Info about Rise of the Third Power:

Official game description:
Rise of the Third Power is a love letter to the glory days of the console style RPG, with modern conveniences such as auto-save and a combination of the best elements of Japanese and Western style gameplay and writing. Experience this fusion of East and West, old and new, in a game meant to surpass Stegosoft Games' previous work in every way!  
*   **STORY DRIVEN** - Join a party of eight, each with their own unique ambitions, perspectives and personalities as they embark upon a suicide mission to topple the Arkadyan emperor, Dimitri Noraskov. A blend of humor, drama and tragedy await players as they navigate the treacherous world of Rin.  
*   **POLITICAL INTRIGUE** - As the world of Rin recovers from the Great War, the balance of power remains badly skewed, with vacuums of power still waiting to be filled. The player's party will be both beset and aided by schemers, liars and betrayers, all while the clock ticks down to a reprise of the greatest war in human history.  
*   **CUSTOM BATTLE SYSTEM** - Rise of the Third Power offers eight playable characters in a battle system built from scratch, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, all of whom are meant to participate in battle simultaneously without the need for tedious party management. Combine each character's unique powers and disadvantages, analyze the abilities of your foes, set your formation and charge into battle.  
*   **PERSISTENT EQUIPMENT** - Each piece of equipment found, purchased or stolen is a permanent, unique upgrade for each character. Instead of purchasing replacements, the player purchases upgrades. No more buying that awesome helmet back in town only to stumble over a better one as treasure in a dungeon. Each character has 2 weapons, an accessory, and 10 equipment slots to craft upgrades for, with 80 craftables in total. This system avoids the tedium of inventory management, while also giving the completionist something useful to hunt for.
1587, 2A - 15 years have passed since the guns of the Great War at last fell silent. The conflict rocked the world, leaving half a generation of men and women lying dead on the battlefield. Of the many players that had acted on the world stage, only two remained: the kingdom of Cirinthia and the ancient Republic of Tariq.  
In time, Dimitri Noraskov, a hero to the defeated Kingdom of Arkadya, rose from the ashes. He saw his king as a coward for surrendering, and a traitor for submitting to the Treaty of Evenheart. So did the people. They supported Noraskov when he overthrew the king. They supported him as he reclaimed the lands that had been stripped of them. And they supported him as he raised an army. Noraskov had theorized that the nations of the world were still too worn by the Great War to enforce the terms of the Treaty. Thus far, his gambit has proven successful.  
The Arkadyan Empire shows no signs of curbing its aggression. It is feared by many that a reprise of the Great War, that at one time could have been prevented, is now all but inevitable. But there are those that believe it can yet be stopped...

Release date: Feb 10, 2022

Categories: Turn-based Combat, Story-driven Gameplay, Character Development, Political Simulation, JRPG, Pixel Art Style, Nostalgia-driven Gameplay, Narrative-driven Storytelling

Feature scans:
- Steam Deck: score 10; verdict: Seamless; summary: The overall user experience for this game on the Steam Deck is highly positive. Users have reported that the game works seamlessly and is perfect for the Steam Deck, with no significant technical barriers or issues.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


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:
- Excellent combat system (weight 0.96): The combat system is praised for being fun, engaging, and well-balanced. It includes unique mechanics for each character, satisfying animations, and a variety of playstyles, making battles enjoyable and non-repetitive.
- Beautiful pixel art and visuals (weight 0.86): The game's pixel art style is highly praised for its nostalgic 16-bit era graphics, beautiful sprite work, and well-crafted character designs. The visuals are considered a significant improvement over previous games.
- Engaging story and characters (weight 0.84): The game features a compelling and mature story with well-developed characters, character growth, and engaging dialogue. The narrative is praised for its depth, humor, and emotional impact, making it a standout feature.
- Diverse and unique characters (weight 0.84): The game features a diverse cast of characters, each with unique abilities, playstyles, and well-written backstories. The interactions and banter among party members add depth and humor to the game.
- Immersive music and world-building (weight 0.82): The music is described as excellent, catchy, and fitting the mood of the game. The world-building is praised for its depth, vibrancy, and the way the music enhances the immersive experience.
- Interesting side quests (weight 0.77): The side quests are noted for adding depth to the lore and providing additional content that enriches the game world. They are described as decent and contributing positively to the overall experience.
- Quality of life improvements (weight 0.2): The game includes several quality-of-life improvements such as visible enemies on the overworld, the ability to save anywhere outside of combat, and clear item descriptions. These features enhance the overall gameplay experience.

Common complaints:
- Repetitive and monotonous combat (weight 0.46): The combat system in the game becomes repetitive and monotonous over time. Players have noted that battles lack variety and excitement, making the combat feel stale and tedious.
- Poorly designed dungeons and maps (weight 0.43): The dungeon and map design in the game is criticized for being monotonous and confusing. Players have reported that dungeons lack variety and are often just hallways with monsters, making exploration tedious.
- Unrewarding exploration and chests (weight 0.42): Exploration in the game is criticized for being unrewarding. Players have noted that opening chests often yields unexciting items, making the exploration feel pointless and tedious.
- Slow and clunky gameplay (weight 0.41): The game suffers from slow pacing and clunky mechanics. Players have reported that the game feels sluggish, with slow character movement and excessive dialogue, making the overall experience less enjoyable.
- Balance and difficulty issues (weight 0.4): The game suffers from balance and difficulty issues. Players have noted that the combat can be either too simple or too difficult, and the lack of strategic options makes battles feel unbalanced.
- Lack of character customization (weight 0.15): The game lacks meaningful character customization options. Players have reported that the character progression and skill systems feel shallow and unsatisfying, limiting the ability to customize and specialize characters.
- Uninspired character portraits (weight 0.11): The character portraits in the game are criticized for being amateurish and not fitting well with the overall art style. Players have noted that the portraits look out of place and lack the quality of the pixel art used in the game.
- Lack of character depth and synergy (weight 0.07): Characters in the game are criticized for being dull, irritating, and lacking depth. Players have noted that some characters are underdeveloped and do not feel well-integrated into the story or gameplay.
- Annoying and tryhard dialogue (weight 0.05): The dialogue in the game is criticized for being tryhard and annoying. Players have reported that the relationship dialogue and character interactions can be absurd and irritating, detracting from the overall experience.
- Artificially extended gameplay (weight 0.03): The gameplay feels artificially extended and padded. Players have reported that some areas have too many fights and the game feels intentionally stretched to increase playtime.
- Distracting and irrelevant content (weight 0.02): The game includes content that some players find distracting and irrelevant to the gameplay. This includes political and social themes that do not mesh well with the overall tone and story of the game.

Gameplay feedback:
- Deep combat mechanics (weight 0.26): The combat system includes turn-based mechanics, character combos, and unique combat mechanics for each character. While combat can become repetitive, it is generally solid and engaging with well-done animations.
- SNES-era charm and style (weight 0.25): The game has a retro aesthetic reminiscent of SNES-era JRPGs, with graphics and gameplay elements that evoke nostalgia for classic titles like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest.
- Fatigue and exhaustion mechanics (weight 0.23): The game includes a fatigue mechanic that affects character performance and encourages character switching. Inns have additional functionalities, such as reviving defeated enemies.
- Character customization limitations (weight 0.2): While the game offers a branching talent tree and various character abilities, it lacks meaningful customization and branching classes, which may limit player choices.
- Crafting and item systems (weight 0.19): The game features a crafting system for weapons and armor, along with an item collection and upgrading system. The equipment is linear, with one accessory slot for customization.
- Story mode and difficulty options (weight 0.19): The game offers a story mode with an auto-kill option for instant battle resolution, catering to players who prefer a more narrative-driven experience. There are also different difficulty levels to choose from.
- Permanent stat upgrades (weight 0.19): The game features permanent stat upgrades from armor and weapons, reducing inventory busywork and providing lasting benefits to characters.
- Music and world design (weight 0.15): The music plays a significant role in driving the mood and immersing players in the world. The overall feel of the world is considered one of the best parts of the game.
- Combat and exploration balance (weight 0.12): The game features visible combat encounters on the overworld, avoiding random encounters. However, the combat can be slow and repetitive, and exploration may feel unrewarding at times.
- Complex political story (weight 0.1): The game features a complex geopolitical situation resembling Interwar Europe in the 1930s, with themes of moral ambivalence and engaging political narratives.

Performance notes:
- Optimized for Steam Deck (weight 0.03): The game is reported to work exceptionally well on the Steam Deck, providing a smooth and enjoyable gaming experience on this platform.

Recommendations:
- Highly recommended for JRPG fans (weight 0.2): The game is frequently praised as a must-play for fans of JRPGs, particularly those who enjoy classic SNES-era and turn-based RPGs. Many reviewers recommend it for its engaging story and traditional RPG systems.
- Worth buying, especially on sale (weight 0.18): Several reviews mention that the game is worth purchasing, particularly when it is on sale. It is seen as a great value for its price and respects the player's time.
- Try before refund window ends (weight 0.12): Some reviewers suggest keeping an eye on the refund window if the game does not immediately resonate with the player. This indicates that while many enjoy the game, it might not be for everyone.
- Fans of Ara Fell will enjoy (weight 0.04): The game is recommended for fans of the Ara Fell universe, with some reviewers suggesting it as a must-buy for those who enjoyed Ara Fell. It is also suggested to play this game before Ara Fell.

Other player notes:
- Reshade for visual enhancement (weight 0.01): Some players use Reshade version 5.0.2 to add a CRT scanline look to the game, enhancing their visual experience.

Emotions:
- Enjoyment (weight 0.18): Players derive enjoyment from the game's engaging story, well-developed characters, and fun combat mechanics. The combination of solid gameplay, charming humor, and appealing visuals, including well-done combat animations, contributes to an overall positive and enjoyable experience.
- Frustration (weight 0.13): Frustration stems from repetitive combat and exploration, which become monotonous over time. Additional sources of frustration include balance issues, lack of meaningful progression, and artificial extensions of gameplay that make leveling and crafting feel unsatisfying.
- Disappointment (weight 0.13): Disappointment arises from unmet expectations in combat mechanics, area design, and character progression. Players also express dissatisfaction with the game's ending, lack of character customization, and mismatches in tone and art style.
- Joy (weight 0.12): Joy is primarily driven by the game's well-written story, engaging characters, and enjoyable combat mechanics. The combination of beautiful art style, fantastic music, and humorous dialogue enhances the overall experience, making it a joyful ride for players.
- Appreciation (weight 0.1): Players appreciate the game's unique gameplay mechanics, excellent music, and engaging story. The blend of traditional JRPG elements with modern conveniences and interesting characters adds to the overall appreciation.
- Excitement (weight 0.07): Excitement is generated by the game's excellent music, pixel art, and well-paced story. The combination of mature storytelling, engaging characters, and sublime combat mechanics contributes to the overall excitement.
- Anticipation (weight 0.02): Players find enjoyment in the game's freedom of action and the engaging interactions between the main characters. The fun dynamics and dialogues among the protagonists significantly enhance the gaming experience.
- Dissatisfaction (weight 0.02): Dissatisfaction arises from the lengthy initial period where player freedom is restricted. Additionally, players find the overall presentation and execution of the game lacking, contributing to their frustration.
- Admiration (weight 0.01): Players admire the game's intricate world-building and well-designed battle system. The overall quality and thoughtful design of the game evoke a sense of admiration.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.04): The game evokes nostalgia through its 2D graphics and similarities to classic 16-bit JRPGs. Players appreciate the nostalgic style, gameplay, story, and sound, which remind them of older RPGs.
- Nostalgic (weight 0.01): The game evokes a sense of nostalgia as it reminds players of classic RPGs like Lunar: Silver Star Story. This connection to beloved older games enhances the nostalgic feeling.}