Info about The Desolate Hope:

Official game description:
On a distant edge of an unknown planet, an abandoned structure sits in silence. Constructed by an unmanned research vessel sent from Earth, the Lun Infinus station was designed to run simulations for a five year period, exploring possibilities of human colonization in the case that Earth became uninhabitable. Developed during an age of ambition and wealth, the project was quickly abandoned when interest faded in the following years.  
The last transmission from Earth occurred more than thirty years ago. The Lun Infinus station contained five sentient computers, Derelicts, built with certain levels of mobility in the case of emergency or need for relocation. Each of these Derelicts was to formulate their own plan for colonization based on thousands of hours of simulations. Given the amount of time that has passed however, the simulations have become very elaborate and bizarre. Meanwhile however, a mysterious computer virus has emerged. The virus of unknown origins has been slowly ravaging the Derelicts. Because of this, more and more CPU processing power has been needed for anti-virus measures, leaving less power for the simulations. Coffee is the last mobile resident of the station, a small service robot who spends his days keeping the station and the Derelicts operational as they perform their daily tasks. Since CPU power is slim, Coffee has been cutting corners to find ways around the virus. By using small subsystems and less vital CPU's scattered through the station in lesser devices, Coffee has designed a line of digital helpers, each simply called a D-Co, or "Digital Counterpart", to assist him in fighting the virus and keeping the station operational. Eventually the virus gets the best of each D-Co, and Coffee tries to create an improved D-Co using a different CPU. The latest is D-Co 9, built using the code of a simple computer game. Coffee dedicates his own CPU to be used for the main simulations, putting D-Co in charge of moving his body throughout the station, taking care of the needs of the Derelicts, and fighting off virus attacks when they occur.  
GAMEPLAY:  
The Desolate Hope mixes several gameplay styles. On the station and in the simulations, the game is a platformer. You will shoot enemies, collect powerups and bits (money) and upgrade yourself and your virtual battlers. When you enter a mini-simulation (the old arcade style screens) then the game becomes an 8-bit overhead dungeon crawler. There you can farm money and gain options to customize your battle experiences. When you encounter a virus boss, the game shifts to a JRPG style battle where you must use the mouse to select from your various options to defeat your opponent. Almost everything outside of these battles is aimed at upgrading your abilities and increasing your stats for these fights, they are the real challenge of the game.  
"The Desolate Hope, isn't great just because of its stunning artwork, its gripping sci-fi story, and its coffee pot protagonist. It also packs a triple punch with three distinct gameplay types, each skillfully woven together. The side scrolling action has different platforming elements for each section, the overhead adventure distills fun elements of a classic Zelda (including walls you can walk through or destroy) and the turn-based, RPG-style boss battles are visually mesmerizing and tough."  
"From a gameplay point of view The Desolate Hope mixes platforming with overhead adventure segments and semi turn-based battles. This is already intriguing, but I'm more impressed by its stunning visual style."  
"The Desolate Hope is developed by Scott Games and upon booting it up, you will notice the great artwork the game uses. It combines three gameplay genres, side scrolling, overhead adventure and a turn-based RPG styled battles. It might sound like a messy mash up but the game is able to pull it off without a hitch and gamers are in for a unique experience. Offering hours of gameplay, a unique leveling system and a day-and-night cycle."  
"The Desolate Hope constantly plays with the very idea of playing a video game. Unlike many modern games, it is hyper-aware of its gameness. There are games inside of games, simulations inside of simulations, mini-games inside of boss fights. And the fact that you’re playing as an AI that developed from a computer game is a very hard wink at the exhaustive level of metagaming that’s going on."  
"There are plenty of hours of gameplay, a nonlinear path allowing for exploration, and detailed art design. Now you can't beat that..."  
"I very much enjoy a lot about this game; it’s takes on platforming, dungeon-crawling, and RPGs is unique and well mixed together so that one type of play benefits the other. It also has some incredible visuals, with very detailed character designs and a classic cyberpunk attitude, but not also without a bit of whimsy as well (one derelict has given up on his mission, becoming a toymaker and has begun recreating his simulation with child-like automatons)."  
"So after encountering this on Rock Paper Shotgun, I was ready to declare my indie game of the year. Because any game made rock solid out of derelict, insane robots just makes my not-so-inner geek squeal. How insane are the robots? Each is actively running a matrix like test bed, and.... Well, one was building a mining simulator, decided that was too depressing, and started making toys. Another is trying to capture the artistic essence of the soul, but cant seem to make anything run for more than five seconds. The next is attempting to rebuild humanity out of two tissue samples. Then there's the one still running straight, he seems curiously nice... And the last one's dead and frozen. But still drawing power...Then there's the coffee pot. Which is you. Sort of. And hey, bonus! You've got fifteen days to live, and you're the ninth attempt at straightening things out. Good luck!" **\-an enthusiastic fan**

Release date: May 5, 2014

Categories: 2D Side-scrolling Shooter, Dungeon Crawler, Turn-based Combat, Platformer, Sci-fi, Story-driven Gameplay, Metroidvania, JRPG Combat

Feature scans:
- Steam Deck: score 30; verdict: Playable with Minor Issues; summary: The overall user feedback indicates a positive experience with the controls and usability of the game on the Steam Deck. However, there are notable issues with language barriers and system understanding for non-English speakers. The game mechanics, while complex, are manageable with some guidance.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $3.99 - $7.99
  - Reasoning: The evidence suggests that users find value in the game, especially when it is on sale. The mention of grinding and enjoying the gameplay indicates that the game has substantial content, which can justify a higher price point when not on sale. However, the repeated mentions of purchasing the game on sale suggest that the community considers a lower price point to be more fair for the base game.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 6.5h
  - Story completion: 6.5h
  - Session length: 2.5h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides direct statements about the playtime for 'The Desolate Hope.' Multiple reviews mention that the game can be completed in approximately 6 to 7 hours, which aligns with the game completion and story completion metrics. One review mentions that the game can be beaten in 2 or 3 sessions, suggesting that a typical session length could be around 2-3 hours. There is no specific evidence provided for endgame content, so that field is marked as null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game initially feels confusing and tedious but becomes enjoyable and addictive once players understand the mechanics and progress further.
  - Stance: Fun after initial confusion
  - Anchor: Understanding the game mechanics and combat system.
  - Time to anchor: 1h 0m
  - Friction: Lack of tutorial; Steep learning curve; Initial confusion; Tedious gameplay at first
  - Unlock drivers: Addictive combat; Interesting battles; Character progression and upgrades
  - Conditions: Persistence in exploration; Patience to understand mechanics
- Player Archetypes:
  - Artistic Connoisseur (buy)
    - Motivation: Aesthetic appreciation and unique gameplay.
    - Playstyle: Enjoys exploring the game's artistic and stylistic elements, appreciating the blend of different gameplay mechanics.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Fan of Scott's games; Art lover
    - Reference games: Five Nights at Freddy's; Metroid; Mega Man
  - Story-Driven Challenger (buy)
    - Motivation: Engaging story and challenging gameplay.
    - Playstyle: Focuses on mastering the game's challenges and immersing themselves in the story.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Story lover; Challenge seeker
    - Reference games: Mega Man; Metroid
  - Strategic Grinder (sale)
    - Motivation: Flexibility in gameplay approach.
    - Playstyle: Uses strategic gameplay to minimize grinding or embraces grinding to fully upgrade and enjoy the game.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: Strategy gamer; Grinder
    - Reference games: Metroid; Mega Man


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:
- Beautiful and unique visuals (weight 0.81): The game features great visuals, beautiful graphics, and an exceptional art design. The visuals are original, well-crafted, and contribute to a distinctive and memorable visual identity.
- Compelling and unique story (weight 0.77): The game features a unique and interesting story that is compelling and thought-provoking. Players find the characters memorable and the atmosphere eerie and different, contributing to a satisfying ending.
- Challenging and satisfying combat (weight 0.59): The combat system is complex yet understandable, offering a challenging but masterable experience. Players find the battles fun, intense, and satisfying.
- Amazing sound and music design (weight 0.51): The game is praised for its incredible music and sound design, which includes an amazing OST. The soundtrack is highly praised and fits the game perfectly.
- Fun and varied gameplay (weight 0.41): The gameplay is described as fun, varied, and engaging, combining platforming, shooting, and RPG combat. Players enjoy the unique and fast-paced combat system.
- Unique blend of gameplay genres (weight 0.4): The game successfully combines different gameplay genres, creating a unique and interesting mix. This blend includes platforming, turn-based fights, and artistic design.

Common complaints:
- Control problems (weight 0.28): The controls are criticized for being confusing, poorly explained, and in need of improvement. Some controls are also described as unconventional.
- Epilepsy warning for visuals (weight 0.28): The visual effects, including flashing lights and colors, may cause issues for players with epilepsy or those sensitive to stroboscope effects.
- Gameplay quality issues (weight 0.25): Many players find the gameplay confusing, poorly executed, or not special enough. It is often described as simple and not engaging.
- Story and mechanics unclear (weight 0.23): The game's story and mechanics may be difficult to understand without reading the documentation, and they may not be fully grasped on the first playthrough.
- Grinding required (weight 0.22): The game involves a significant amount of grinding, particularly for money, which can be tedious.
- Repetitive gameplay (weight 0.21): The gameplay is often seen as repetitive, particularly with the collectathon aspect, leading to limited replayability.
- Escape button quits game (weight 0.2): Pressing the ESC button causes the game to close without warning or confirmation, instead of closing menus as expected.
- No tutorial available (weight 0.19): There is no tutorial at the beginning of the game, which can make it hard for players to figure out the gameplay initially.
- Slow movement in sections (weight 0.18): The game has slow, tedious movements in non-platformer sections and slow platforming, which can be frustrating.
- Sound adjustment issues (weight 0.12): Players cannot adjust the sound volume, and attempting to do so may cause the game to crash.
- No menu system (weight 0.11): The game lacks a menu system and settings menu, which can be inconvenient for players.
- Boss battles too intense (weight 0.11): Boss battles are criticized for being too intense, fast, and hard, making them challenging for players.
- Platforming is mediocre (weight 0.1): The platforming aspects of the game are considered just okay or not the greatest by players.
- Frustrating virus mechanic (weight 0.1): The virus using the hackworm can be frustrating for players, adding to the game's difficulties.
- Graphics do not mesh well (weight 0.1): The pre-rendered graphics in the game do not coalesce or mesh well, affecting the visual experience.

Gameplay feedback:
- Hybrid gameplay styles (weight 0.8): The game combines RPG, platformer, and arcade elements, creating a unique mix of gameplay styles. Players experience platforming, shooting, and turn-based RPG combat.
- Complex combat system (weight 0.63): The game features a complex and fast-paced combat system with RPG elements. Boss fights are challenging and require strategic planning.
- Side-scrolling and exploration (weight 0.38): The game includes side-scrolling platforming sections and Metroidvania-like exploration. Players can enjoy 2D side-scrolling shooter segments similar to Mega Man.
- Day and night cycle (weight 0.14): The game features a day and night cycle system, adding variety to gameplay. Different sections and challenges are present during day and night.
- Easy to learn, hard to master (weight 0.12): The game is designed to be easy to learn but difficult to master. This makes it accessible to new players while offering a challenge to experienced gamers.
- Extensive upgrade system (weight 0.11): The game offers an extensive upgrade system, allowing players to enhance their characters and abilities. This adds depth and customization to the gameplay.
- Zelda-like mini dungeons (weight 0.1): The game includes mini dungeons and RPG boss battles reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda. These elements add depth and variety to the gameplay.
- Unique character mechanics (weight 0.1): Players control a coffee maker that can run, shoot, and jump high. This unique character adds a quirky and fun element to the game.
- Time limit mechanics (weight 0.1): The game includes time-limited gameplay segments, adding a sense of urgency and challenge. Players must complete tasks within a set time frame.
- Space Invaders-like segments (weight 0.1): The game features segments similar to Space Invaders, providing a nostalgic arcade experience. These sections add variety to the gameplay.

Performance notes:
- Game crashes and freezes (weight 0.17): The game frequently crashes and may lag or freeze during gameplay. This significantly impacts the user experience and needs urgent attention.
- Performance issues and stuttering (weight 0.12): Players report stuttery performance and various performance considerations. These issues affect the smoothness and overall enjoyment of the game.
- Runs on low-end hardware (weight 0.12): Despite some performance issues, the game can run on low-end hardware, making it accessible to users with less powerful systems.
- Poor performance on Linux (weight 0.07): The game runs poorly on Linux systems. Users on this platform experience suboptimal performance, which may limit the game's accessibility.
- Minor bugs present (weight 0.06): There are minor bugs reported by users. While they do not significantly impact gameplay, they should still be addressed for a smoother experience.

Recommendations:
- Highly recommended for unique gameplay (weight 0.64): The game is praised for its unique and engaging gameplay mechanics, making it a standout title for those seeking something different from traditional RPGs and platformers. It offers a rewarding and thought-provoking journey for players willing to embrace its unconventional design.
- Try the game for free (weight 0.31): Given that the game is free, many players recommend at least giving it a try. It is considered a must-try for the price of free.
- Worth playing despite flaws (weight 0.27): Many players find the game worth playing despite its flaws and imperfect gameplay. It is considered a valuable experience even with its janky mechanics.
- Recommended for fans of Scott Cawthon (weight 0.21): The game is highly recommended for fans of Scott Cawthon's work and is considered his masterpiece. It is suggested for those who appreciate his unique style and contributions to gaming.
- Recommended for story and music (weight 0.21): The game is recommended for its compelling story, music, and character style. It is particularly suggested for those who enjoy sci-fi and a good narrative.
- Emotional and touching experience (weight 0.16): The game is recommended for its emotional impact and the sense of completeness it provides. It offers a fun and touching experience that leaves a lasting impression.
- Recommended for fans of old-school games (weight 0.16): The game is recommended for fans of old-school platformers and top-down games. It appeals to those who enjoy classic gaming experiences.
- Read the manual or guide (weight 0.11): Players strongly suggest reading the manual or an online guide to fully understand and enjoy the game. This is recommended to grasp the game's mechanics better.
- Recommended for all age groups (weight 0.11): The game is recommended for a wide range of age groups, including kids, teens, adults, and even grandma. It is suggested for its broad appeal across different demographics.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Excitement (weight 0.2): Players are thrilled by the game's unique blend of genres, including Mega-Man style side-scrolling and RPG boss fights, combined with a fast-paced and strategic combat system. The beautiful graphics, engaging story, and varied gameplay elements such as platforming, shooting, and RPG combat contribute to the excitement.
- Frustration (weight 0.19): Players experience frustration due to poorly balanced combat, unclear mechanics, and difficult controls. Additional issues include lack of quality-of-life features, overwhelming interface, and excessive difficulty in boss battles, which are often not well-explained.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.07): The game's combination of different genres, engaging gameplay, and interesting battles provide a fun and enjoyable experience. Players also appreciate the game's atmosphere, music, and the rewarding feeling of mastering its complex combat system.
- Admiration (weight 0.07): Players admire the game's unique visual style, deep narrative, and strategic combat. The creativity, originality, and high-quality design elements such as the soundtrack and aesthetics are also highly praised.
- Appreciation (weight 0.06): The game's story and dialogue are poignant and visually striking, making it worth playing. Players appreciate the creative strategizing with ability loadouts and the detailed artistic design.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.05): Players find satisfaction in the game's challenging and well-balanced combat system. The complex battle system, unique affinity system, and well-crafted visuals contribute to a rewarding experience.
- Joy (weight 0.05): The game brings joy through its exceptional art design, engaging story, and fun gameplay. The unique premise, surreal graphics, and overall positive experience contribute to the player's enjoyment.
- Sadness (weight 0.04): The game's story and ending evoke sadness, with themes of solitude and melancholy. Some players find the ending emotionally impactful, leading to tears.
- Confusion (weight 0.03): Players feel confused due to the game's complex story and mechanics, which are not well-explained at the beginning. The confusing gameplay mechanics and lack of clear guidance contribute to this emotion.
- Awe (weight 0.02): The game's breathtaking backgrounds, in-depth RPG elements, and the fact that it was created by a single person inspire awe. The cool graphics and interesting world also contribute to this feeling.
- Curiosity (weight 0.02): The game's vague gameplay and intriguing story with hidden secrets spark curiosity. Players are drawn to explore and uncover more about the game's world and narrative.
- Fun (weight 0.02): Despite its flaws, the game is described as fun due to its engaging journey and satisfying RTS RPG battles. The overall enjoyable experience makes it worth playing.
- Amazement (weight 0.01): Players are amazed by the game's visuals, gameplay, and story. The character design, plot, environment, and soundtrack all contribute to a sense of wonder and admiration.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): The game surprises players with its unexpected depth and high level of quality and polish. The unique blend of gameplay styles and great story also contribute to this feeling.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): The game's funny concept and humorous character descriptions provide amusement. Players find the unique and quirky elements of the game entertaining.
- Wonder (weight 0.01): The game's atmospheric and immersive soundtrack evokes a sense of wonder. The overall experience leaves players feeling amazed and captivated.}