Moves Of The Diamond Hand Review Summary

Its unique, deep dice mechanics and rich surreal world offer massive progression, but incomplete content, inconsistent UI and visuals, and unbalanced dice hold it back.

Unique dice mechanics with depth: The dice-rolling system is praised for its integration with story and world, and its high expandability with new effects.

Rich and surreal world: The game's world is described as intriguing, insanely interesting, and unlike anything else, with surreal and ethereal vibes.

Massive content and progression: The game offers quadruple the progression of Betrayal at Club Low and is packed with content even in early access.

Innovative and quirky mechanics: Players appreciate the large quantity of new and interesting mechanics that blend CRPG and immersive sim elements.

Best and biggest by Cosmo D: Reviewers consider it the best and largest game from the developer, building on previous titles.

Incomplete Content: Several players note the game is unfinished, with only the first two chapters available and missing pieces of content. Side quests are also not fully fleshed out yet.

UI and Visual Inconsistencies: The UI feels lackluster compared to Betrayal at Club Low, with out-of-place icons for attributes, inventory, and quest book. Font sizes are inconsistent, and the HUD font appears ugly or unfinished.

Unbalanced Dice Mechanics: Reviewers report that dice rolls can feel unfair, with victories often requiring a 5 or 6 and no guaranteed strategy. The start of the game can feel unfair due to this reliance on luck.

Rough Early Access State: The game is described as rough around the edges, consistent with its Early Access status. Developer notes are incomplete and block off some spots in the next area.

Slow and Limited Start: The beginning sequence is slow, and the first chapter is very limited. Some players found the start daunting due to the layout, history, and mechanics.

Dice-rolling core gameplay: The game heavily features dice rolling as a central mechanic for resolving actions and skill checks. Players can use various modifiers like items, disguises, and consumables to influence rolls, and failure often grants XP and allows reattempts.

First-person open world exploration: Players explore a surreal, semi-open city from a first-person perspective, discovering secrets and interacting with the world. The environment is dense with content and features interconnected areas, shortcuts, and verticality.

Skills and XP progression: The game features a skill system with around seven categories that can be improved using XP. XP is earned from successful rolls, failing rolls, and quests, and can be spent to upgrade dice or abilities.

High player choice and freedom: The game offers extensive freedom in how to approach situations, with multiple quest lines, routes, and solutions. Player choices feel impactful, and failure is a viable path that leads to different outcomes.

Unique dice crafting and items: Players can craft or acquire special dice based on food (pizza, sandwiches) and drinks, as well as disguises, to gain advantages. These items add depth and humor to the dice system.

Good performance on integrated graphics: Players report the game runs well even on Intel Iris integrated graphics, indicating solid optimization for lower-end hardware.

Steam Deck compatibility praised: The game works well on Steam Deck, making it a good option for portable play.

Worth buying and price justified: Reviewers frequently state the game is worth the money and encourage purchase. The price is considered fair for the content provided.

High recommendation for series fans: Many reviewers recommend the game to those who enjoyed previous titles in the series. It is seen as a worthy continuation that builds on established strengths.

Suited for surreal narrative game fans: The game appeals to players who enjoy immersive, mechanically integrated narratives and surreal experiences. It is recommended for fans of unique storytelling.

Strong recommendation from many players: Multiple reviewers give a confident recommendation, some calling it one of the best indie RPGs. It is highly praised for its quality.

Fans of Cosmo D will enjoy: Players familiar with Cosmo D's other games will find this one delivers as expected. It is recommended for those who appreciate the developer's style.

Community fair range: $10.00 - $20.00.

Game completion: 14.0h.

Story completion: 7.0h.

Reviews describe immediate enjoyment from dice-roll skill checks, progression, and side quests, with one noting the game improves further over time. Enjoyment is especially likely for players who like TTRPG, walking sim, or surreal games, and no evidence identifies a required unlock before fun begins.

Cosmo D Franchise Continuity Seeker: Plays new Cosmo D releases with earlier titles in mind, noting mechanical, camera, and design improvements. Motivation: Following Cosmo D's evolving series and comparing each new entry to prior works. Stance: buy.

Surreal Atmosphere Immersionist: Immerses in audiovisual atmosphere with headphones and a large screen while seeking weird, dreamlike settings. Motivation: Experiencing surreal art direction, music, and uncanny worldbuilding. Stance: buy.

Probability Systems Optimizer: Calculates probabilities, manages risk, and tunes choices to maximize successful outcomes. Motivation: Optimizing odds and building success through probability-driven mechanics. Stance: buy.

Early access state: The game is currently in early access, with an unfinished build and more content planned. Many reviewers note that it is not yet complete.

Compared to Betrayal at Club Low: Reviewers frequently compare the game to Betrayal at Club Low, noting that it expands on its mechanics and worldbuilding. Some find it more linear but with improved features.

Chapter-based release: Content is released in chapters, with only the first two or three chapters available in early access. The full game is planned to have multiple chapters released over time.

Full release planned: A full version of the game is anticipated in the coming months, with more updates and content planned before final release.

Part of Cosmo D catalog: The game is recognized as part of Cosmo D's series of games, including Off-Peak, The Norwood Suite, and Betrayal at Club Low. It is considered an instant classic by some.