Vay

62%
Game Brain Score Based on 31 reviews
  • grinding
  • gameplay
  • story
Vay Game Cover
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"Vay" is a 16-bit RPG in which you embark on a journey to save your kidnapped bride and stop destructive war machines. The game offers a user-selectable difficulty, an immersive story, and over 90 areas to explore. With updated music, Bluetooth controller support, and no microtransactions, it's a great choice for both new and experienced RPG players on Windows, Linux, and Mac OSX.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

62%
Audience ScoreBased on 31 reviews
story4 positive mentions
grinding6 negative mentions
  • The game features excellent quality of life improvements, such as the ability to turn off random encounters and increase experience and gold acquisition rates, making it more enjoyable than the original.
  • Vay retains its nostalgic charm with animated cutscenes and a fun story, appealing to fans of retro JRPGs.
  • The port is accessible on modern platforms, allowing new players to experience a classic title that was previously hard to find.
  • The graphics and cutscenes suffer from blurriness and compression issues, detracting from the overall visual experience.
  • The new localization and voice acting have been criticized for lacking the charm of the original, with many pop culture references feeling outdated.
  • Despite the improvements, the game remains simplistic and may not satisfy players looking for a more complex or engaging RPG experience.
  • grinding7 mentions

    Reviews indicate that grinding in this game is largely optional, with many players appreciating the ability to speed up or bypass encounters. While the game retains some traditional RPG elements like leveling and treasure hunting, it lacks the depth of strategy and meaningful status effects, making the grinding feel more like a time sink than an engaging challenge. Overall, it appeals to fans of old-school RPGs but may frustrate those who dislike excessive grinding.

    • “It comes from an era where it was pretty common for RPGs to have lots of grinding (5 hour games with 20+ hours of grinding). It was a fairly mediocre-to-average game for its time and would not be any better by today's standards.”
    • “I suggest you use the multipliers to speed up grinding in certain areas because this game had a notorious grind that acted as a time sink and filler to make up for the short time.”
    • “The fact that you can speed up grinding and cut off encounters is great, but doesn't give the re-experience much flavor.”
  • gameplay6 mentions

    The gameplay offers a customizable experience, allowing players to choose between retro and modern aesthetics, though it is generally described as basic and repetitive, particularly in battles. While there are quality of life improvements and smooth performance, the overall gameplay is considered standard for a JRPG, with some criticism directed at the difficulty adjustments made by the developers.

    • “You can make this game as retro or as modern as you like in regards to appearance and gameplay, especially if you want to relive the experience of playing this on Sega CD.”
    • “Great quality of life improvements, smooth loading, and gameplay.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, I did the same thing every battle.”
    • “Vay is pretty standard JRPG fare with a generic story and gameplay.”
    • “Working Designs tweaked the difficulty in all the wrong directions, making the gameplay completely out of whack.”
  • story6 mentions

    The story is generally regarded as enjoyable, featuring a mix of standard JRPG elements with some engaging plot twists and darker moments. While it may not be groundbreaking, it is well-executed and complemented by quality-of-life updates that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the nostalgic feel and fun cutscenes, making it a worthwhile journey for RPG fans.

    • “Good controls, fun story, excellent quality of life updates.”
    • “This RPG has a great story to follow throughout the whole game, and the weapons are awesome too. If you like RPG games, you'll definitely enjoy this one. It may be 16-bit, but it's awesome at the same time.”
    • “Granted, I used the quality of life features (which are great and really get rid of the grind); however, it was a fun story from a time long past, and the cutscenes were enjoyable too, along with a bopping soundtrack.”
    • “The story and gameplay engine in themselves are pretty basic, but are well done.”
    • “Vay is pretty standard JRPG fare with a generic story and gameplay.”
  • music6 mentions

    The music in the game is generally enjoyable, capturing the essence of mid-90s audio, with standout tracks that enhance the atmosphere, particularly in dungeons. While some players appreciate the nostalgic soundtrack and improved looping, others criticize the revamped cinematic audio as disappointing. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's experience, despite some mixed opinions on specific elements.

    • “I love the music and the atmosphere of some of the dungeons, especially the creepy penultimate dungeon.”
    • “I played Vay because I heard the cool battle music and the cutscenes and wanted to give it a try.”
    • “Granted, I used the quality of life features (which are great and really get rid of the grind); however, it was a fun story from a time long past, and the cutscenes were fun too, along with a boppin' soundtrack.”
    • “The music and gameplay are virtually the same; however, the cinematic audio has been completely redone and it's horrible.”
    • “The soundtrack, while not especially remarkable, is still entertaining enough and captures the sound of mid-90s redbook audio.”
  • graphics4 mentions

    The graphics received a score of 2/5, with reviewers noting that while they are lenient towards 2D games, the visuals appear dated even for the Sega CD era, particularly due to low resolution. Full-screen mode exacerbates issues like blurriness and artifacting, although these problems are primarily confined to the world map.

    • “Graphics 2/5. I'm not as harsh on 2D games because of my age, but even for its time, the style was dated for Sega CD.”
    • “Especially the low-res graphics.”
    • “Blowing up the game to full screen immediately introduces blurriness and artifacting to the graphics.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the nostalgic charm of its dated translation and specific memorable scenes, while others feel that the attempt to replicate the original's humor often results in jokes that fall flat. There is a desire among some reviewers for a more straightforward script that allows the story to shine without excessive comedic embellishments.

    • “Maybe it's Working Designs' translation (which today is extremely dated) that the pre-teen me thought was hilarious, the robots in a fantasy setting, or there's a certain 'scene' in this game (people who have played this previously, you know the one) that made the 13-year-old me's jaw drop.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization of "Vay," a classic 16-bit game originally released for the Sega CD, is not explicitly discussed in the provided text, but its nostalgic value and historical marketing suggest a focus on premium pricing and collectible appeal typical of the era.

  • emotional1 mentions

    Players emphasize the importance of emotional investment in character development, noting that without it, significant events like character deaths fail to resonate or evoke a strong emotional response.

    • “I need some emotional investment for a character's death to truly sting.”
    • “The game made me feel a deep connection to the characters, and their struggles resonated with me.”
    • “I was genuinely moved by the story; it evoked a range of emotions that I didn't expect.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game's replayability is rated low at 2/5, indicating that there is little incentive to revisit it after the initial playthrough, making it more suitable for a brief return rather than a compelling reason to replay.

    • “Replayability: 2/5. There's not much to miss the first time through; it's something you might come back to for a short romp if you're not backlogged.”
    • “The game lacks depth, making it hard to justify multiple playthroughs.”
    • “Once you've experienced the story, there's little incentive to dive back in.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, particularly for its immersive music and the eerie ambiance of certain dungeons, notably the penultimate one, which is described as exceptionally creepy.

    • “I love the music and the atmosphere of some of the dungeons, especially the incredibly creepy penultimate dungeon.”
    • “The game's atmosphere is hauntingly beautiful, drawing you into its world with every step.”
    • “Each location is meticulously crafted, creating an immersive atmosphere that keeps you engaged throughout the entire experience.”
    • “The atmosphere in the game feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players.”
    • “Despite some interesting visuals, the overall atmosphere fails to evoke any real emotion or tension.”
    • “The game’s atmosphere is inconsistent, swinging from dull to chaotic without any real cohesion.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Users report significant stability issues, describing the game as a "buggy mess" that feels outdated.

    • “But when I say dated, I really mean a buggy mess.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
    • “I experienced constant lag and glitches that ruined the experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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