Info about The Last Hero of Nostalgaia:

Official game description:
The Last Hero of Nostalgaia is a satirical action-adventure, driven by a dark story, set in an incredibly rich and complex world.  
Nostalgaia, the world of videogames, is collapsing backwards into a mysterious pixelation, with every particle of fidelity bleeding away. Oblivion seemingly awaits even our most cherished gaming memories. But as the lighting dims and frames diminish, with the world on the brink of extinction, hope emerges to fight back.  
As the most hideous pixelated hero to ever spawn in Nostalgaia, you must fight through an army of its mindless inhabitants, while being jeered by a cynical narrator who despises your very existence.  
Featuring hard but fair combat that fans of the genre will relish, along with \*full character customization, unique battle armor and engaging narrative mechanics rich in lore, The Last Hero of Nostalgaia’s twisted and wicked tale is prepared to send you headfirst into almost certain death around its every vertex.  
*   Set in a world celebrating video game nostalgia, The Last Hero of Nostalgaia features hard but fair souls-like exploration and combat, combined with a twisted, wicked tale told by a cynical narrator  
*   Play together through online co-op and brave the pixelization together!  
*   Uncover various suits of armor and weapons, each with their own unique lore and attributes

Release date: Oct 19, 2022

Categories: Soulslike Combat, Dark Souls 1 style level design, Cooperative Multiplayer, Satirical Dark Souls parody, Character Progression, Interconnected map with shortcuts, Fourth-wall breaking narrator

Feature scans:
- Steam Deck: score 60; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The audit finds that Steam Deck feedback is dominated by performance friction. The clearest Deck-specific issue is low frame rate: the game barely holds 30 FPS with all settings off, and users also report occasional frame drops. Controller ergonomics add friction, with the run input requiring prolonged left-stick pressure and causing finger pain. No evidence of external launchers, anti-cheat failures, unreadable text, or battery drain appears in the provided reviews. General gameplay and world-design criticism is noted but does not affect the Deck compatibility score. Overall friction is significant, but the game remains playable rather than broken.

- Hardware Profile:
  - Summary: The Windows 12-15GB VRAM cohort is mostly positive: the included report recommends the game and describes it as running very well, aside from a single Unity crash.
  - Sample size: 28 (7% coverage)
  - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
  - Windows 12-15GB VRAM (positive, 13 reports): The included recommended report says the game runs very well, with only one isolated Unity crash.
  - Caveats: 28 of 417 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $9.99 - $14.99
  - Reasoning: The reviews consistently reject the current $24.99 full price as too high, with multiple users saying they would only recommend buying on discount. Positive price anchors cluster around a sale price of roughly $11 and a sub-1,000-yen sale (about $6.50) described as a bargain, while one reviewer even questions $10 with DLC. This suggests the community fair base-game range is below the current price, roughly $9.99 to $14.99.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 15.0h
  - Story completion: 12.0h
  - Session length: 2.0h
  - Endgame: 45.0h
  - Reasoning: The 15-hour report supports gameCompletion at about 15 hours for finishing the base game. A separate report describes a campaign around 12 hours, supporting storyCompletion at about 12 hours. One player describes playing in intervals of two hours, so sessionLength is set to about 2 hours. The French review reports 40 to 50 hours for platinum, and another notes achievement hunting adds extra hours, supporting endgame at about 45 hours for completionist play.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Players often report early fun, especially in co-op, but enjoyment tends to decline as bosses, combat, and level design become repetitive and tedious in the second half.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Initial play
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: The parody angle put some players off at first.; Combat is slow and mob encounters can feel tedious.; Map navigation is confusing and backtracking is tedious, with fast travel only late.; Multiplayer bugs and questline-breaking glitches can disrupt co-op.; Parry timing is unintuitive and the tutorial does not explain it well.; Some players find the game boring later due to repetitive enemies.
  - Unlock drivers: Co-op is built in and works from the start, making the game more enjoyable with a friend.; The world opens up later with interconnected areas and shortcuts.; The sense of discovery is addictive and combat and level design are solid.; Getting used to the parody angle made the game grow on the player.; Seamless co-op lets players finish the whole game together.
  - Conditions: Playing in co-op with a friend.; Both players must be at the same story progression to play together.; Tolerance for multiplayer bugs and glitches.; Tolerance for slow and repetitive combat.; Appreciation for Dark Souls references and parody humor.; Willingness to endure confusing map navigation and backtracking.
- Player Archetypes:
  - Souls Veteran Meta-Explorer (buy)
    - Motivation: Re-experience Dark Souls 1-style interconnected exploration and decode meta references and Easter eggs.
    - Playstyle: Methodical exploration, reading item lore, hunting secrets and shortcuts, and comparing map design to classic Souls games.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Souls fan; Souls-like enthusiast
    - Reference games: Dark Souls; DS1
  - Co-op Duo Player (sale)
    - Motivation: Complete the whole game cooperatively with a friend without forced PvP and with shared progress.
    - Playstyle: Plays from spawn to end in two-player co-op, coordinates story progress, and works around multiplayer bugs or desync.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Dark Souls
  - Casual Souls Newcomer (sale)
    - Motivation: Enjoy a less stressful, humorous, affordable Souls-like without mastering the genre.
    - Playstyle: Plays casually, often in co-op or short sessions, and avoids intense difficulty and completionist pressure.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Combat and Polish Purist (no buy)
    - Motivation: Get tight, responsive combat and polished performance comparable to established Souls games.
    - Playstyle: Judges combat feel, boss design, animation, balance, and technical quality, and drops games with bugs or backtracking.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: Souls-like enthusiast
    - Reference games: Dark Souls; Dark Souls 2


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:
- Strong souls-like gameplay (weight 0.25): Reviewers consider it one of the best souls-likes, rivaling FromSoftware titles, with solid implementation of core mechanics. It is often described as a top-tier non-FromSoftware souls-like.
- Dark Souls 1 style level design (weight 0.21): Level and world design are highly reminiscent of Dark Souls 1, featuring interconnectivity, shortcuts, and a connected world. This design choice is widely appreciated.
- Good humor and charm (weight 0.18): The game is consistently praised for its humor, wit, and overall charm, with many finding it genuinely funny and well-made. It balances comedy with gameplay effectively.
- Seamless co-op praised (weight 0.16): Players highlight that the entire game can be completed cooperatively with a friend, with consistent online co-op and enjoyable shared progression. This feature is frequently mentioned as a major positive.
- Engaging story and setting (weight 0.15): The story is described as interesting, fun, and charming, with enjoyable storytelling that keeps players engaged. Many reviewers appreciate the narrative and its humorous tone.
- Appealing art style (weight 0.11): The art style is described as interesting, amazing, and great, contributing to the game's overall aesthetic appeal. Visual presentation is a strong point for many.
- Numerous Dark Souls references (weight 0.1): The game is filled with references, easter eggs, and parodies of Dark Souls and other classic games, adding nostalgic appeal. These nods are appreciated by fans.
- Funny narrator enhances experience (weight 0.09): The narrator is frequently praised as funny, providing humorous commentary and advice throughout the adventure. The theater-style narration adds a unique comedic layer.
- Weapon and build variety (weight 0.08): A good variety of weapons, armor, spells, and consumables allows for diverse character builds. This diversity is a notable positive for players who enjoy customization.
- Unique and entertaining experience (weight 0.08): Many find the game unique, genuinely fun, and incredibly entertaining, making it stand out. It provides an engaging experience that keeps players interested.
- Overall positive reception (weight 0.06): Many reviewers express love for the game, describing it as really liked and thoroughly enjoyable. General sentiment is highly favorable.

Common complaints:
- Frequent bugs and glitches (weight 0.33): Many reviews report a wide range of bugs, from minor annoyances to game-breaking issues. These occur in both single-player and co-op modes, sometimes rendering the game unplayable.
- Clunky and unsatisfying combat (weight 0.32): Combat is frequently described as clunky, sticky, and lacking fluidity or satisfaction. Players find it frustrating and poorly executed, with many noting it feels like an afterthought.
- Limited fast travel and teleportation (weight 0.25): Players complain that fast travel between bonfires is severely restricted, often only available late in the game or to a single predetermined point. This forces excessive backtracking and adds tedium to exploration.
- Disappointing bosses (weight 0.18): Bosses are frequently described as easy, mediocre, and lacking the challenge expected from a Souls-like. Many find them unmemorable and not rewarding to defeat.
- Excessive enemy density and stacking (weight 0.15): Enemies are often placed in high numbers, leading to overcrowding and stacking that makes combat overwhelming and frustrating. This is especially problematic in the late game.
- Confusing map and navigation (weight 0.15): The lack of a map and maze-like level design makes navigation confusing and backtracking tedious. Players struggle to remember shortcuts and find their way through areas.
- Broken co-op and multiplayer (weight 0.13): Co-op and multiplayer modes are plagued by connection issues, bugs, and instability, often making them impossible to play. Players report long wait times and frequent disconnections.
- No New Game Plus (weight 0.12): The absence of a New Game+ mode is a common complaint. Players express disappointment that they cannot carry over progress or achievements, and some report that the option doesn't work.
- Lock-on and camera issues (weight 0.1): Lock-on often fails to track enemies properly, causing attacks to miss. The camera and lock-on system are criticized for being shoddy and working against the player.
- Lackluster weapons and combat variety (weight 0.09): Weapons are limited, with basic movesets and few options. Ranged weapons are scarce, and weapon arts are considered almost useless, reducing combat depth.
- Clunky menu and controls (weight 0.08): The menu system and controls are often criticized for being clunky, unresponsive, and unpleasant to use. Specific issues include poor control mapping and awkward menu navigation.
- Too easy compared to Souls games (weight 0.07): The game is significantly easier than typical Souls-like titles, with trivial bosses and low difficulty, reducing the sense of accomplishment.
- Tedious remember mechanic (weight 0.06): The 'remember' mechanic requires constant inventory checks, which players find disruptive and poorly implemented, taking away from the gameplay flow.
- Disappointing ending and DLC (weight 0.06): The ending is considered unsatisfying, and the DLC is short and offers little content, adding to overall disappointment.
- Softlock issues (weight 0.04): Players report getting softlocked, where progress becomes impossible without restarting, which is highly frustrating.
- Missable NPC questlines (weight 0.04): NPC questlines are easily missed and cannot be completed if the player progresses too far, making the story hard to follow and reducing replayability.
- Monotonous enemies (weight 0.04): Enemies lack variety and become monotonous, with repetitive designs and behaviors that make combat feel stale.

Gameplay feedback:
- Co-op multiplayer supported (weight 0.25): Many players highlight that the game includes co-op, allowing two friends to play through the entire game together. Some mention that online co-op works out of the box with similar-level friends.
- Interconnected map with shortcuts (weight 0.2): Players praise the labyrinthine, interconnected map design with meaningful shortcuts. The world feels cohesive and rewards exploration.
- Weapon and armor memory system (weight 0.17): A unique mechanic allows weapons and armor to be 'remembered' to unlock special abilities. This involves recalling their past at specific locations.
- Bonfire fast travel (weight 0.16): Fast travel is available via bonfires, but it is limited and often unlocked late in the game. Players can bind a bonfire to travel to and rebind as needed.
- Souls-like genre (weight 0.16): Reviewers consistently describe the game as a Souls-like, often comparing it to Dark Souls. It features challenging combat, stamina systems, and a dark fantasy atmosphere.
- Combat mirrors Dark Souls 1 (weight 0.15): The combat and movement mechanics are frequently said to be very similar to Dark Souls 1, with some noting slight differences. Many feel it copies the leveling and combat system from Dark Souls 1 Remastered.
- Boss fights included (weight 0.12): The game features boss fights that are a core part of the experience, with unique movesets and soundtracks. Players appreciate these challenging encounters.
- Variety of weapons and spells (weight 0.09): The game offers a diverse arsenal of weapons, armor, shields, and spells to support different builds. Players appreciate the options for customization.
- Deliberate combat system (weight 0.08): The combat is described as deliberate and challenging, yet snappy and smooth. It forms the core of the gameplay experience.
- Unique luck stat (weight 0.08): A luck stat acts as an RNG roll that unlocks more abilities as luck increases. This gives the stat a distinct purpose compared to other RPGs.
- Satirical Dark Souls parody (weight 0.07): The game is a comedic parody of Dark Souls, blending the challenging gameplay with a humorous tone. Many enjoy the satirical take on the genre.
- NPC side quests (weight 0.07): Side quests involve finding and interacting with various NPCs across different areas. These add depth to the world and reward exploration.
- Riddle-based weapon upgrades (weight 0.07): Weapon upgrades require solving riddles found in item descriptions. This adds a puzzle element to progression.
- Inspired by Dark Souls (weight 0.06): The game draws heavy inspiration from Dark Souls 1–3 and Elden Ring. This is evident in its mechanics and world design.
- Referential weapons and armor (weight 0.05): Weapons and armor include references to other games, adding a layer of intertextuality. This appeals to fans of the genre.
- Stick figure protagonist (weight 0.05): The main character is a stick figure, which adds a unique visual style. This contrasts with the serious tone of the genre.
- Fourth-wall breaking narrator (weight 0.05): A narrator breaks the fourth wall, providing commentary and humor. This adds a distinctive narrative flair.

Performance notes:
- Frame drops and performance (weight 0.12): Occasional frame drops occur in random locations, and performance is generally poor with low FPS on Steam Deck and capable systems. High GPU usage and temperatures are also noted.
- Frequent crashes (weight 0.07): Players experience frequent crashes, including session crashes and persistent crashes at specific locations like a castle near the end. Some sessions crash 10 out of 10 times.
- Co-op connection issues (weight 0.06): Players frequently report unstable connections that make co-op multiplayer unreliable. This includes constant connection problems and disconnections during sessions.
- Various bugs requiring restart (weight 0.06): Bugs such as model, quest, and sound bugs are present and often require restarting the game to fix. Textures may disappear or become transparent, causing players to get stuck.
- Poor shadows optimization (weight 0.02): The shadows option is poorly optimized and can drastically reduce FPS depending on configuration. This is a specific performance issue that players can work around by adjusting settings.
- Frame skipping bugs (weight 0.02): Frame skipping bugs are reported, causing visual glitches and affecting gameplay flow. This is related to but distinct from general stuttering.
- Elevator glitch causes death (weight 0.02): Elevators can glitch out, causing players to fall to their death. This is a specific and frustrating bug that can disrupt progression.
- Camera jankiness affects combat (weight 0.02): The camera has jankiness, especially when locked on, causing missed hits in combat. This negatively impacts the combat experience.
- Performance slows with lighting (weight 0.02): Performance is fine most of the time but slows down noticeably in areas with lots of lighting, including the very first area. This suggests specific optimization issues.
- Enemies warp around (weight 0.02): Enemies sometimes warp around, which can break immersion and make combat unpredictable. This appears to be a glitch or network-related issue.
- Laggy code (weight 0.02): Some players describe the game as a piece of laggy code, indicating general performance dissatisfaction. This is a vague but notable complaint.
- Game runs well otherwise (weight 0.02): Some players report that the game runs very well otherwise, indicating that experiences vary. This provides a positive counterpoint to the performance complaints.
- Playable at high settings (weight 0.02): One player played at high settings and achieved 40-60 FPS at 1920x1080. This shows that the game can be playable on certain configurations.

Recommendations:
- Souls-like fans enjoy game (weight 0.25): Many reviewers recommend the game to fans of Souls-like games, including diehard Souls fans and those looking for another Souls-like experience. It is particularly praised for fans of Dark Souls 1 and the Souls series.
- Buy only on sale (weight 0.22): A common recommendation is to purchase the game only when it is on sale or at a discount, as it is not considered worth the full price. Reviewers frequently mention waiting for a sale or buying it cheaply.
- Strongly recommended overall (weight 0.21): Many reviewers give the game high praise and strongly recommend it to everyone, often describing it as a must-play or a hidden gem. Some would buy it again without hesitation.
- Not recommended for non-fans (weight 0.11): Several reviewers do not recommend the game for those who are not already fans of Souls-like games or for those seeking an entry point to the genre. Some even advise against it for hardcore fans unless they are desperate for a fix.
- Mixed opinions due to issues (weight 0.1): Some players cannot recommend the game in its current state due to bugs, lack of polish, or other problems, while others still recommend it if you can overlook these issues. The game has a polarizing reception.
- Great for Souls-like beginners (weight 0.1): The game is often recommended for newcomers to Souls-like games, as it is simpler and more accessible than other titles in the genre. It serves as a good introduction for players who want to learn what a Soulslike is.
- Good value as indie game (weight 0.09): Reviewers often mention that the game is worth its price as an indie title, offering a solid experience for the cost. It is considered a great game at an accessible price point.
- Co-op experiences vary (weight 0.08): Playing with a friend or in co-op can be an incredible experience, but some reviewers do not recommend co-op due to issues or unskilled teammates. There are mixed feelings about the cooperative mode.
- Good for passing time (weight 0.06): Some recommend the game as a way to pass the time or as a short experience between major Souls games. It is seen as a decent distraction.
- Difficulty and accessibility (weight 0.06): Opinions on difficulty are divided: some find it not very difficult or accessible, while others warn it may be too hard for beginners. It is also noted that players seeking a tough challenge might be disappointed.
- Recommended for veterans (weight 0.05): Veteran Souls players and old-timers are often encouraged to play this game, as it provides a familiar yet fresh experience. It is seen as a less stressful adventure for series veterans.
- Refunded and not recommended (weight 0.05): A few reviewers refunded the game or explicitly advise against playing it, citing regret even at a discount. These negative experiences contrast with the generally positive reception.
- Technical issues and jank (weight 0.04): Some players experienced connection issues leading to dropping the game, and others mention janky mechanics. These technical problems can detract from the overall experience.
- NPC quests and exploration (weight 0.04): Players recommend doing NPC quests before defeating area bosses to avoid missing content, and exploring thoroughly. The game's map design and exploration are highlighted as strong points.
- DLC not essential (weight 0.03): The DLC is considered skippable, and some advise against buying or activating it before beating the base game. It does not add significant value for many players.
- Class and build advice (weight 0.03): Reviewers offer specific character build advice, such as picking a strength-based class and avoiding sorcerer builds. This suggests certain playstyles are more viable.
- Gamepad recommended (weight 0.02): Using a gamepad is almost mandatory to fully enjoy the game, according to some reviewers. Keyboard and mouse may not provide the best experience.
- Play blind and multiple endings (weight 0.02): Some suggest playing the game blind first and then looking up how to get different endings in NG+. This enhances the experience and replayability.

Other player notes:
- Frequent Dark Souls comparisons (weight 0.22): Many reviewers compare this game to Dark Souls 1, especially in terms of combat, storyline, and overall feel. The game is often described as a love letter to Dark Souls 1 with numerous references.
- Affordable and discounted pricing (weight 0.15): Players frequently mention that the game is cheap, often purchased on sale or at a discount. This makes it an accessible and great deal for its price.
- DLC availability and quality (weight 0.12): The game has DLC, including a boss fight accessible after the final boss. Some find the DLC short and light on content, but it is generally noted as a feature.
- Numerous references and Easter eggs (weight 0.12): The game is filled with references to other games and pop culture, including The Legend of Zelda, Hotline Miami, and Hollow Knight. This adds a layer of humor and recognition for players.
- Compared to Dark Souls 2 (weight 0.1): Some reviewers compare the game to Dark Souls 2, particularly regarding boss difficulty, hitboxes, and enemy placement. It is also noted to have a system similar to Dark Souls 2 in late game.
- Souls-like indie game (weight 0.1): The game is recognized as an indie souls-like, often from a small studio with a limited budget. It is praised as a great souls-like despite its indie origins.
- Satirical and humorous tone (weight 0.07): The game is a satirical take on soulslikes, with a humorous and absurd story. It parodies Dark Souls and includes comedic elements.
- Lower difficulty than other souls games (weight 0.07): Compared to other souls games, the difficulty is considered low and not more challenging. This makes it a less demanding alternative.
- Game length 15-25 hours (weight 0.06): A typical playthrough lasts about 15-20 hours, with the base game plus DLC offering around 15 to 25 hours of content. This provides a reasonable amount of gameplay.
- Unique charm among soulslikes (weight 0.04): The game is seen as a unique title not only among souls-likes, with a unique charm that sets it apart from others. It offers a fresh experience.
- Miyazaki credited in thanks (weight 0.03): The developer gives a special thanks to Miyazaki in the credits, acknowledging the inspiration. This detail is noted by some reviewers.
- Reviewer scores around 7.5-8 (weight 0.03): Some reviewers give the game a score of 7.5 or 8 out of 10, indicating a generally positive reception. These scores reflect a good but not perfect rating.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.28): Players cite persistent bugs, broken questlines, poor hit detection, and clunky controls that make combat feel unresponsive and unfair. The lack of fast travel for much of the game forces tedious backtracking, while multiplayer connection issues and crashes often make co-op unplayable. Enemy overcrowding, stunlocks, and confusing map design further compound the frustration.
- Disappointment (weight 0.19): The game starts strong but declines in quality, with a weak second half, easy and generic bosses, and a rushed, unsatisfying ending. Combat feels clunky and uninspired, map design becomes a disaster, and the game lacks the depth and polish of the soulslike it imitates. Missing features like New Game Plus and build variety add to the letdown.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.08): The game offers fun soulslike combat, a humorous and satirical tone, and engaging exploration with interconnected levels. The parody elements, nostalgic references, and unique mechanics like the remembering system keep players entertained. Co-op and the lighthearted story contribute to an overall enjoyable experience despite flaws.
- Amusement (weight 0.05): The game's humor, witty dialogue, and abundance of video game references provide constant amusement. The metalinguistic approach, silly jokes, and theater-style narrator create memorable comedic moments. Even bugs and immersion-breaking issues sometimes enhance the humor.
- Annoyance (weight 0.04): Players are annoyed by unreliable hit detection, frequent misses, and enemies that warp or run away faster than the player. Long distances between bonfires with no teleportation, vague recall hints, and tedious backtracking add to the irritation. Bugs, stunlocks, and unfair enemy placement further aggravate the experience.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.04): Discovering interconnected map shortcuts and secrets provides a strong sense of satisfaction. The combat, while simple, feels snappy and smooth, and the loot gimmick makes rewards exciting. The game successfully scratches the Dark Souls itch with solid mechanics and a well-designed difficulty curve.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Players appreciate the seamless co-op that allows completing the game with a friend, as well as the innovative remembering system and engaging exploration. The beautiful interconnected level design, unique art style, and responsive developers who address issues are highly valued. The game's creativity and character stand out.
- Anger (weight 0.03): Anger arises from feeling scammed by unplayable online modes, frequent crashes causing loss of large amounts of currency, and progression-breaking bugs. Infuriating enemy designs like backstabbing scarecrows and overly aggressive bosses with fast multi-hit attacks fuel the rage. Poor bonfire placement and long runbacks after dying to traps exacerbate the anger.
- Excitement (weight 0.02): The unique remembrance system and moments of discovery create excitement and anticipation. Players look forward to a second DLC and feel compelled to replay or plan new playthroughs. The co-op experience and rich secrets evoke the thrill of classic Dark Souls adventures.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.02): The game evokes nostalgia for early soulslike games, particularly Dark Souls, through environmental storytelling, dungeon crawling, and familiar memes. Returning to Firelink Shrine and encountering references triggers fond memories of past experiences. The overall feel revisits the beauty of classic soulslike encounters.
- Joy (weight 0.02): Joy stems from the game's entertaining and humorous content, including laugh-inducing intro music and fun multiplayer moments. Finding Easter eggs, shortcuts, and nostalgic references brings delight. The lighthearted bosses and memory mechanic add to the joyful experience.
- Love (weight 0.02): Players love the solid soulslike combat with magic, weapons, and builds, as well as the game's charm and charismatic details. The art style blending pixel art with 3D realism, the whimsical writing, and the obvious passion for the genre inspire deep affection. The game leaves a lasting, memorable impression.
- Boredom (weight 0.02): Boredom sets in as the humor becomes repetitive and the style loses its novelty. Combat grows monotonous with repetitive enemies and bosses, and excessive backtracking drags the pace. The late game feels tedious with basic enemy and map design.
- Admiration (weight 0.01): Admiration is earned through the game's loving homage to Dark Souls, with numerous references and a unique visual style. The wonderfully interconnected level design and creative twists like the 2D player model impress players. It stands out as a high-quality soulslike love letter.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Confusion arises from the lack of a map and labyrinthine, samey areas with too many shortcuts, making navigation difficult. Incomprehensible NPC quest text and unexplained world-building leave players unsure of where to go or what is happening. Many players report feeling lost and running in circles.
- Regret (weight 0.01): Regret is expressed for purchasing the game even on sale, with some wishing they could return it but being unable to. Missing important side quests due to laziness or lack of fast travel adds to the regret. Players wish the game had lived up to the developers' good intentions.
- Sadness (weight 0.01): Sadness is felt when NPC side quests vanish despite the player's desire to save them, and the pixel protagonist silently endures sacrifice. Unstable co-op connections prevent playing with friends, which is especially disheartening when co-op was the main reason for purchase. The game's lack of uniqueness and failed humor also contribute to sadness.
- Impressed (weight 0.01): Players are impressed by the obvious love and effort poured into the game, from boss fights to map design. The genuine soulslike spirit and clever integration of memes and references stand out. The interwoven world and level design showcase impressive craftsmanship.
- Tedium (weight 0.01): Tedium results from the memory system and constant backtracking for missions and weapon upgrades. Late-game combat feels like fighting Devil May Cry enemies in Dark Souls, which becomes repetitive. Slow sections like the train portion feel unfairly tedious.
- Disgust (weight 0.01): Disgust is triggered by the game's poor imitation of Souls design, removing the good parts and leaving high recovery frames and clunky combat. Overcrowded enemy placement and poorly designed compositions, like multiple werewolves with ranged attackers, feel repulsive. Frequent enemy stacking adds to the revulsion.}