Umbraclaw

88%
Game Brain Score Based on 50 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Umbraclaw Game Cover
While Umbraclaw has an interesting core mechanic revolving around the nine lives of a cat, it's lacking in execution with bland level design and lackluster combat.
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"Umbraclaw is a 2D action-adventure game following Kuon, a house cat who has died and awakened in the Soulplane. In order to return to the mortal world, Kuon must challenge the perilous underworld and utilize the power of 'Anima Revive' to revive with new skills after each death. Kuon's actions and choices will determine her story's outcome, offering a unique and emotional exploration of the cycle of life and death."

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 50 reviews
gameplay8 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique and engaging premise that allows players to gain powers through dying, creating a compelling gameplay loop.
  • The art direction and soundtrack are stellar, contributing to a charming and immersive atmosphere.
  • There is significant replay value with multiple endings and a variety of upgrades, encouraging players to explore different playstyles.
  • The game can feel unbalanced, with some mechanics leading to frustrating gameplay experiences, particularly regarding the ability-on-death system.
  • The story and character development are somewhat lacking, with many characters and plot points not fully explored.
  • The controls can be clunky at times, leading to cheap deaths and a frustrating experience during platforming sections.
  • gameplay22 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by its stylish art direction and unique mechanics, though it is described as somewhat slow-paced initially. Players appreciate the variety of power-ups, multiple endings, and engaging boss fights, but some feel that the overall execution and depth of gameplay are lacking compared to other titles from the developers, particularly the Azure Striker Gunvolt series. While the mechanics can be confusing at first, they become more enjoyable after a playthrough, offering a mix of fun and frustration.

    • “Unique mechanics and tons of endings, power-ups, unlocks, and glossary items to collect.”
    • “An incredibly stylish and fun platformer, with an interesting twist in the mechanics.”
    • “This is a solid little platformer with wonderful art and some tighter-than-expected combat mechanics, especially in cat form.”
    • “From end to end, the game and its mechanics are just abysmal.”
    • “In the end, I think the gameplay concept here is very weak, and it isn't executed well.”
    • “The game is confusing at first, as you won't understand how the mechanics work initially, but after one playthrough, you'll have a good understanding of the game.”
  • story17 mentions

    The story is generally well-received, featuring strong emotional moments and interesting characters, though some players feel it lacks depth in world-building and variety in endings. While the narrative offers replayability through different paths and outcomes, some critiques highlight that certain endings are underwhelming and the gameplay mechanics can detract from the storytelling experience. Overall, the atmosphere and soundtrack enhance the narrative, making it engaging despite its flaws.

    • “The story is pretty good with strong and emotional moments, and the soundtrack fits well with each situation.”
    • “A fun game with simple mechanics if you play passively and more intense if you choose the path of forgetting your past, with good illustrations and a story to discover, being able to choose several paths in the story to have a different ending depending on what you do.”
    • “The story and dialogue are super powerful, especially if you're going through it blind.”
    • “The hidden ending of the game, which can only be viewed by completing nine runs total, is a whole two dialogue boxes long and has very few real implications for the story or the world.”
    • “One complaint I have is about the variety in the story with the endings; I would have loved to see more in that regard.”
    • “It has some decent concepts, but not even the story can carry this hot mess of a game.”
  • graphics11 mentions

    The graphics of the game are highly praised for their unique paper-craft aesthetic, drawing comparisons to titles like Okami and The World Ends With You. Reviewers appreciate the vibrant art style and character designs, though some note that while the visuals are impressive, they do not fully compensate for other gameplay shortcomings. Overall, the game's artistic presentation stands out as a significant highlight.

    • “The art style reminds me a bit of Okami.”
    • “Amazing visuals: check.”
    • “The levels are not the most complex or groundbreaking, but their unique gimmicks and visuals add some spice.”
    • “A lot of people liken this art style to Okami's, but Umbraclaw goes for a sort of paper-craft aesthetic that is wholly different from anything else I've played.”
    • “No expanded features like a jukebox, cutscene viewer (which I would have definitely liked for those endings), or artwork gallery.”
  • music10 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its catchiness and emotional resonance, effectively complementing the gameplay and story. However, some players noted the repetitiveness of the soundtrack, as many levels share the same tracks, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the atmospheric quality of the music is appreciated, contributing positively to the game's ambiance.

    • “The story is pretty good with strong and emotional moments, and the soundtrack is catchy, fitting well with each situation.”
    • “Definitely a good game with a great soundtrack and a unique way of playing this Mega Man-esque game.”
    • “Great art style, soundtrack (though this has caveats, see con 1), and voice acting for both languages.”
    • “The music from iii hits hard as always, though I did find it disappointing that all the levels essentially share the same two music tracks.”
    • “My cat-owner waifu doesn't sing a song for me when I lose one of my nine lives, which is obviously either a grave oversight or a budget issue.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    The game offers solid replayability, featuring multiple endings and a variety of upgrades that encourage players to refine their skills and explore different strategies. While it may not reach the replayability levels of other titles from the same developer, the combination of tight controls, secret discoveries, and the "anima revive" concept adds depth to the experience. Overall, players can expect a rewarding journey that invites repeated playthroughs.

    • “Positives include tight controls, replayability through its many endings, the track 'Fifth Life Soulbeast' that plays through Kuon's humanoid form, and the entirety of the 'Anima Revive' concept - which awards you bonus abilities that help shape Kuon's journey through the Soulplane.”
    • “Good replay value, with multiple endings and the upgrades to fill out.”
    • “While the replayability isn't as strong as it would be in your usual game by Inti, it's still pretty good with the different endings you can aim towards.”
    • “This is a type of game that is easy if you have previous experience with platformers, but it has replay value that requires actual skill and learning of the levels.”
    • “Also, there's a big focus on replayability, given that there are enhancements that can be bought with extremely limited resources and secrets to find.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    The game delivers a strong emotional experience, featuring poignant moments that resonate with players, enhanced by a fitting and catchy soundtrack. The unique premise of playing as a deceased housecat adds a layer of moral complexity, making players reflect on their actions as they grow stronger.

    • “The story is pretty good with strong and emotional moments, and the soundtrack is catchy, fitting well with each situation.”
    • “A very cool and emotional romp that makes you morally feel bad for getting stronger.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, particularly when it comes to collecting hope points and color gems for upgrades, which can require multiple playthroughs. While some suggest that later bosses may increase in difficulty and evolving into a stronger form could alleviate the grind, many are hesitant to invest the time needed to fully experience these elements.

    • “Completing the upgrades is quite grindy, needing you to gather both hope points and color gems throughout levels to get them, and it can take like 7 runs to finish the upgrade collection.”
    • “Perhaps later bosses become more difficult, and perhaps letting yourself 'evolve' into the stronger form makes this less tedious, but I'm not prepared to play this game past the refund window to find out.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, characterized by a solid story and engaging characters, complemented by an effective and atmospheric musical score.

    • “Regarding the story, I think it's pretty solid, mainly excelling in atmosphere and providing a host of interesting characters along the way.”
    • “Nice atmospheric music: check.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

66% average critic score

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