Info about MONARK:

Official game description:
Get special soundtrack with purchase of Deluxe or Ultimate Edition!
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About the Game
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**Descent into Madness:** Jump between exploring the Mist of the real world and fighting within the enigmatic Otherworld. Call upon allies, fight enemies, and unravel the mysteries surrounding your academy. Will you save the world or go mad and destroy yourself?  
**Into The Mist and Beyond**: Dive into a dark realm where reality and the self collide. The mysterious worlds you’ll explore are brought to life in a surreal, dark neo-fantasy style, with intricate character designs and evocative settings.  
**Power of the Ego:** Strengthen your Ego and customize the appearance and abilities of your Fiends. Unlock different Fiends to command in battle, and use the freeform tactical system to position your units and unleash destruction upon your enemies.  
Story
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How far will you go to save the ones you love? Could you face the threats that surround you? Could you face yourself?  
Your world is plunged into madness when the mysterious and deadly Mist surrounds Shin Mikado Academy. In order to save your friends, you enter the Otherworld, a Daemon-filled dimension beyond the real world. Within this enigmatic realm, you must learn to harness your Authority of Vanity and conjure a battalion of Fiends, whose power comes from the Ego of their master.  
Develop your Ego through various psychological tests to enhance the power of your Fiends, and lead your forces into battle to fight with and against the seven “Pactbearers” that are corrupting the academy. Embrace the power of your madness to gain strength, but take care not to delve too far, lest you risk losing yourself. Fellow students and instructors will lend you their aid in your quest to resolve the anomalies throughout the campus.

Release date: Feb 22, 2022

Categories: Turn-based Tactical, Story-driven, Character Progression, Psychological Horror, JRPG, Tactical RPG, Character Customization, Dark Fantasy

Feature scans:
- Steam Deck: score 55; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals several key issues with the game's compatibility and usability on the Steam Deck. Primary concerns include difficulties with keyboard input, which hinders game progression, and stability issues such as crashes during text input. Users also express a strong preference for the convenience and portability of the Steam Deck over traditional PC gaming. While the game runs fine out of the box, the need for additional hardware or workarounds to fully enjoy the game on the Steam Deck is a significant friction point.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $15.00 - $30.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence consistently suggests that users find the game worth purchasing only when it is available at a discounted price. Multiple reviews mention waiting for a sale or recommending the game at a discount, with a specific mention of $30 USD as a fair price point. This indicates that the community considers the base game price to be too high and that a fair price range would be significantly lower than the current base price.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 350.0h
  - Story completion: 60.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: 80.0h
  - Reasoning: The evidence provided includes multiple references to the total playtime required to complete the game and its various aspects. For instance, one player mentions spending 350 hours on the PS4 version, indicating a very high total playtime for game completion. Another player states they spent 60 hours to reach one of the post-game endings, suggesting a significant investment of time for story completion. Additionally, mentions of obtaining all achievements in just under 80 hours and having over 100 hours in the game on other versions further support the idea of extensive playtime required for full game completion and endgame content. The session length is not explicitly mentioned, so it is marked as null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game has a slow and repetitive start but becomes more fun as players progress and unlock new skills, although the fun drops towards the end.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Linking up with teammates and acquiring their skills
  - Time to anchor: 1h 0m
  - Friction: slow plot; repetitive gameplay; grindy nature
  - Unlock drivers: acquiring new skills; linking up with teammates
  - Conditions: strategic thinking; interesting story; amazing characters; incredible soundtrack
- Player Archetypes:
  - Challenge-Seeking Grinder (buy)
    - Motivation: Enjoys the challenge and tactical depth of the game.
    - Playstyle: Strategic and methodical, willing to grind to overcome challenges.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: JRPG veteran; tactics lover
    - Reference games: Persona; Lost Dimension; Caligula Effect
  - Persona Fan (buy)
    - Motivation: Enjoys the narrative and thematic elements similar to Persona.
    - Playstyle: Story-driven, enjoys the thematic depth and character development.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Persona fan; story lover
    - Reference games: Persona; Shin Megami Tensei
  - Budget-Conscious Gamer (sale)
    - Motivation: Seeks value for money and prefers to buy games on sale.
    - Playstyle: Casual, enjoys the game but is mindful of spending.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: budget gamer; sale shopper
    - Reference games: Scarlet Nexus; Caligula Effect


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:
- Interesting and well-written characters (weight 0.73): The characters are noted for being full of personality, interesting, and well-written, with deep development.
- Engaging and well-developed story (weight 0.69): The game features a captivating and well-developed story that players find engaging and intriguing. The plot is praised for being thought-provoking and rich.
- Enjoyable and strategic gameplay (weight 0.57): Players find the gameplay to be enjoyable, immersive, and strategic. The combat mechanics are particularly highlighted for being satisfying and well-executed.
- Unique and enjoyable battle system (weight 0.37): The battle system is noted for being fresh, unique, and enjoyable, with strategic depth.
- Great music and OST (weight 0.32): The game's music, including its OST and boss battle tracks, is highly praised by players for being amazing and compelling.
- Fun personality quizzes (weight 0.14): The game includes fun and interesting personality tests/quizzes with good writing.
- Thematically strong and appealing (weight 0.09): The game is praised for its strong focus on certain themes, which are well-received by players.
- Professional voice acting (weight 0.08): The game features professional English voice acting, which enhances the overall experience.
- Good level scaling system (weight 0.08): The game features a unique and well-received leveling system.

Common complaints:
- Excessive grinding required (weight 0.53): Many players find the amount of grinding required to progress or achieve 100% completion to be excessive and tedious, requiring significant time investment.
- Poor graphics and character models (weight 0.52): The graphics and character models are frequently criticized for being poor, outdated, and lacking in quality and expressions.
- Difficult and frustrating puzzles (weight 0.28): Puzzles are noted for being difficult, time-consuming, and lacking clear clues, leading to frustration among players.
- Rushed ending and dialogue issues (weight 0.21): The ending feels rushed, and dialogues are often criticized for being poorly executed or too long with pauses.
- Poor optimization and performance (weight 0.2): The game is criticized for poor optimization, leading to low FPS and performance issues even on high-end hardware.
- Lack of variety in enemies and maps (weight 0.16): Players note a lack of variety in enemies and maps, leading to repetitive gameplay experiences.
- High price point (weight 0.13): Some players feel that the game is overpriced and that the cost is slightly high for the content provided.
- Difficult boss fights (weight 0.09): Boss fights are noted for being particularly difficult, adding to the challenge and frustration of the game.
- Input issues (weight 0.08): There are specific issues noted with input, such as the inability to input Chinese in password stages.

Gameplay feedback:
- Turn-based tactical combat system (weight 0.44): The game features a complex and strategic turn-based combat system that incorporates tactical elements and free movement. Players appreciate the depth and strategic planning required in battles.
- Story-rich JRPG gameplay (weight 0.32): The game is a traditional JRPG with a strong emphasis on story-driven gameplay. Players enjoy the rich narrative and character development throughout the game.
- Unique combat mechanics (weight 0.28): The combat system includes unique mechanics such as 'awake', 'mad', and 'resonance' abilities, which add depth and variety to the battles. Players find these mechanics innovative and engaging.
- Character progression and skill upgrades (weight 0.22): The game features a robust character progression system with skill trees and skill upgrades. Players appreciate the depth and customization options available for character development.
- Grinding and repetitive gameplay (weight 0.16): Some players find the gameplay loop monotonous and grindy, with repetitive combat mechanics. This can detract from the overall enjoyment of the game for some players.
- Challenging puzzle-solving elements (weight 0.13): The game includes various puzzles that add an extra layer of challenge and engagement. These puzzles are well-integrated into the gameplay and provide a satisfying experience.
- High difficulty level (weight 0.09): The game has difficult controls and a high difficulty level, which can be challenging for some players. This can be a drawback for those who prefer a more casual gaming experience.
- Exploration with MAD value (weight 0.09): The game includes a unique MAD value system that adds an extra layer of strategy and exploration. Players find this mechanic innovative and engaging.
- Personality tests and quizzes (weight 0.08): The game includes personality tests and quizzes, adding a unique and interactive element to the gameplay. Players find these features engaging and enjoyable.
- Casual mode available (weight 0.08): The game offers a casual mode, making it accessible to a wider range of players. This mode provides a less challenging experience for those who prefer a more relaxed gameplay.

Performance notes:
- FPS and performance issues (weight 0.33): Multiple players report problems with low FPS, stuttering, and general performance issues across various hardware setups. These issues affect the overall gameplay experience significantly.
- Game crashes and bugs (weight 0.14): Several users have encountered game crashes and bugs that disrupt the gaming experience. These issues are widespread and impact players on different platforms.
- Steam Deck compatibility issues (weight 0.14): There are specific issues related to the Steam Deck, including character naming problems and general compatibility issues. However, some users report stable performance with Proton GE.
- Resolution and FPS limits (weight 0.13): The game has resolution and FPS limits, with some users reporting being locked at 1080p and 60 FPS, which may not meet the expectations of players with high-end hardware.
- Animation and modeling issues (weight 0.13): Players have noted issues with facial animations and poor modeling, which affect the visual quality and immersion of the game.
- Slow scene transitions (weight 0.05): There are reports of slow scene transitions, which can disrupt the flow of the game and affect the overall experience.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for JRPG and strategy fans (weight 0.49): This game is highly recommended for fans of JRPGs, especially those who enjoy strategic gameplay and unique, niche titles. It is particularly appealing to veterans and fans of the Persona series.
- Wait for a discount (weight 0.27): Many reviewers suggest waiting for a significant discount before purchasing the game. It is often recommended to get it on sale for better value.
- Worth playing for story and music (weight 0.26): The game is praised for its engaging storyline and unique gameplay. The music, particularly the boss themes, is also highlighted as a strong point.
- Comparisons to other games (weight 0.13): Some reviewers compare the combat and tactical elements to other games like Scarlet Nexus and Caligula Effect. Preferences vary, with some favoring other titles over this one.
- Cautious recommendation for casual players (weight 0.12): The game is recommended with caution for casual players. It may require patience and a liking for grinding and darker themes.
- Wait for updates (weight 0.05): Some reviewers suggest waiting for updates before purchasing the game, indicating that there may be improvements or fixes needed.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.36): Players are primarily frustrated by the game's repetitive and slow combat, which feels grindy and tedious. Technical issues such as game crashes, bugs, and performance problems also contribute significantly to this frustration, along with difficulties in gameplay mechanics and high difficulty levels.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.25): Players enjoy the game's story, characters, and music, which are highlighted as strong points. The unique combat mechanics and engaging gameplay also contribute to the overall fun experience despite some flaws.
- Disappointment (weight 0.16): Disappointment stems from the game's predictable story twists and low-budget feel. Players also express dissatisfaction with poor graphics, character models, and overall game quality, which do not meet their expectations.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.07): Players feel satisfied with the game's story, characters, and music, which they find enjoyable despite some issues. The combat system and overall game quality are also noted as positive aspects.
- Frustrated (weight 0.03): Players are frustrated with difficult puzzles and the grinding mechanics. Fixed camera angles and unmarked collectibles, along with subpar 3D models, add to the frustration.
- Joy (weight 0.02): Players experience joy due to the game working fine on Steam Deck and an emotional connection to the story and music.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Players feel bored due to dull and repetitive combat.
- Excitement (weight 0.01): Players are excited about the game mechanics.}