The Use of Life

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"The Use of Life" is a multi-ending RPG presented in an adventure book style, where player choices impact the main character's outlook and actions. Battles combine turn-based strategy with quick reflexes in a QTE system, providing tension and depth. The game features various ways of life, with no set "good" or "bad" endings, only conclusions based on the player's approach to life.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 80 reviews

story21 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

The game features a unique combat system that combines turn-based mechanics with quick-time events, making battles engaging and skill-dependent.
The branching storylines and choices significantly impact gameplay, encouraging replayability and player investment in character development.
The art style and music are well-received, contributing to an enjoyable atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.

The game is currently short, with only a few hours of content available in early access, leaving players wanting more.
Combat can be challenging, particularly for players who struggle with quick-time events, which may alienate some potential players.
There are some balance issues with certain classes, particularly the mage, which may feel underpowered compared to others.

story
78 mentions
27 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The game's story, while not groundbreaking, is engaging and effectively utilizes branching paths and player choices, enhancing replayability with multiple endings. Players appreciate the character development and the integration of RPG mechanics that influence narrative outcomes, though some express disappointment over the incomplete storyline. Overall, the combination of a simple yet intriguing plot, strong character designs, and meaningful choices makes for an enjoyable experience, with many eager to see how the story unfolds in future updates.
- “The game has multiple endings, and as you progress through the story, you will often come across various choices.”
- “The story is simple but endearing; I very much enjoy these kinds of linear branching RPGs, with 4 endings (2 available as of now) and 4 build paths, there is quite a bit of replayability too.”
- “The choices matter, and the story is good.”
- “It's a bit of a bummer that the storyline isn't complete yet, but the dev is making huge efforts, despite working only by himself on this project.”
- “The story is rather standard and straightforward, but I like where it's going with the blessed/deathwalkers and whatever is being hinted at at the end of chapter 3.”
- “Overall, I'd guess that we're at max through 2/5th of the story.”
gameplay
34 mentions
26 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its engaging and skill-dependent mechanics, blending classic turn-based combat with innovative dodge and block systems that enhance player control and strategy. Players appreciate the depth added by quick-time events and the ability to make meaningful choices, contributing to high replayability and a satisfying combat experience. While some elements may feel simple or familiar, the overall design and execution create a refreshing and immersive RPG experience.
- “Instant favorite, this game is great and although simple, it makes use of its mechanics and tiny choices to bring a great experience.”
- “Reaction time, memorizing attack dodge patterns, weighing up defense vs offense, etc. It all feels very skill-dependent with many decisions as well as mechanical execution. Even the random encounter slots-style rolls, which are realistically too fast to react to, still feel as if you are controlling the outcome.”
- “The gameplay has strong appeal and replayability; the combat is incredibly fun, and the difficulty settings have a good balance between challenge and accessibility.”
- “My only real complaint is part of me wishes its QTE mechanics could be more varied, though that's not a huge gripe.”
- “The unique usage of quick-time events as a dodge mechanic (combined with the ability to predict them, if you've worked for it enough) makes fights engaging and rewarding as well.”
- “Lastly, it's about 4 hours of gameplay in early access for my first playthrough.”
music
16 mentions
44 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received positive feedback, with many players appreciating its emotional depth and variety, particularly during combat sequences. The soundtrack enhances the gameplay experience, especially the intense renditions that accompany enemy rage phases, making it a standout feature. Overall, while not universally hailed as exceptional, the music is considered enjoyable and effectively complements the game's atmosphere.
- “Had to add a few of these songs to my favorites list on YouTube, including the final boss music.”
- “The variety is alright with a couple of emotional pieces, and the battle music is quite pleasant with the fast variation during enemy rage phases not being a mere sped-up remake but a completely different rendition of the same song, giving a sense of urgency.”
- “The soundtrack is really good; can't say great, but it does what it needs to and does it well, especially the combat music when the enemy is enraged, which really gets the blood pumping and works well with the combat mechanics this game uses.”
- “The soundtrack is really good; can't say great, but it does what it needs to and does it well, especially the combat music when the enemy is enraged. It really gets the blood pumping, which works really well with the combat mechanics this game uses.”
- “That said, I need the soundtrack!”
- “After taking a bit of a beating, enemies enter a rage state where they take a little more damage, attack faster and with stronger moves, as well as changing the music score to a more intense beat.”
graphics
7 mentions
43 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game feature a mix of minimal animations and a nostalgic JRPG aesthetic, with character designs that are generally well-received, particularly for their clever integration of tabletop elements. However, there are notable inconsistencies in art styles, such as the clash between character portraits and background art, as well as a stark difference in the design of the main companion character compared to others, which some players found jarring. Overall, while the visuals have their charm, the lack of cohesion in art styles detracts from the overall experience.
- “Clever in its design sensibilities and how it transliterated tabletop 'aesthetic' into its videoludic context.”
- “Everybody has great designs (especially Goshe, the whole reason I gave this game a shot was because of how much I love his aesthetic) and it's overall an enjoyable story.”
- “The art style is simple, but I find it lovely.”
- “One criticism though is sometimes the art styles clash; for example, Misha's portrait art doesn't quite match the style of characters like Goshe or the Merchant. The background art also looks starkly different from the map art.”
- “I just felt a bit of an extreme difference between the art style of the main companion character and all the other characters in the story; she looks somehow more cartoonish.”
- “Visuals are minimal, so it feels like a throwback to some old JRPGs.”
replayability
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-25 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability due to its linear branching structure, featuring multiple endings and build paths that encourage players to explore different choices and gameplay styles. The engaging combat and adjustable difficulty settings further enhance the replay value, making each playthrough feel fresh and rewarding. Overall, the combination of story influence and diverse RPG systems contributes to a compelling reason to revisit the game.
- “The story is simple but endearing. I very much enjoy these kinds of linear branching RPGs, with 4 endings (2 available as of now) and 4 build paths, there is quite a bit of replayability too.”
- “The gameplay has strong appeal and replayability; the combat is incredibly fun, and the difficulty settings have a good balance between challenge and accessibility.”
- “It has a bunch of RPG systems, including your early story answers influencing your later options, so there is definitely a lot of replay value. It has an interesting story setup and world so far.”
- “The story is simple but endearing. I very much enjoy these kinds of linear branching RPGs, but with only 4 endings (2 available as of now) and 4 build paths, the replayability feels limited.”
- “The multiple choices and paths are supposed to encourage replayability, but they don't feel significant enough to warrant multiple playthroughs.”
character development
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
Character development is highlighted as a strong point in the game, with many users appreciating the depth and progression of the characters. However, some note a clash in character designs that may detract from the overall experience. Overall, the story and character development are seen as promising and well-executed.
- “Great story and character development.”
- “The story has promise as well; character development seemed to be at the forefront of the developers' minds.”
- “I love the art, but as several people have already mentioned, there's a clash in character designs.”
- “The story has promise, but character development seemed to be lacking and not well thought out.”
emotional
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a mix of impactful emotional pieces and engaging battle music that enhances the sense of urgency during intense moments. Reviewers appreciate the quality of the emotional beats, noting that the music variations contribute significantly to the overall experience.
- “The emotional beats were very good, and everything I said before still stands.”
- “The variety is alright with a couple of emotional pieces, and the battle music is quite pleasant. The fast variation during enemy rage phases is not just a sped-up remake but a completely different rendition of the same song, giving a sense of urgency.”
grinding
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the game for its lack of grinding, emphasizing that it enhances immersion and maintains a focused narrative. The absence of unnecessary padding or recovery mechanics contributes to a more engaging and authentic experience.
- “No padding, grinding, or fluff.”
- “The game does an incredible job at immersing you and putting you in the scenario, something that could have been easily ruined by allowing for grinding or free recovery.”
humor
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its unexpected and often unfortunate scenarios, with players finding amusement in their misfortunes, particularly in the early chapters. This blend of humor and bad luck creates a unique and entertaining experience.
- “That's where it gets funny!”
- “Funny story: the first chapter gave me some of the worst luck I've ever experienced in a video game.”
atmosphere
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-500 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a blend of mystery and engaging focal points, enhancing the overall experience despite a straightforward story. While some players prioritize gameplay and strategy, the atmospheric elements contribute positively to the RPG's appeal.
- “I usually don't mind much about RPG stories (yeah, I know it's weird, sorry). I play them almost exclusively for gameplay and strategy; at most, I care about atmosphere. The story here is simple, not something never seen, but it brings to the table a good amount of mystery and focal points.”
- “The atmosphere in this game is incredibly immersive, drawing you into its world and making every moment feel significant.”
- “From the haunting sound design to the beautifully crafted environments, the atmosphere creates a sense of tension and wonder that keeps you engaged.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth and immersion that I expected.”
- “Despite the game's potential, the overall ambiance is dull and fails to engage the player.”
- “I found the environment to be lifeless, which detracted from the overall experience.”
optimization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization effectively integrates player attributes into both combat and non-combat scenarios, influencing skill checks that determine the success of various encounters. This dual impact enhances gameplay depth and encourages strategic character development.
- “Your attributes affect not only combat performance but also have skill checks that determine the success of your non-combat encounters in the game.”