Info about MiniLAW: Ministry of Law:

Official game description:
In MiniLAW, you take the role of a Constable, an elite officer of the Ministry of Law.  
Roam the dystopian future city of New Babel, Mankind's Last Hope, in search of crimes in progress.  
Use lethal weapons, non-lethal force, and diplomacy to take down bad guys.  
Successfully apprehending criminal elements grants you Requisition Points that you may use to purchase gear or upgrade modules from your superiors at miniFACT to improve the various abilities of the powered exo-frame bolted to your skeleton. Overclock your various combat abilities to perform superhuman feats as a matter of course.

Release date: Jan 1, 2020

Categories: Action Platformer, Side-scrolling Shooter, Character Progression, Cyberpunk, Tactical Combat, 2D Platformer, Precision Platforming

Feature scans:
- Steam Deck: score 50; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals significant issues with controller support in the game. Multiple users have reported that the game does not fully support controllers as advertised, leading to frustration and difficulty in gameplay. Additionally, users have noted that the controller support is partial, making some aspects of the game inaccessible via controller. These issues severely impact the user experience, particularly for those who prefer or require controller support.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $9.99 - $14.99
  - Reasoning: The first quote indicates that the user feels the game is worth the price they paid, suggesting a fair value. The second quote explicitly mentions that the game is a great deal at $15, providing a clear price point that users find fair. The third quote implies that the game is often purchased on sale, indicating that the regular price might be perceived as slightly high, but still within a reasonable range when discounted.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 5.0h
  - Story completion: 2.0h
  - Session length: 1.0h
  - Endgame: 6.0h
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides several key points about playtime. One user mentions beating a normal run in about 5 hours, which suggests the typical time to finish the game. Another user mentions about 2 hours of total content with a 6-hour grind to get to endgame, indicating the typical time to finish the main story and the endgame content. Additionally, multiple users mention spending hours searching for clues and disarming the nuclear bomb, which supports the idea of extended play sessions and replayability.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game has a steep learning curve and clunky controls that initially hinder enjoyment, but once mastered, the gameplay becomes rewarding and addictive.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Mastering the controls and understanding the game mechanics
  - Time to anchor: 1h 0m
  - Friction: Clunky controls; Confusing default key bindings; Steep learning curve; Repetitive gameplay; Various glitches
  - Unlock drivers: Completing the tutorial; Rebinding controls to preferred settings; Understanding game mechanics
  - Conditions: Playing with a controller; Playing with keyboard and mouse; Watching tutorial carefully; Rebinding controls
- Player Archetypes:
  - Tactical Non-Lethal Strategist (buy)
    - Motivation: Strategic depth and variety in combat.
    - Playstyle: Uses a mix of lethal and non-lethal tactics, enjoys customizing and upgrading their character.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: strategist; tactician
    - Reference games: Dredd vs Death; Cyberpunk 2020
  - Franchise Fan (sale)
    - Motivation: Thematic elements and franchise loyalty.
    - Playstyle: Enjoys the game for its aesthetic and thematic elements, may overlook gameplay flaws due to franchise loyalty.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: franchise fan; cyberpunk enthusiast
    - Reference games: Judge Dredd; Robocop
  - Critical Bargain Hunter (deep sale)
    - Motivation: Value for money and game completeness.
    - Playstyle: Critical of gameplay flaws, seeks value and completeness in games.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: deep sale
    - Labels: bargain hunter; critical player
    - 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:
- Inspired by Robocop and Judge Dredd (weight 0.66): The game draws significant thematic inspiration from classic cyberpunk franchises like Robocop and Judge Dredd, blending their dystopian law enforcement themes.
- Beautiful graphics and pixel art (weight 0.6): The game features visually stunning graphics with a detailed pixel art style that enhances its cyberpunk aesthetic.
- Fun and satisfying gameplay (weight 0.54): Players find the gameplay enjoyable and satisfying, with high replayability and addictive mechanics.
- Variety of enemies and combat (weight 0.45): The game offers a diverse range of enemies and combat options, making the gameplay dynamic and engaging.
- Non-lethal gameplay options (weight 0.36): The game encourages non-lethal options and provides viable and fun alternatives to lethal force.
- Responsive and active developers (weight 0.23): The developers are responsive to player feedback, quickly addressing bug reports and suggestions, and providing consistent updates.
- Great soundtrack and sound design (weight 0.2): The game features a phenomenal soundscape and an excellent soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- Flexible upgrade system (weight 0.11): The game features a flexible upgrade system that allows for different playstyles and builds.
- Complex and engaging gameplay loop (weight 0.11): The gameplay loop is complex and engaging, providing a satisfying core experience.
- Good theme and story (weight 0.11): The game has a compelling theme and story that resonates with fans of dystopian and cyberpunk genres.
- Worth the price (weight 0.1): Players feel that the game is worth its full price, offering good value for the cost.
- Tutorial and help available (weight 0.1): The game includes a tutorial and help screens to assist players in understanding the mechanics.
- Cool intro video (weight 0.1): The game features a cool and beautiful intro video that sets the tone for the experience.
- Loads of action (weight 0.1): The game is packed with continuous action, keeping players engaged and entertained.

Common complaints:
- Repetitive gameplay and levels (weight 0.6): Players report that the game suffers from repetitive levels and gameplay. This lack of variety can make the game feel monotonous.
- Controls are difficult and clunky (weight 0.58): Many players find the controls hard to learn and awkward to use. The extensive control scheme is frustrating and takes a while to get used to.
- Buggy and glitchy (weight 0.37): The game is noted for having various bugs and glitches, including broken achievements and glitchy visual effects that can be bothersome.
- Unintuitive UI and unclear goals (weight 0.36): The user interface is unintuitive, and game goals are often unclear. Additionally, stats are not well explained, leading to confusion.
- Steep learning curve (weight 0.25): The game has a steep learning curve, making it hard for new players to get into. This can be a significant barrier to entry for some.
- Poor controller support (weight 0.16): Controller support is reported to be lacking, with some buttons not working correctly, making the game difficult to play with a controller.
- Short gameplay duration (weight 0.11): The gameplay is relatively short, which may leave players wanting more content.
- Menu navigation issues (weight 0.1): There are problems with menu navigation, making it difficult for players to click and interact with menus.
- Melee combat issues (weight 0.1): Melee combat is reported to be uncontrolled and not smooth, detracting from the overall gameplay experience.
- Cutscenes skip too fast (weight 0.1): Cutscenes can be skipped accidentally or too fast, which can be frustrating for players who want to watch them.
- Confusing tutorial (weight 0.1): The tutorial is confusing, which can make it difficult for new players to understand the game mechanics.
- Movement speed issues (weight 0.1): There are issues with movement speed, which can affect the overall gameplay experience.
- Dumb enemy AI (weight 0.09): The enemy AI can be quite dumb in certain situations, which can make the game feel less challenging and immersive.

Gameplay feedback:
- Side-scrolling action-platformer gameplay (weight 0.32): The game is a 2D action-platformer with side-scrolling shooter elements, offering a classic yet engaging gameplay experience.
- Variety in gameplay styles (weight 0.31): The game offers a variety of gameplay styles and playstyles, allowing players to approach missions in different ways.
- Non-lethal and lethal gameplay options (weight 0.29): The game offers a variety of non-lethal and lethal options for dealing with enemies, encouraging players to choose non-lethal methods.
- Cyberpunk dystopian setting (weight 0.27): The game is set in a cyberpunk post-apocalyptic urban dystopia, with a retro-futuristic aesthetic that enhances the atmosphere.
- Upgrade system for abilities and gear (weight 0.27): Players can upgrade their weapons, abilities, and cybernetic parts, as well as customize their stats and gear.
- Mission to disarm a nuclear bomb (weight 0.24): The main objective of the game involves locating and disarming a nuclear bomb, providing a clear and urgent goal for players.
- Crime-busting mechanics (weight 0.19): Players engage in crime-busting activities, including arresting criminals and maintaining crime levels, adding depth to the gameplay.
- Tactical combat system (weight 0.16): The game features tactical combat, requiring players to think strategically and engage in melee combat.
- Player as law enforcement officer (weight 0.16): Players take on the role of a law enforcement officer, specifically a Constable in power armor, which influences the game's narrative and mechanics.
- Unique control scheme (weight 0.15): The game features a unique control scheme that may take some getting used to, affecting the overall gameplay experience.
- Core gameplay loop (weight 0.15): The game's core gameplay loop may become repetitive over time, potentially affecting long-term engagement.

Performance notes:
- Frequent game crashes (weight 0.25): The game experiences frequent crashes, including crashes to desktop, crashes during boss fights, and minor crashes. Optional tutorial phone calls also caused crashes.
- Game speed tied to FPS (weight 0.25): The game's speed is directly tied to its frame rate, causing it to run too fast at high FPS. Players reported initial speed issues and general speed problems.
- Various glitches reported (weight 0.2): Players have encountered various glitches, including glitchy effects, minor glitches with AI movements, and a game-breaking glitch with an infinite dialogue loop.
- Visual effects causing discomfort (weight 0.17): Certain visual effects such as scanlines, large line effects, glitch effects, and CRT effects are reported to cause headaches and make players sick.
- Performance issues (weight 0.16): The game has performance issues such as occasional extreme lag, framerate hitching, and high graphics requirements to run smoothly.
- Control issues (weight 0.06): Players have reported problems with X-input controls, specifically mentioning that the controls for the 360 controller are not great.
- Menu interaction problems (weight 0.06): There are issues with menu interactions, specifically problems with clicking in the menu.
- V-sync activation needed (weight 0.05): Players needed to activate v-sync to address some of the performance or visual issues.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for specific fanbases (weight 0.25): The game is highly recommended for fans of 2D action, Judge Dredd, Cyberpunk 2020, Robocop, intense 2D combat, and retro games. It appeals to nostalgia and specific interests.
- Positive recommendations (weight 0.2): Multiple clusters simply recommend the game or suggest giving it a try. This indicates a general positive reception.
- High overall rating (weight 0.07): The game received an overall rating of 8/10, indicating a generally positive reception and good quality.
- Good value for money (weight 0.07): The game is seen as a good value for its current price, suggesting that players feel they are getting their money's worth.
- Wait for full release (weight 0.06): Some players recommend waiting until the game is fully finished before purchasing, indicating that it might still have some issues or unfinished content.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.29): Players are frustrated primarily due to the game's control issues, which are described as clunky, difficult to master, and sometimes janky. Additionally, the game's repetitive level design, lack of clear explanations for stats and mechanics, and various performance issues such as bugs, glitches, and framerate problems contribute significantly to this frustration.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.28): Players enjoy the game's combat system, which is described as fluid, deep, and tactical. The variety of gameplay mechanics, strategic depth, and the satisfying gameplay loop also contribute to the enjoyment. Additionally, the game's aesthetics, including art, animations, and music, are highly appreciated.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.09): Players find satisfaction in the game's flexible upgrade system and the sense of growth it provides. The satisfying sound effects, enjoyable primary gameplay loop, and the cool moves and combos also contribute to this feeling. Additionally, the developer's responsiveness to player feedback is noted as a positive aspect.
- Excitement (weight 0.07): The blend of retro action and cyberpunk themes excites players, along with the fun of finding in-game elements like bombs and codes. The physics playground and clever environmental interactions, as well as the variety of enemies and loot, add to the excitement.
- Disappointment (weight 0.06): Players express disappointment due to the game's poor controls and lack of polish. The broken achievements, repetitive elements, and lack of depth in gameplay also contribute to this sentiment. Additionally, issues with menu navigation and overall poor execution are noted.
- Engagement (weight 0.03): The strategic depth and variety in combat engage players, along with the robust options for dealing with lawbreakers. The engaging gameplay loop and campaign, as well as the variety of gameplay mechanics, keep players invested.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.03): The game's aesthetic and theme, reminiscent of Robocop and Judge Dredd, evoke a sense of nostalgia in players. The mention of Judge Dredd and the game's resemblance to 80-90s games contribute to this feeling.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.03): Players are enthusiastic about the game's impressive mechanics and the variety in gameplay styles. The strategic depth and the range of options available to players are particularly noted.
- Admiration (weight 0.02): Players admire the game's amazing visuals and the setting and soundscape. The unique aesthetic and thematic elements are highly appreciated.
- Love (weight 0.01): Players express love for the overall game experience, indicating a strong positive emotional connection to the game as a whole.
- Overwhelmed (weight 0.01): Some players feel overwhelmed due to the difficulty in figuring out how to play the in-depth melee combat system, indicating a steep learning curve.
- Challenge (weight 0.01): The somewhat steep learning curve presents a challenge to players, which can be both frustrating and engaging.
- Relief (weight 0.01): Players feel relief due to the developer's quick response and solution to issues, showing appreciation for active support.
- Hope (weight 0.01): The developer's responsiveness gives players hope for future improvements and updates, fostering a positive outlook.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Players are confused by the unclear experimental mode, indicating a need for better explanations or tutorials.
- Contentment (weight 0.01): Players feel content with the game's fun mechanics and the endless mode, which provides long-term enjoyment.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): The retail release being sooner than expected surprises players, indicating a positive surprise regarding the game's availability.
- Appreciation (weight 0.01): Players appreciate the developers' cooperation, indicating a positive relationship between the players and the development team.
- Interest (weight 0.01): The unique game setting and character spark players' interest, drawing them into the game's world and narrative.
- Pride (weight 0.01): Players feel a sense of pride in successfully diffusing the bomb, indicating a rewarding experience from overcoming in-game challenges.}