Info about Ship of Fools:

Official game description:
**Ship of Fools is a seafaring roguelite co-op game where you play the Fools, the only creatures fool enough to brave the sea. The Great Lighthouse that once protected the Archipelago is broken and a storm of malice and corruption is coming.**
Together, you and your ship mate will jump aboard The Stormstrider and make your voyage across the sea. Man the cannons, ready your sails and protect your ship from sea monsters over multiple runs. It’s up to you to defend your home from the almighty Aquapocalypse.
In a clamshell, Ship of Fools is a game about blasting away your seaborne foes with mighty cannons as you defend your ship. Inspired by modern classic roguelites and built for co-op, you’ll want to bring your first mate on deck and enjoy oarsome combat as you unlock new trinkets and artifacts to help you save the world from catastrophe.
Designed for co-op play, frantic combat encounters with the horrifying creatures of the storm will test your teamwork. Work together to defend and repair the ship, combine item effects in powerful combos and make sure you have your shipmate’s back if you don’t want to become fish food.
Uncover lost treasures and remote shops on the islands of the Archipelago, but plan your moves carefully! As you chart your way through the sector, the Everlasting Storm shifts and changes, blocking your paths with its fury. You’ll need to adjust your course in reaction to storm movements and decide when you can brave a trip to discover what lurks inside the storm.
Man your ship as a solo sailor and fight your way through dangerous waters and keep the glory for yourself, Ship of Fools offers solo play as well as multiplayer. As they sing in old sailor songs: it’s sometimes better to have no crew than a dysfunctional one!
With many Fools to play with, unique items to find and unlock, combat encounters to fight in and many islands to visit, each run will bring something new to your voyage. Bolster your strength each time, ready to defeat the monsters of the deep sea.
**Key Features**
*   Frantic nautical combat with another shipmate in co-op or as a solo sailor
*   Colossal leviathans to challenge the hardiest of sailors
*   Chart your route through the maps of the Archipelago and brave the Everlasting Storm
*   Embody one of the unique Fools with special abilities to help you on your journey
*   100+ trinkets and artifacts to collect and combo for winning strategies
*   Swashbuckling hand-drawn artwork to put the wind in your sails
_Please note: A controller is required for local multiplayer_

Release date: Nov 22, 2022

Categories: Roguelite, Cooperative Multiplayer, Local Co-op, Ship Combat, Naval Combat, Cannon Interactions, Character Progression, Boss Fights

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 60; verdict: Aggressive Monetization; summary: The game's monetization strategy, particularly regarding its DLC, is perceived negatively by users. Key issues include the lack of significant content in DLCs, the practice of locking achievements behind paid DLC, and the overall poor value for money. Some reviews suggest that the game design may be intentionally difficult to encourage DLC purchases, which is seen as a predatory practice.
- Wiki: score 75; verdict: Needs Improvement in Wiki Accuracy and Instructional Data; summary: The primary user complaints revolve around inaccurate and insufficient information on the wiki, particularly regarding item selling prices and effects, which impacts inventory management. Additionally, users highlight the steep learning curve and the need for better instructional data. Technical issues such as connectivity problems are also noted, but they are considered less severe compared to the other issues.
- Steam Deck: score 100; verdict: Broken; summary: The game has significant issues on Steam Deck, primarily related to compatibility and performance. The most severe issue is the game not working at all after a Unity patch update. Additionally, there are reports of the game not running optimally at 60fps, which affects the overall gaming experience.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $10.00 - $20.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence indicates that the community generally finds the game worth purchasing only when it is on sale. Many reviews suggest that the full price is too steep for the content provided, with several users mentioning that the game is worth around $10 or should be bought during a sale. This sentiment is consistent across multiple reviews, indicating a fair base-game price range that is lower than the current full price.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 14.0h
  - Story completion: 1.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provided includes direct mentions of playtime and game completion. The first quote indicates that the game can be completed in roughly 1 hour, but additional playtime is spent exploring further content. The second quote suggests that even after completing most of the game, players still enjoy playing it for fun, implying a longer playtime. The third quote provides a specific playtime of 14 hours, which supports the idea of extended play sessions. The fourth quote hints at the game's difficulty and the potential for extended playtime due to increased difficulty and DLC content.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game starts off challenging but becomes fun once players understand the basics, especially in co-op mode. The fun is anchored in the co-op experience, which significantly enhances enjoyment and makes the game more manageable.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Mastering the basics and playing in co-op mode.
  - Time to anchor: 1h 0m
  - Friction: Steep learning curve; Technical issues with local co-op; Difficulty in solo play
  - Unlock drivers: Mastering game mechanics; Playing with friends
  - Conditions: Co-op mode; Variety of builds and strategies; Playing with friends
- Player Archetypes:
  - Co-op Joy Seeker (sale)
    - Motivation: Social interaction and shared fun.
    - Playstyle: Cooperative and interactive, focusing on teamwork and shared experiences.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: co-op enthusiast; social gamer
    - Reference games: Overcooked; Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime
  - Build-Crafter Grinder (buy)
    - Motivation: Mastery and strategic depth.
    - Playstyle: Strategic and experimental, focusing on build creation and optimization.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: strategy gamer; build crafter
    - Reference games: Dead Cells; Hades
  - Frustrated Solo Player (deep sale)
    - Motivation: Overcoming challenges and enjoying the game solo.
    - Playstyle: Solo play with a focus on overcoming difficult situations.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: deep sale
    - Labels: solo gamer; challenge seeker
    - Reference games: Darkest Dungeon; FTL: Faster Than Light


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:
- Excellent local co-op experience (weight 0.58): The game is highly praised for its local co-op mode, offering a great experience for players enjoying it together on the same screen.
- Engaging and fun gameplay (weight 0.52): The gameplay is frequently described as fun, engaging, and enjoyable, with high replay value. Players appreciate the chaotic and cooperative aspects, as well as the ease of learning.
- Charming and unique art style (weight 0.37): The game features a charming and unique art style with hand-drawn animations and cute character designs that players find visually appealing.
- Recommended for roguelike fans (weight 0.2): The game is highly recommended for fans of the roguelike genre, offering a great co-op experience within this style of gameplay.
- High-quality visuals and effects (weight 0.18): Players appreciate the excellent graphics and impressive visual effects, contributing to an overall great-looking game.
- Positive feedback in various languages (weight 0.14): The game receives positive feedback from players in different languages, highlighting its enjoyable and well-designed co-op experience.
- Well-balanced difficulty curve (weight 0.13): The game's difficulty curve is well-designed, offering a gradual progression and scalable difficulty that players find enjoyable and appropriately challenging.
- Great soundtrack and audio (weight 0.1): The game features a good soundtrack and successful audio design, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
- Rich unlockable content (weight 0.1): The game offers a variety of unlockable content and post-game elements, adding depth and replayability.
- Worth the price, especially on sale (weight 0.08): Players find the game worth the price, particularly when purchased on sale, indicating good value for money.
- DLCs add new characters and mechanics (weight 0.08): The DLCs provide additional characters with unique abilities, adding new mechanics and enhancing the gameplay experience.

Common complaints:
- Lack of content for price (weight 0.38): Many players feel that the game does not offer enough content to justify its price. This includes criticisms about the limited content and lack of updates.
- Short and repetitive gameplay (weight 0.37): Players find the gameplay to be too short and repetitive. This includes complaints about the short playtime and monotonous gameplay.
- Lack of variety (weight 0.23): Players have noted a lack of variety in the game, including limited diversity among characters, items, and biomes.
- Solo play is challenging (weight 0.16): The game is noted to be very difficult for solo players, with many finding it too challenging to play alone.
- Limited levels and bosses (weight 0.12): The game is noted to have only a few levels and bosses, which can make it feel limited.
- Achievements locked behind DLC (weight 0.1): Some achievements are locked behind DLC characters, forcing players to buy DLCs to gain all achievements.
- Limited to two players (weight 0.1): The game is limited to two-player multiplayer, which some players find restrictive.
- Needs optimization (weight 0.09): The game requires more optimization and polish, with players noting poor performance and unoptimized gameplay.
- Audio and performance issues (weight 0.09): Players have reported various audio and performance issues, including disconnects and bugs.
- Controls are wonky (weight 0.09): Players find the controls to be janky, awkward, and unintuitive, leading to frustration.
- Difficulty scales too quickly (weight 0.09): The difficulty progression in the game is noted to be too abrupt and artificial, leading to an unfair experience.
- Too many things going on (weight 0.08): The game can feel too hectic at times, with too many things happening simultaneously, making it hard to keep up.
- Game constantly crashes (weight 0.07): Players have reported frequent game crashes, including during loading.
- Difficult boss fights (weight 0.07): Players find the boss fights to be particularly difficult, with some unable to defeat the bosses.
- No checkpoint system (weight 0.07): The game lacks a checkpoint system and has issues with the save system, which can be frustrating for players.
- Game does not start (weight 0.07): Some players have reported issues with the game not starting or being inaccessible.
- Friendly fire issues (weight 0.07): Players have noted issues with friendly fire, including the lack of a setting to turn it off.
- Too grindy (weight 0.07): The game requires a lot of grinding for resources, which can be tedious for players.

Gameplay feedback:
- Roguelite mechanics and structure (weight 0.26): The game incorporates roguelite elements, including progression systems and run-based mechanics. Players can expect a mix of roguelike action combat and structured gameplay.
- Multiplayer and co-op gameplay (weight 0.26): The game supports multiplayer functionality, including local and online co-op modes. Players can enjoy cooperative gameplay, although it is limited to two players.
- Difficulty and scaling mechanics (weight 0.19): The game features a range of difficulty levels and scaling mechanics, allowing players to adjust the challenge to their preference. This includes incremental difficulty and various modifiers to enhance gameplay.
- Cannon interactions and mechanics (weight 0.16): Players will engage in tasks such as firing, reloading, and moving cannons. Different types of cannons and ammunition add depth to the gameplay.
- Naval combat and ship customization (weight 0.15): The game features naval combat and ship warfare, allowing players to customize and upgrade their ships. This includes unlocking new ships and various upgrades.
- Character and weapon variety (weight 0.14): The game offers a variety of characters, enemies, and weapons, allowing for diverse gameplay experiences. Character progression and customization are key features.
- Progression and unlock systems (weight 0.12): The game features progression systems with unlockable items, weapons, and upgrades. Players can unlock new content as they advance.
- Boss fight mechanics (weight 0.12): The game includes challenging boss fights with unique mechanics. Players will encounter various bosses and levels that test their skills.
- Strategic decision-making (weight 0.1): The game emphasizes strategic decision-making and communication between players. Different strategies can be employed based on characters and items.
- DLC and additional content (weight 0.1): The game offers additional content through DLC, including new characters with unique mechanics. This adds replayability and variety.
- Lighthouse challenges (weight 0.08): The game includes lighthouse challenges and levels that players can unlock and complete. These challenges add variety to the gameplay.
- Gameplay variety and challenges (weight 0.05): The game offers a variety of challenges, including enemy ambushes, treasure islands, storms, and boss fights. Players can expect diverse and engaging gameplay experiences.
- Chaotic and fun gameplay (weight 0.05): The game is described as a chaotic and funny party game, offering a mix of challenging and entertaining gameplay mechanics.
- Control scheme (weight 0.05): The game features a control scheme that includes mouse controls, providing players with a familiar and accessible way to play.
- Repetitive gameplay elements (weight 0.05): Some players find the gameplay repetitive, with repetitive runs and level repetition being noted as potential drawbacks.

Performance notes:
- Performance instability (weight 0.14): The game suffers from unstable performance, including frequent crashes and performance issues.
- Connectivity and download issues (weight 0.12): Players have reported various connectivity problems, including download issues and disconnections.
- Occasional bugs and FPS drops (weight 0.12): Some players experience occasional bugs and drops in frames per second (FPS), affecting the overall gameplay experience.
- Long loading times (weight 0.07): Players have reported excessively long loading times, sometimes resulting in infinite loading screens.
- Compatibility with Linux and Steam Deck (weight 0.05): The game is noted to work well on Linux and Steam Deck, indicating good compatibility with these platforms.
- Random crashes and blue screens (weight 0.05): The game can randomly crash or boot players to the main screen, and some players have reported encountering blue screens.
- Freezing with multiple enemies (weight 0.05): The game tends to freeze when multiple enemies spawn, causing interruptions in gameplay.
- Low system requirements (weight 0.03): The game can run on systems with low specifications, indicating it does not require high-end hardware.
- Controller issues (weight 0.03): Some players have reported issues with controllers, affecting their ability to play the game smoothly.
- Low FPS in lobby (weight 0.03): Players experience low FPS in the game lobby, which can affect the overall gaming experience.
- Compatibility issues with Windows 7 (weight 0.02): There are compatibility issues reported specifically for Windows 7, which may affect players using this operating system.

Recommendations:
- Great for co-op fans (weight 0.22): The game is highly recommended for fans of cooperative games, especially those who enjoy roguelite and couch co-op experiences.
- Buy on sale (weight 0.17): Many players recommend purchasing the game during a sale or discount, suggesting it offers better value for money at a reduced price.
- Desire for more content (weight 0.13): Players express a desire for more content, including additional maps, enemy variety, unique characters, and unlockable cosmetics.
- Highly recommended (weight 0.07): Many players highly recommend the game, indicating it is worth trying out, especially for those who enjoy cooperative gameplay.
- Recommended for couples (weight 0.07): The game is suggested as a good option for couples looking to play together, emphasizing its cooperative nature.
- Consider bundle packs (weight 0.04): Some reviews recommend purchasing the game with the latest bundle pack for better value.
- Recommended for role division and build construction (weight 0.03): The game is recommended for players who enjoy role division and constructing builds, adding a layer of strategy and customization.
- Improved matchmaking needed (weight 0.03): There is a call for a more robust online matchmaking system to enhance the multiplayer experience.
- Family-friendly (weight 0.03): The game is noted to be family-friendly, making it suitable for playing with family members.
- Hardcore experience (weight 0.03): The game is recommended for players who enjoy self-punishment and hardcore gaming experiences.
- Limited playtime (weight 0.03): Some players suggest the game is only good for a weekend play with a friend, indicating limited long-term engagement.
- Four-player co-op suggested (weight 0.03): Players suggest considering the addition of four-player co-op to enhance the multiplayer experience.
- Language support needed (weight 0.02): There is a desire for additional language support, specifically mentioning Turkish.

Other player notes:
- DLC not essential (weight 0.05): The DLC is not necessary to enjoy the game and does not provide a pay-to-win advantage, but it does offer additional content for players.
- Purchase problems reported (weight 0.03): Some players have experienced issues when trying to purchase the game or its additional content.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.3): Players are frustrated due to a variety of technical and gameplay issues. These include game crashes, difficulty spikes, lack of checkpoints, and repetitive gameplay. Additionally, connectivity issues, poor solo balancing, and performance problems contribute to the frustration.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.2): Players enjoy the game primarily due to its fun and engaging co-op gameplay experience. The soundtrack, cooperative mechanics, and variety in gameplay also contribute to the enjoyment. Many find it a great experience to play with friends or family.
- Disappointment (weight 0.13): Players feel disappointed due to the lack of content, repetitive gameplay, and short duration. The high price and lack of substantial DLC content also contribute to this sentiment. Additionally, some players find the game monotonous and too reliant on teamwork.
- Joy (weight 0.12): Players experience joy from the fun and engaging gameplay, especially in co-op mode. The chaotic and humorous elements, along with the enjoyable learning curve, contribute to this positive emotion. Many players appreciate the game's art style and mechanics.
- Happy (weight 0.08): Players are happy due to the enjoyable co-op experience and the game's humorous elements. Achieving in-game accomplishments, such as unlocking trophies, and playing with friends or family also contribute to this happiness.
- Excitement (weight 0.07): Players are excited by the frantic and rewarding combat, as well as the chaotic and fun gameplay. The unique gameplay elements, such as the potato mechanics and intense moments, add to the excitement. Players also look forward to future updates and DLCs.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.06): Players feel satisfied with the game's challenging and fun gameplay. The positive gameplay experience, fast progression, and impressive visual effects contribute to this satisfaction. Unlocking new abilities and artifacts also adds to the sense of accomplishment.
- Frustrated (weight 0.04): Players are frustrated due to progress deletion, lack of explanations, and difficulty spikes. Friendly fire issues, poor optimization, and disconnections also contribute to this frustration. Additionally, some players find the cooperative mechanics and resource management tedious.
- Excited (weight 0.03): Players are excited by the chaotic and fun gameplay, as well as the unique mechanics. The engaging combat and exploration elements, along with the variety of bosses, add to the excitement. Players also enjoy the replayability and controls.
- Disappointed (weight 0.03): Players feel disappointed due to the lack of updates and new content. The repetitiveness of the game and the pricing of DLCs also contribute to this sentiment. Additionally, some players find the game lacking in depth and variety.
- Anger (weight 0.02): Players are angry due to game bugs and crashes, which hinder their progress and enjoyment. The lack of cooperative mechanics and disconnect issues also contribute to this anger. Some players feel misled by the game's content and replayability.
- Fun (weight 0.02): Players find the game fun due to its story, atmosphere, and cooperative gameplay. The chaos and multiplayer aspects add to the enjoyment. Many players appreciate the game's humorous elements and engaging mechanics.
- Happiness (weight 0.01): Players are happy due to the enjoyable co-op experience and the game's humorous elements. Playing with friends or siblings and the overall enjoyment of the game contribute to this happiness.
- Angry (weight 0.01): Players are angry due to the game not meeting their expectations and technical issues preventing gameplay. Misleading information and repetitive tasks also contribute to this anger.
- Anticipation (weight 0.01): Players are anticipating future updates and DLCs, which they believe will enhance the game. The expectation for new content and improvements adds to this anticipation.
- Positive (weight 0.01): Players have a positive view of the game due to its high-quality gameplay and intuitive mechanics. The unique character combinations and high replayability also contribute to this positive sentiment.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Players are amused by the funny interactions and chaotic gameplay. Personal anecdotes, such as hitting a friend with an oar, add to the amusement. The game's humorous elements and engaging mechanics contribute to this sentiment.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Players feel bored due to the lack of diversity in gameplay and repetitiveness. The game becoming redundant quickly and the lack of variety in tasks contribute to this boredom.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Players are enthusiastic about the game's variety and challenge. The brilliant gameplay mechanics and teamwork aspects add to this enthusiasm. Players enjoy the unique and engaging gameplay elements.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Players are surprised by unexpected elements in the game, such as beating the game quickly or encountering spiders in the first level. These surprising moments add to the overall enjoyment and engagement with the game.}