Info about Wavetale:

Official game description:
MORE GAMES FROM THUNDERFUL
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About the Game
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Explore an open sea and the decaying archipelago of Strandville in Wavetale, a story-driven action-adventure game introducing you to fed-up fishermen, secretive hermits – and maybe a pirate or two. Traverse calm waters and surging waves as Sigrid, a young girl who befriends a mysterious shadow that provides her with the power to walk on water.  
Speed through the waves, swing yourself from housetops with your net, and defeat an old nemesis to save the citizens of the islands. All with a bit of help from the shadows down below—and your cranky grandmother.  
*   Speed through the open sea and swing yourself between buildings in this fast-paced adventure  
*   Experience a heart-warming story about loss and reconciliation  
*   Make new acquaintances amongst Strandvilles diverse cast of islanders – from the charmingly cocky surfer girl to an old fisherman turned fashion designer  
*   Change your appearance with collectible hats, hair dyes and outfits  
*   Fill the pages of Sigrid’s scrapbook with special drawings to learn more about her world

Release date: 12 Dec, 2022

Categories: Open-World Exploration, Single-player Story, 3D Platformer, Parkour Gameplay, Character Customization, Collectibles


- 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:
- Charming Art, Music & Atmosphere (weight 0.97): Players consistently praise the game's beautiful, unique, and often minimalistic art style, which creates a cozy and visually captivating world. The accompanying soundtrack is frequently highlighted as exceptional, enhancing the overall relaxing and immersive atmosphere.
- Fluid & Satisfying Movement (weight 0.56): The game's movement system, particularly the wave-riding and traversal mechanics, is highly lauded for its fluidity, speed, and responsiveness. Players find the combination of surfing, gliding, jumping, and grappling incredibly fun and satisfying, often citing it as the game's strongest feature.
- Engaging & Emotional Story (weight 0.46): The narrative is described as captivating, emotional, and well-written, often touching on themes of loss, hope, and environmental issues. Players appreciate the simple yet impactful storytelling, endearing characters, and the overall heartfelt message, with many reporting being moved to tears.
- Enjoyable & Relaxing Experience (weight 0.34): Reviewers consistently describe the game as a delightful, cozy, and stress-free experience, perfect for unwinding. Its short, sweet length and easy-to-learn mechanics contribute to a highly satisfying playthrough that doesn't overstay its welcome.
- Fun Exploration & Platforming (weight 0.14): Players enjoy exploring the game's world, finding the traversal and platforming elements to be engaging and rewarding. The level design encourages discovery, and the ability to move freely across the map adds to the overall fun.
- Simple & Accessible Gameplay (weight 0.13): The game's mechanics, including combat and platforming, are noted for their simplicity and ease of use. This accessibility makes the game enjoyable for casual players, beginners, and children, allowing them to focus on the story and exploration without complex challenges.

Common complaints:
- Repetitive and Shallow Gameplay (weight 1): Players consistently found the core gameplay loop, including combat, platforming, and quests, to be monotonous and lacking depth. Many felt that mechanics introduced early on never evolved, leading to a dull and unchallenging experience that quickly became tiresome.
- Overpriced for Short Content (weight 0.87): A significant number of reviews highlighted the game's short length (typically 3-5 hours) and minimal replay value as a major issue, especially when considering its full price. Many felt the asking price was exorbitant for the amount and quality of content provided.
- Unrewarding Side Quests and Exploration (weight 0.78): Side quests are widely criticized for being generic fetch tasks with uninspired narratives and minimal, often cosmetic-only, rewards. This, combined with an empty world design, provides little incentive for exploration or engaging with optional content.
- Numerous Bugs and Lack of Polish (weight 0.74): The game is plagued by various bugs, glitches, and a general lack of polish. Issues range from collision problems and graphical artifacts to game-breaking crashes and quest triggers failing, significantly detracting from the player experience.
- Weak and Predictable Story (weight 0.71): The narrative is generally perceived as unengaging, predictable, and often cliché, with underdeveloped characters. Pacing issues, abrupt endings, and an over-reliance on exposition further diminish the story's impact.
- Poor Camera and Movement Controls (weight 0.71): The camera system is frequently cited as problematic, often acting erratically, getting stuck, or forcing inconvenient angles, particularly during platforming. Additionally, land movement and platforming controls are described as clunky, stiff, and less fluid than water traversal.
- Inconsistent Voice Acting and Dialogue (weight 0.65): Players noted a significant inconsistency in voice acting, with many dialogues, including crucial plot points, lacking full voice-overs or featuring poorly timed/acted lines. This, along with excessive dialogue, often broke immersion and made the story hard to follow.
- Subpar Graphics and Resolution Issues (weight 0.63): The game's graphics are considered mediocre, with specific complaints about poor anti-aliasing and pixelation at resolutions above 1080p. Many users reported the game being forced to 1080p internally, leading to a blurry appearance on higher-resolution monitors.
- Frustrating Auto-Save System (weight 0.62): The absence of a manual save option and an auto-save system that only triggers at specific, infrequent checkpoints caused significant frustration. Players often lost progress or were forced to replay sections, discouraging exploration and short play sessions.
- Unsatisfying Boss Fights (weight 0.6): Boss battles, particularly the final boss, are described as dull, repetitive, and lacking strategic depth. They often feel like damage sponges with minimal challenge, failing to provide a satisfying conclusion to the combat experience.
- Uncanny Character Expressions (weight 0.58): Character facial expressions are frequently criticized for being unnatural, 'crooked,' or inappropriate for the emotional context of scenes. This, combined with inconsistent mouth movements during dialogue, created an uncanny and distracting visual experience.
- Cosmetics and Customization Issues (weight 0.54): Customization options, such as purchased outfits, often revert to default during cutscenes, rendering them meaningless. This, coupled with side quests primarily rewarding currency for these cosmetic items, made the customization system feel pointless.

Gameplay feedback:
- Short, Easy, Linear Gameplay (weight 0.34): Players consistently report that the game is very short, with most completing the main story and even 100% of achievements in 3-6 hours. The gameplay is described as easy, linear, and undemanding, lacking significant challenge or complex mechanics.
- Core 3D Platforming & Surfing (weight 0.3): The game is primarily a 3D platformer, heavily featuring movement mechanics like double jumps, dashes, and gliding. A unique and central element is the ability to surf or slide on water, which is used for traversal between islands and is generally well-received.
- Side Quests for Cosmetics (weight 0.08): Side quests are generally considered monotonous fetch or collection tasks. Their primary reward is currency used for cosmetic character customization, such as outfits and hair color, and they are often not required for 100% completion.
- Story-Focused Exploration (weight 0.07): The game emphasizes exploration and its narrative over challenging gameplay or combat. Players are encouraged to engage with the story of protagonist Sigrid and her journey to save the world, often through guided objectives.
- Lore Through Collectible Journals (weight 0.03): Additional lore and background story details are provided through collectible diary entries and journal clippings. These offer insights into the world and characters, though collecting them is not always mandatory for achievements.

Performance notes:
- Occasional performance dips (weight 0.05): Players experienced intermittent FPS drops and lag spikes, particularly during longer play sessions, in specific areas like the final level or Needleprick Peaks, and when interacting with certain in-game elements like boats. These issues can sometimes severely impact movement.
- Good Steam Deck performance (weight 0.04): Many players report that the game runs well on the Steam Deck, often achieving stable frame rates (45-60 FPS) with minimal adjustments. Text is readable, and the overall experience is considered playable from start to finish.
- Smooth performance on high-end PCs (weight 0.02): The game generally runs smoothly on higher-spec systems, with reports of solid FPS even at 4K resolution, indicating good performance capabilities for powerful hardware.
- V-sync causes stuttering (weight 0.01): A specific issue was identified where enabling vertical sync leads to stuttering, which can be resolved by disabling it.
- Missing graphics options (weight 0.01): The game lacks anti-aliasing and texture filtering options, which could contribute to visual issues like aliasing.
- Low-end PC compatibility (weight 0.01): The game can run on less powerful hardware, including integrated graphics setups and even mobile phones, suggesting a relatively low system requirement.
- Model collision needs optimization (weight 0): There is a specific call for improving the collision detection for in-game models, suggesting potential issues with player or object interaction.
- Resolution downgrades acceptable (weight 0): Players noted that reducing resolution does not significantly detract from the visual experience due to the game's art style.
- No recent updates (weight 0): The last update for the game was in November 2022, indicating a lack of recent developer support or bug fixes.

Recommendations:
- Best on Sale, Not Full Price (weight 0.55): The overwhelming majority of players recommend purchasing the game only when it's on sale, often suggesting a significant discount (e.g., 90% off, under $5-$15). Many feel the full price is not justified, while the sale price offers excellent value for a short, enjoyable experience.
- Overall Positive Recommendation (weight 0.11): Despite price concerns, many players strongly recommend the game, describing it as a 'great,' 'incredible,' or 'special' experience. They encourage others to try it, often giving high ratings.
- Engaging Wave Riding Mechanics (weight 0.05): A significant number of reviews praise the unique and fluid wave-riding, surfing, and parkour mechanics. This movement system is often cited as a primary reason to play, especially for fans of similar exploration-focused games.
- Desire for More Content/Sequels (weight 0.02): Several players expressed a strong desire for more content, additional storylines, or a sequel. They appreciate the game's world and art style and hope the developers expand upon it in future titles.

Other player notes:
- Limited Chinese Localization (weight 0.13): A recurring point of feedback is the absence of Chinese localization. While some players noted the English text was simple enough to understand, the lack of official support was a noticeable omission.
- LGBT+ Representation Noted (weight 0.12): The game includes instances of LGBT+ representation, specifically mentioning same-sex relationships in side quests and a diverse character ratio. This was noted by players, though its impact on overall gameplay was not extensively detailed.

Emotions:
- Satisfaction (weight 0.31): Players felt satisfied by the game's captivating story, beautiful art style, and relaxing atmosphere. The fluid movement mechanics, especially surfing, and the overall enjoyable gameplay experience contributed significantly to this emotion, often enhanced by the game's value at a discounted price or its appropriate short length.
- Disappointment (weight 0.16): Disappointment stemmed primarily from the game not meeting expectations, often due to shallow, repetitive, or clunky combat and a perceived lack of content or depth. Many reviewers felt the game was overpriced at its full MSRP given its short length and unfulfilled potential, with some also citing unaddressed bugs and generic side missions.
- Frustration (weight 0.1): Frustration was frequently caused by numerous bugs, glitches, and crashes that hindered progress or made the game unplayable. Poor camera controls, repetitive and unengaging gameplay, and issues with the save system also contributed to players feeling annoyed and that their time was being wasted.
- Joy (weight 0.09): Players experienced joy from the game's fun and fluid movement system, particularly wave riding and platforming. The wholesome nature, beautiful art and music, and engaging story also contributed to a positive and often emotional experience, with many finding it a delightful and relaxing escape.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.08): Enjoyment was derived from the game's overall pleasant experience, including its charming platforming, heartfelt story, and unique art style. The fluid movement mechanics, especially sliding on waves, and the relaxing atmosphere made for a fun and engaging gameplay loop.
- Excitement (weight 0.05): Excitement was generated by the game's thrilling and fluid movement mechanics, particularly surfing and flying, which conveyed a strong sense of freedom and speed. The engaging story, beautiful music, and overall high quality of the game also contributed to a desire to play more and a strong recommendation for others.
- Admiration (weight 0.03): Admiration was primarily directed at the game's stunning art style, visual design, and expressive animations. Players also praised the beautiful music, deep storytelling, and the overall care and talent evident in the game's development, often describing it as a work of art.
- Relaxation (weight 0.02): Players found the game to be a source of relaxation due to its chill and calm atmosphere, low difficulty, and simple, meditative gameplay. The soothing music and the tranquil experience of wave-riding helped players unwind and take their minds off daily stresses.
- Boredom (weight 0.02): Boredom arose from the game's repetitive combat, unchallenging enemies, and monotonous tasks. The surfing mechanic, while initially enjoyable, became repetitive for some, and the linear progression and uninteresting story or side quests contributed to a lack of engagement.
- Love (weight 0.01): Players expressed love for the game's entire experience, encompassing its beautiful art style, engaging story, and fluid movement mechanics. The overall charm and unexpected enjoyment of the game led many to deeply appreciate its various aspects.
- Sadness (weight 0.01): Sadness was primarily caused by the emotional impact of the game's story, particularly its ending and character relationships, often leading players to tears. The feeling of the game ending or not living up to its full potential also contributed to this emotion.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Surprise occurred when the game exceeded players' initial expectations, often due to its unexpected quality, depth, or emotional impact. Discovering high-quality voice acting or unique features like costume changes also contributed to this positive surprise.
- Annoyance (weight 0.01): Annoyance was triggered by minor but persistent issues such as looping voice-overs, unrealistic mouth movements, and repetitive NPC dialogue. Bugs that cut dialogue, camera issues, and unappealing cosmetic options also contributed to player irritation.
- Mild disappointment (weight 0.01): Mild disappointment stemmed from the game's rudimentary combat, predictable story, and repetitive gameplay, especially towards the end. Players also felt the game was too short for its full price and lacked sufficient challenge or gameplay development.
- Appreciation (weight 0.01): Players appreciated the game's thematic elements, such as environmental themes and grief/loss, along with its beautifully written story. The colorful graphics, dynamic gameplay, and phenomenal music also contributed to a strong sense of gratitude for the game's qualities.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Hope was expressed for future improvements, such as Chinese or Ukrainian localization, and for potential sequels or DLCs that would further flesh out the game's unique mechanics and world. Players also hoped for future content from the developers.
- Delight (weight 0.01): Delight was experienced through the game's beautiful visuals, charming and heartfelt story, and pleasant overall experience. The appealing art style, character design, and fluid movement in water and air also contributed to this positive emotion.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Confusion arose from unexplained mechanics, the purpose of certain features, and discrepancies between the game's level design and walkthroughs. Some players also experienced 3D sickness or questioned the large file size for a seemingly simple game.
- Desire (weight 0.01): Players expressed a desire for more content, a longer game, and increased challenge or complexity in combat and mechanics. Some also wished to live in the game's world, indicating a strong connection to its setting.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0): Enthusiasm was characterized by strong recommendations for the game, especially when on sale, often describing it as a 'hidden gem' or 'masterpiece'. Players were captivated by its charm, magic, and overall enthralling experience, wishing for more games of its kind.}