Yōdanji
- December 6, 2017
- KEMCO
Get on SteamYōdanji is a coffee-break roguelike game inspired by Japanese folklore, where you can summon and trap yōkai using powders made from various body parts. The game features turn-based combat, spooky cute pixel-art graphics, and a huge variety of playable characters, skills, and amulets to collect. Compete in online global leaderboards for a global gaming experience. KEMCO, the publisher, specializes in JRPG games with immersive narratives and quality gameplay.
Reviews
- The game features charming pixel art and a variety of unique characters, each with different playstyles, making it enjoyable to explore and find favorites.
- It's a challenging roguelike that offers a rewarding experience as players learn and improve over time, with short sessions that fit well into casual play.
- The game incorporates interesting mechanics like hunger management and character leveling, adding depth to the gameplay despite its simplistic design.
- The combat can feel shallow and punishing, with quick deaths often resulting from unexpected enemy encounters or poor character choices.
- The soundtrack is repetitive and limited, leading to a lack of variety during gameplay sessions.
- Some mechanics are poorly explained, making it difficult for players to understand the game's systems and leading to frustrating experiences.
- gameplay9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is deceptively simple yet deeply challenging, primarily due to a hunger mechanic that forces players to be economical with their moves as food becomes increasingly scarce. While the combat can feel basic and lacks transparency in its mechanics, the fast-paced nature of the game mitigates frustration from defeats. Overall, the 8-bit art style complements the engaging gameplay, though some mechanics could benefit from clearer explanations.
“Here's the thing, the gameplay seems simple, but it is actually kind of deep and definitely challenging.”
“Because of the hunger mechanic, being economical in your moves is important, and with each floor, food becomes more and more scarce.”
“From the pixel art to the moment-to-moment gameplay -- I'm in love.”
“There's not much you can use for gauging the mechanics outside of the 'stuffed, peckish, famished, and starving' statuses underneath the health bar, so sometimes it's just better to eat anything you find immediately, including corpses of defeated youkai and bones.”
“Ranged attacks have some really bizarre mechanics (some attacks can curve around corners??), and basic combat is relatively boring.”
“Some mechanics (hunger rate, regeneration rate, hit/dodge %, ...) are never explained in numbers; you can only guess.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The graphics are characterized by a charming 8-bit art style reminiscent of the NES era, which many players find appealing. However, some reviewers feel that while the visuals are cute, the overall gameplay experience could be improved.
“Feels straight out of the NES era, really cute graphics.”
“Not to be confused with it getting a hardware stress test like games that have GPU-melting graphics.”
“Feels straight out of the NES era; really cute graphics.”
“I like the 8-bit art style, but the gameplay could use some more work.”
- music3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The music in the game features a limited soundtrack, with only one theme for the first nine floors and a different one for the tenth, leading to quick fatigue among players. Many users find the short looping tracks repetitive, prompting them to disable the music after a brief period of play.
“The soundtrack is really short and barely lasts one session before you'd have to disable it in options.”
“Short looping soundtrack while playing that will get old rather quickly despite the theme it fits.”
“The soundtrack is really short and barely lasts one session before you'd have to disable it in the options.”
“It's a short looping soundtrack while playing that will get old rather quickly, despite fitting the theme.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the high replayability of the game, as they can play as any youkai they encounter, including powerful characters like Enma Daiou, which adds variety and encourages multiple playthroughs.
“The variety of youkai you can encounter and play as adds immense replayability to the game, making each run feel unique.”
“Playing as different youkai, including powerful ones like Enma Daiou, keeps the gameplay fresh and exciting every time.”
“The ability to choose from a diverse roster of youkai ensures that no two playthroughs are ever the same.”
“The game lacks meaningful choices, making replaying it feel like a chore rather than an adventure.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to go back and play again.”
“The limited variety in gameplay mechanics means that replaying the game feels repetitive and uninspired.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is noted for its charming designs and a balanced learning curve, providing players with an engaging experience despite being a minor distraction.
“The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making their journeys feel personal and impactful.”
“The diverse range of character arcs adds depth to the story, making every decision feel meaningful.”
- story1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game shows potential but ultimately falls short, lacking depth and engagement.
“The game has the potential for a compelling story, but it is lacking in execution.”
“There are hints of an interesting narrative, yet it feels completely underdeveloped.”
“While the premise suggests a rich storyline, the actual content is disappointingly sparse.”
