Info about Keeper's Toll:

Official game description:
Arise, fallen hero! Enter Keeper's Toll, an action-packed roguelite set within a retro-infused dark fantasy world that demands skill and courage. Every moment could be your last, but with each setback, you grow stronger. Seize the challenge, overcome daunting foes, and purge a callous world through a methodical genre-bending experience.
Keeper’s Toll places a heavy focus on skill-based gameplay with ARPG elements. Each run allows you to study your enemies and hone your skills while progressing through the main quest. Once you have mastered the basics, Keeper’s Toll introduces unique enemy archetypes, intricate bosses, and fresh mechanics that will challenge any worthy hero.
Keeper's Toll features 6 unique risen heroes: the Shadow Monk, Pyromancer, Blood Maiden, Necromancer, Ranger, and Bogatyr. Each hero has their own specialized game-defining mechanics, as well as completely unique abilities and progression trees.
Ferocious bosses and cutthroat invaders lie at the heart of Keeper’s Toll and its perilous lands. All of the bosses, mini bosses, and invaders you will encounter feature their own unique battle mechanics and twists on the core gameplay. Overcoming the bosses requires a keen sense of strategy, so strengthen your character with purpose or suffer a swift end to your journey.
Key Features:
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*   Unique genre blend between horde survival and ARPG with a touch of souls-like
*   Skill-based gameplay designed to be approached methodically
*   Custom character classes featuring their own progression trees, unique abilities and playstyles
*   Destructive boss encounters with intricate designs, mechanics, and gameplay twists

Release date: Oct 28, 2024

Categories: Roguelite, Action RPG, Soulslike Combat, Character Progression, Horde Combat, Bullet Heaven, Dark Fantasy, 2D Action Platformer

Feature scans:
- Proton/Linux: score 10; verdict: Works Well; summary: The game generally receives positive feedback for its performance and compatibility on Linux and Steam Deck. Most users report that it runs well, with only a minor mention of performance issues.
- Steam Deck: score 20; verdict: Positive with Minor Issues; summary: The overall user feedback for the Steam Deck experience is largely positive, with users praising the legible text, well-suited controls, flawless performance, and rewarding gameplay. However, there is a mention of performance issues, which could indicate some technical barriers that need attention.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $5.00 - $15.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence suggests that users find the game worth its price, comparing it favorably to the cost of a Starbucks Latte, which is typically around $5. Additionally, users mention that the game provides good value for the 10-20 hours of gameplay and is worth the price for its accessibility and uniqueness. However, some users suggest waiting for a sale, indicating that while the game is worth its price, a slightly lower price point might be more appealing to a broader audience.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 27.0h
  - Story completion: 5.0h
  - Session length: 0.5h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides direct and indirect indications of playtime metrics. The first quote suggests a total playtime of around 17 hours, with 3-4 hours for initial discovery and 13 hours for grinding. The second quote indicates that beating the final stage on hard mode takes about five hours, which can be considered a measure of story completion time. The third quote mentions spending 27 hours to complete the game 100%, which can be seen as a measure of game completion time. The fourth quote indicates a playtime of 11 hours, which can be considered as a session length or partial completion time.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game is initially fun due to varied classes and good meta-progression, but becomes repetitive and less enjoyable over time due to lack of variety in runs and character progression.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: First playthrough with each class
  - Time to anchor: 0h 30m
  - Friction: repetitive runs; lack of variety in character progression; boring classes
  - Unlock drivers: meta-progression; new characters
  - Conditions: short runs; constant drip-feed of permanent meta-progression unlocks
- Player Archetypes:
  - Build-Crafter Grinder (buy)
    - Motivation: Customization and long-term progression.
    - Playstyle: Enjoys deep customization and grinding for meta-progression.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: veteran gamer
    - Reference games: Vampire Survivors; Halls of Torment
  - Franchise Fan (buy)
    - Motivation: Nostalgia and familiarity with similar games.
    - Playstyle: Enjoys games with similar mechanics and references to favorite franchises.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: fan of Dark Souls; fan of Vampire Survivors
    - Reference games: Dark Souls; Vampire Survivors
  - Casual Relaxer (sale)
    - Motivation: Relaxation and casual gaming.
    - Playstyle: Enjoys casual, low-stress gameplay and grinding.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: casual gamer
    - Reference games: Vampire Survivors


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:
- Unique pixel art style (weight 0.82): The game features a distinctive and appealing pixel art style that players find attractive and well-designed.
- Entertaining and fun gameplay (weight 0.78): The game is widely praised for its entertaining and enjoyable gameplay, with many players finding it solid and well-executed.
- Good value for price (weight 0.59): The game is considered to offer good value for its price, with many players finding the pricing reasonable and affordable.
- Excellent survivor-like game (weight 0.33): The game is praised as one of the better survivor-like games, with many players considering it a favorite in the genre.
- Satisfying combat and animations (weight 0.3): The combat is described as satisfying, with good animations and sound effects contributing to an enjoyable game feel.
- Engaging boss fights (weight 0.25): The game features challenging and amazing boss fights that add to the overall enjoyment.
- Good progression curve (weight 0.21): The game features a comfortable and gradual progression curve, with fast and satisfying progression.
- Effective meta progression (weight 0.21): The meta progression system is well-received, allowing for customizable gameplay and scratching the itch for progression.
- Appealing to bullet heaven fans (weight 0.21): The game is highly recommended for fans of the bullet heaven genre, offering an enjoyable experience in this style.
- Variety in enemy designs (weight 0.17): The game offers a wide variety of enemy types and challenging bosses, adding diversity to the gameplay.
- Intuitive UI and controls (weight 0.17): The game features an intuitive UI and easy-to-understand controls, contributing to a well-designed user experience.
- Works well on Steam Deck (weight 0.16): The game is reported to work well on the Steam Deck, with no slowdown and a perfect fit for the device.
- Responsive developer team (weight 0.16): The developer team is responsive to feedback and actively involved in improving the game, providing updates and addressing player concerns.

Common complaints:
- Poor skill and class balance (weight 0.77): The game suffers from balancing issues with skills and classes. Some skills and classes are overpowered while others are too weak, leading to an uneven playing experience.
- Limited content and variety (weight 0.57): The game has limited content, including a lack of maps, build variety, and upgrade options. This contributes to a sense of repetitiveness and monotony.
- Repetitive and bland gameplay (weight 0.5): Many players find the gameplay repetitive and bland, lacking variety and excitement. This makes the game feel tedious and unrewarding over time.
- Feels like a clone (weight 0.32): The game is perceived as similar to other games, particularly Vampire Survivors, and lacks unique mechanics or content that differentiate it significantly.
- Bosses lack challenge (weight 0.31): Bosses in the game are not challenging enough and are considered pushovers. Additionally, there are few bosses, which limits the game's difficulty and variety.
- Lack of visual indicators (weight 0.19): There are no visual indications for curses, making it difficult for players to keep track of them. This lack of information can hinder gameplay.
- Game feels unfinished (weight 0.18): Players feel that the game is unfinished or incomplete, with a lack of outstanding mechanics and in-depth elements that would make it more engaging.
- Grindy achievements (weight 0.16): Some achievements in the game are perceived as grindy, requiring excessive repetition and effort, which can be tedious for players.
- Hitbox issues (weight 0.16): The game has problems with hitboxes, which are reported to be broken or poorly designed, affecting gameplay negatively.
- Aiming mechanics limited to archer (weight 0.11): The aiming mechanics in the game are limited to the archer class, which restricts gameplay variety and can be frustrating for players who prefer other classes.
- Lack of randomness (weight 0.11): The game lacks randomness in loot, skills, and items, making each run feel too similar and reducing replayability.

Gameplay feedback:
- Diverse class-specific skills (weight 0.89): The game features a variety of classes, each with unique skills and playstyles. Players appreciate the differences between classes and the ability to upgrade and progress through class-based skill trees.
- Character builds and progression (weight 0.81): Players can create and customize character builds through skill trees and upgrades. The game offers a deep progression system that allows for various character strategies and customization.
- Dark Souls-like mechanics (weight 0.46): The game draws significant inspiration from Dark Souls, including its difficulty, mechanics, and overall gameplay style. This influence is noted in various aspects such as boss fights, character progression, and combat mechanics.
- Boss and enemy design (weight 0.26): The game features challenging boss fights and unique enemy designs. Players enjoy the variety and difficulty of boss encounters.
- Roguelite elements (weight 0.21): The game includes roguelite elements, offering procedural generation and permadeath mechanics. Players appreciate the variety and replayability these elements bring.
- Movement and combat mechanics (weight 0.19): The game includes movement-based attacks and special combat mechanics. Players enjoy the active dodge and stamina mechanics.
- Bullet-heaven and horde survival (weight 0.18): The game combines elements of the bullet-heaven genre with horde survival mechanics. Players enjoy the intense and challenging gameplay.
- Stage variety (weight 0.17): The game offers several stages with varying designs and challenges. Players enjoy the diversity and reuse of stages throughout the game.
- Map variety and selection (weight 0.16): The game offers a variety of maps and game modes. Players appreciate the selection and diversity of environments.
- Endless mode with curses (weight 0.11): The game features an endless mode that includes curses, adding an extra layer of challenge and variety.
- Lack of varied gameplay elements (weight 0.1): Some players feel that the game lacks varied gameplay elements found in other games. This criticism points to a desire for more outstanding mechanics compared to competitors.
- Slower style of play (weight 0.09): The game features a slower style of play, which some players find less engaging. The slowed-down gameplay can affect the overall enjoyment.

Performance notes:
- Mixed performance on Steam Deck (weight 0.26): Players report varying experiences with the game's performance on Steam Deck, ranging from flawless operation to noticeable performance issues.
- Animation quality varies (weight 0.12): While some players appreciate improvements in lighting and animations, others report choppy animations, suggesting inconsistency in this area.
- Controller support needs improvement (weight 0.07): Several reviews mention poor controller support, indicating a need for better optimization and compatibility.
- Minor bugs present (weight 0.07): Some reviews mention the presence of minor bugs, though they do not significantly detract from the overall gameplay experience.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for specific fanbases (weight 0.39): Fans of Vampire Survivors, Dark Souls, and similar genres are particularly likely to enjoy this game.
- Consider price and bundles (weight 0.33): Players suggest buying the game if it is part of a bundle or on a steep sale, indicating that the price point is a significant factor in the recommendation.
- Highly recommended game (weight 0.23): The game is frequently praised and highly recommended by players, especially when available at a discounted price.
- Desire for more content (weight 0.17): Players express a desire for additional content such as more classes, spells, areas, and potential future DLC.
- Good for casual gaming (weight 0.11): The game is recommended for casual gamers and for relaxing after a long day.
- Recommended for challenges (weight 0.11): The game is recommended for those who enjoy intense challenges and mysterious worlds, with specific mentions of Pyromancer and Ranger for the hardest challenges.
- Check out similar games (weight 0.11): Players recommend checking out other similar games like Halls of Torment, Gunlocked, and Heretic's Fork.
- Compatibility and controls (weight 0.11): The game plays well on Linux and is best played with a joypad.
- Multiplayer mode requested (weight 0.07): There is a notable request for the addition of a co-op or multiplayer mode in future updates.
- Good for short play sessions (weight 0.06): The game is suggested for spending some evenings, indicating it is suitable for shorter play sessions.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.16): Players are frustrated with various gameplay mechanics, including movement-based attacks, aiming issues, and rigid character builds. The repetitive stages, poorly balanced skills, and frustrating RNG systems also contribute to this frustration. Additionally, bugs, lack of progression, and issues with controls and visibility are significant sources of annoyance.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.13): Players enjoy the game's unique classes, skills, and mobs, as well as the replayability and achievements. The art style, progression systems, and engaging gameplay mechanics are also highlighted as sources of enjoyment. The game's fun and entertaining nature, along with its character progression and variety, contribute to a positive experience.
- Disappointment (weight 0.13): Players are disappointed with the lack of depth, run variety, and repetitive gameplay. The game's lack of replayability, unbalanced class design, and limited content are also sources of disappointment. Additionally, the game's lack of originality and broken mechanics contribute to a feeling of incompleteness and dullness.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.11): Players find the game well executed and appreciate its variety and updates. The core combat, overall gameplay, and value for money are also sources of satisfaction. The game's mechanics, design, and positive comparisons to other popular games contribute to a satisfying experience.
- Excitement (weight 0.06): Players are excited about the game's high-quality visuals, satisfying combat, and unique classes. The anticipation for future updates and the game's unique gameplay style also contribute to this excitement. The developer involvement and the freshness in the genre are additional sources of excitement.
- Joy (weight 0.05): Players find the game entertaining and enjoyable, with a focus on the fun gameplay and creative elements. The pixel art style, soundtrack, and overall gameplay experience are also sources of joy. The game's interesting gameplay and beautiful pixel art contribute to a joyful experience.
- Positive (weight 0.05): Players enjoy the game's spritework, challenging bosses, and progression system. The class diversity, soundtrack, and overall quality are also highlighted as positive aspects. The game's music, easter eggs, and level design contribute to a positive experience.
- Approval (weight 0.03): Players appreciate the game's mechanics, aesthetics, and replayability. The developer's involvement, distinct characters, and gameplay mechanics are also sources of approval. The graphics and music are additional aspects that players appreciate.
- Frustrated (weight 0.02): Players are frustrated with certain classes being weaker and the grinding required to unlock the full potential of each class. The clunky movement, dodging mechanics, and controller bugs disrupting combat flow are also significant sources of frustration.
- Disappointed (weight 0.02): Players are disappointed with the gameplay and mechanics compared to other games. The lack of risks in the game's formula and the absence of power rewards contribute to this disappointment. The game not being a bona fide action roguelike is also a source of disappointment.
- Boredom (weight 0.02): Players experience boredom due to the repetitive and unengaging gameplay. The lack of run variation and the overall gameplay mechanics contribute to this feeling of boredom.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Players are enthusiastic about the variety and secrets in the game. The enjoyable aspects of the classes and gameplay mechanics contribute to this enthusiasm. The overall recommendation of the game is also a source of enthusiasm.
- Satisfied (weight 0.01): Players are satisfied with the enjoyable experience once gameplay is mastered. The millions of enemies dying and fitting music contribute to this satisfaction.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Players are surprised by the game's quality and the different mechanics compared to expectations. The unique gameplay elements contribute to this surprise.
- Criticism (weight 0.01): Players criticize the limitations in maps and aiming mechanics. The over-saturation of the genre and imbalance in builds are also sources of criticism.
- Appreciation (weight 0.01): Players appreciate the developers capturing the Dark Souls atmosphere and bringing familiar characters into the game. The overall game concept and execution are also sources of appreciation.
- Slightly disappointed (weight 0.01): Players are slightly disappointed with the lower difficulty compared to Dark Souls. The lack of in-depth elements and limited classes contribute to this slight disappointment.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Players are hopeful for future DLC and continued development of the game. The anticipation for future updates and improvements contributes to this hope.
- Anticipation (weight 0.01): Players are anticipating what else the developers will bring out for the game. The excitement for future game development and updates contributes to this anticipation.
- Excited (weight 0.01): Players are excited about the unique abilities for every character and the incredible art and animation. The game's unique features and high-quality visuals contribute to this excitement.}