Info about ASTLIBRA Revision:

Official game description:
If you haven't purchased ASTLIBRA Revision yet
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ASTLIBRA Revision is a quite an unique game. We recommend you play the **public demo** first (it is just above the Add to Cart button) before deciding whether to purchase it. The demo provides full Prologue and Chapter One content, as well as a demostration of late-game battle systems. It takes 1-2 hours to complete. Have fun!
About the Game
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Travel Through Unfamiliar WorldsExplore a vast, dangerous, yet beautiful world. Broken up through multiple chapters, join the protagonist and Karon, his talking bird companion, as they confront time and fate.
**Back to The Golden Age Of JRPGs, with Side-scrolling Action**
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Slashing, Smashing, thrusting countless enemies while building up stamina for powerful Possession Skills, which are enough to melt away anything that blocks your way, including huge bosses that could take half, or even more of the screen. Fight aggressively while thinking strategically, always pick up the most trust worthy equipment, and select the best suited skills to deal with ever changing circumstances.
**Fight God-Like Boss Battles**
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Battle ferocious bosses throughout the story, each with their own set of attacks and challenges. Upgrading abilities and acquiring new skills are vital to finishing each battle and progressing through the protagonist’s story.
**Multiple Ways to Build Your Character**
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A warrior mastered ranged combat with bows and throwing knives? A mage smashing enemies with staffs and cast magic at the same time? Play it in your way. Gathering experience to level up, collecting force to grow up, forging and mastering equipment to open up more tactical options.
**Combat and Story, Why Choose When You Can Enjoy Both**
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14 years in development and more than 1 year for revision, award-winning indie developer KEIZO gave his all into this work. The plot keeps twisting as characters growing in an ever expanding world; Classic themes like time travel and tons of spoilers are all custom-made with the developer's own style. In ASTLIBRA, Story elements are often made into game mechanics, for example, your soul-mate Karon is not just a sidekick to talk with.
**Fruitful Endgame with Even More Challenges**
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With 6 difficulty options, all kinds of players can enjoy the combat system at their own pace, but no one can finish all those contents casually - even after you "beat" the game, the Postscript after Final Chapter will provide extra story, new adventure and fresh system, tapping the potential of skills, equipment, as well as your imagination.

Release date: Oct 13, 2022

Categories: Action RPG, Character Progression, Side-scrolling Shooter, 2D Platformer, JRPG, Boss Fights, Multiple Endings, Skill Tree Progression


- 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:
- Engaging and immersive story (weight 0.99): The game's narrative is consistently praised for its depth, emotional impact, and well-structured plot twists. Players highlight its engaging nature, likening it to high-quality JRPGs like *The Witcher 3*, with frequent mentions of twists, character development, and a satisfying conclusion.
- Satisfying and addictive gameplay loop (weight 0.94): The combat and progression systems are described as highly rewarding, with strong positive feedback loops that encourage replayability. Players appreciate the balance between grinding, exploration, and skill progression, which keeps the experience engaging and fresh.
- High replayability and content volume (weight 0.69): The game offers extensive content, including multiple playthroughs with unique story elements, hidden bosses, and build diversity. Players highlight the value for money, with 40–80+ hours of gameplay, post-game content, and replay incentives like New Game+ modes.
- High-quality music and soundtrack (weight 0.33): The game's music is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, enhancing immersion and emotional moments. Players praise its composition, variety, and how well it complements gameplay and narrative scenes, with some tracks becoming iconic.
- Strong character and world-building (weight 0.33): Characters are well-developed, memorable, and emotionally impactful, with distinct personalities and growth arcs. The world-building is praised for its creativity, especially in blending genres (e.g., medieval fantasy and sci-fi) and executing time-travel mechanics flawlessly.
- Balanced and accessible difficulty (weight 0.22): The game caters to a wide range of players with adjustable difficulty settings, a well-paced difficulty curve, and mechanics that reward skill without being overly punishing. Players appreciate the balance between challenge and accessibility, especially for casual or action-challenged players.
- Unique and nostalgic art style (weight 0.16): The pixel art and 2D visuals are appreciated for their charm, polish, and nostalgic appeal. Players note the detailed character designs, immersive environments, and how the art style complements the game's tone, despite being an indie title.

Common complaints:
- Excessive grinding disrupts gameplay (weight 0.68): Players frequently criticize the game for requiring repetitive grinding for progression, materials, and weapons, which disrupts narrative flow and becomes tedious. This issue spans multiple difficulty levels and affects both mid and late-game experiences.
- Poor narrative and pacing (weight 0.61): The story is described as clichéd, convoluted, or emotionally draining, with slow pacing, plot holes, and rushed endings. Some chapters feel stretched or disjointed, and character development is weak.
- Outdated and unpolished visuals (weight 0.59): Graphics, animations, and art style are described as outdated, janky, or inconsistent, with cheap-looking effects and poorly integrated free assets. The visual presentation detracts from immersion and feels unpolished.
- Weak character development (weight 0.54): Characters, particularly the female protagonist, are criticized for being clichéd, underdeveloped, or poorly utilized. Some arcs feel unresolved, and character designs lack depth or appeal.
- Excessive and misplaced fan service (weight 0.42): Fan service, including nudity and sexual humor, is criticized for feeling out of place, reducing immersion, and undermining serious narrative moments. It is described as repetitive and tactless.
- Disjointed and underwhelming DLC (weight 0.4): DLC content is seen as grind-heavy, poorly integrated, and lacking in story or polish. It requires excessive backtracking and offers questionable value, with weaker balance than the base game.
- Frustrating puzzle and level design (weight 0.25): Puzzles are unintuitive, overly complex, or designed to frustrate, with poor hints and excessive trial-and-error. Level design is linear, repetitive, or maliciously punishing (e.g., save point placement).

Gameplay feedback:
- Grinding-heavy progression systems (weight 0.55): The game features extensive grinding mechanics for level-ups, equipment upgrades, and skill progression. Players frequently mention farming materials, weapons, and passive skills to advance, especially in later stages or DLC content.
- Skill trees and character customization (weight 0.52): Character progression includes skill trees, talent grids, and attribute systems for unlocking abilities, passive upgrades, and equipment mastery. Players highlight build diversity and customization options.
- JRPG narrative with time-travel themes (weight 0.39): The story follows a traditional JRPG structure with anime tropes, time-travel mechanics, and emotional character arcs. Players note foreshadowing, twists, and a chapter-based progression that introduces new mechanics over time.
- 2D side-scrolling action RPG combat (weight 0.31): The game is primarily a 2D side-scrolling action RPG with real-time combat, hack-and-slash mechanics, and auto-combos. It blends action-platformer elements with RPG progression, often compared to Castlevania or Metroidvania titles.
- Deep combat with feedback loops (weight 0.29): Combat is designed to be satisfying and responsive, with strong hit feedback, combos, and varied weapon mechanics. Players highlight the system's depth, including guard breaks, magic, and dash mechanics, though some note initial generic impressions.
- Adjustable difficulty and scaling (weight 0.22): The game offers multiple difficulty settings (e.g., Normal, Hard, Hell) that affect enemy scaling, gear requirements, and boss challenges. Players recommend starting on harder modes for achievements or a more punishing experience.
- Exploration and loot mechanics (weight 0.17): The game encourages exploration with hidden chests, secret areas, and treasure mechanics. Players compare it to Terraria or Metroidvania-style discovery, though some note linear progression in certain chapters.
- Crafting and inventory systems (weight 0.16): Players can craft weapons, armor, and accessories using collected materials, with systems for proficiency and random attributes. Inventory management (e.g., healing items) is also a key mechanic.
- Challenging boss fights with phases (weight 0.15): Boss battles are a standout feature, featuring unique mechanics, multiple phases, and strategic depth. Some players criticize repetitiveness, but others praise the variety, including bullet hell elements and elemental weaknesses.
- Manual save and checkpoint system (weight 0.1): The game uses manual saves and strategically placed checkpoints, with some sections lacking mid-battle saves. Players note the need to recover lost items at save points.
- Multiple endings and replay value (weight 0.09): The game features branching narrative choices, multiple endings (including a true ending), and post-game content. Players mention incremental story progression and New Game+ mechanics for extended playtime.
- Weapon variety and build diversity (weight 0.08): The game offers hundreds of weapons, armor sets, and shields with unique movesets and handling. Players emphasize the depth of build crafting, including spells and passive skills.
- Clunky controls in specific segments (weight 0.07): While combat is generally praised, some players report janky or clunky controls, particularly in underwater segments or during the game's slower introductory phases.

Performance notes:
- Optimized for Steam Deck (weight 0.04): The game runs smoothly on Steam Deck, including the OLED model, with low system requirements and no need for manual adjustments. This broadens accessibility for portable gaming.
- Performance stuttering and drops (weight 0.03): Frequent stuttering and framerate drops, especially during combat, degrade the experience. These issues are widespread and impact fluidity, even on capable hardware.
- Hitbox inconsistencies in combat (weight 0.03): Inconsistent or poorly designed hitboxes, particularly for enemies, disrupt combat fairness and precision. Players note this as a recurring issue affecting gameplay quality.
- Controller vibration improves combat (weight 0.03): Players consistently highlight that controller vibration enhances the tactile feel of combat, making actions like attacks and impacts more immersive. This feature is frequently praised for its positive contribution to gameplay.
- Missing FPS and VSync options (weight 0.03): Players report frustration over the absence of FPS and VSync settings, which limits performance customization. Some also experience performance issues at 60 FPS, suggesting optimization gaps.
- Crashes during alt-tabbing (weight 0.02): The game crashes when players switch windows (e.g., alt-tabbing), which is a critical stability issue for multitasking users. This bug is consistently reported as disruptive.
- Boss AI bugs and quirks (weight 0.02): Some bosses exhibit unintentional AI behaviors or bugs, such as unpredictable movements or attacks, which can make encounters feel unfair or poorly designed.
- Input overlap issues (weight 0.02): Players experience input overlap problems, where commands conflict or register incorrectly. This may disproportionately affect skilled players relying on precise inputs.

Recommendations:
- Ideal for story-driven RPG fans (weight 0.49): The game is highly recommended for players who prioritize deep narratives, emotional payoffs, and replayable RPG experiences. It appeals to fans of JRPGs, Metroidvanias, and classic adventure games with layered storytelling.
- Balanced for action RPG fans (weight 0.46): Recommended for fans of action RPGs, side-scrollers, and games with deep combat mechanics. It caters to both casual and hardcore players, though challenges may require grinding or guides.
- Unique genre blend (weight 0.35): Stands out for its fusion of JRPG, time-loop narratives, and side-scrolling action, offering a singular experience in the gaming landscape.
- Replayability and hidden content (weight 0.18): The game offers high replay value due to multiple endings, character builds, and hidden content. Players are advised to use guides or save files strategically to maximize their experience.
- Demo strongly recommended (weight 0.16): Players are encouraged to try the demo first to gauge interest, especially due to the game's unique mechanics and potential frustrations (e.g., grinding or difficulty spikes).
- Not for casual players (weight 0.12): Unsuitable for players seeking relaxation or simplicity. Challenges, grinding, and puzzle design may frustrate those not invested in the genre.
- High value for price (weight 0.11): Praised as a best-value purchase, with many reviewers highlighting its affordability (e.g., $25) and content richness compared to mainstream titles.
- Hard difficulty for rewards (weight 0.08): Playing on hard mode or higher is recommended for a richer experience, especially for trophy collectors or those seeking optimal gear. DLC achievements may require careful save management.
- Underrated gem (weight 0.05): Described as underrated and deserving of wider recognition, with calls for a sequel due to its high-quality design and ambition.
- Japanese audio preferred (weight 0.02): Reviewers suggest playing in Japanese for the full narrative and emotional experience, though this may not apply to all players.

Other player notes:
- Solo developer's 15-year journey (weight 0.12): The game was developed by a single person, KEIZO, over 14-15 years as a passion project and lifetime work. This highlights the dedication and personal investment of the developer.
- DLC expands gameplay significantly (weight 0.05): The DLC is described as substantial, adding combat-focused content and effectively functioning like a second game. This suggests high value for players seeking extended gameplay.
- Time travel and divine conflicts (weight 0.03): The story revolves around themes of time travel, romance, and divine conflicts, offering a rich and engaging narrative experience for players.
- Anime and nostalgic comparisons (weight 0.03): The game is frequently compared to anime or nostalgic titles like Zelda, indicating its strong narrative or stylistic appeal to fans of those genres.
- Free chapters before full release (weight 0.03): The game was originally released as free chapters before being published as a full title, which helped build an early audience and community.
- 40+ hour playtime (weight 0.02): The game offers a lengthy experience, with players reporting over 40 hours of content, making it a substantial investment for those seeking depth.
- Doujin work with creative vision (weight 0.02): The game is described as a doujin (fan-made/indie) work with a strong personal creative vision, reflecting the developer's unique artistic direction.
- Innovative indie design praised (weight 0.02): The game is praised for its innovative design compared to AAA titles, highlighting its unique contributions to the indie gaming landscape.
- Developer's retirement announcement (weight 0.02): The developer announced retirement after releasing this game, adding a sentimental and historical significance to the title for fans and players.
- Mixed visual styles used (weight 0.02): The game combines photorealistic textures and anime-style sprites, creating a distinctive visual style that stands out to players.
- Save-scumming and moral themes (weight 0.02): The game includes mechanics like save-scumming and explores moral themes, adding depth and replayability for players interested in ethical dilemmas.
- Korean translation criticized (weight 0.01): Some players criticized the quality of the Korean translation, indicating potential localization issues that could affect accessibility for non-English speakers.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.18): Players frequently cite excessive grinding, unfair difficulty spikes, and poorly designed mechanics as major sources of frustration. Specific pain points include mandatory grinding without clear guidance, repetitive combat, and punishing level design, such as poorly placed save points and instant-death puzzles. Bugs, unintuitive systems (e.g., skill tree navigation), and inconsistent hitboxes further exacerbate the frustration.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.14): Players derive satisfaction from overcoming challenges through grinding, mastering the combat system, and experiencing the game's narrative payoff. The progression systems, equipment variety, and story twists are frequently praised for providing a sense of accomplishment. Completing the game, achieving 100% completion, and unlocking powerful equipment or endings are highlighted as deeply rewarding experiences.
- Excitement (weight 0.11): Excitement stems from the game's engaging combat feedback, narrative twists, and high-frequency rewards. Players appreciate the unique mechanics, such as time-travel systems or possession techniques, and the game's ability to introduce new story elements or gameplay systems that keep them hooked. The sensory feedback, such as music and visuals, and the emotional highs of key plot moments also contribute to this emotion.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.07): The game evokes nostalgia through its retro art style, classic JRPG storytelling, and gameplay mechanics reminiscent of childhood experiences. Players compare it to beloved titles from the 16-bit era or early 2000s, and the emotional impact of the music and narrative often triggers strong memories. The developer's dedication and the game's old-school charm are frequently cited as reasons for this emotional connection.
- Disappointment (weight 0.05): Disappointment arises from unmet expectations, such as underdeveloped mechanics (e.g., time-rewind systems), poorly executed story segments, or tonal incoherence. Players criticize the game for failing to modernize certain aspects, such as dungeon design or character development, and for narrative compromises like irreversible character deaths or forced romantic subplots. The DLC and late-game content are also noted for declining quality.
- Admiration (weight 0.04): Players admire the developer's dedication, craftsmanship, and passion for the genre, particularly given the game's 14-year development journey. The storytelling, attention to detail, and the game's ability to deliver a cohesive experience despite its flaws are frequently praised. Comparisons to masterpieces like 'The Witcher 3' or 'Hollow Knight' highlight the game's high quality and emotional depth.
- Awe (weight 0.04): Awe is inspired by the game's narrative depth, emotional impact, and the sheer ambition of its world-building. Players are impressed by the intricate time-travel mechanics, plot twists, and the developer's ability to create a polished experience over a decade. The game's ability to evoke strong emotional responses, such as hearing the ending theme during climactic moments, is a recurring highlight.
- Surprise (weight 0.04): Players are surprised by the game's depth, quality, and unexpected twists, often exceeding initial expectations. The scale of the story, the number of collectibles, and the evolution of gameplay mechanics (e.g., post-game equipment changes) are frequently cited as pleasant surprises. The game's ability to subvert expectations through narrative twists or false endings also contributes to this emotion.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.03): Enjoyment is derived from the game's balanced grinding mechanics, engaging story, and satisfying combat. Players appreciate the RPG progression, power fantasy elements, and the overall fun factor of the gameplay loop. The game's ability to deliver a relaxing yet addictive experience, even with its flaws, is a common theme in positive reviews.
- Joy (weight 0.03): Joy stems from the game's satisfying story beats, world-building, and immersive music. Players highlight the emotional connection to characters, the epic final battle, and the nostalgic yet rewarding gameplay experience. The synchronicity between game mechanics and music, as well as the sense of accomplishment from overcoming challenges, are key contributors to this emotion.
- Amusement (weight 0.03): Amusement arises from the game's janky charm, humorous character interactions, and over-the-top elements like sexualized humor or anime-style tropes. Players enjoy the contrast between the game's outdated presentation and its high-quality gameplay, as well as the creative or absurd design choices that add a layer of fun to the experience.
- Gratitude (weight 0.02): Players express gratitude for the developer's effort, passion, and the emotional impact of the game. The 14+ years of dedication, the game's ability to avoid common pitfalls (e.g., 'souls' mechanics), and the accessibility features (e.g., button customization) are frequently appreciated. Many feel fortunate to have encountered the game and experienced its story.
- Appreciation (weight 0.02): Appreciation is directed toward the game's unique systems, music, and attention to detail. Players praise the developer's craftsmanship, the cohesive world-building, and the narrative payoff. Despite its flaws, the game is often considered worth playing for its high-quality art, storytelling, and engaging gameplay mechanics.
- Curiosity (weight 0.02): Curiosity is driven by the game's unpredictable plot twists, emotional depth, and the desire to uncover hidden content. Players are drawn in by the time-travel narrative, the variety of progression options, and the story's ability to consistently stimulate interest. The game's isekai-like elements and frequent reveals also fuel this emotion.
- Immersion (weight 0.01): Immersion is created through the game's addictive feedback loops, well-paced story, and strong narrative presentation. Players highlight the engaging world, emotional connection to the story, and the cohesive experience created by the art style, soundtrack, and gameplay. The game's ability to create an 'out-of-world' experience is a recurring theme in positive reviews.
- Disgust (weight 0.01): Disgust is triggered by excessive fan service, sexualized content, or poorly integrated assets (e.g., realistic caterpillars). Players criticize the game for manipulative character behavior, vulgar humor, or design choices that feel exploitative or out of place. Some mechanics, like the snow mountain boss, are described as frustrating to the point of feeling like 'malicious intent'.
- Engagement (weight 0.01): Engagement is fostered by the game's strong writing, satisfying combat, and incremental progression. Players appreciate the story's logical consistency, the artifact system, and the ability to retain attention despite flaws. The game's twists and deep immersion in its themes are frequently cited as reasons for sustained engagement.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Hope is tied to the desire for a sequel, additional story content, or the game's potential to exceed expectations. Players express a renewed passion for the genre and optimism about the influence of independent games on mainstream design. The game's themes of altering destiny and human perseverance also inspire this emotion.
- Regret (weight 0.01): Regret stems from minor disappointments, such as missing collectibles, personal conflicts caused by prioritizing the game, or not playing it sooner. Some players express regret over judging the game too quickly based on initial impressions or screenshots, while others mention discontinued games with similar qualities.
- Discomfort (weight 0.01): Discomfort arises from repetitive or overtly sexual content, excessive controller vibration, or jarring design choices. Players criticize the game for using affection mechanics to feed into the female lead's storyline or for including humor that feels out of place or uncomfortable.}