Info about Nobody - The Turnaround:

Official game description:
There is only one heroism in the world: to see the world as it is, and to love it.  
— Romain Rolland  
Nobody - The Turnaround takes place in a parallel world similar to our current reality. The story unfolds in a modern metropolis, but not the concrete jungle as you know it. It's more about the undergrowth, the much less glamorous neighborhoods where actual life happens.  
“You” are one of the ordinary “Nobodies” in this world. You do not have a distinguished family background, elite education, or once-in-a-lifetime business opportunities. However, through hard work and determination, you might eventually get rid of your troubles and make your way in this realistic society.  
Game Features
-------------
**A Convincing Life Simulator**  
With systematic reconstructions of your possible physical status, such as Health and Emotions, Nobody – The Turnaround aims to accurately represent a person's working and living situations. You may suffer injuries, get sick or feel down due to various unexpected random events in life. It's important for you to balance everything and strive.  
**Work Hard and Strive for Success**  
From the initial basic jobs to skilled labor that requires specific training, you can experience all kinds of professions here in Nobody – The Turnaround. You can start by bricklaying, distributing leaflets, or mail delivery. All you need to do is work hard, create your career path, and eventually secure your dream job.  
**Real Life and Everyday Entertainment**  
You can do some group dancing with the ladies on the basketball court, play Chinese chess with the older man at the street corner, play games in the internet café, or lose yourself in the bookstore. Besides hard work, you need to arrange your pastimes responsibly to improve your mood and adjust your conditions.  
**Special Sandbox Mode**  
After experiencing the difficult journey of the Story Mode, you can choose to play the Sandbox Mode. Use your decision-making and management abilities to plan your career freely without all the restraints.  
**Social System & Relationships**  
Interact with dozens of characters, and as their affinity level increases, their hidden stories will be revealed. It’s even possible for you to romance some of them and build a life together.

Release date: 16 Nov, 2022

Categories: Life Simulation, Job Simulation, Character Progression, Sandbox Creation, Single-player Story, Character Management, Social Simulation, Mini-game Collection


- 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:
- Strong Foundation & High Potential (weight 0.99): Players overwhelmingly praise the game's core concept, creative gameplay, and overall quality, even in its unfinished state. Many see it as a breakthrough work with significant potential for future development and content, highlighting the developers' dedication.
- High-Quality Audiovisuals (weight 0.69): Players appreciate the game's good graphics, pleasant music, and sound effects, noting that the visuals are well-themed and contribute positively to the overall mood and immersion.
- Strong Chinese Indie Game (weight 0.66): The game is recognized as one of the best domestic indie games, with some reviewers considering it the 'light of Chinese games' and a significant representation of the Chinese working class experience.
- Realistic Life Simulation (weight 0.26): The game is highly lauded for its realistic portrayal of life, particularly the struggles of ordinary people and the working class. Its unique theme and detailed simulation of daily challenges resonate deeply with players, offering a novel and often poignant experience.
- Educational & Inspiring (weight 0.15): Reviewers find the game to have significant educational value, teaching life insights and illustrating how adversity can lead to growth. It inspires players and motivates them to reflect on real-life situations, making it more than just entertainment.
- Immersive Storylines (weight 0.08): Specific storylines, such as the loanshark campaign, are highlighted for being well-fleshed out, offering choices, and creating a tense, engaging experience due to time limits. The 'debt trap' scenario is particularly praised.
- Engaging Minigames & Activities (weight 0.07): The game offers a variety of leisure activities and around 30 minigames, including job-related ones, which effectively improve the player's mood and add depth to the gameplay experience.
- Desire for Workshop Support (weight 0.04): Players suggest that opening the Steam Workshop would greatly benefit the game, helping it to last longer and fostering community-driven content.
- Protagonist Relatability (weight 0.04): Many players found themselves identifying with the game's protagonist, enhancing their immersion and connection to the game's narrative and challenges.

Common complaints:
- Game Abandoned by Developers (weight 0.87): Players widely report that the game has been abandoned by its developers, with no updates or communication for an extended period, leading to its delisting shortly after release. This has caused significant frustration and a sense of betrayal among the player base.
- Developer Misconduct and Betrayal (weight 0.55): Many players feel scammed and betrayed by the developers, citing broken promises, lack of communication, and suspicious actions like deleting chat groups and moving to new projects. This has severely damaged trust and the reputation of Chinese games for some.
- Unfinished and Incomplete Content (weight 0.37): The game is perceived as unfinished, with many planned features, stories, and gameplay elements left unimplemented. Players feel the current content is incomplete and does not match the developer's initial descriptions or the quality of the demo.
- Protagonist's Mood System Flawed (weight 0.34): The protagonist's mood system is a major point of contention, with players finding the character overly sensitive, frequently depressed, and prone to emotional breakdowns over minor issues. This unrealistic portrayal hinders empathy and makes gameplay frustrating.
- Repetitive and Unrewarding Gameplay (weight 0.28): Players find the gameplay repetitive, especially in later stages, with daily routines becoming a chore. The lack of varied content and poor progression systems diminish interest, making the game feel unrewarding and not worth its price.
- Shallow Relationship System (weight 0.15): The game's relationship system is criticized for its lack of depth and realism. Interactions are sparse, breakups are abrupt, and there's little meaningful social engagement, leading to a feeling of disconnection.
- Unrealistic Portrayal of 'Most People' (weight 0.13): The game's title 'Most People' is considered misleading, as its depiction of hardship and emotional responses is seen as unrealistic and out of touch with the true experiences of people at the bottom of society. This suggests a disconnect between developers and their intended subject matter.
- Tedious Restaurant Management (weight 0.06): Managing the in-game restaurant is described as overly repetitive and uninteresting due to the requirement for constant manual clicking, even with trained staff. Its low profitability compared to other ventures makes it feel like a chore.
- Unbalanced Game Values (weight 0.04): Players report that many numerical settings and game values are unbalanced, contributing to an unreasonable and frustrating gameplay experience.
- Online Store Logistics Issues (weight 0.04): The online store feature is hampered by a limitation of only one warehouse dispatcher/delivery person, leading to frequent order cancellations due to shipping delays.
- Limited Car Functionality (weight 0.04): The car in the game has very limited utility, only usable for travel outside the city and stocking goods, but not for intra-city travel or carrying companions, which feels restrictive.
- Fixed and Depressing Home Decor (weight 0.03): The inability to decorate houses and the poor fixed room layouts contribute to a depressing and pessimistic atmosphere, limiting player agency and immersion.

Gameplay feedback:
- Diverse Job System (weight 0.46): Players engage in various jobs, from day labor and trash collection to running businesses like restaurants and online stores. Many jobs are presented as mini-games, offering different ways to earn money and progress, though some progression speeds are noted as unrealistic.
- Realistic Life Simulation (weight 0.4): The game offers a highly realistic life simulation experience, mirroring the struggles of ordinary people in a big city, including debt, low-wage jobs, and managing basic needs. It's often compared to a 'Chinese Sims' due to its detailed portrayal of daily life challenges.
- Multiple Game Modes (weight 0.26): The game features a story mode with specific objectives, such as paying off debt or supporting a sibling, and a sandbox mode that removes time pressure, allowing players to explore professions and achieve long-term goals like buying a house or car.
- Mood and Needs Management (weight 0.19): A core gameplay element involves managing the protagonist's mood and basic needs like food and cleanliness. Players must balance work with leisure activities to maintain mental health, which is crucial for avoiding failure in story modes.
- Acceptable Core Gameplay (weight 0.16): Players generally find the core gameplay interesting and well-made, consisting of a string of mini-games and side activities. While the overall gameplay is considered acceptable, some aspects like repetitive late-game content are noted.
- Stall Selling Mechanics (weight 0.1): Stall selling is a significant income source, with profitability varying by location and item. Players need to strategically rotate stall locations and engage in public welfare activities to maximize earnings and manage sales recovery.
- Accommodation Progression (weight 0.08): The game realistically depicts the progression of living situations, starting from homelessness or cheap motels and allowing players to upgrade to better hotels or apartments as their financial situation improves.
- Achievement and Replayability (weight 0.08): The game offers replayability through multiple story mode endings and extensive achievements, including grinding for job proficiencies. Players have spent significant time in both story and sandbox modes to unlock content.

Performance notes:
No performancepoints

Recommendations:
- Uncertain Future Development (weight 0.47): Many players express strong desires for continued game development, especially for future story chapters and content updates. There's a mix of hope for the original developers to return, a company to take over, or at least for the remaining content to be released, even if unfinished. Some players are holding onto the game in anticipation of updates, while others have sought refunds due to the perceived abandonment.
- Caution Against Incomplete Games (weight 0.45): Several players advise caution when purchasing games that are not fully developed or have uncertain update schedules. This sentiment is particularly strong among those who feel let down by the game's current state and perceived abandonment, leading some to regret their purchase or even seek refunds.
- Recommendation for Specific Modes (weight 0.41): Some players suggest trying challenge and sandbox modes for a more relaxed or different experience, indicating these modes might offer more enjoyment or replayability compared to the main game. This feedback points to potential strengths in these alternative gameplay options.
- Planned Female Character Content (weight 0.03): It is noted that while the game currently features only a male protagonist, there are plans for female characters with their own distinct storylines. This information could be important for players interested in character diversity and narrative options.
- Support for Domestic Games (weight 0.02): One reviewer expresses support for the domestic game and hopes for improvements, indicating a desire to see local game development succeed despite current issues. This suggests a segment of the player base is rooting for the game's success.
- Difficulty and Guide Reliance (weight 0.02): Players finding the game challenging are advised to consult guides, suggesting that the game may have a steep learning curve or complex mechanics that benefit from external assistance. This indicates a potential area for in-game tutorial improvement or clearer instructions.

Other player notes:
- Game Abandoned, Players Want Revival (weight 0.45): Many players express deep disappointment over the game's abandonment, with some waiting years for updates. There's a strong desire for the original developers or another studio to resume development and complete the game, even if it means repurchasing it. Players are willing to support its revival due to its unique realistic theme and artistic style.
- Delisting and Purchase History (weight 0.37): The game was delisted shortly after its release, causing confusion and difficulty for players who had purchased it or were anticipating it. Many bought the game on release day to support Chinese indie titles, and some speculate the delisting was due to political or censorship reasons related to its portrayal of the Chinese working class.
- Refunds and Access Issues (weight 0.16): A refund channel was opened for players, with tutorials available on how to contact customer service. However, players who purchased CDKeys were not eligible for refunds. There are also concerns about losing access to the game if uninstalled, highlighting ongoing access issues post-delisting.
- Game's Realistic Themes (weight 0.12): The game's title 'Most People' resonates with players, reflecting its alignment with common lifestyles. However, some question if the developers truly experienced the lives of 'most people' or if the player base itself represents 'the majority.' The game's narrative includes realistic struggles like avoiding scams and difficult work conditions.
- Minor Feedback and Observations (weight 0.12): Miscellaneous feedback includes a request for interface translation, a link to the developer's business registration, and a dismissal of criticisms regarding the Chinese chess minigame. Some players also share personal aspirations or general observations about game development.
- Developer's New Game Speculation (weight 0.07): There is speculation that the original studio has 'reincarnated' and is developing a new game, 'Internet Cafe Evolution,' which shares striking similarities in UI and graphics, possibly being a separated module from this game.
- Gameplay Experience and Features (weight 0.06): Players have invested significant hours into the game, with some playing for nearly 100 hours. There's a request for the Steam Workshop to be opened, suggesting a desire for community-driven content or modding capabilities.

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.22): Players are primarily disappointed by the game's unfinished state, lack of updates, and eventual abandonment by developers, often leading to delisting or unfulfilled potential. This includes broken promises regarding content like translations and a general failure to meet expectations for realism or depth.
- Frustration (weight 0.13): Frustration stems from the game's unfulfilled potential, repetitive gameplay, and lack of updates or communication from developers. Players also express frustration with illogical game mechanics, poor design choices, and an unrealistic emotional system that makes progression difficult or unenjoyable.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.09): Satisfaction is derived from the game's realistic simulation, strong core gameplay, and high quality, especially when the current version is complete and polished. Players appreciate choice-driven narratives, engaging themes, and the ability to successfully complete the game or achieve specific endings.
- Regret (weight 0.07): Players regret purchasing or investing time in the game due to its unfulfilled potential, abandonment by developers, and unfinished state. This often leads to feelings of wasted money and the loss of a potentially good game that was not continued or updated.
- Anger (weight 0.07): Anger is directed at developers for abandoning the game, perceived scamming, and broken promises, especially concerning refunds or continued support. Players feel betrayed by the developers' actions and a perceived lack of understanding or arrogance.
- Hope (weight 0.06): Hope is centered on the desire for continued development, future updates, or a sequel, often with the possibility of the original or another studio reviving the game. Players also hope for the game's longevity and improvement through community efforts like modding.
- Appreciation (weight 0.05): Players appreciate the game's overall quality, unique themes, and realistic portrayal of specific experiences, such as the Chinese working class. The game's design philosophy, educational value, and developer dedication are also sources of appreciation.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.03): Enjoyment comes from the game's fun factor, engaging concept, and immersive atmosphere. Players find pleasure in the core gameplay experience and the unfolding story.
- Confusion (weight 0.03): Confusion arises from the unexplained cessation of the game's development, its delisting, or the developers' actions. Players are uncertain about the game's status and the reasons behind its discontinuation.
- Sadness (weight 0.02): Sadness is felt due to the game's unfinished state, its abandonment by developers, and its eventual delisting. Players mourn the loss of the game and the lack of explanation surrounding its fate.
- Excitement (weight 0.02): Excitement is generated by addictive gameplay, the game's potential, and the anticipation of future updates or content. The overall quality of the game also contributes to this emotion.
- Sarcasm (weight 0.01): Sarcasm is used to express disdain for developers abandoning the game after taking money and for the game's unrealistic portrayal of hardship. It reflects a cynical view of the developers' behavior.
- Empathy (weight 0.01): Players feel empathy for the protagonist's struggles and for real-life individuals facing similar hardships, driven by the game's realistic portrayal of difficult experiences.
- Admiration (weight 0.01): Admiration is directed towards the game's potential, its unique theme, innovative format, and the quality of its content and art style. Players appreciate the underlying ideas and execution.
- Anticipation (weight 0.01): Anticipation is primarily focused on the game's release, future updates, and the continuation of its story chapters. Players look forward to new content and developments.
- Helpfulness (weight 0.01): Players demonstrate helpfulness by providing detailed refund information, advice, and comprehensive guides or strategies to assist other players in the game.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Boredom sets in due to repetitive daily routines and uninteresting late-game content. The lack of variety makes the game less engaging over time.
- Concern (weight 0.01): Concern is expressed regarding the game's current state, its development status, and the potential loss of access. Players worry about the future viability and availability of the game.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.01): Nostalgia is triggered by past experiences with the game, particularly for those who played since the testing phase, evoking memories of happier times or earlier relationships associated with the game.
- Engagement (weight 0.01): Engagement is driven by the game's ability to emotionally connect with players and its effective use of specific game mechanics that draw them into the experience.}