Wolfstride
- December 7, 2021
- OTA IMON Studios
- 5h median play time
High on style and characters that shine, Wolfstride is best considered an RPG-lite that is a fun journey with excellent writing.
"Wolfstride" is a single-player Science Fiction RPG where you play as a team of three former criminals competing in a mecha tournament to turn their lives around. With a unique blend of humor and emotional depth, the game explores their complex pasts and the consequences of their choices. As you prepare for battles in the junkyard hangar, you can upgrade and customize your mecha, but beware - excessive grinding may be required.
Reviews
- Wolfstride features a unique blend of visual novel storytelling and engaging turn-based mech combat, making it a refreshing experience.
- The game boasts exceptional voice acting, stunning visuals, and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere.
- The characters are well-developed and memorable, with a story that balances humor and emotional depth, drawing players into their journey.
- The pacing can be slow, with excessive backtracking and wandering through empty areas, which may frustrate players looking for more action.
- Some plot threads feel unresolved or underdeveloped, leaving players wanting more clarity and closure by the end of the game.
- The mini-games, while fun, can become repetitive and may detract from the overall experience if players feel compelled to grind for resources.
- story298 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "Wolfstride" is a rich, character-driven narrative that blends humor, drama, and anime-inspired themes, drawing comparisons to works like "Cowboy Bebop" and "Gurren Lagann." While many players appreciate the depth and emotional weight of the story, some criticize its pacing and convoluted plot points, noting that it can feel disjointed or overly verbose at times. Overall, the game is celebrated for its engaging characters, stunning visuals, and a narrative that, despite its flaws, leaves a lasting impression.
“Everything from the visuals, to the exchanges of dialogue, to the story and setting and the relationships between the myriad of characters that comprise it all — it all coalesces into something akin to perfection.”
“The story is top notch and the mech battles are fun.”
“Wolfstride is an indie masterpiece, filled with gorgeous art, colorful characters, and a great story to wrap it all up.”
“The story is mostly just Cowboy Bebop as ordered from Wish™ or Temu™ - a ragtag band of miscreants are broke and try to raise money.”
“The game is less than the sum of all of its parts: a visual novel with only a single choice, an RPG system that essentially solves itself for you when you reach gear-check battles, and a story which clearly seems to have been padded to give players more time to grind.”
“The overarching story is confusing and kept insanely vague, so all you can do is focus on the characters.”
- gameplay100 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this title is a mix of engaging turn-based mech battles and exploration, but it suffers from repetitiveness and a lack of depth in its mechanics. While the combat can be enjoyable and strategic, many players find the overworld tasks and mini-games tedious, leading to a gameplay loop that feels drawn out and aimless. Overall, the game is praised for its artistic presentation and character design, but the gameplay experience is often overshadowed by its pacing issues and a focus on narrative over dynamic mechanics.
“Mech fight mechanics are easy to grasp but not so simple as to be boring.”
“Gameplay is enjoyable for what I got.”
“The gameplay, art style, and music are perfect, fitting each and every moment of the game, especially when you get near the ending.”
“The gameplay loop is weak and boring; the world isn't particularly interesting and the story is a convoluted mess that tries way too hard to find any semblance of sense in its overly contrived, never-ending monologues.”
“The gameplay gets incredibly repetitive, with lots of pointless walking, days with nothing new to do, and combat usually boiling down to using the same 1-3 moves over and over.”
“There are a ton of smaller annoying things too, like the gameplay outside of the fights being grinding minigames or slowly running through an empty, way too big map to check if people have no dialogue or items for you, which 90% of the time is absolutely not.”
- music68 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its quality and fitting atmosphere, often described as catchy and reminiscent of anime influences like Cowboy Bebop. While many players appreciate the diverse and engaging soundtrack, some note that certain tracks can become repetitive during extended gameplay. Overall, the music significantly enhances the game's presentation, complementing its art style and voice acting effectively.
“But what completely carries the game is not this repetitive loop, it's the S-tier gang of deplorable underdogs starring the show, expressive portraits, soundtrack, and the magnificent voice performances of the cast bringing these losers to life.”
“The soundtrack for this game by Isadora Penna is sooooo good.”
“From the intense music leading into a fight, to the actual showdown itself, to the chill music walking between areas, I've had my volume turned way up since I started playing and I'm yet to regret it.”
“The music is hit and miss.”
“Decent music, though it does get very repetitive after hearing the same short loop over and over during a 6+ minute fight.”
“The soundtrack is fitting, if a bit repetitive.”
- graphics65 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their unique and beautiful art style, reminiscent of classic anime influences like Cowboy Bebop and Gurren Lagann. Players appreciate the combination of black and white visuals with colorful elements, as well as the detailed character designs and smooth animations that enhance the overall experience. The game's aesthetic, complemented by top-notch voice acting and a fitting soundtrack, creates an immersive atmosphere that draws players into its world.
“The visuals make you feel like you're playing something produced by Madhouse or Studio Trigger, who have produced some of the most famous anime of any generation, past or present.”
“The graphics are carefully designed, showing a great discipline behind it.”
“It oozes with style, with the visuals and sound design being nothing short of stellar, especially during fights.”
“The black and white art style gets old rather soon.”
“The graphics are what is considered a mix of colorless pixel (16 bit?) and 2D animation using so-called 'motion tweens' and some special effects, all of them being very well made.”
“Visuals... oh man, this is how you breathe life into a game with limited resources and assets.”
- grinding48 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the minigames and side jobs necessary for upgrades to be excessively tedious and time-consuming. While some appreciate the charm and flexibility of the gameplay, the overwhelming need to grind for resources like pineapples and money detracts from the overall experience, leading to a sense of frustration and monotony. Despite these issues, players who persevere through the grind often find rewarding mech combat and engaging story elements waiting for them.
“Trying to get money and max friendships with people requires an excessive amount of minigame grinding.”
“Epic mech fights that are sadly plagued by grindy minigames to get money to pay for parts and skills.”
“The biggest fault: grindy as hell and a lot of running around the town map that simply wastes time and annoys.”
- humor41 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- -5 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it genuinely funny and charming, while others criticize it for relying on childish or toilet-level jokes that can feel grating. Many appreciate the balance between humor and emotional depth, noting that the writing can be hit or miss but often succeeds in creating memorable and humorous character interactions. Overall, the game features a blend of silly, irreverent humor alongside more serious themes, making for a unique narrative experience.
“It manages to be both funny and genuinely emotional, without those stepping on each other's toes, and while the main character can be very melodramatic, it's not like the game is unaware of that.”
“This game is funny, irreverent, and a lot more clever than you'd expect from a game where the opening cutscene starts with one character on the toilet.”
“The art's fantastic and the script is laugh-out-loud funny.”
“The jokes are not funny.”
“The humor falls flat and feels forced.”
“I expected more clever writing, but the jokes missed the mark.”
- emotional19 mentions
- 95 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game successfully balances humor and genuine emotion, creating a narrative that resonates deeply with players, often leading to unexpected moments of tears and laughter. While some find the early parts slow and filled with filler, the emotional arcs and character development ultimately deliver a satisfying and heartfelt experience. Overall, it combines lightheartedness with serious themes, making for a memorable and engaging story that lingers long after playing.
“It manages to be both funny and genuinely emotional, without those stepping on each other's toes, and while the main character can be very melodramatic, it's not like the game is unaware of that.”
“A beautiful game with a surprisingly touching story.”
“Despite that, there is a central plot that deals with some serious issues that is genuinely touching.”
“You have to power through hours of boring story and annoyances in order to get to the mech battles, and it's painful.”
- atmosphere13 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique style and immersive qualities, enhanced by a brilliant soundtrack that shifts between chilling and thrilling tones. While some areas may feel empty or repetitive, the overall aesthetic, character charm, and engaging environments contribute to a captivating experience that resonates well with fans of atmospheric RPGs. However, the frequent backtracking can detract from the enjoyment, as it may lead to a sense of monotony despite the appealing ambiance.
“A truly incredible and unique experience, filled to the absolute brim with atmosphere and style.”
“Another great plus would be the soundtrack as it provides perfect atmosphere that often shifts from chilling into thrilling.”
“The music is just brilliant and often I would just chill in the hangar, enjoying the atmosphere.”
“Some places and scenes also feel empty and rushed, but the overall atmosphere manages to smooth this out.”
“While the overall atmosphere is very stylized, the characters are charming, and the 'mecha-anime' vibe is super rad, I cannot recommend this game.”
“At this point, if it was just a pure visual novel, I'd probably dig it, just because of the atmosphere, the animations, the voice acting... they've just nailed it.”
- character development10 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Overall, the character development in the game is praised for its depth and engaging storytelling, with many players appreciating the strong arcs for the main cast. However, some critiques mention that certain themes feel repetitive and that not all interesting aspects are fully explored. The combination of compelling dialogue and unique character designs enhances the overall experience, despite occasional tonal inconsistencies.
“Wolfstride is an anime-inspired, story-centric mech brawler with a great soundtrack, voice acting, and character development.”
“The game itself is short, but packs in a lot of character development for the main cast.”
“If you go in looking for character development, you'll find it in spades!”
“A beautiful conglomeration of life stories, fun minigames, and astonishing visuals and character design.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is noted to be lacking, particularly in the mechanics of moving between locations, which detracts from the overall experience. However, the standout voice acting and character portrayals significantly enhance the game's appeal, with a high level of performance across the cast, despite some inconsistencies. Overall, while the optimization could be improved, the strong voice work and character depth help carry the game.
“I wish they focused more on the mech parts of the game, and optimized moving between locations.”
“10/10 voice acting and really surprised me with how much of this game was voice acted. I really can't think of anything in the game that is not voiced; from random conversations to background NPCs, everyone has a voice that fits and is well performed.”
“Each character is given so much life and emotion thanks to the cast who have blown it out of the park with their performances.”
“I wish they focused more on the mech parts of the game and optimized moving between locations.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including persistent visual and sound glitches, frequent freezes, and random graphical anomalies. Players have reported that these bugs can disrupt gameplay, particularly during key moments, although the overall story and gameplay elements remain engaging.
“The game is buggy as hell; sometimes random white boxes appear on screen, sometimes the voice is delayed, and the game freezes.”
“During the first fight against the 'worm god,' when his hand punches the mech's chest, the game freezes up and I had to skip the scene to get past this point.”
“Otherwise, most of the bugs I encountered were persistent sound glitches that would reset on saving and reloading the save.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Wolfstride offers a compelling single playthrough experience, but its replayability is limited due to a conclusive ending that wraps up the story. While some players may not find immediate reasons to replay it, the engaging narrative could entice them to revisit the game in the future. Overall, replayability is uncertain but not entirely dismissed.
“It doesn't have much in the way of replayability, but I think Wolfstride is worth a playthrough.”
“The only downside is that after completing it all, there's no replayability appeal with the ending wrapping up the story. However, I wouldn't be surprised if I wanted to pick this back up and relive the story again in a few years.”
Critic Reviews
Wolfstride
Wolfstride has a wonderful concept and almost pulls it off, but it can't come together into a cohesive experience.
74%Wolfstride review
Ota Imon has something interesting to say with Wolfstride. I just hope it finds the right voice to say it with next time.
70%Wolfstride
High on style and characters that shine, Wolfstride is best considered an RPG-lite that is a fun journey with excellent writing.
81%