventory management, and clunky 2D platforming mechanics.”
“The game gives you a few tutorial battles followed by a bunch of menu tutorials, but a lot of crucial mechanics won't be explained.”
“The gameplay aspect may seem confusing at first (unless you play in light mode, it's easier to understand what's going on), or frustrating, but once you master the mechanics it's a really fun game.”
- story186 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its emotional depth and character development, despite some finding it cliché or slow-paced. While the narrative features engaging twists and heartfelt moments, it occasionally falters with confusing plot points and abrupt conclusions. Overall, the storytelling is well-executed, with a charming aesthetic and a strong connection to the characters, making it a highlight for many players.
“A lovely story and characters (I cried at the end), interesting semi-turn-based combat, and enjoyable platforming.”
“The story is meaty and really struck a chord with me; for whatever reason, the prophecy thing worked better here than in the vast majority of other media that revolve around such things.”
“While at first the story seems cliché and simple, you do eventually find yourself feeling for the characters as the plot thickens with multiple factions doing their own things.”
“The storyline didn’t build to a climax like it should; it started out slow, kept going slow, then climaxed suddenly and ended.”
“The story/lore/characters were engaging and personally had me invested in them; however, they eventually fell flat with weird plot twists, confusing reactions, and an endgame that just made me say, 'so what’s the point?'”
“There's a lot of text, but the story so far is mostly cliché.”
- music58 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its charm and emotional depth, with many reviewers highlighting the well-crafted soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While some tracks stand out more than others, the music effectively adapts to various in-game situations, contributing to the nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic 90s RPGs. Overall, the soundtrack is considered above average, fitting the game's tone and enriching the storytelling.
“Comes with an absolutely excellent soundtrack that fits the overarching tone of the story.”
“Many songs feature emotional melodic swells that really fit in with the story and give me shivers.”
“I love the music, the feel of the game, and it's nostalgic to the 90's era of gameplay without feeling 'old'.”
“This category holds my current biggest complaint, though.. as of right now, there's no option outside of binary yes or no for music and sound effects, which means headphone users may have some slight discomfort with how loud it is.”
“Although nowhere near legendary orchestra piece in modern gaming, the OST is at least above average and really fits the mood of the setting.”
“The music didn't really get to me at first, but as I continued playing the game it started growing on me.”
- graphics50 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the charming, old-school JRPG aesthetic and beautiful character designs, while others find the anthropomorphic art style and some environmental visuals to be detractors. The pixel art and background details are generally well-received, though some players note issues with clarity in platforming elements. Overall, the visuals are described as appealing and consistent, contributing positively to the game's nostalgic charm.
“The graphics are beautiful, with the pixel art and the background art matching up nicely.”
“Its graphics are lovely, its music is pleasant, and it ventures out of comfortable, familiar design-territory to try and tackle new mechanics and systems.”
“Rich and moody music, sincere and vibrant graphics, and a simple but engaging narrative make for an endearing and memorable experience.”
“Really interesting ideas here for character customization and combat, but the anthropomorphic (read 'furry') art style will likely be a detractor to some/many.”
“What I did not like; first is the environment, some parts are just not well defined and for a platforming game, not having clear visuals to where the spots which you need to jump on just takes away the fun (you know, spots which blend in with the background are too dark to see properly, while not many, some are present).”
“Graphics are very 'indie', with some stiff animations for attacks or movement.”
- grinding34 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
Overall, players report that the game features minimal grinding, allowing for a smoother progression without the need for excessive experience or resource farming. However, some find the navigation and inventory management tedious, which can disrupt pacing and lead to repetitive gameplay. Recent updates have improved item management and reduced the need for farming, but certain mechanics still feel clunky and interruptive.
“The game is not grindy at all.”
“No grinding is required; you can simply kill everything once as you go through and be perfectly suited to handling all the bosses.”
“Charming graphics, interesting level-up and buffing mechanics, and what I saw of the story seems interesting, but the combat system is tedious busywork.”
“Leads to either heavy grinding which kills the game's pacing, or almost impossible boss battles that again kill the pacing.”
“The tedious part is having to, after having beaten everything in the level, individually ferry each party member to the exit.”
- emotional16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotional depth, featuring a touching story and well-developed characters that evoke strong feelings, with some players reporting tears at the end. The soundtrack enhances the emotional experience, adapting seamlessly to various game moments, although some critiques mention a disconnection in the storyline that can undermine the emotional impact. Overall, it offers a mix of heartfelt moments and abrupt shifts that leave a lasting impression.
“A lovely story and characters (I cried at the end), interesting semi-turn-based combat, and enjoyable platforming.”
“+ The soundtrack is well chosen and adapts to any situation in the game, e.g. dialogue, emotional scenes, fights.”
“The story aspect is well paced, with some heartfelt moments here and there as the story progresses.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is hindered by its complex mechanics, particularly in jumping, which players feel should be improved for smoother gameplay. Additionally, the performance of characters is heavily influenced by various factors, such as weapon training and upgrades, making it easy to struggle if any aspect is neglected. Overall, the intricate system requires careful management to maintain optimal character performance.
“The difficulty comes from the huge amount of mechanics this game has; if you neglect just one of the many things that goes into the performance of your characters, you may struggle (examples include weapon training or replacing obsolete upgrades).”
“In this game, your character combat performances are affected by what you last 'feed' your characters in order to gain additional bonus numbers.”
“Most of the time you run, jump, and fight throughout the game, and for that reason, the jumping mechanics should be optimized.”
“The difficulty comes from the huge amount of mechanics this game has; if you neglect just one of the many things that go into the performance of your characters, you may struggle (examples include weapon training or replacing obsolete upgrades).”
“In this game, your character's combat performance is affected by what you last 'feed' your characters in order to gain additional bonus numbers.”
- character development4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features strong character development, highlighted by well-written dialogue that enhances the overall narrative. Players are drawn in by the charming story and impressive artwork, which complement the engaging turn-based combat system.
“The game hooked me with its charm and then kept me with its surprisingly well-written dialogue and character development.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highlighted by its catchy and pleasant battle and map themes, which contribute significantly to the overall immersive experience.
“The battle and map themes were all catchy, atmospheric, and pleasant to listen to.”
