Umbraclaw

77%
Game Brain Score Based on 41 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Umbraclaw Game Cover
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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."

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Reviews

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 41 reviews
story5 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • Unique mechanics and a fun concept that encourages replayability through multiple endings and power-ups.
  • Great art style and engaging soundtrack, with well-designed boss fights that add to the overall experience.
  • Tight controls and a balance between challenge and accessibility, making it enjoyable for both casual and experienced players.
  • The game can feel unbalanced, with some design choices leading to frustrating gameplay experiences, especially regarding the ability-on-death system.
  • The narrative and character development are underexplored, leaving players wanting more depth in the story.
  • Repetitive music and grindy upgrade mechanics can detract from the overall enjoyment, making some playthroughs feel tedious.
  • gameplay17 mentions

    The gameplay features unique mechanics, a variety of power-ups, and multiple endings, but opinions are mixed regarding its execution. While some players appreciate the stylish combat and engaging story, others criticize the slow pace, confusing mechanics, and lack of depth compared to other titles from the same developers. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a blend of fun and frustration, with standout boss fights but a weak overall concept.

    • “Unique mechanics and tons of endings, power-ups, unlocks, and glossary items to collect.”
    • “The boss fights are the highlight of the gameplay.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “Tracks are not too long, so the loops kind of get bothersome in long gameplay sections, and the levels of each chapter use the same track based on your form, even though they have unique intro themes.”
  • story15 mentions

    The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some praising its atmosphere and character depth, while others criticize its lack of variety and depth in the narrative. Although there are multiple endings and paths to explore, many players feel that the hidden ending is underwhelming and that the overall story does not significantly enhance the gameplay experience. While some elements, like character interactions and art, are highlighted as strong points, the execution of the story leaves much to be desired for many reviewers.

    • “A fun game with simple mechanics if you play passive and more intense if you choose the path of forgetting your past, with good illustrations and with a story to discover, being able to choose several paths in the story to have a different ending depending on what you do.”
    • “Regarding the story, I think it's pretty solid, mainly excelling in atmosphere and providing a host of interesting characters along the way.”
    • “The story and dialogue is 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.”
    • “I love the personalities of the characters, but the setting and backstory are not explored much, and all of the bosses, barring Locke, only appear in one stage and only get pre-battle dialogue.”
  • graphics9 mentions

    The graphics of Umbraclaw are highly praised for their unique paper-craft aesthetic, drawing comparisons to the art styles of Okami and The World Ends With You. While the character designs and overall visuals are considered amazing, some reviewers note that the level complexity is lacking and that additional features like a jukebox or artwork gallery would enhance the experience. Overall, the art style stands out as a significant highlight of the game.

    • “Great art style, soundtrack (though this has caveats, see con 1), and voice acting for both languages.”
    • “The art style and character designs are amazing, but it cannot carry the game alone.”
    • “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.”
  • music8 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, featuring a strong soundtrack that enhances the experience, though it suffers from repetitiveness as many levels share the same two tracks. While the atmospheric elements are praised, some players express disappointment over the lack of variety and specific musical moments. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's unique style, despite its limitations.

    • “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.”
    • “Nice atmospheric music: check.”
    • “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.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The game offers solid replayability, particularly for players familiar with platformers, as it features multiple endings and skill-based challenges that encourage mastery of levels. While it may not reach the replay value of other titles from the same developer, the inclusion of upgrades and the "anima revive" concept adds depth to the experience. Overall, players can expect a rewarding journey with various paths to explore.

    • “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.”
    • “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.”
  • 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.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The game evokes strong emotions by placing players in the role of Kuon, a deceased housecat with unique powers, creating a blend of humor and moral complexity as players grapple with the consequences of gaining strength. The experience is described as both entertaining and thought-provoking, prompting feelings of guilt alongside enjoyment.

    • “A very cool and emotional romp that makes you morally feel bad for getting stronger.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

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