TRADESMAN: Deal to Dealer
- June 18, 2024
- AZAMATIKA
- 5h median play time
Get on SteamIn TRADESMAN: Deal to Dealer, players step into the shoes of a traveling merchant, buying and selling goods in various towns and villages while managing the challenges of transportation and combat. With a range of traits for each product and many unique mercenaries to hire, the game offers a rich and immersive trading experience. Automatic battles and the need to manage consumables add an extra layer of complexity to the merchant's journey.
Reviews
- The game offers a fun and addictive gameplay loop centered around trading and exploration, with a charming pixel art style.
- It provides a unique difficulty scaling system based on the goods you carry, adding depth to the trading mechanics.
- The game is an excellent value for its price, with many players expressing satisfaction with the amount of content available.
- There are significant balance issues, particularly with the scaling of danger levels to cargo, making early gameplay frustrating.
- The combat mechanics can feel tedious and overly punishing, often detracting from the trading experience.
- Players have noted a lack of quality-of-life features, such as a quest tracker and controller support, which could enhance the overall experience.
- story12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's story is enriched by a vast array of quests that engage players and foster connections with fellow traders, making the gameplay enjoyable. However, the quest log is criticized for its lack of organization and clarity, often leaving players confused about their objectives and requiring external help to track progress. Additionally, some quests impose limitations on character management, which can disrupt the player's experience.
“The quests are interesting, and after a while, I feel I know my fellow traders in the towns. I'm planning my money trips, finding weird mercenaries, and it really is super fun. I am having a blast with this game! <3”
“It also has a huge amount of quests for what it is.”
“The quest log needs work; you get a lot of quests and things thrown at you early in the game because you're going to random towns to try and get the best price for your goods, so you forget where and what you have to do for all the quests you have picked up along the way.”
“A lot of the time, the quest log doesn't have a 'town name' or what you have to do to get the quest done (it only tells you during the flavor text when you pick it up and never again), so you have to go on Discord/Steam discussions and ask.”
“Some quests require you to recruit someone into your team, and there's no 'guard storage,' so you're forced to delete a character you put a lot of levels/scrolls into just to get the quest done.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by an addictive loop of buying and selling goods across diverse biomes, though it suffers from janky mechanics and frustrating progression barriers. While some players appreciate the solid auto-battler elements and engaging difficulty mechanics, others find the core gameplay hindered until a full team is assembled. Overall, the experience is mixed, with enjoyable early gameplay overshadowed by issues that can impede long-term enjoyment.
“Has an addictive gameplay loop of buying and selling goods while traveling across a large map with different biomes.”
“A solid auto-battler with pretty interesting difficulty mechanics.”
“Fun early gameplay loop, no bugs or quality of life issues.”
“It's frustrating when you can't progress past only three towns due to unfair gameplay.”
“If it was $20 instead of $4.50, I'd change my mind because of the core game mechanics being janky.”
“It's a battle game with horrible mechanics!”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to the mandatory battles during travel and the repetitive nature of farming for resources. While some appreciate the ability to build up gold and units through grinding, the overall sentiment leans towards a desire for faster travel options and less frequent combat encounters.
“The travel is a bit tedious; I'd like for an even faster option.”
“Getting into towns and running over to the merchant gets a bit tedious.”
“Traveling between locations always has two mandatory fights; this gets tedious very fast.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's 2D pixel graphics are surprisingly atmospheric and contribute positively to the overall experience, enhancing the addictive gameplay and humor. While the combat may be a weaker aspect, the visuals, music, and mechanics are well-received, making the game enjoyable and visually appealing.
“The graphics are atmospheric, and there are some funny moments. Trying to max out stuff is addicting.”
“The idea, graphics, music, and mechanics are really good.”
“Overall, the game is fun, catchy, and enjoyable, and I really like the visuals.”
“I admit, I doubted trying this game due to the 2D pixel graphics, but it definitely satisfies that trader itch.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by offbeat and witty dialogue that enhances the quest experience, with memorable NPCs like the "killer sheep" and the "world's greatest chef" adding to the comedic atmosphere. Players find the humor engaging and entertaining, making the gameplay more enjoyable.
“There's also quests, and the dialogue has a lot of funny, offbeat humor thrown in to make it worth reading.”
“Some NPCs in the game are really funny, like the 'killer sheep' and the 'world's greatest chef.'”
“Graphics are atmospheric, and there are some funny moments; trying to max out stuff is addicting (in my opinion).”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is consistently praised for being upbeat, catchy, and fitting, enhancing the overall experience. Reviewers appreciate the variety in the soundtrack, which keeps the gameplay engaging, alongside the impressive pixel art that complements the music well.
“The dialogue is serviceable and not a drag; the music is upbeat, catchy, and fitting, and the pixel art is actually really good - I wasn't expecting things to be animated as much as they were either.”
“The art and music are nice, and there's enough variety to where I'm not bored yet.”
“I love the detailed pixel art design, the background music, and the setting.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its impressive graphics and engaging design, which create an immersive experience. Additionally, the inclusion of humorous moments adds to the overall enjoyment, while the addictive nature of maximizing in-game elements keeps players invested.
“The graphics create an incredibly immersive atmosphere, filled with both humor and addictive gameplay as I strive to maximize my progress.”
“The atmosphere is captivating, drawing you into a world that feels alive and engaging.”
“Every detail contributes to a rich atmosphere that enhances the overall gaming experience.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization in this game is criticized for being poorly balanced, with some users comparing it unfavorably to free games that employ predatory monetization tactics.
“I have played free games with predatory monetization that had better balance than this.”
“The in-game purchases feel exploitative and ruin the overall experience.”
“It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind a paywall.”
