Venaitura
- August 2, 2021
- Ephiam
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreVenaitura is a single-player Fantasy Role Playing game, often described as "Dragon Quest meets depression," with a good plot. Assemble a party of four Champions to stop Lord Zadigan from using the Venaitura to spread evil across the land of Tsufana. Use the spacebar to confirm/talk, x key to open/exit menu, and arrow/directional keys to move the character. Activate windowed mode by pressing the Function key and then F4.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a large selection of character classes and party combinations, enhancing replayability and customization.
- Boss fights are engaging and well-designed, with a variety of status effects and ailments that add depth to combat.
- The nostalgic NES-style graphics and music, along with a solid turn-based combat system, create a charming and enjoyable experience.
- The high encounter rate and large dungeons can make exploration feel tedious and overwhelming at times.
- Some classes feel underpowered, leading to a reliance on specific characters for healing and support.
- The story can become convoluted and difficult to follow, with NPC dialogue sometimes dragging on and obscuring important plot points.
- story46 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story is generally engaging and features intriguing twists, though it lacks depth and can feel disjointed at times, particularly as it draws on familiar tropes like King Arthur. While some dialogue and pacing issues exist, the game successfully builds its world and offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic RPGs, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre. Overall, the narrative is a mix of fun and darkness, with a need for clearer distinctions among NPCs to enhance progression.
“There's some surprising turns taken in the game that kept me intrigued, and I loved how the final plot threads came together.”
“An amazing old-school RPG that feels like the games you know and love but provides a story that features twists and turns unique to the experience.”
“In the end, Venaitura is a gorgeous, playful, and lovingly made adventure full of fantastic ideas, with meaty boss battles and surprisingly robust and moody storytelling.”
“Some of the dialogue and story beats are hit-or-miss; the monster catching area was the most fun I had personally, but other times the dialogues can drag a bit.”
“The story devolved into King Arthur despite being more original in the beginning, and Merlin is a woman for some reason.”
“Eventually, the story got so disconnected that I couldn't follow it anymore.”
- music14 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players praising its charm and the noticeable changes when progressing, particularly after acquiring the boat. However, some users express dissatisfaction, describing the music as lacking. Overall, the soundtrack is highlighted as a strong point, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere.
“The music is cute and the vibe is perfect.”
“The game has a great soundtrack.”
“The music is also really good!”
“The music kinda sucks and the auto-battler is poorly designed.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a refreshing take on classic turn-based RPG mechanics, featuring random encounters and a focus on strategic combat that discourages button mashing. Players can effectively utilize status effects on enemies, adding depth to the combat experience crafted by a single developer. Overall, the game successfully combines simplicity with engaging mechanics.
“It's awesome that a single developer took simple RPG mechanics and pushed them into interesting directions.”
“Gameplay-wise, it's what you'd expect from classic turn-based RPGs: random encounters galore.”
“The game has solid combat mechanics that do well to keep you from button mashing your way through fights.”
“Another gameplay bonus is that using status effects on enemies can work in our favor.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their charming retro art style and variety, contributing positively to the overall experience. However, many users express a desire for improved graphical feedback during battles, such as more animations and visual effects, as well as consistency in character portraits, which currently vary in style and quality. Overall, while the visuals have their strengths, they also leave room for enhancement in terms of clarity and engagement during gameplay.
“Amazing game with a ton of variety, a super cool retro art style, and a great story to experience!”
“The premise is great, the graphics are charming, and I love the freedom of choice when it comes to assembling your party.”
“I wish there was more graphical feedback to make it easier to take in information - some visual effects from spells in battle, HP bars, icons indicating what type of item you just picked up, etc. Battles almost felt like a text adventure with so little animation.”
“Also, while the menu and world sprites are good, the portraits are all in different art styles and are clearly traced.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by a mix of corny puns and dark themes, creating a unique contrast that enhances its world-building. While it may not be award-winning, the dialogue is often genuinely funny, with well-developed NPCs contributing to the overall comedic experience.
“The game does its world building quite well, and despite the corniness of its names, puns, and humor, the plot can be very dark.”
“The dialogue is also very humorous between different characters, and all the NPCs have their own characteristics!”
“It's not going to win any awards, but important characters are fleshed out enough to be interesting, and some of the dialogue is genuinely funny.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Many users find RPG Maker games to be significant emotional experiences, often highlighting the depth of storytelling. However, some players feel disconnected from their characters' actions, leading to a sense of lacking noble accomplishments within the narrative.
“Most RPG Maker games are as much of an emotional achievement as they are technical.”
“Normally, I'm supporting the actions of my own characters in a game like this, but most of the story made me feel like I wasn't really accomplishing anything noble.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the replayability of the game, noting that the presence of various classes enhances the experience by allowing them to craft unique heroes, encouraging multiple playthroughs.
“The various classes help to give the feel of crafting your heroes, which adds significant replay value.”
“The different classes allow for a unique experience each time, enhancing the game's replayability.”
“The ability to craft your heroes with various classes greatly increases the replay value.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is described as uniquely melancholy, gradually revealing its depth and engaging players as they become invested in the world and its characters. While it may take some time to fully appreciate, the atmosphere ultimately enhances the overall experience.
“It took me a while to warm up to it, but as I went on and the game showed more of its hand, it started to come into its own, and I became invested in the world, its characters, and its uniquely melancholy atmosphere.”
