Info about Cirno! Lifts a Boulder:

Official game description:
**A Boulder is No Match for This Fairy!**
-----------------------------------------
A mischievous group of fairies has locked Cirno out of her very own home by placing a huge boulder right in front of it. Luckily for Cirno, getting rid of it is simple: she just needs to get **stronger**.
How? By collecting Power items, of course!
_Cirno! Lifts a Boulder_ is a short and relaxing 3D platformer and Touhou fangame in which the titular ice fairy explores a frozen-over Misty Lake in search of strength-granting items. As Cirno grows more powerful, she unlocks distinct abilities that help her navigate the snowy landscape and reach new areas.
*   **Explore the Misty Lake any way you like**: you never know what you might run into!
*   **Set your own pace**: There's no rush. Sprint across the ice, or take a leisurely walk along the lakeshore.
*   **Unlock abilities**: As Cirno gets stronger, she gradually remembers what an ice fairy is truly capable of.
*   **Find hidden frogs**: Several sneaky frogs are hiding around the lake. Can you find them all?
*   **Listen to some tunes**: Get lost in the snow with an arranged soundtrack by lapspider45!

Release date: Mar 11, 2026

Categories: 3D Platformer, Collectathon, Exploration, Relaxation, Character Progression, Movement-based Combat, Non-linear Progression


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $5.00 - $6.00
  - Reasoning: The reviews consistently mention that the game is worth the price, with one review explicitly stating that $5 is a fair price. The term 'extremely accessible' suggests a low price point, likely around the current price of $5.99. The overall sentiment indicates that the community finds the game to be good value for money at its current price.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 2.0h
  - Story completion: 2.0h
  - Session length: 1.0h
  - Endgame: 3.0h
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides multiple references to the typical playtime for game completion and story completion. Several reviews mention that the game takes about 2 hours to beat and a bit longer to achieve 100% completion. One review specifically states that it took less than 5 hours to 100% the game and complete all achievements. Additionally, there are mentions of session lengths, such as spending an hour to lift the boulder and additional time for other tasks. However, there is limited specific evidence regarding typical single-session lengths and endgame hours, leading to lower confidence in those metrics.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game is fun and rewarding from the start, but the initial enjoyment may drop after a while due to repetitiveness and tedium.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Move set progression
  - Time to anchor: 0h 10m
  - Friction: repetitive gameplay; tedious collection
  - Unlock drivers: move set progression
  - Conditions: charming music; detailed environment
- Player Archetypes:
  - Chill Explorer (buy)
    - Motivation: Relaxation and enjoyment of a calm gaming experience.
    - Playstyle: Explores the game world at a leisurely pace, enjoying the atmosphere and music.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Touhou fan; Casual gamer
    - Reference games: Banjo-Kazooie; Super Mario 64
  - Completionist Collector (buy)
    - Motivation: Achieving 100% completion and collecting all items.
    - Playstyle: Thoroughly explores the game to find all collectibles and complete all achievements.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Achievement hunter; Completionist
    - Reference games: Super Mario 64; Banjo-Kazooie; Getting Over It
  - Touhou Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Engagement with the Touhou series and its characters.
    - Playstyle: Enjoys the game for its connections to the Touhou series, appreciating the references and Easter eggs.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Touhou fan; Cirno fan
    - 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:
- Charming collectathon platformer (weight 0.89): The game is frequently described as a short, cute, and charming collectathon platformer. Players appreciate its adorable aesthetics and enjoyable gameplay focused on collecting items.
- Satisfying collectibles and exploration (weight 0.48): Players find the collectibles satisfying and enjoyable to find. The exploration aspect of the game is highlighted as fun and engaging.
- Pleasant and relaxing experience (weight 0.45): The game is noted for its pleasant and relaxing experience, with a cozy atmosphere and enjoyable music that contribute to a calming gameplay session.
- Touhou references and fan appeal (weight 0.3): The game includes references to Touhou, which are appreciated by fans of the series. The game is recommended for Touhou fans who enjoy 3D platformers.
- Positive overall reception (weight 0.23): Players generally have a positive opinion of the game, describing it as cool, beautiful, great, and amazing, indicating a high level of satisfaction.
- Great art style (weight 0.15): The art style of the game is praised for its beauty and appeal, contributing to the overall charming and enjoyable experience.

Common complaints:
- Limited horizontal movement options (weight 0.3): Players frequently noted the lack of horizontal movement abilities, making movement feel bland and sparse.
- Frogs are too difficult to find (weight 0.26): Many players found the frogs hidden too well, making them difficult and sometimes frustrating to locate.
- Game is too short (weight 0.17): Several reviews mentioned that the game felt too short, leaving players wanting more content.
- Camera issues (weight 0.16): The camera does not follow Cirno properly and is entirely manual, requiring constant readjustment.
- Invisible walls are annoying (weight 0.16): Invisible walls that appear suddenly were a common frustration among players.
- Controls feel rigid (weight 0.15): The controls were described as feeling rigid and slippery, similar to an N64 platformer.
- Slow power-up progression (weight 0.11): It takes too long to get power-ups, and upgrades are limited past the first few.
- Limited movement speed (weight 0.11): There is no way to move faster than standard walking speed, making the game feel slow.
- Fairy guidance slows gameplay (weight 0.07): The fairy guidance system was criticized for slowing down the pace of the game.
- Frustration with game mechanics (weight 0.07): Some players expressed frustration with certain game mechanics, though specifics were not detailed.
- Not a full 3D Touhou experience (weight 0.06): Players felt the game did not fully satisfy the desire for a comprehensive 3D Touhou platformer experience.
- Difficulty with achievements (weight 0.06): Achieving certain goals, like the Spatial Orientation achievement, was noted as particularly difficult.
- Cirno's moveset could be larger (weight 0.06): Players felt that Cirno's moveset was limited and could benefit from additional abilities.
- Frustration with blue blocks (weight 0.06): Players gave up after spending too much time looking for the last few blue blocks.
- Inferior to Mario 64 (weight 0.06): The movement system, camera system, and platforming level design were criticized as being inferior to those in Mario 64.
- Lacks momentum (weight 0.06): The game lacks a feeling of momentum, which was seen as a negative aspect.
- Weak base jump height (weight 0.06): The base jump height was described as almost uselessly weak, making platforming difficult.
- Difficulty modulating jump height (weight 0.06): Players found it difficult to modulate the height of the flutter jump, affecting gameplay.
- Minor flaws present (weight 0.05): There are minor flaws in the game, but they do not significantly detract from the overall experience.
- Blue pickups lack purpose (weight 0.05): Blue pickups were criticized for doing nothing besides giving points, making them feel pointless.
- Low multipliers (weight 0.05): Players rarely get a multiplier higher than 3-5, which was seen as a drawback.
- Title spoils the ending (weight 0.05): The title of the game was criticized for spoiling the ending.
- Fog prevents 100% completion (weight 0.05): The fog in the game made it impossible for some players to achieve 100% completion.

Gameplay feedback:
- Collectathon Gameplay Focus (weight 0.54): The game heavily emphasizes collectathon elements, where players gather various items and complete collections within levels.
- Ability Unlocking System (weight 0.46): The game includes a system for unlocking new powers and abilities, which enhance gameplay and provide progression.
- Platformer Mechanics (weight 0.4): The game features platformer mechanics, including jumping, movement controls, and navigation through different terrains.
- Movement and Control Mechanics (weight 0.32): The game's movement mechanics include controls for navigation and special abilities like the flutter jump, which can be upgraded.
- Exploration and Relaxation (weight 0.32): Players can explore various areas like Misty Lake and Scarlet Devil Mansion, with an emphasis on relaxation and admiration of the world.
- Power and Progression Systems (weight 0.28): The game includes systems for powering up the character and progressing through various upgrades and abilities.
- Guiding Features (weight 0.26): The game includes guiding features such as hints and a guiding light to help players when they are stuck or looking for specific items.
- Frog Collection Mechanic (weight 0.25): Players collect frogs, which are hidden and can be tracked down using audio cues, adding a layer of exploration and discovery.
- Unique Level Design (weight 0.19): The game features unique level design elements, such as islands in the sky and detailed maps, adding variety to the exploration.
- Timer and Scoring Mechanics (weight 0.18): The game features a timer and scoring system with multipliers, encouraging speed and efficiency in collecting items.
- Artistic Achievements (weight 0.16): The game features artistic achievements and specific goals, such as 'THE FASTEST' and 'TERRAIN EXPERT', adding replay value.
- Hidden Collectibles and Secrets (weight 0.12): The game includes hidden collectibles and secrets, encouraging thorough exploration and discovery.
- Invisible Walls and Navigation (weight 0.1): The game includes invisible walls and requires skill usage for navigation, adding a layer of challenge to the exploration.
- Character and World Design (weight 0.07): The game features detailed character models and world design, contributing to the overall aesthetic and immersion.
- Fan Game Context (weight 0.05): The game is set within the context of a Touhou fan game, which may appeal to fans of the series.

Performance notes:
- Runs well on laptop (weight 0.18): The game runs smoothly and efficiently on laptop devices, providing a good gaming experience.
- Flawless Steam Deck performance (weight 0.08): The game works perfectly on the Steam Deck, indicating good optimization for this platform.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for 3D platformer fans (weight 0.4): The game is suggested for enthusiasts of 3D platformers and collectathons. It provides a pleasant platforming experience that fans of Mario 64 and Banjo Kazooie might enjoy.
- General recommendations (weight 0.39): Many reviewers recommend the game for its enjoyable and relaxing experience. It is suggested for those looking for a fun and worth-the-time experience.
- Recommended for Touhou fans (weight 0.38): The game is highly recommended for fans of the Touhou series, especially those who enjoy its music and characters. It offers a fun and engaging experience tailored to this fanbase.
- Future updates and sequels (weight 0.22): Players express interest in future updates, sequels, or DLCs. They are looking forward to more content and improvements from the developers.
- Additional content wishes (weight 0.13): Players have expressed wishes for additional content like Steam point items, trading cards, cute emotes, and achievement updates.
- Specific gameplay improvements (weight 0.06): Some players have specific suggestions for gameplay improvements, such as adding a radar after reaching a certain power level.
- Pricing suggestions (weight 0.05): There are suggestions regarding the pricing of the game, with some players recommending a specific price point.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Joy (weight 0.36): Players experience joy from the game's atmospheric soundtrack, engaging mechanics, and the thrill of exploring a charming world. The combination of relaxing gameplay, cute aesthetics, and enjoyable movement mechanics contributes to a fun and immersive experience.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.12): Enjoyment stems from the game's vibrant atmosphere, Easter eggs, and the satisfying collectathon gameplay. The movement mechanics, art design, and music create a cohesive and engaging experience that players appreciate.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.1): Satisfaction comes from overcoming challenging tasks and achieving difficult goals, such as completing achievements and exploring the map. The fluid gameplay and gorgeous art style also contribute to a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment.
- Disappointment (weight 0.08): Disappointment arises from the game's short length and perceived lack of content for the price. Some players also criticize the movement system, camera system, and level design, comparing them unfavorably to other games.
- Frustration (weight 0.05): Frustration is caused by difficulties in achieving certain in-game goals, such as finding hidden items and navigating through invisible walls. The fog mechanic also adds to the frustration by making it hard to fully complete the game.
- Excitement (weight 0.04): Excitement is generated by the game's nostalgic elements, reminiscent of classic games like Banjo-Kazooie, and the enjoyable combination of music, gameplay, and atmosphere. Players are also excited about the prospect of fully completing the game.
- Relaxation (weight 0.01): The game's relaxing atmosphere provides a soothing and enjoyable experience, contributing to a sense of calm and contentment.
- Delight (weight 0.01): Delight comes from the game's smooth movement mechanics, cute character design, and the fun of exploring a vibrant and engaging world.}