Info about Against Great Darkness:

Official game description:
PROLOGUE AVAILABLE NOW
======================
About the Game
==============
Against Great Darkness is the brick-breaker, bullet hell, roguelite. Choose your pagan deity and break free from the clutches of Lucifer. Juggle your disks to defeat your enemies as you progress through the circles of hell and confront relentless demonic bosses.  
In each run, acquire powerful relics that will assist you in your escape. Juggle the disks to unleash the power they hold and discover the synergies that will truly set you free.  
Choose between acquiring motes of light, purchasing items in the shop, receiving a much-needed heal, or risking it all with unique mystery events that can either reward or hinder your ascent.  
You may have gambled on a risky juggle that put you in harm's way and ended your run. Don't fret; the Radiant Shards you collect during your attempts can be used to empower your next run.  
**FEATURES:**  
*   3 circles of hell to explore.  
*   Distinct demonic bosses and enemies.  
*   Each attempt out of hell is unique.  
*   Make choices over unique events to gain powerful relics.  
*   100+ Items offer unique modifiers based on gameplay.  
*   Curses that really alter the way you play.  
*   Unlock new pagans and items on each run.  
*   Increase your chances by spending Radiant Shards gained on every run.  
*   Ascend through progressively harder levels of difficulty.

Release date: Apr 10, 2024

Categories: Brick Breaker Gameplay, Bullet-hell, Roguelite, Disk Juggling, Pixel Art Style, Roguelike, Single-player

Feature scans:
- Steam Deck: score 5; verdict: Seamless; summary: All user feedback indicates a flawless Steam Deck experience. The game runs natively without any technical barriers such as launchers, Proton configuration, or UI issues. Users praise the gameplay and value, reinforcing that the green checkmark is accurate.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $5.00 - $10.00
  - Reasoning: The community generally views the game as worth its current low price, with some saying it is more than worth it at 6.99€ and others noting the price tag is fair. However, some caution against full price and suggest heavy discounts, indicating the fair price is on the lower end. Given the early access status and mixed development updates, a fair base-game price range is likely between $5 and $10.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 5.0h
  - Story completion: 5.0h
  - Session length: 0.3h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The French review explicitly states the game's content can be fully explored in about 5 hours, supporting gameCompletion and storyCompletion. The achievements review indicates 7 hours for 100% achievements, aligning with a short completion time. Session length is directly reported as 15-20 minutes, giving a typical session duration. The 20+ hours review shows extended playtime for difficulty clears and achievements, but no specific endgame metric is provided, so endgame is left null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game is immediately addictive and fun, with a learning curve and tutorial gaps that add friction but don't prevent enjoyment.
  - Stance: Fun immediately
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: Learning curve for disk-based characters; Tutorial lacks explanation of stats like dodge or luck; Meta-progression requires grinding; Enemies that only take damage from disks slow the pace; Overwhelming amount of things happening
  - Unlock drivers: N/A
  - Conditions: Players expecting a simpler arcade experience; Unlucky waves with disk-only enemies; After reaching the current last boss
- Player Archetypes:
  - Genre Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Enjoyment of the core gameplay loop, art, and music, with high replay value.
    - Playstyle: Plays for fun, likely does multiple runs, appreciates challenge and variety.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Arkanoid
  - Disillusioned Veteran (no buy)
    - Motivation: They wanted the game to be finished and updated, but it has been abandoned.
    - Playstyle: They likely played extensively, maybe completed the game, but now feel the game is dead.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Value Seeker (sale)
    - Motivation: Getting good value for money; they enjoy the game but won't pay full price.
    - Playstyle: They play the game but are mindful of cost, likely waiting for sales.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Gameplay Critic (no buy)
    - Motivation: They want a well-balanced, polished game; they are frustrated by design choices that hinder enjoyment.
    - Playstyle: They play to master the game, but are critical of unfair mechanics and grinding.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A


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:
- Game is fun and engaging (weight 0.61): Players consistently describe the game as fun, interesting, and entertaining, with several noting it's the best they've played in a while. The positive reception spans multiple clusters, indicating broad appeal.
- Beautiful pixel art style (weight 0.37): Reviewers highlight the pixel art as beautiful, distinctive, and amazing, with satisfying color schemes and animations. The art style is a standout feature that enhances the overall experience.
- Addictive and simple gameplay (weight 0.33): The game is praised for being simple to grasp yet highly addictive, with players finding it hard to put down. The combination of simplicity and addictiveness is a recurring theme.
- Great graphics and visuals (weight 0.29): Players note that the graphics are gorgeous and the visuals are very good, contributing to the game's appeal. The visual presentation is consistently praised across multiple clusters.
- Art and music complement each other (weight 0.28): Players note that the art style and music feel very good together, creating a cohesive and immersive experience. The synergy between visuals and audio is appreciated.
- Excellent game design and aesthetic (weight 0.26): The game design is described as fantastic, with great gameplay and a wonderful aesthetic. The overall design and aesthetic are highly regarded by players.
- Smooth and engaging gameplay (weight 0.26): Gameplay is described as engaging, smooth, and fast, with intuitive controls that make it easy to pick up. The fluidity of the gameplay is a key positive point.
- Unique genre fusion works well (weight 0.23): The combination of arkanoid, space invaders, and bullet hell elements is praised as a fun and perfectly executed mashup. Players appreciate the innovative blend of genres.
- Great soundtrack and sound effects (weight 0.23): The music and sound effects are praised for fitting perfectly and being really good, enhancing the atmosphere. The audio design is a notable strength.
- High replay value from characters (weight 0.19): The roster of playable characters adds replay value, with different playstyles and passives keeping the game fresh. This variety encourages multiple playthroughs.
- Worth the price (weight 0.18): Players feel the game is well worth the price and worth every penny, indicating good value for money. The cost is seen as justified by the experience.
- Short and well-paced runs (weight 0.11): Runs are nicely short and each run is a good length, making the game easy to pick up for quick sessions. The pacing is appreciated by players.
- Fun brick-breaker reimagining (weight 0.1): The game is described as a fun reimagining of the brick-breaker genre, with brick-breaking guaranteeing a certain level of fun. The genre is refreshed in an enjoyable way.

Common complaints:
- Game abandoned by developer (weight 0.66): Multiple reviews indicate the game has been abandoned, with no updates for over a year or two years. The developer moved on to other projects without communication, leaving the game in early access.
- Difficulty and balance issues (weight 0.59): The game is either too easy or too hard depending on the situation. Some players win 95% of runs, while others face overpowered enemies or unfair mechanics like invincible enemies and one-hit kills.
- Lack of content and replayability (weight 0.4): Players report minimal content, short playtime, and little replay value. The game can be completed in about five hours, with repeated content on subsequent runs and few levels or heroes.
- Visual clarity issues (weight 0.34): The pixel graphics and black/white color scheme make it hard to distinguish elements. Enemies blend into the background, key stats are not highlighted, and the font is too small and crowded.
- Boss design flaws (weight 0.24): Bosses are poorly designed, with the third boss being clunky and able to damage multiple times in one blow. The final boss is a huge HP sandbag, and boss patterns lack differentiation.
- Events and relics are underwhelming (weight 0.2): Random events are often avoided because they can ruin a run, and relics are mostly uninfluential unless legendary. Events seem arbitrary and are usually less beneficial than saving currency for the shop.
- Controls and input problems (weight 0.19): Keyboard and mouse controls are clunky, and there is no controller support. In-game control remapping is not possible, and the controls are overly sensitive, leading to frustrating gameplay.
- Repetitive and lacking music (weight 0.18): The music is repetitive and gets annoying after a while, and players want more variety. The soundtrack is considered lacking overall.
- Meta progression feels grindy (weight 0.18): The meta progression is seen as unnecessary grinding, with upgrades only available in bulk at a shop after saving. Once all upgrades are done, there is no way to spend points, and the progression acts as a play-wall.
- Lack of character uniqueness (weight 0.17): Characters are not mechanically very different, and some heroes lack piercing attacks, making certain enemies a downgrade. Direct fire characters are much easier than disc-based ones.
- Disc mechanics are frustrating (weight 0.17): Discs can collide with each other, ruining juggle streaks, and bouncing disks zero out if one drops off the screen. Obstacles prevent juggling, and fetching disks is not rewarding.
- Upgrades and items are unbalanced (weight 0.17): Some upgrades are powerful and irreversibly decrease difficulty, while others are awful. Most upgrades enhance secondary weapons rather than the discs, and the store upgrade is expensive.
- Game not recommendable state (weight 0.16): The game is not in a recommendable state due to abandonment, lack of content, and various issues. The Early Access pitch is misleading, and the developer's promises were never delivered.
- Poor communication from developer (weight 0.15): There is no official news or updates from the developer, only cryptic replies to random comments. Forum moderators even remove posts about the lack of updates, and the developer released a trailer for a new game instead of updating this one.
- Unclear mechanics and tutorial (weight 0.14): The tutorial does not explain key stats like dodge or luck, and mechanics such as hitting halos or activating cleanse are unclear. Players have to guess or press random buttons to figure things out.
- Complexity overwhelms new players (weight 0.13): The game's complexity can overwhelm new players, and the learning curve is significant for those expecting a simpler arcade experience. Some reviewers struggle to get to grips with it.
- Game-breaking bugs (weight 0.11): A game-breaking bug occurred, and one run broke due to excessive damage. These issues severely impact the experience.
- Typos and spelling errors (weight 0.05): The game has typos, such as misspelling 'Lose' as 'Loose' in achievements and other parts, which detracts from polish.
- No Korean language support (weight 0.05): The game lacks Korean language support, which is a barrier for Korean-speaking players.

Gameplay feedback:
- Breakout and shmup hybrid (weight 0.88): Players consistently describe the game as a fusion of brick-breaker mechanics with shoot 'em up or bullet hell elements, often citing Breakout, Arkanoid, and Galaga as inspirations. This genre blend is the most frequently mentioned aspect of the game.
- Roguelite and roguelike elements (weight 0.4): Many reviews note the game's roguelite or roguelike structure, with runs, progression, and randomized elements. This is a core part of the gameplay loop and is mentioned across multiple clusters.
- Disk juggling core mechanic (weight 0.23): A distinctive mechanic involves juggling a disk that comes out of the character, which players find unique and central to gameplay. This mechanic is highlighted in several reviews.
- Build variety and stats (weight 0.19): Players appreciate the build variety and character/stat system, which allows for different playstyles and strategic choices. This is a positive aspect highlighted in feedback.
- Retro and pixel art style (weight 0.18): The game features a retro-inspired visual style, including 2D pixel art, which appeals to fans of classic arcade aesthetics. This is mentioned in several reviews.
- Early access status (weight 0.14): Several reviews mention that the game is currently in early access, which may affect player expectations regarding polish and content. This is a common note among reviewers.
- Character roster with strengths (weight 0.11): The game offers a roster of playable characters, some unlockable, each with unique strengths and weaknesses. This adds variety and replayability, as noted by players.
- Cleanse ability removes bullets (weight 0.11): A specific ability allows the player to cleanse enemy projectiles and shoot discs back, which is a strategic tool in combat. This mechanic is noted in reviews.
- Simple to grasp (weight 0.1): The game is described as not inordinately complex and simple to grasp, making it accessible to new players. This is a positive trait mentioned by reviewers.
- Comparisons to Vampire Survivors (weight 0.1): Some reviews compare the game to Vampire Survivors and Touhou, indicating similar gameplay loops or bullet hell elements. This helps set expectations for potential players.

Performance notes:
- Game freezes after boss defeat (weight 0.06): A reviewer experienced a freeze at 100% loading after losing to the second boss, forcing a restart. This indicates a stability bug that disrupts gameplay progression.
- Steam Deck compatibility praised (weight 0.06): One reviewer confirmed the game runs on the Steam Deck, indicating a positive experience for handheld users. This suggests the game is accessible on that platform.
- Linux compatibility issues reported (weight 0.06): Another reviewer reported the game does not work on a Linux machine, highlighting a potential platform-specific problem. This could deter Linux users from purchasing the game.

Recommendations:
- Great value at low price (weight 0.37): Several reviewers highlight the game's low price as a major selling point, recommending it especially for budget-conscious players. The game is considered worth its cost and a good deal.
- Recommended for roguelite fans (weight 0.27): Multiple reviewers recommend the game to fans of roguelites, roguelikes, and bullet-hell games. The game is praised for its genre blend and appeal to arcade enthusiasts.
- Not worth current state (weight 0.26): Some reviewers advise against buying the game in its current state, citing lack of content and unfinished aspects. They suggest waiting for updates or a significant discount.
- Highly recommended overall (weight 0.25): A number of reviewers give the game a strong recommendation without specific caveats, calling it a hidden gem and a must-try. They encourage players to give it a chance.
- Concerns about unfinished game (weight 0.25): Some reviewers express doubt that the game will ever be finished, comparing it unfavorably to other titles. They warn against buying from the developer or being fooled by the Early Access pitch.
- Unique brick-breaker experience (weight 0.23): Reviewers recommend the game to fans of brick-breakers, shmups, and Arkanoid, noting its unique twist on the genre. It is described as a rare and interesting take on the classic formula.
- Try prologue before buying (weight 0.11): Reviewers suggest trying the prologue or demo to see if the game suits your tastes before purchasing. This is recommended especially for those on the fence.
- Wait for discount or sale (weight 0.1): A few reviewers recommend waiting for a heavy discount, such as a 95% sale, before purchasing. They feel the game is not worth full price in its current state.
- Good for quick sessions (weight 0.09): The game is recommended as a good buy for quick play sessions and as a time waster. It seems suitable for short bursts of gameplay.
- Boss difficulty issue (weight 0.06): One reviewer cannot recommend the game due to the difficulty of the third boss, which may be a barrier for some players. This is a specific gameplay concern.
- Alternative game suggested (weight 0.06): A reviewer suggests buying 'The Void Rains Down Upon Her Heart' instead, implying that this game may not be the best choice in the genre. This is a direct comparison to another title.
- Promise of more content (weight 0.05): One reviewer recommends buying due to the promise of more content in the future. This suggests optimism about the game's development roadmap.
- Mixed genre appeal (weight 0.05): One reviewer notes that the game is still recommended, but enjoyment may vary depending on which genre you are more drawn to. This highlights the game's hybrid nature.
- Thumbs up (weight 0.04): A simple positive recommendation, indicating general satisfaction with the game.

Other player notes:
- Game abandoned in early access (weight 0.9): Multiple reviews indicate the game remains in early access and has been effectively abandoned, with no updates for extended periods. The developer has moved on to other projects without communication.
- Lack of developer communication (weight 0.45): Players report a long silence from the developer, with no updates or notes for months or years. This lack of communication contributes to the perception of abandonment.
- Positive reception and value (weight 0.38): Some reviewers praise the game as one of the best of the year, highlighting its low price, content volume, and replayability. The game is considered a good value for its cost.
- Misleading early access pitch (weight 0.35): The early access listing is considered misleading because the game appears to be abandoned rather than actively developed. The promised roadmap and updates were never delivered.
- Lack of language support (weight 0.24): The game currently lacks Japanese, Korean, and Chinese localization, limiting its accessibility. Some players use third-party tools like XUnity Auto Translator to play in Japanese.
- Developer responsiveness on Discord (weight 0.2): The developer is described as dedicated and responsive on Discord, helping with issues like lost save files. This positive interaction contrasts with the lack of updates.
- Compared to brick breakers and Galaga (weight 0.18): The game is frequently compared to classic brick breakers like Breakout and Galaga, indicating its core mechanics are reminiscent of these genres. This comparison is used both positively and negatively.
- Short content and session length (weight 0.17): The game is noted for being short, with a full run lasting around 5 hours and sessions of 15-20 minutes. Some see this as a positive, while others find the content minimal.
- Compared to other games (weight 0.17): The game is compared to various titles like The Void Rains Down Upon Her Heart, Attack of the Mutant Space Bats of Doom, Isaac, and Peglin. These comparisons highlight its genre and style.
- Unique themes and aesthetics (weight 0.16): The game features mythology and religious imagery, with a minimalist pixelart style. The aesthetic is praised as wonderful, though the theme is noted as not child-friendly.
- Compared to Vampire Survivors (weight 0.15): Several reviews compare the game to Vampire Survivors, noting similarities in gameplay and value. Some suggest buying Vampire Survivors instead, while others see it as a worthy alternative.
- Content updates and balance changes (weight 0.14): The game has received multiple balance changes and more content is planned, though some note the same events repeat often. This is typical for early access.
- Accessibility settings available (weight 0.08): The game includes settings to reduce eye strain, such as turning off background movement and a contrast setting. These features improve visibility for some players.
- Developer is a single person (weight 0.07): The game is made by one person, which may explain the slow update pace. This is a contextual factor.
- Potential inspiration for other games (weight 0.05): One review suggests the game may have inspired 'Ball Pit', indicating its influence on the genre. This is a niche observation.
- Small fanbase and player count (weight 0.05): The game has a small fanbase with less than 190 peak players, which may affect its long-term viability. This is a niche concern.
- Works well on Steam Deck (weight 0.05): The game is reported to work well on Steam Deck, which is a positive for portable play. This is a specific feature appreciated by some players.
- Free prologue available (weight 0.04): The game offers a free prologue, allowing players to try before buying. This is seen as a positive marketing strategy.
- Roadmap looks promising (weight 0.04): The roadmap for updates is praised, but given the abandonment, this promise is unfulfilled. This is a mixed signal.
- Game just released (weight 0.04): One review notes the game just got released, indicating it is new. This is a minor observation.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.2): Players are frustrated by the game's lack of updates and developer communication, as well as numerous gameplay issues such as unresponsive controls, invulnerable enemies, and unbalanced mechanics. The game's complexity and unclear tutorials also contribute to a sense of being overwhelmed, while technical problems like freezes and misspellings add to the dissatisfaction.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.16): Players enjoy the game's unique fusion of genres, addictive gameplay, and appealing art style. The roguelike elements, dynamic battles, and overall fun factor keep players engaged, even those not typically skilled at similar games.
- Disappointment (weight 0.15): The primary source of disappointment is the game being abandoned by its developer, with no updates or communication for extended periods. This is compounded by limited content, repetitive music, and a final boss that fails to deliver a satisfying conclusion.
- Excitement (weight 0.08): Players are excited by the innovative combination of roguelite and pinball mechanics, which offers a fresh and engaging experience. The challenging boss encounters, rewarding gameplay loop, and potential for future content generate enthusiasm and anticipation.
- Love (weight 0.06): Players love the game for its endless replayability, engaging character and stat systems, and cohesive story. The pixel art style, music, and overall polish make everything feel good to play, with nothing feeling unfair.
- Admiration (weight 0.05): Players admire the game's beautiful 2D pixel art, cool visual themes, and the synergy between bullet hell and brick breaker mechanics. The art style is immersive and charming, and the music resonates deeply with players.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.05): Players are satisfied with the creative and satisfying combat system, which revives a dead genre in a mechanically enjoyable way. The game offers great value with 30+ hours of content, and its artwork and music are highly praised.
- Fun (weight 0.02): The game is described as a fun bullet hell roguelite with an interesting juggling concept, offering lots of fun across different playstyles. The brick-breaking mechanics guarantee enjoyment for players.
- Appreciation (weight 0.02): Players appreciate the fantastic content that is present, as well as the helpfulness of the developers in resolving issues like lost save files. The game's concept, artwork, and music are also valued.
- Interest (weight 0.02): Players are interested in the unique disk juggling mechanic and roguelike elements, which make the game stand out. The combination of genres is intriguing, and there is curiosity about future character additions.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Players hope for a sequel or a resumption of development to experience the full potential of the game. They wish the developers would continue working on it to deliver a complete experience.
- Hate (weight 0.01): Some players express hate for roguelites and shmups, primarily because they are not skilled at these genres. This dislike is more about personal preference than the game's quality.
- Engagement (weight 0.01): Players are engaged by the challenging and unique take on two classic genres, which keeps them playing run after run. The game's design encourages continued play and investment.
- Desire (weight 0.01): Players desire more content after completing all difficulty levels and achievements, and wish there was more music. The game leaves them wanting additional experiences.
- Happiness (weight 0.01): Players are happy with their purchase, finding the game a refreshing take on the brick breaker genre. The overall experience brings joy and satisfaction.
- Anticipation (weight 0.01): Players are looking forward to what the team will add, with expectations of more content and major features. There is a sense of excitement about the game's future updates.
- Addiction (weight 0.01): The game is described as very addictive, with players finding it fun to play more and more. The gameplay loop hooks players and keeps them coming back.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Players find amusement in the humorous descriptions of gameplay strategies and the concept of throwing an angel's halo to break bricks. The game's creative premise brings a smile.
- Regret (weight 0.01): Players regret that the game could have been a fantastic full game, but was left incomplete. The potential is seen as unfulfilled, leading to a sense of loss.
- Sadness (weight 0.01): Players feel sadness because the game has had no news for almost a year, indicating it may be abandoned. The lack of updates and communication is disheartening.}