Yamafuda! 2nd station
- September 24, 2021
- KPC
- 23h median play time
Get on Steam"Yamafuda! 2nd Station" is a deck-building roguelike game where you hike mountains using cards you collect along the way. With over 40 cards, 50 gears, and 10 mountains to choose from, each hike is a unique experience. The story follows two friends embarking on a mountain hiking adventure, with the goal of reaching the summit in one piece. As the weather changes, so does the steepness of the mountain, adding an extra layer of challenge to the game.
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Reviews
- Yamafuda features a charming art style and adorable characters, making it visually appealing and enjoyable to play.
- The game offers a relaxing and casual gameplay experience, perfect for players looking for a chill deckbuilding game with a unique hiking theme.
- Despite its simplicity, the game provides enough depth and challenge, especially in later levels, encouraging strategic thinking and resource management.
- The English translation is poor, leading to confusion about card effects and mechanics, which can hinder the overall experience.
- The game can become overly reliant on RNG, particularly in later challenges, making it frustrating when luck does not favor the player.
- While the game is enjoyable, it lacks significant replay value due to a limited number of mountains and card/item options, leading to potential repetitiveness.
- gameplay42 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and charm, featuring easy-to-grasp mechanics that create a laid-back experience, though it lacks depth and complexity. While the card gathering and combat mechanics are enjoyable and thematically relevant, some players find the mechanics unpolished and occasionally frustrating, particularly in terms of clarity and interaction. Overall, the game offers a pleasant experience with cute visuals and a cozy atmosphere, but it may not satisfy those seeking a more intricate roguelike challenge.
“Yes, the super cute protagonists and visuals were my initial point of interest, but those combined with a wonderful soundtrack, varied and sweet sceneries while you hike, and a fun chill gameplay made me legitimately love this game.”
“Gameplay is simple, animations are cute, and the music is comfy.”
“The laid-back atmosphere of the game and the ease of the mechanics are just engaging enough to make each climb a pleasant little experience.”
“In the end, it feels very much like an indie labor of love with somewhat unpolished edges and mechanics that aren't fully fleshed out. It struggles to explain some mechanics, which could definitely have been improved to make the experience even better.”
“They've all kind of started to melt together into a congealed mass of common mechanics and showy twists that, while admittedly adding depth for the first few runs, quickly become tired and only attract apathy.”
“If you're looking for a roguelike with lots of depth and complex gameplay, you'll only get something surface deep.”
- music30 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise for its calming and enjoyable qualities, enhancing the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. While the soundtrack is sourced from the Nash Music Library and not original, players find it delightful and fitting for the game's relaxing hiking theme. Many express a desire to purchase the soundtrack, highlighting its emotional impact and ability to evoke nostalgia and joy during gameplay.
“Yes, the super cute protagonists and visuals were my initial point of interest, but those combined with a wonderful soundtrack, varied and sweet sceneries while you hike, and a fun chill gameplay made me legitimately love this game.”
“The calming music that puts you in a joyful mood (though Hiyori's battle track when you choose to travel the 'harder path' is just mad banging), beautiful mountain scenery, cute 3D models.”
“The music is fantastic, the atmosphere is perfect, the animations and character models are great, although perhaps some customization for the two characters could be introduced as rewards for certain achievements?”
“I'd buy the soundtrack if I could, but apparently most/all of the music they use is from Nash Music Library, which is the JP royalty-free music company with cut-throat prices for individual tracks if one tries to buy them separately.”
“The soundtrack, while not being original, is still really nice to listen to.”
“The calming music that puts you in a joyful mood (though Hiyori's battle track when you choose to travel the 'harder path' is just mad banging).”
- graphics12 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are highly praised for their cute art style and charming character designs, which serve as a major draw for players. The visuals are complemented by a delightful soundtrack and varied, picturesque sceneries that enhance the overall hiking experience. Reviewers consistently highlight the top-notch ambience and aesthetic quality, making it a standout feature of the game.
“Yes, the super cute protagonists and visuals were my initial point of interest, but those combined with a wonderful soundtrack, varied and sweet sceneries while you hike, and a fun chill gameplay made me legitimately love this game.”
“[b]Ambience and aesthetic:[/b] top notch - go buy the 'yamamook' if able.”
“As far as aesthetics go, Yamafuda looks and sounds nice.”
- story6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game features a minimal story, primarily focusing on the gameplay of climbing mountains and building a deck of cards, with no significant narrative elements. Players can unlock a second character with a different playstyle after completing the story mode, but overall, the emphasis is on the chill climbing experience rather than a developed storyline.
“After you complete story mode once, you unlock the second playable character who has a different playstyle.”
“Despite a couple of minor translation issues, and a complete lack of story, I love this game -- it's an extremely chill climbing simulator and deckbuilder, where you build a deck of cards and assemble a number of items/artifacts en route to climbing a bunch of mountains vaguely set in Japan (not all of the things you end up climbing are real mountains).”
“[b]Story:[/b] n/a - you climb mountains.”
“Despite a couple of minor translation issues, and a complete lack of story, I love this game -- it's an extremely chill climbing simulator and deckbuilder, where you build a deck of cards and assemble a number of items/artifacts en route to climbing a bunch of mountains vaguely set in Japan (not all of the things you end up climbing are real mountains).”
- replayability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers limited replayability due to its short main campaign, but players can enhance their experience by replaying it at higher difficulty levels. Overall, while the game may not provide substantial content for multiple playthroughs, the challenge of increased difficulty can add some value for those seeking a more engaging experience.
“If you're looking for quantity, there isn't much replay value here.”
“It would dramatically increase the replayability of the game, since the main campaign is already so short.”
“It's fairly short but replayable at higher difficulty.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to evoke a sense of heartbreak, despite its overall fun and wholesome nature. The emotional depth is enhanced by user-created lore, which adds a personal touch to the experience, even if the game itself lacks substantial narrative content.
“It's almost heartbreaking.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a laid-back vibe that enhances the enjoyment of gameplay, complemented by fantastic music and high-quality animations. Reviewers appreciate the engaging mechanics that make each climb a pleasant experience, though some suggest adding character customization as a reward for achievements.
“The laid-back atmosphere of the game and the ease of the mechanics are just engaging enough to make each climb a pleasant little experience.”
“The music is fantastic, the atmosphere is perfect, the animations and character models are great, although perhaps some customization for the two characters could be introduced as rewards for certain achievements.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character designs of Koharu and Hiyori are consistently praised for their cuteness, highlighting a strong visual appeal in their development.
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in this game is characterized by its lighthearted and whimsical approach, presenting the challenges of mountain hiking through the innocent and amusing lens of a little girl and her friend. This unique perspective adds a charming and funny twist to the deckbuilder-roguelite genre, steering clear of conflict and instead highlighting the psychological and physiological struggles in a playful manner.
“A cute and funny variation on the deckbuilder-roguelite genre that avoids conflict and instead focuses on the physiological and psychological struggles of mountain hiking from the perspective of a little girl and her friend.”
