Info about Dandy Ace:

Official game description:
  
**Dandy Ace** is an over the top fast-paced roguelike experience that follows a fabulous magician seeking to combine and use his magical cards while fighting and looting his way to defeat the Green-Eyed Illusionist, Lele, who has imprisoned him in a cursed mirror. While battling your way through Lele’s ever changing palace, combine different cards with more than a thousand possibilities, each with their own playstyles and powers. Every run provides new challenges and combinations for players to explore as they progress closer to Lele.  
Play as Dandy Ace, the amazing hero, and survive the challenges of the extravagant, lavish and ever changing palace created to defeat him filled with bizarre creatures and outrageous bosses. Find all of the magical cards, gather shards and gold, and get help from his assistants and unconventional allies.  
*   **Rogue-lite experience:** Try, die and try again until you beat the Green-Eyed Illusionist with the replayability and adrenaline of a rogue-like with permanent upgrades that makes you stronger as you progress further with each run.
*   **2D isometric fast-paced action:** with lots of challenging but fair combat engagements. Battle your way through bizarre creatures and outrageous bosses while building up your own arsenal of magic.
*   **Create your own builds:** Combine cards with more than a thousand possibilities, each with its own gameplay style and powers.
*   **Challenges of the ever changing palace:** Explore the extravagant and lavish aesthetics of the game through the nonlinear progression of the palace, fighting off unique enemies and bosses, on your quest to defeat Lele and escape the cursed mirror.

Release date: Mar 25, 2021

Categories: Roguelite, Card-based Gameplay, Isometric Action-RPG, Hack and Slash, Permanent Upgrade System, Multiple Difficulty Modes

Feature scans:
- Steam Deck: score 40; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The available feedback is limited but indicates the game is controller-friendly and generally fluid, which suits the Steam Deck's built-in controls. However, at least one user reports sudden stutters or frame drops, suggesting performance stability is not fully seamless. No evidence of external launchers, anti-cheat failures, unreadable text, or launch blockers was found.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $9.99 - $14.99
  - Reasoning: The reviews repeatedly frame the game as a sale purchase rather than a full-price one. One reviewer explicitly says it is not worth full price and only becomes worth considering at a discount above 50%, which from the current $19.99 list price points to roughly $10 or less. Other comments say it is acceptable or worthwhile on discount and that it often becomes cheap in sales, while only a minority suggest paying full price. This supports a fair base-game range below the current list price, around $10 to $15.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 16.0h
  - Story completion: 11.0h
  - Session length: 0.4h
  - Endgame: 32.4h
  - Reasoning: The translated Portuguese review reporting normal mode in 11 hours supports storyCompletion=11. The translated Portuguese review reporting about 16 hours to reach the final boss and beat the game supports gameCompletion=16. The English review reporting 32.4 hours to beat Nightmare mode supports endgame=32.4 as the post-normal highest-difficulty clear. The English quote about finishing a full run in 25 minutes supports sessionLength=0.42 hours. Other reports vary, including a 3.5-hour first win and 100% completion around 12-26 hours, so confidence is moderate.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Dandy Ace has a card-driven learning curve: early death loops and confusing combos can give way to addicting progression once unlocks and card application click, though some players report later repetition or no click at all.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: Understanding how to apply cards properly and unlocking more cards/powers/passives
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: Early death loops before unlocks; Confusing card complexity and combo planning; Underpowered if not progressing or unlocking; No i-frames or hitstun and dash limitations; Repetitive rooms and pace-breaking encounters; Narrator repetition after the first hour
  - Unlock drivers: Discovering more cards, powers, passives, and buffs; Understanding how to apply cards properly; Failed runs contributing to long-term progression; Unlocking new cards, relics, and passive upgrades; Dash improvements that pass through enemies; Progression that adds variety and replayability
  - Conditions: Enjoyment depends on the card system clicking; Tolerance for roguelite meta-progression and repeated failed runs; Early power depends on unlocking cards and passives; Dash quality affects handling early enemy swarms; Repetition and narrator fatigue can reduce enjoyment; Late-game boss balance can hurt sustained fun; Individual roguelite preference; some say it never clicks; Higher difficulty modes may ramp enemy variety
- Player Archetypes:
  - Roguelike Genre Veteran (no buy)
    - Motivation: Seeking deep, varied, well-polished combat and progression that can stand alongside the genre's best roguelikes.
    - Playstyle: Optimizes builds around meta-progression, compares systems directly to genre staples, and expects mechanical depth and variety across runs.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: roguelike addict; roguelike experience
    - Reference games: Dead Cells; Hades; Wizard of Legend; Persona
  - Casual Genre Newcomer (sale)
    - Motivation: Accessible, low-pressure fun and an easy entry point into the roguelike genre.
    - Playstyle: Plays at lower difficulties, focuses on casual moment-to-moment fun, and does not chase deep variety or hardcore optimization.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: casual
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Build-Crafting Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Discovery and mastery of the card-combination system to create custom, effective ability loadouts.
    - Playstyle: Experiments with primary and secondary card synergies, rebinds skills to preferred keys, and constantly reconfigures a personal loadout each run.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Aesthetic and Atmosphere Seeker (buy)
    - Motivation: Appreciation of the game's art, music, voice acting, theme, and cultural identity.
    - Playstyle: Plays for immersive presentation and stylistic enjoyment rather than mechanical depth, often drawn in by visuals, soundtrack, and dubbing.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Persona


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Varied card and skill system (weight 0.68): The card and skill system offers a huge variety of cards and synergies, allowing for diverse builds and playstyles. Players enjoy mixing and matching cards to create unique combinations.
- Beautiful art style and visuals (weight 0.47): The art style is widely praised as pretty, charming, and outstanding, with lovely aesthetics and beautiful visuals. Many players highlight the art direction as impressive.
- Excellent voice acting and dubbing (weight 0.42): Voice acting is consistently praised as good or great, with special mention of the Brazilian Portuguese dub, which is considered outstanding and fitting for each character.
- Fun and engaging gameplay (weight 0.4): Players consistently describe the game as very fun, goofy, and captivating, with fast-paced and pleasant gameplay. The fun factor is the most frequently praised aspect.
- Solid roguelike experience (weight 0.33): The game is frequently described as a solid, sensational roguelike or roguelite with enjoyable mechanics. It offers a great experience for fans of the genre.
- Pleasant soundtrack and music (weight 0.26): The soundtrack and music are consistently praised as pleasant and nice, complementing the overall experience. Music and art are often highlighted together as strong points.
- High build variety per run (weight 0.22): Each run offers tons of build variety, with a huge number of skills and card combinations to experiment with. This encourages replayability and creative strategizing.
- Satisfying progression and unlocks (weight 0.22): Unlocking new cards, upgrades, and content is gratifying and addictive, with plenty of unlockables to pursue. Completing the game is also satisfying.
- Great boss fights (weight 0.19): Boss fights are described as good, challenging, and well-designed, with the first boss particularly standing out. Players find bosses fun and satisfying to defeat.
- Responsive and fluid combat (weight 0.19): Combat is praised for being responsive, dynamic, and fluid, contributing to an engaging and fast-paced experience. The fluidity enhances the overall gameplay feel.
- Good difficulty balance (weight 0.18): The difficulty is considered good or okay, providing a satisfying challenge without being overly punishing. Some note it is harder than Hades but still enjoyable.
- Charismatic and unique characters (weight 0.16): Characters are charismatic, unique, and well-developed, with interesting personalities that add to the game's appeal. The character design is a notable positive.
- Creative enemy designs (weight 0.13): Enemies are creative and well-designed, with diverse and interesting designs that feature unique attacks and powers. This adds variety and engagement to combat.
- Beautiful animations (weight 0.09): The animations are described as nice and very beautiful, enhancing the visual appeal of the game. Smooth animations contribute to the overall polish.
- No bugs encountered (weight 0.09): Several players report never encountering any bugs, indicating a stable and polished experience. This technical reliability is appreciated.

Common complaints:
- Low enemy and boss variety (weight 0.33): Players repeatedly note that there are too few enemy types and bosses, with heavy reuse and recolors. This lack of variety makes combat feel samey across runs.
- Repetitive gameplay and environments (weight 0.28): Feedback highlights that repetition sets in quickly, with monotonous gameplay and rooms that blend together. Many players find the experience becomes boring after a few hours.
- Negligible story and weak ending (weight 0.2): The story is considered negligible or below average, with no conclusive ending after finishing all modes. This leaves players unsatisfied with the narrative.
- Overly difficult even on normal (weight 0.19): Normal difficulty is described as frustrating and very hard. The difficulty curve spikes sharply after the second level, making progression feel unfair.
- Uninspired Hades-like combat (weight 0.16): Combat resembles Hades but lacks its charisma and flow. Players feel the game wants to be the next Hades but falls short in substance.
- Poor voice acting quality (weight 0.15): Voice acting is criticized as stiff and underwhelming, with many characters voiced by streamers instead of professionals. Only Lele is noted as acceptable.
- Card system lacks fun mechanics (weight 0.15): The card system is problematic, often offering the same cards with no exciting mechanics. Unlocking more cards dilutes the pool, making it harder to find good cards.
- Dodging lacks i-frames (weight 0.09): Dodge and dash abilities have no invincibility frames, making dodging feel unreliable. This contributes to frustration in combat.
- Narrow rooms, limited dodge space (weight 0.09): Rooms are cramped with little safe space, leading to situations where players have nowhere to dodge. This exacerbates difficulty issues.
- Many bad design choices (weight 0.08): Players point out numerous incomprehensible and weird design decisions. These choices negatively impact the overall experience.
- Higher difficulties just stat-padded (weight 0.08): Harder difficulties only increase enemy damage and health and reduce heals, without adding variety. This makes higher difficulties feel artificial.
- Progression copied from Dead Cells (weight 0.08): The progression system is seen as a 1:1 copy of Dead Cells, with upgrades feeling like sidegrades. This lack of originality disappoints players.
- Better games in genre exist (weight 0.08): Players note that there are definitely better games in the genre, implying this one fails to stand out. This comparison highlights its shortcomings.

Gameplay feedback:
- Card-based combat core (weight 0.9): The central mechanic is a card system where each card functions as an active ability and can also be used as a modifier. Cards have colors, levels, and cooldowns, and can be flexibly swapped during runs.
- Four active card slots (weight 0.52): Players can equip up to four main cards, each corresponding to a face button on the controller. Any card can be placed in any slot, and each main slot can also hold a secondary sub-card for additional effects.
- Roguelike with Hades-like structure (weight 0.52): Reviewers consistently describe the game as a roguelike or action roguelite with comparisons to Hades and Dead Cells. The core loop involves repeating runs through isometric hack-and-slash combat.
- Multiple difficulty modes (weight 0.46): The game offers several difficulty settings, typically Normal, Hard, Very Hard, and Nightmare, with Nightmare being notably challenging and featuring a final boss. Difficulty modes affect story progression and are required for unlocking content.
- Permanent and run-based progression (weight 0.46): Progression includes unlocking new cards, trinkets, and passive upgrades using shards, as well as meta-progression that persists across runs. The upgrade system is often compared to Dead Cells' mutations and enhancements.
- Boss fights and enemy variety (weight 0.28): The game features boss encounters that occur every few levels, with locked arenas that contain traps. Enemies and bosses are a core part of the experience.
- Build variety and combinations (weight 0.21): The game offers extensive build customization through card combinations, skill synergies, and equippable accessories. Players can create diverse strategies by mixing card types and effects.
- Caster playstyle with dashing (weight 0.2): Combat emphasizes a caster playstyle involving kiting, running, and dodging rather than melee. Players use dashing and blinking abilities to avoid attacks and position for card-based spells.
- Isometric action perspective (weight 0.14): The game is presented from an isometric viewpoint, with top-down 2D action roguelike elements. This perspective supports the hack-and-slash combat and dungeon-crawling feel.
- High replayability (weight 0.14): Reviewers note that the roguelike structure and unlockable content provide near-infinite replay value. Multiple playthroughs with increasing difficulty encourage repeated runs.

Performance notes:
- Performance issues cause FPS drops (weight 0.13): Players report sudden stuttering and frame drops during gameplay, and chaotic scenes can cause crazy FPS drops on PC. Scene transitions also produce noticeable frame drops for some users.
- Ultrawide monitor visual bugs (weight 0.09): Ultrawide users face resolution bugs that cut off part of the visible game area, and non-16:9 screens may also show black bars due to lack of proper ultrawide support.
- Game runs well on low-end PCs (weight 0.09): A portion of feedback highlights that the game is well optimized for lower-end hardware and runs smoothly without issues. This contrasts with the performance problems reported by other users.
- Default settings cause stuttering (weight 0.05): Some stuttering is attributed to default settings such as Vsync and borderless window mode. Adjusting these defaults could resolve the issue for affected players.

Recommendations:
- Wait for a sale (weight 0.4): Many suggest buying the game only on sale or at a discount, as the full price may not be justified for everyone. A discount of at least 50% is often mentioned as a good threshold.
- Recommended for roguelike fans (weight 0.38): Many reviewers recommend the game to players who enjoy roguelikes and roguelites, citing it as a solid addition to the genre. It is especially appealing to those who are already familiar with similar titles.
- Mixed or negative recommendations (weight 0.32): A number of players cannot recommend the game, citing issues such as lack of variety, bugs, or poor design decisions. Some say it is not worth trying even for free.
- Comparison to Hades (weight 0.3): A common theme is that the game invites comparisons to Hades, but several reviewers stress it is not a Hades-like and should not be expected to match its quality. Some recommend playing Hades instead if you want a more polished experience.
- Enjoyable despite flaws (weight 0.29): Many players find the game fun and worth playing despite its imperfections. It is described as far from perfect but still enjoyable.
- Good for casual or short sessions (weight 0.25): The game is seen as suitable for short, casual play sessions and for players who want a game to pass time. It is also considered a good introductory game for beginners.
- Challenging and progression-focused (weight 0.21): Reviewers highlight the game's challenge and constant progression, recommending it to players who enjoy overcoming difficult content. Some note it is not for those who lack time or dislike thinking hard.
- Worth buying at full price (weight 0.19): Some reviewers consider the game worth its full price, praising its value and fun factor. They recommend it without hesitation.
- Not for everyone (weight 0.18): Several reviewers note that the game is not for a wide audience, especially those who are not fond of the genre or have concentration issues. It is not recommended for players new to the genre.
- Combat and build variety (weight 0.15): Reviewers enjoy the fast-paced combat and the variety of card loadouts and builds. Some specific tips include using double blue or pink cards for better performance.
- Technical issues and performance (weight 0.13): Specific technical problems are mentioned, such as dash/dodge action queueing, isometric map alignment, and frame rate issues. Some players also report that the game is not recommended on Apple devices.
- Not recommended over other titles (weight 0.13): Several reviewers suggest that players should pick other games in the genre instead, such as Dead Cells or soulslikes, if they want a more polished experience.
- Lack of variety and replayability (weight 0.09): Some players warn that the game lacks variety after the first few plays and does not offer much replay value. This is a common criticism.
- Gamepad recommended (weight 0.09): Many players find a gamepad almost mandatory for optimal control, with some recommending it for vibration feedback and aim assist.
- Try before you buy (weight 0.09): Some suggest trying the demo or using the refund window to experience the game's flaws before committing to a purchase.
- Art style and animations praised (weight 0.08): The art style and character animations are highlighted as strong points, with some reviewers unable to give a negative recommendation because of them.
- Achievement hunting (weight 0.08): The game is considered worth it for players who enjoy chasing achievements, though some note that platinum requires skill or determination.
- Weak story (weight 0.04): One reviewer warns that the game's story is minimal, so players expecting a strong narrative should look elsewhere.
- Hopes for updates (weight 0.04): Some reviewers express hope that future updates will address current issues and improve the game.

Other player notes:
- Similar to Hades but shallower (weight 0.54): Multiple reviewers note that the game closely resembles Hades in structure and style but lacks its depth, variety, and excitement. It is often described as an inferior or less fluid version of Hades.
- Brazilian game and production (weight 0.49): Reviewers frequently mention that the game is Brazilian, made by Brazilians, and a product of the Brazilian national industry. Supporting the national industry is a common motivation.
- Full Brazilian Portuguese localization (weight 0.39): The game features complete Brazilian Portuguese localization, including voice acting, menus, and interface. This is highlighted as a notable feature.
- Compared to Hades and Dead Cells (weight 0.27): Reviewers often compare the game to both Hades and Dead Cells, sometimes calling it a mix of the two. It is also likened to a child of Dead Cells and Hades.
- Harder than Hades (weight 0.25): Several reviewers find the game more difficult than Hades. Comparisons to Hades are considered inevitable.
- Slower pace than Hades (weight 0.24): The game is described as having a slower pace and being less exciting than Hades. This affects the overall flow and engagement.
- Voice acting by streamers YouTubers (weight 0.24): The voice cast includes famous Brazilian streamers, YouTubers, and influencers. Some performances are praised while others are criticized.
- Alternative to Hades with identity (weight 0.2): Some see the game as a viable alternative to Hades that maintains its own identity. It is not considered a mere clone or ripoff.
- Lele serves as narrator (weight 0.18): The main antagonist, Lele, acts as the game's narrator, describing events. This narrative choice is noted by reviewers.
- Twitch integration for viewers (weight 0.17): The game supports Twitch integration, allowing viewers to interact with the stream. This feature is highlighted for streamer engagement.
- Low price value purchase (weight 0.17): Reviewers consider the price point low enough to make it a worthwhile purchase. It offers good value for the cost.
- Indie title (weight 0.17): The game is classified as an indie title. This is mentioned as context for its scope and production.
- Gameplay similar to Wizard of Legend (weight 0.17): Some reviewers find the gameplay closer to Wizard of Legend than to Hades. It is also compared to a mix of Wizard of Legends and Hades.
- Developed by Mad Mimic (weight 0.14): The game is developed by Brazilian indie studio Mad Mimic and published by NEOWIZ. The developer is explicitly mentioned in several reviews.
- Narrator can be muted (weight 0.14): Players have the option to mute or turn off the narrator if they find the narration repetitive. This quality-of-life feature is appreciated.

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.18): Players frequently report that the game lacks depth, variety, and originality compared to genre benchmarks like Hades, with repetitive gameplay, poor balance, and uninteresting build options. Specific mechanical issues such as clunky movement, lack of invincibility frames, and an unlock system that dilutes the card pool further diminish the experience. Additionally, amateurish voice acting, a shallow story, and high unlock thresholds contribute to a sense of wasted potential.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.13): Many players find the game fun due to its engaging card-based combat, build variety, and smooth gameplay. The colorful art style, pleasant soundtrack, and humorous dialogue also contribute to an enjoyable experience. The roguelike structure with randomized runs and creative card combinations keeps players entertained.
- Frustration (weight 0.13): Frustration arises from a steep difficulty curve, unfair enemy design, and technical issues like lack of invincibility frames and clunky controls. Card RNG and cooldowns often force passive play, while bugs and poor optimization on certain devices exacerbate the problem. Repetitive grinding and loss of progress on death add to the irritation.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.08): Players feel satisfied by the game's fluid combat, varied card mechanics, and rewarding progression. Defeating bosses and unlocking new cards provide a sense of accomplishment. The game meets expectations in graphics, story, and gameplay, offering a solid roguelike experience with good difficulty and voice acting.
- Excitement (weight 0.05): Excitement stems from dynamic and addictive gameplay, chaotic bullet hell action, and the constant mixing of powers and effects. The need to unlock new cards and the 'one more run' appeal keep players engaged. Fast-paced style and diverse card combinations contribute to a thrilling experience.
- Annoyance (weight 0.04): Annoyance is primarily caused by repetitive and irritating voice lines, especially from the narrator and antagonist. Auto-aim issues, bright visual effects that hinder combat tracking, and tedious kiting-based combat also frustrate players. The story's nonsensical nature and frequent villain dialogue add to the irritation.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Players appreciate the great voice acting, stylish visual design, and creative build options. The Brazilian localization and dubbing are particularly praised, along with the charming theme and unique card system. The care put into the game's identity and systems sets it apart from similar titles.
- Boredom (weight 0.03): Boredom results from repetitive cards, limited useful combinations, and monotonous gameplay. Low map variety and repeated grinding on the same bosses lead to a lack of engagement. The design policy of no i-frames and no hitstun contributes to a dull experience.
- Fun (weight 0.03): Players find the game fun due to the progression and new content in hard mode, as well as the ability to create powerful combo effects by using cards as upgrades. Building custom ability loadouts and experimenting with cards during runs adds to the enjoyment. The challenging yet stylish roguelite nature keeps it entertaining.
- Pride (weight 0.02): Pride is felt because the game is Brazilian and represents a high-quality national production. Players take pride in supporting a Brazilian-developed game and appreciate the involvement of Brazilian creators. The game's existence and quality bring a sense of national accomplishment.
- Anger (weight 0.02): Anger is triggered by difficult and unfair gameplay, including broken controller support on Apple devices and bad design choices. Unfair boss design with no windows of opportunity and unavoidable attacks leads to intense frustration. Difficulty spikes and poor feel exacerbate the anger.
- Confusion (weight 0.02): Confusion arises from inconsistencies such as Nightmare mode being easier than Super Hard mode and the lack of a story ending. Unclear whether stiff action mechanics are intentional or bugs adds to the confusion. The yellow card not appearing after many Nightmare runs also puzzles players.
- Amusement (weight 0.02): Amusement comes from the humorous tone, jokes, and goofy graphics. Lele's anger when a cupcake drops and funny moments during dubbing make players laugh. The fun and loveable characters and storyline contribute to a lighthearted experience.
- Dissatisfaction (weight 0.01): Dissatisfaction is caused by enemy pile-up from the third level and unfair-feeling turret fireball hitboxes. Choppy enemy animations reduce strategic predictability, and combat feels samey with bad design decisions. These issues detract from the overall experience.
- Admiration (weight 0.01): Admiration is felt for the incredible art style and cartoon dynamic of characters, as well as the Brazilian development and overall quality. Players appreciate the game's visual and cultural aspects. The game being very good overall earns respect.
- Mild frustration (weight 0.01): Mild frustration results from progression being out of whack and shards being lost between runs. FPS drops during intense moments also cause minor irritation. These issues slightly hinder the experience.
- Mild disappointment (weight 0.01): Mild disappointment is due to monotonous music, mediocre visuals, and repetitiveness after a few hours. The game is not super challenging and lacks story depth, feeling simple and unpolished. These factors lead to a lukewarm reception.
- Disinterest (weight 0.01): Disinterest arises from uninteresting levels and the inability to stagger enemies, making the game lose appeal. Players struggle to continue after just a couple of hours. The lack of engaging content leads to a loss of interest.
- Love (weight 0.01): Players love the fun combination of Hades and Dead Cells with a bit of difficulty from The Binding of Isaac. The incredible theme and gameplay, worthy of a Brazilian production, inspire strong affection. This blend creates a deeply enjoyable experience.
- Addiction (weight 0.01): Addiction is driven by addictive gameplay and challenging difficulty that makes players want to immediately restart another run. The loop is compelling and hard to put down. The game's design encourages repeated play.}