Info about Noob - The Factionless:

Official game description:
  
Follow Baster the Neogician, Drek the Berserker, May the Cartomancer and Logs the Elementalist in their quest for the supreme level, and help them reach their Legendary Class to become part of the elite of the Horizon MMORPG!  
Face hundreds of monsters and wander around fantastic worlds to give your guild the place it deserves in the world of Olydri, among the mythic Noob, Justice, Roxxor and Pro Game Master guilds.  
But the challenge you will face will not be limited to Horizon: your avatars will accomplish « real » quests in real life. History can be made both into the game and IRL!  
Do you have what it takes to get your team to level 100?  
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GENERAL INFORMATION
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**  
*   Embody a team of 4 hardcore gamers and their video game avatars in a challenging and colorful RPG in a homage to the greatest J-RPGs!  
*   Explore a huge world, fight intense battles and complete quests to level up your team  
*   Customize your avatars with the best equipment you will loot in dungeons, grottos, chests and city shops!  
*   Strengthen your team and upgrade your abilities by farming experience through the fights: adapt your skills to your fighting style or to the foes you encounter  
*   Browse the world of Olydri and make your mark among the most powerful factions of the “Horizon” MMORPG, where the greatest players meet and fight!  
*   Play the “real” players in the “real world” and find out who is behind your friends’ avatars… or your enemies’!
**
SPECIAL FEATURES
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**  
*   An appealing graphic direction and “chibi” vibe as a homage to the greatest J-RPGs  
*   A true RPG experience with 50+ hours of gameplay, 750+ avatars to interact with and 300+ maps to wander in

Release date: 29 Jun, 2023

Categories: Turn-based RPG, Single-player Story, Character Progression, Exploration, Crafting, Faction Management, Character Customization


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


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:
- Faithful & Humorous Universe (weight 0.65): Players consistently praise the game's strong connection to the Noob web series and its universe. The humor, story, characters, and overall atmosphere are highly appreciated for their faithfulness and enjoyable references, making it a delightful experience for fans and newcomers alike. The music and dialogues also contribute significantly to this immersive and humorous experience.
- Charming Visual Style (weight 0.26): The game's graphics are generally well-received, described as cute, colorful, and visually pleasing, despite their simplicity or retro style. They are noted for being well-suited to the game's quirky nature and not resource-intensive, contributing to an overall charming visual experience.
- Engaging Combat System (weight 0.17): The combat system is highlighted as a strong point, offering a good balance of accessibility for new players and depth for experienced ones, especially in the late game. Its turn-based nature and strategic elements are engaging and contribute to an enjoyable gameplay loop.
- Flexible Character Progression (weight 0.13): The talent tree system and character customization options are highly praised. Players appreciate the flexibility in building characters, allowing for diverse specializations and roles, which enhances strategic depth and player immersion.
- Rich Content & Replayability (weight 0.11): The game offers substantial content, including interesting faction quests, legendary classes, and skills, ensuring high replayability. Players note that there's plenty to do even after completing the main story, providing many hours of gameplay.
- Solid Old-School RPG (weight 0.07): The game is recognized as a well-executed old-school, turn-based RPG. It successfully delivers on its promise of a classic RPG experience, appealing to fans of the genre.

Common complaints:
- Poor navigation and quest guidance (weight 0.97): Navigation and quest progression are severely hampered by a lack of clear indicators, a useless minimap, and vast, empty maps. Players spend excessive time wandering, leading to tedium and frustration.
- Game riddled with bugs and crashes (weight 0.92): Players frequently report severe and persistent bugs, including crashes, freezes, and visual glitches, which significantly disrupt gameplay and lead to frustration and progress loss. These issues have been present since launch and remain unaddressed.
- Repetitive and unengaging combat (weight 0.89): The combat system is widely criticized for being repetitive, simplistic, and lacking strategic depth. Battles are often slow, boring, and suffer from poor balancing, unskippable animations, and boss immunities, making them tedious rather than engaging.
- Outdated and unpolished graphics/UI (weight 0.83): The game's graphics are consistently described as outdated, ugly, and unpolished, with visible polygons, blurry textures, and jarring 2D elements in 3D environments. The UI is also deemed disastrous and unintuitive.
- Weak story and bland characters (weight 0.7): The story is considered average, disjointed, and unengaging, with a lack of crucial twists. Characters are frequently described as bland, uncharismatic, and lacking development, with awkward and uninteresting dialogues.
- Unbalanced and grindy progression (weight 0.62): The progression system is criticized for being grindy, poorly balanced, and having inconsistent pacing. Players report hitting level caps too quickly or being forced into excessive farming, hindering a smooth experience.
- Uninteresting and generic quests (weight 0.58): Quests are largely seen as uninteresting, generic fetch quests or mob bashing, often requiring excessive backtracking and offering no meaningful rewards. The 'parody' justification for their simplicity is not well-received.
- No player customization or choice (weight 0.58): A significant complaint is the complete lack of player choice and customization, including no character creation, class selection, or even basic cosmetic options, which detracts from the RPG and MMO simulation aspects.
- Poor optimization and long loading (weight 0.56): The game suffers from poor optimization, leading to significant performance issues such as low FPS on the world map and excessively long loading times between zones, even for seemingly empty areas.
- Empty and static NPCs (weight 0.53): NPCs are criticized for being empty, static, and having only one unchanging line of dialogue, failing to create a believable or immersive world, especially for a game simulating an MMORPG.

Gameplay feedback:
- Slow and Repetitive Gameplay (weight 0.24): Players find the overall game pace, especially combat, to be too slow and often boring or repetitive. While a 'hard mode' exists, it primarily increases monster health rather than offering deeper strategic challenge, leading to a perception of limited depth and sluggish gameplay.
- Classic Turn-Based Combat (weight 0.17): The game features a classic turn-based combat system, often compared to older JRPGs or ATB systems. While some find it simple and well-designed, others note its basic nature and lack of unique interest.
- Unique MMO Simulation Narrative (weight 0.12): The core narrative revolves around a group of friends playing an MMORPG, with the game alternating between their in-game adventures and real-world segments. This unique premise blends MMO simulation with a story-driven experience.
- Robust Profession System (weight 0.11): The game includes a robust profession system, allowing players to engage in activities like mining, gathering, fishing, and crafting. This system features leveling and contributes to the in-game economy.
- Dynamic Faction System (weight 0.1): A key gameplay mechanic involves factions, allowing players to join different groups or remain independent. The ability to switch factions, often tied to story progression, impacts available side quests and can influence leveling efficiency.
- Detailed Character Skill Trees (weight 0.1): Characters have individual skill or talent trees that offer various choices for optimization and passive skill development. These trees, along with equipment, allow for versatile character builds and sub-class changes.
- Vast Explorable World (weight 0.08): The game offers a vast and rich world for exploration, featuring diverse regions, dungeons, and caves. The focus is on immersing players in a fantastic universe, with exploration being a primary gameplay phase.
- Fixed Character Team Management (weight 0.07): Players control a static group of four named characters, managing their skills, equipment, and team composition. The game emphasizes mastering character abilities and adapting strategies based on opponents.
- Level Gating via Tower (weight 0.06): Player progression is gated by a unique level-blocking system, requiring visits to the Galamadriabuyak Tower every ten levels to unlock further progression. This mechanic controls the pace of advancement.
- Leveling and Boss Fights (weight 0.06): The game includes a leveling system and features various boss fights, including high-level encounters. However, some players note that boss attack patterns can be repetitive and suggest reducing immunities.
- Limited Player Agency (weight 0.05): Players report frustration with frequent unskippable cinematics and a lack of player agency, as many quests resolve without interaction. Progression can also be unclear, often requiring finding specific hidden objects or dialogues.
- Guild System Presence (weight 0.05): As an MMORPG simulation, the game incorporates a guild system, including recruitment and progression. Players suggest expanding guild-related content, such as more quests and random member appearances.

Performance notes:
- Poor performance and optimization (weight 0.1): Many players reported significant performance issues, including frequent crashes, freezing, and heavy lag, especially on the world map. Despite some reports of fixes, optimization remains a major concern for players, even those with high-end PCs.
- Bugs largely corrected (weight 0.03): There's a general sentiment that many bugs have been addressed, with specific mention of a hotfix in December 2024 that resolved a memory leak crash. This indicates active developer support in fixing critical issues.
- Mixed loading time experience (weight 0.03): Player feedback on loading times is mixed. While some found them to be very fast, particularly between combat and zones, others noted their presence everywhere, suggesting inconsistency or varying player expectations.

Recommendations:
- For Noob fans only (weight 0.43): The game is primarily recommended for existing fans of the Noob universe, as newcomers may find it difficult to engage or understand references. Many reviews suggest that without prior knowledge or strong attachment to the series, the game's appeal is limited.
- Overpriced at full price (weight 0.39): Many players feel the game is overpriced at its full price of 25 euros, suggesting it's only worth purchasing during a sale (e.g., below 10 euros). Several players requested or considered refunds due to the perceived lack of value.
- Potential for future improvements (weight 0.1): The game is seen as having potential for improvement, with many players hoping for future updates from the developers. There's a strong sentiment that the game could be much better with continued support and refinement.
- Desire for sequel/more content (weight 0.07): A notable portion of players expressed strong interest in a sequel or additional content, indicating that despite its flaws, the game's story or universe left them wanting more. Some are eager to continue the adventure.
- Average gameplay experience (weight 0.06): The overall consensus is that the game provides an average experience, with some finding it merely a way to pass the time. It's not considered a bad game by all, but it often falls short of expectations.
- Appreciation for developer effort (weight 0.06): Some players acknowledge the game's status as a first title from the developers and appreciate the effort, especially those who supported it via crowdfunding. There's a sense of understanding regarding its limitations.
- Evokes MMORPG nostalgia (weight 0.02): The game's design evokes a desire to play MMORPGs, suggesting it successfully captures some elements of the genre, even if it's not a full MMORPG itself.
- Unique and curious experience (weight 0.02): A few reviews describe the game as a unique or epic experience, suggesting it offers something distinct, particularly for those open to its specific style.
- Better alternatives exist (weight 0.01): One reviewer explicitly recommends another game, 'Donjon de Naheulbeuk - L'amulette du désordre', as a superior alternative, implying the current game doesn't meet certain genre expectations.
- Focus on quality over quantity (weight 0.01): A specific piece of feedback suggests developers should prioritize quality over quantity in their game development approach.
- Fans deserved better (weight 0.01): Some fans feel that the game did not live up to their expectations for the beloved Noob universe, suggesting a sense of disappointment.
- Questionable engine choice (weight 0.01): One reviewer speculates that using a more recent RPG Maker version could have improved the game's visuals and saved development time/money.
- Game is a catastrophe (weight 0.01): A strong negative sentiment describing the game as a 'catastrophe' indicates extreme dissatisfaction, though it lacks specific constructive details.
- Driven by character appeal (weight 0.01): One player is motivated to finish the game solely to see a specific character, Sparadrap, highlighting character appeal over overall gameplay.

Other player notes:
- Faithful to Noob universe (weight 0.24): The game successfully captures the essence, characters, and lore of the original Noob web series, making it highly appealing to existing fans. Its story and universe are engaging and well-integrated, providing a faithful experience.
- Crowdfunding and budget concerns (weight 0.17): The game was primarily funded through crowdfunding, raising a significant amount of money. However, there are concerns among backers regarding how these funds were utilized and whether initial promises, particularly regarding game type and features, were fully met.
- Player retention and game length (weight 0.08): Player data suggests that a significant portion of players do not complete the game or even reach mid-level, despite an advertised lifespan of 60-80 hours. This indicates potential issues with player retention or perceived game length.
- Mixed audio quality (weight 0.07): The game's music is generally considered acceptable but can be repetitive, with some tracks being forgettable or even annoying in specific contexts like stores. Sound effects are noted as either unmemorable or lacking.
- Indie studio, early stage (weight 0.06): The game is not a AAA title and was developed by an independent studio, Black Pixel, which had limited prior experience with large-scale game development. This suggests it should be viewed as an early access or beta-stage product.
- Retro J-RPG homage (weight 0.04): The game is a J-RPG that pays homage to classic titles from the 90s and early 2000s, particularly those on the PS1. Its artistic and graphic direction aligns with a retro RPG vision.
- Creative reality-game alternation (weight 0.02): The game's creative approach of alternating between 'reality' and the in-game world is highly appreciated, contributing to a meticulously elaborated feel.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.31): Players experienced significant frustration due to a multitude of technical issues, primarily frequent game crashes, bugs, and stability problems that hindered progress and made the game unplayable for some. Additionally, poor game design choices such as repetitive combat, lack of quality-of-life features (e.g., fast travel, clear guidance), and unpolished elements like UI and navigation contributed to a frustrating experience.
- Disappointment (weight 0.25): Disappointment stemmed from the game failing to meet player expectations, often due to unfulfilled promises from crowdfunding, a perceived lack of polish, and numerous game-breaking bugs. Players also expressed disappointment with the game's overall quality, including outdated graphics, repetitive gameplay, uninteresting story/characters, and a lack of meaningful content or customization options, especially for an MMORPG.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.2): Satisfaction was primarily driven by the game's faithfulness to its source material, particularly the 'Noob' universe, which resonated with fans. Players also found enjoyment in the engaging story, immersive world, and specific gameplay elements like late-game combat, character build versatility, and the overall charm and humor of the game, despite its flaws.
- Joy (weight 0.05): Joy was a general positive sentiment derived from the overall game experience, including its humor, immersion, and the enjoyment of resuming play. Specific references within the game also contributed to this feeling of joy for players.
- Boredom (weight 0.04): Boredom was a result of repetitive and unchallenging gameplay, particularly repetitive combat and boss fights. Uninteresting lore, characters, and a slow pace also contributed to players feeling disengaged and bored with the game.
- Excitement (weight 0.04): Excitement was generated by the game's creativity, engaging gameplay, and story, particularly for fans of MMORPGs. The anticipation for future content, along with fan service, easter eggs, and appealing elements like music and the talent tree, also contributed to this positive emotion.
- Annoyance (weight 0.02): Annoyance was caused by recurrent game crashes, a lack of clear information or guidance, and repetitive animations. Specific gameplay mechanics, such as reliance on luck in combat, also contributed to player irritation.
- Anger (weight 0.02): Anger arose from severe issues like frequent game crashes and a perceived lack of developer support or professionalism in addressing these problems. Players also expressed anger over the game's low quality despite a high budget and development time, as well as frustrating design choices like slow gameplay and poor quest guidance.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.01): Nostalgia was triggered by the game's connection to the 'Dragon Quest' series and the overall feeling of the game reminding players of past experiences with similar titles.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.01): Enjoyment stemmed from the game's engaging characters, humor, and a well-balanced difficulty level that provided a satisfying challenge without being overly frustrating.
- Optimism (weight 0.01): Optimism was present among players who believed that the game's current issues were minor and could be resolved through future patches and updates, such as difficulty adjustments.
- Desire (weight 0): Players expressed a desire for more content, indicating an enjoyment of the existing game and a wish for its expansion.
- Admiration (weight 0): Admiration was felt for the game's intelligent presentation and how effectively its lore was integrated into the experience.
- Relief (weight 0): Relief was experienced when a patch was released that successfully fixed existing issues, improving the game's playability.
- Pleasant surprise (weight 0): Players felt a pleasant surprise regarding the overall game experience, suggesting it exceeded their initial expectations despite any flaws.
- Concern (weight 0): Concern was specifically noted regarding lag experienced on the world map, indicating a technical issue that worried players.
- Awe (weight 0): Awe was inspired by the game's visual beauty and the immersive experience of exploring its world.
- Enchantment (weight 0): Enchantment described the overall positive and captivating experience of the game, even when acknowledging its imperfections.
- Hope (weight 0): Hope was expressed for future improvements to the game and the potential for sequels, indicating a belief in the game's long-term potential.
- Gratitude (weight 0): Gratitude was a general appreciation for the game, indicating a positive sentiment towards the developers and the experience provided.}