Info about Swords & Souls: Neverseen:

Official game description:
From SoulGame Studio, creators of the wildly popular Swords & Souls, comes an all new, even bigger standalone adventure to an island far across the sea. In Swords & Souls: Neverseen you find yourself shipwrecked and caught up in a struggle between a dangerous witch and some decidedly kooky townsfolk. To stop the witch, you'll need to train, fight, train, and fight some more in this addictive single-player combat-focused game that rewards player skill and juicy progression.  
*   Addictive and evolving training minigames to train your character's stats  
*   A fast-paced blend of real-time and turn-based combat  
*   Face hordes of enemies across the Neverseen and its wild environments  
*   Tame pets and meet colorful mercenaries, both to fight beside you  
*   Vary your playstyle with six types of weapons, passive skills, and unique rings  
*   Upgrade your home and training grounds for stat and experience gain  
*   Buy equipment, invest in the local museum, go shopping, fishing and more!  
*   Keep playing in the post-game endless mode with randomized encounters  
*   Online leaderboard to share your high scores  
*   A light-hearted story filled with surprises and humor
(The Boss Battle music is based on "Dark Sanctum" by _Visager_)

Release date: Jul 22, 2019

Categories: Character Progression, Training Simulation, Timing-based Combat, Turn-based Combat, Mini-game Collection, Beast Taming, Endless Mode, Online Leaderboards

Feature scans:
- Steam Deck: score 75; verdict: Broken on Deck; summary: The game is claimed to support controllers, but multiple reviews confirm it does not, making it difficult or impossible to play on Steam Deck without workarounds. Additionally, the lack of Steam Cloud support resulted in a user losing all progress, and a missing VSync option adds further polish issues. These factors combine to create a highly frustrating out-of-the-box experience on Steam Deck.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $5.00 - $10.00
  - Reasoning: The community consistently indicates that the full price of $14.99 is too high for the amount of content, with multiple reviews explicitly recommending purchase only during sales. Suggested fair values cluster around $5 (a commonly cited good deal price) and up to about $7.50 (a 50% discount), while a few positive reviews still consider it worth full price. This suggests a fair base-game price range of $5 to $10, capturing both the sale-price consensus and the upper threshold some players are willing to pay.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 12.0h
  - Story completion: 10.0h
  - Session length: 4.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: Story completion is estimated at 10 hours from multiple reviews indicating the main campaign takes about 10 hours (under 10 hours, 10 hours of base game). Game completion is set to 12 hours based on the explicit claim of completing everything except Endless Mode. Session length is taken from a player who played 4 hours in one sitting. Endgame has no specific time claims, so it is null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game delivers strong initial fun through addictive training and progression, but this enjoyment fades as repetition and endgame grind take over, turning into a tedious experience for many players.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: slow start; initial grind
  - Unlock drivers: reaching chapter 2
  - Conditions: during the first hours; at the endgame/endless mode; for completionists; if you enjoy incremental progression; if you like the original flash game; if you are okay with grind
- Player Archetypes:
  - Nostalgic Flash Veterans (buy)
    - Motivation: Relive childhood memories and enjoy the updated version of a beloved classic.
    - Playstyle: Plays through the story casually, enjoys mini-games and character progression, often without grinding for achievements.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Swords & Souls
  - Achievement Hunters (sale)
    - Motivation: Achieve 100% completion and unlock all achievements, often to the detriment of enjoyment.
    - Playstyle: Uses guides and plans to optimize grind, prioritizes achievements over story or casual fun, and may restart or save-scum.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: completionist; achievement hunter
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Mindless Grinders (buy)
    - Motivation: Enjoy the relaxing, repetitive grind as a way to chill and zone out.
    - Playstyle: Spends long sessions grinding mini-games and training, often in the background while doing other things, without concern for optimization or achievements.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: grinder
    - 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 highly enjoyable and fun (weight 0.67): Players consistently describe the game as fun, entertaining, and addictive. The gameplay is praised for being engaging and a good time-killer.
- Training minigames are excellent (weight 0.54): Many players highlight the training mini-games as a standout feature. They are described as fun, satisfying, and engaging, with a good variety that enhances the gameplay experience.
- Improved over original version (weight 0.36): The game is seen as a significant improvement over the original Flash version, with more polish, content, and better overall execution. Players appreciate the refinements and added depth.
- Strong nostalgic appeal (weight 0.29): The game evokes strong nostalgia for classic Flash games, resonating with players who enjoyed similar games in their childhood. The nostalgic elements are a major draw.
- Combat simple but satisfying (weight 0.21): The combat system is noted for being simple yet satisfying, with easy-to-learn mechanics and good feedback. It is engaging without being overly complex.
- High praise and masterpiece (weight 0.19): A subset of players consider the game to be a masterpiece and one of the best in its series. They praise its overall quality and polish.
- Engaging story and narrative (weight 0.18): The game's story is praised as interesting and well-executed, with a compelling narrative and good character interactions that enhance the gameplay.
- Improved and appealing visuals (weight 0.17): The graphics have seen a significant improvement, with players praising the new visual style and overall aesthetic appeal.
- High replay value and completion (weight 0.12): Players appreciate the game's replayability, with many aiming for 100% completion and unlocking achievements. The variety of playthroughs adds to its value.
- Interesting progression system (weight 0.12): The progression system, tied to minigames, is highlighted as interesting and detailed. Players enjoy the variety in character growth through these mechanics.
- Diverse enemies and variety (weight 0.09): Players appreciate the wide variety of enemies and levels, which keeps the gameplay fresh and challenging.
- Good weapon variety and classes (weight 0.09): The game offers multiple weapon types, each with unique abilities, allowing for different playstyles and classes. This adds depth and replayability.
- Simple and casual fun (weight 0.09): The game is considered simple and fun to play, ideal for casual sessions without requiring much thought. Its mechanics are accessible and enjoyable.
- Memorable and engaging characters (weight 0.09): Characters in the game are described as lively, well-written, and unique, making them memorable and enhancing the overall experience.

Common complaints:
- Endless mode too grindy (weight 0.33): Endless mode achievements require excessive time and repetition, with stage 120 singled out as a pure time sink lacking skill. This grindy nature makes completion tedious and sickening.
- Overall gameplay monotonous (weight 0.27): The core gameplay is described as monotonous and repetitive, becoming boring after the first few hours or post-story. This repetitive nature tires players and reduces enjoyment.
- Game grindy after story (weight 0.25): The game becomes grindy after the main story, with grinding tedious and slow, especially for endless mode and 100% completion. This detracts from the overall experience.
- Training minigames repetitive (weight 0.24): Training minigames become repetitive and sometimes complicated or unfun, with limited variety reducing replayability. Players find themselves doing the same activities for hours.
- 100% completion tedious (weight 0.17): Achieving 100% completion is annoying and grindy, with the platinum trophy being unnecessarily tedious. This makes full completion painful and wearisome.
- No cloud saves supported (weight 0.17): The game lacks Steam Cloud support, which has caused loss of progress for some players. This is a significant technical issue, especially for those with multiple devices.
- Story lacking depth (weight 0.16): The story and characters are thin, with almost no narrative or personality. Players note no real depth, making the game feel empty.
- Game glitchy and buggy (weight 0.14): The game suffers from glitches, inconsistencies, and crashes, which can disrupt gameplay. One major save file bug has been unfixed for two years, preventing progress.
- Story too short (weight 0.13): The game's story is surprisingly short, leaving players wanting more. The campaign finishes quickly, and the lack of length is a common complaint.
- Archery minigame frustrating (weight 0.08): The archery minigame is excessively difficult and frustrating, with unfair medal requirements and timing mechanics. Players find it plain bad and annoying.
- Content too short (weight 0.08): The game has too little story content and is overall short, leaving players unsatisfied. Some feel the content doesn't justify the price.
- Price too high for content (weight 0.08): Players feel the game is overpriced relative to its content amount. The short length and limited replayability make the cost hard to justify.

Gameplay feedback:
- Training minigames are central (weight 0.72): The game revolves around a training system composed of five distinct mini-games that improve various character stats and skills. Training serves as the core progression mechanic, with players repeatedly engaging in these mini-games to grow stronger.
- Progression via leveling system (weight 0.47): A progression and leveling system is a key feature, allowing players to upgrade their character through experience points and stat increases. The system is RPG-style and requires grinding through gameplay activities to advance.
- Timing-based combat mechanics (weight 0.35): Combat requires active engagement with dodge, block, parry, and counter mechanics that depend on precise timing. Perfect timing triggers counterattacks and is essential for success in battles.
- Endless mode post-story (weight 0.24): After completing the main story, an endless mode unlocks with progressively harder stages, including up to 120 stages. This mode offers infinite replayability for players seeking continued challenges.
- Turn-based active combat (weight 0.21): Combat is turn-based but requires active participation through timing-based blocks, dodges, and counterattacks. QTE elements and skills add depth to the turn-based battles.
- Training for five disciplines (weight 0.18): Training systems cover sword, bow, magic, defense, and dodge skills. Each discipline has its own dedicated training method to improve related stats.
- Fishing and museum features (weight 0.17): The game includes a fishing mini-game and a museum for collecting items. Additional features like mercenaries and pets complement the fishing and museum systems.
- Sequel to flash game (weight 0.15): The game is a modern, more interactive adaptation of an original flash game. Players compare it to the flash version, noting it as a full and enhanced sequel.
- Beast taming system (weight 0.14): The game allows players to tame animals and monsters, which can serve as companions in combat. Taming is a notable gameplay activity that enhances battle capabilities.
- Multiple weapon choices (weight 0.13): Players can select from 5-6 different weapons, each offering distinct classes and combos. Some weapons may be less balanced than others.
- Mercenaries and pets assist (weight 0.13): The game includes mercenaries who can be hired for limited battles, and pets that support in combat. These characters add strategic options to gameplay.
- Achievements require grinding (weight 0.12): The game offers achievements, some of which require significant grinding in mini-games. Unlocking all achievements can be time-consuming.
- Various minigames with trials (weight 0.11): Players encounter a variety of mini-games featuring trials and challenges that increase in difficulty. These mini-games are integral to gameplay and character development.
- House upgrades boost XP (weight 0.08): Players can upgrade their house to permanently increase experience gain, providing a multiplier for XP. This upgrade system enhances progression efficiency.
- Simple storyline present (weight 0.07): The game features a straightforward story with basic lore. It provides context for the gameplay, though it is not the main focus.
- Approximately ten hours long (weight 0.07): The game offers content for about 10-15 hours to complete. Playtime is relatively short, making it suitable for a focused play session.
- Skills are grindable (weight 0.07): Skill progression requires grinding through repetitive training. Players must invest considerable time to master all available skills.

Performance notes:
- Performance issues on various hardware (weight 0.13): Multiple clusters report performance problems, including struggling on weak hardware, stuttering, and hiccups even on newer systems. These issues suggest inconsistent optimization across different configurations.
- Runs well on some systems (weight 0.09): Several clusters report good performance, including low-end hardware running without lag, no crashes or stutters, and stable 144fps at 1440p. This contrast with problem reports suggests hardware-dependent behavior.
- Game fails to start (weight 0.06): One cluster states the game no longer starts, and another mentions an unfixable problem on one computer. This indicates potential launch-breaking bugs for some users.
- Frame rate drops when tabbing (weight 0.04): Minimizing or changing tabs while running the game can cause frame rate to drop to about 30 fps until restart, despite normally achieving 120 fps. This is a specific performance bug affecting backgrounded play.
- Lacks VSync setting (weight 0.03): The game has no VSync option, which may lead to screen tearing and is a missing common graphics setting. This could be a quality-of-life issue for players with mismatched refresh rates.

Recommendations:
- Buy on sale (weight 0.41): Multiple reviewers suggest waiting for a discount rather than paying full price. The game is enjoyable but not worth its full cost.
- Recommended overall (weight 0.3): Several reviewers give a straightforward recommendation to play the game. It is considered a positive experience for most players.
- Appeals to nostalgia (weight 0.18): The game is particularly recommended for fans of the original flash version or those seeking a nostalgia trip. It resonates with older players who experienced the original.
- Worth the money (weight 0.17): Some reviewers feel the purchase is worthwhile at full price or generally worth the cost. They emphasize the game's value for its price.
- Good for grinders (weight 0.15): The game is recommended for players who enjoy grinding or farming mechanics, but not for those who dislike such repetition. Its grind is a key feature.
- Good time killer (weight 0.1): The game is recommended for passing time or relaxing. It works well as a casual time-killer for players looking to unwind.
- Worth trying (weight 0.09): Many reviewers encourage giving the game a try, even if it may not be for everyone. Trying it is seen as worthwhile.
- Try free original first (weight 0.06): Reviewers suggest checking out the free original version to see if the gameplay suits you. This helps avoid buying if you may dislike the mechanics.
- Recommended for minigame fans (weight 0.06): Players who enjoy twitchy or casual minigames are likely to enjoy this game. It is seen as a good fit for that audience.
- Not recommended (weight 0.05): A couple of reviewers would not recommend the game. They had negative impressions or found it lacking.
- Story play recommended (weight 0.05): The game is recommended for playing through the story and messing around, but not necessarily beyond the main content. It has limited replay value.

Other player notes:
- Comparison to original flash game (weight 0.56): Many reviewers compared this game to the original flash game 'Swords and Souls', often noting it as an enhanced or polished version. Feedback indicates it is either equally fun or superior, and is a natural evolution of the flash original.
- Rooted in flash game heritage (weight 0.28): The game is widely recognized as originating from a flash game, now available on Steam. Reviewers note it as a remake, sequel, or successor to the earlier flash version, highlighting its journey from browser to modern platform.
- Nostalgia for flash games (weight 0.25): The game evokes strong nostalgia for the flash game era, reminding players of childhood browser games. Reviewers often describe it as a throwback that brings back memories of playing flash games in middle school or on sites like Armor Games and Kongregate.
- Short main story length (weight 0.25): Several reviewers note the main story is relatively short, with completion times ranging from under 3 hours to around 10 hours. While some find this acceptable, others feel the content is too brief for the price.
- Comparable to browser version (weight 0.23): Many reviewers compare the game to its browser or flash version, finding that they barely differ. This suggests the core experience remains faithful to the original, with only minor changes or updates.
- Lacks cloud save support (weight 0.12): A notable technical downside is the lack of Steam cloud save support, preventing players from syncing their progress across devices. This is a clear inconvenience for those who want to play on multiple systems.
- No missable or broken achievements (weight 0.09): Reviewers appreciate that the game has no missable, broken, or multiplayer-only achievements, with all achievements being attainable. This makes it easy for players to complete all achievements without frustration.
- Varies in content amount (weight 0.08): Opinions on content length are mixed, with some stating there is a large amount lasting over 20 hours, while others report 10-15 hours. This discrepancy may depend on the player's engagement with side content or endless mode.
- Includes endless mode (weight 0.08): The game features an endless mode that unlocks after completing the story or reaching level 100, providing additional replay value. This mode appeals to players seeking more content beyond the main storyline.
- Exists as free flash version (weight 0.07): Reviewers point out that a free version of the game exists as a flash game on sites like Kongregate, with this version reusing content from it. This may affect the perceived value of the paid version for some players.
- Price considered high (weight 0.07): Some reviewers feel the game is sold at a relatively high price for what it offers, especially given its short length or the existence of a free flash version. They suggest it may be overpriced, particularly at full price.

Emotions:
- Enjoyment (weight 0.14): Players overwhelmingly report having fun with the game's core loop of training mini-games and combat, frequently citing the engaging and varied gameplay mechanics. The satisfying progression system, nostalgic ties to the original Flash game, and polished presentation contribute to a broadly positive experience that keeps players returning for short daily sessions or extended grinding.
- Frustration (weight 0.13): The primary sources of frustration are the excessive grind required for achievements and late-game progression, particularly tedious mini-games like archery and coin juggling. Technical issues, including save corruption, lack of controller support despite advertised features, and difficulty spikes in training challenges, compound the frustration and lead to lost progress for many players.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.12): Players derive deep satisfaction from the sense of progression, watching their character grow from weak to powerful through training and combat. The game's improved mechanics, rewarding grind, and faithful enhancement of the original concept provide a fulfilling experience that justifies the purchase for most, with many expressing contentment at completing achievements and mastering the game's systems.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.1): The game serves as a powerful nostalgia trigger for players who grew up with the original Flash version, evoking fond childhood memories of playing on browsers like 4399 and Kongregate. The remake's faithful recreation of the original's aesthetic, remixed title track, and familiar mechanics strongly resonate with players, often described as a concentrated dose of Flash-era nostalgia.
- Disappointment (weight 0.08): The main sources of disappointment stem from the game's short main story and limited content relative to its price, with several players noting the campaign can be completed in under 10 hours. Technical issues like save corruption and the lack of cloud saves, combined with less impactful combat animations and missing features from the original, further diminish the experience for some players.
- Excitement (weight 0.03): Players express excitement about the game's addictive training systems, varied combat mechanics, and the ability to finally play a polished, expanded version of a beloved Flash game. The announcement and release of the sequel after many years generated enthusiasm, with the final boss and fast-paced combo combat providing memorable highlights that players found compelling.
- Boredom (weight 0.03): Boredom sets in primarily during the late game when the training mini-games become repetitive and the grind for achievements grows monotonous. The repetitive gameplay loop, boring soundtrack, and lack of meaningful new content after the main story contribute to a feeling of dullness, especially for adult players who no longer find the mechanics as engaging.
- Admiration (weight 0.02): Players admire the game as a worthy successor that significantly improves upon the original while maintaining its core spirit. The beautiful story, impressive graphical upgrades, and well-implemented mechanics lead many to describe the game as a masterpiece that serves as an excellent example for similar titles in the genre.
- Annoyance (weight 0.02): Annoyance arises from poorly designed training challenges, particularly magic and archery mini-games that frustrate with awkward controls and demanding requirements. Tedious systems like searching for specific mobs without clear indicators, meaningless fishing, and the grind for 100% completion further test players' patience.
- Amusement (weight 0.02): The game's humor and lighthearted tone frequently produce genuine laughter, with quirky characters, funny dialogue, and absurd gameplay possibilities adding charm. Players appreciate the comedic elements woven throughout the game, from nervous character reactions to humorous interactions, making the game a delightfully entertaining experience.
- Addiction (weight 0.02): The surprisingly addictive gameplay loop of training, battling, farming, and exploring hooks players for prolonged sessions, often losing track of time. The well-balanced difficulty and immersive training mini-games create a compelling cycle that keeps players engaged well beyond their initial intentions.
- Appreciation (weight 0.02): Players appreciate the game's polished presentation, colorful graphics, and thoughtful improvements over the original, including new quests, challenges, and mechanics. The studio's efforts to revamp combat while preserving nostalgic elements are recognized, and the attention to detail in art style and design is widely praised.
- Love (weight 0.02): The game's depth, charm, and faithful expansion of the original Flash experience inspire strong affection from players, many of whom have loved the series since childhood. The variety of activities, likable characters, and overall quality lead players to rank it among their favorite games.
- Happiness (weight 0.02): Players feel happiness from finally being able to play the game after anticipation, especially those who had failed to access it previously. The game's evolution from its Flash origins and preserved nostalgic elements bring joy, reinforced by the lighthearted story that keeps players smiling throughout their experience.
- Fondness (weight 0.01): The game evokes fondness as a childhood favorite that has been lovingly remade, retaining the original's spirit while improving nearly every aspect. Players appreciate the charming RPG elements and improved gameplay, which create lasting positive memories and make the game enjoyable to revisit.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Anger primarily results from significant progress loss due to game-breaking save bugs and lack of cloud support, which erases hours of investment. Forced grinding for achievements, poor item mechanics, and perceived developer negligence in fixing persistent issues compound the frustration into outright anger for affected players.
- Engagement (weight 0.01): The game's challenging yet accessible combat, combined with well-designed training modes, keeps players deeply engaged. The combination of varied activities and the satisfying loop of improvement makes it easy to lose track of time, with training sessions frequently passing unnoticed.
- Approval (weight 0.01): Players approve of the game as a worthy sequel that builds upon and improves the first installment while staying true to its roots. The balance of maintaining classic elements with added completeness earns approval, with many considering it a great and chill experience.
- Joy (weight 0.01): The game's fun gameplay, hilarious dialogue, and charming characters bring genuine joy, making players feel like kids again. The ability to finally purchase and play a long-awaited sequel to a beloved Flash game delivers a masterful and joyful experience, even providing great happiness during offline periods.}