The Use of Life

About

"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

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 160 reviews

story42 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

The combat system is engaging and combines turn-based mechanics with quick-time events, making battles feel fresh and skill-dependent.
The game features a branching narrative with meaningful choices that affect the story and character development, enhancing replayability.
The art style and music are well-received, contributing to an enjoyable atmosphere that complements the gameplay.

The reliance on quick-time events can be frustrating for players with slower reaction times, as there is no option to disable or skip them.
The game is currently short, with only a few hours of content available in early access, which may not justify the price for some players.
Some players have noted balance issues with certain classes, particularly the mage, which can feel underpowered compared to others.

story
156 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
71%
3%
The game's story, while not groundbreaking, is engaging and effectively utilizes branching paths and player choices, leading to multiple endings and significant replayability. Players appreciate the character development and the intertwining of gameplay mechanics with narrative elements, although some express disappointment over the incomplete storyline. Overall, the combination of a simple yet intriguing plot, strong character designs, and a visual novel presentation contributes to a compelling experience that leaves players eager for future updates.
- “The game has multiple endings and as you progress through the story, you will often come across various choices.”
- “Really interesting story and fun characters to interact with, and it actually feels like the choices you make matter even with random dialogue presented to you.”
- “The plot and gameplay are cleverly bound together through the tips revealed via conversation, as well as through the weight of your decisions.”
- “It's a bit of a bummer that the storyline isn't complete yet, but the dev is doing huge efforts, despite (which is what I understood) working only by himself on this project.”
- “The story isn't groundbreaking but it's still effective and you still want to see where the characters end up toward the end.”
- “The story's not finished.”
gameplay
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
69%
4%
The gameplay is highly praised for its engaging and skill-dependent combat mechanics, which blend traditional turn-based RPG elements with innovative dodge and block systems that require timing and strategy. Players appreciate the depth added by choices and character abilities, alongside a satisfying rhythm-based dodge mechanic that enhances the overall experience. Despite some minor critiques regarding the variety of quick-time events and the simplicity of certain mechanics, the game is noted for its strong replayability and immersive design, making it a standout in the genre.
- “Instant favorite, this game is great and although simple, makes use of its mechanics and tiny choices to bring a great experience.”
- “The gameplay has strong appeal and replayability, the combat is incredibly fun, difficulty settings have a good slide between challenge and accessibility.”
- “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.”
- “My only real complaint is part of me wishes its QTE mechanics could be more varied, though that's not a huge gripe.”
- “A quick note on the rhythm/dodging mechanic: if you are observant and/or moderately good at rhythm games, you can honestly avoid all damage in any encounter.”
- “The special moves gained from filling up the dodge meter feel pretty lackluster, though they are mechanically very sound.”
music
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
47%
9%
The music in the game has received positive feedback, with many players enjoying the variety and emotional depth of the soundtrack, particularly praising the battle music that intensifies during enemy rage phases. While some describe the overall score as good rather than great, it effectively enhances the gameplay experience and has led several players to add tracks to their personal playlists. The theme song and final boss music are also highlighted as standout pieces that contribute to 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, really gets the blood pumping which works really well with how the combat mechanics in this game are designed.”
- “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 how 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
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The graphics of the game are described as a nostalgic throwback to classic JRPGs, featuring minimal animations and a simple yet appealing art style. However, there are notable inconsistencies in the art styles, particularly between character portraits and backgrounds, which can clash and detract from the overall aesthetic. While character designs are generally praised, some feel that certain designs, particularly that of the main companion, appear overly sexualized and cartoonish compared to the rest of the cast.
- “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 the likes of Goshe's or the merchant's. The background art also looks starkly different from the map art.”
- “I just felt a bit of 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 (C+): animations are minimal, so it feels like a throwback to some old JRPGs.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
13%
38%
The game offers significant replayability through its linear branching narrative, featuring multiple endings and build paths that encourage players to explore different choices and strategies. With engaging combat and adjustable difficulty settings, players can enjoy varied experiences on subsequent playthroughs, making it appealing for those who appreciate RPG systems that influence the story. Overall, the combination of an interesting story and multiple gameplay options enhances its replay value.
- “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, with 4 endings (2 available as of now) and 4 build paths. There is quite a bit of replayability too.”
- “Multiple choices and paths that encourage replayability.”
- “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.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
Character development is highlighted as a strong point in the game, with reviewers noting that it appears to be a primary focus for the developers. While the art style has received mixed feedback due to design clashes, the overall story and character arcs are praised for their depth and promise.
- “Great story and character development.”
- “Story has promise as well, character development seemed to be at the forefront of the devs' 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 at the forefront of the developers' minds.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a few impactful pieces that effectively enhance the overall experience, particularly during intense battle sequences. Reviewers appreciate the distinct renditions of the music, which contribute to a sense of urgency and elevate the emotional beats throughout the gameplay.
- “The emotional beats were very good and all I said before still stands.”
- “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.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers praise the game for its lack of grinding, emphasizing that the absence of padding or unnecessary mechanics enhances immersion and maintains the integrity of the survival experience. The focus on story and gameplay mechanics is highlighted as a strength, preventing the game from becoming bogged down by repetitive tasks.
- “From the story concepts to the survival DnD-like mechanics, 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.”
- “No padding, grinding, or fluff.”
- “No padding, grinding, or fluff.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the humor in the game to be situational and often derived from their misfortunes, particularly highlighting moments of bad luck that lead to comedic outcomes. The humor is noted as a key element that enhances the overall experience, making frustrating moments entertaining.
- “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
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a simple yet engaging story that incorporates elements of mystery and intrigue, enhancing the overall experience for players who prioritize gameplay and strategy. While not groundbreaking, it effectively creates focal points that contribute to the game's immersive quality.
- “I usually don't mind much 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.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
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.”