Info about Monster Sanctuary:

Official game description:
Master the Monster Sanctuary!
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Delve deep into the Metroidvania inspired world of Monster Sanctuary, explore the expansive lands and call upon your monsters to lend their aid in and out of combat! Use their unique skills to fly, ride and brute force your way through environmental puzzles and precise platforming! The world is yours to traverse as you see fit, are you ready to take on the Sanctuary?
Collect, Evolve and Battle!
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Your quest begins with a choice of an ancient spectral familiar, a wistful monster who will guide your first steps into the sanctuary. They will be by your side as you catch your first of 111 monsters. From here it is up to you to hatch, collect, evolve and train monsters from across the Sanctuary! Each possesses unique abilities and a skill tree for you to customise as your team grows in strength.
Battle it out in Strategic Combat!
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Strategically order your attacks for maximum efficiency, stacking your attacks to deal devastating combos! Try out different team combinations and make use of synergies between your monsters. Encounter formidable foes, endurance challenges and train an unbeatable team!
Clash in PvP battles across the Globe!
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Face off in a test of skill and ability in online player vs player! Gather and train monsters, max out their skill trees and take on friends and foes in an epic battle to have the last monsters standing!
Optional Game modes for more replayability
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Added with the latest update, you can enable and combine optional Randomizer, Bravery and Permadeath game modes, making every playthrough a fresh and different experience.

Release date: Dec 8, 2020

Categories: Metroidvania, Monster Collecting, Turn-based Combat, Character Progression, Exploration, Puzzle Solving, Strategy

Feature scans:
- Wiki: score 50; verdict: Needs Improvement in Instructional Data; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals a significant reliance on external data sources, particularly wikis and strategy guides, to understand and progress through the game. Key issues include the need for build guides to create effective teams, the complexity of certain mechanics that require external guidance, and the presence of hidden secrets that are not easily discoverable within the game itself. These points highlight the importance of instructional data for an optimal user experience.
- Proton/Linux: score 10; verdict: Works Well; summary: The game shows strong compatibility with Linux, particularly on the Steam Deck. Users report smooth gameplay without any notable issues, suggesting a positive experience for Linux users.
- Steam Deck: score 30; verdict: Good with Minor Issues; summary: The game has generally positive feedback regarding its compatibility with the Steam Deck, with users reporting smooth gameplay and enjoyable experiences. However, there are some issues with controller support, where some users find it necessary to use additional software to enhance the experience.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $15.00 - $20.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence shows that users consistently mention the game is worth the full price and even more so when on sale. The sentiment suggests that the full price is considered fair and reasonable, with additional value seen during discounts. This indicates that the community finds the base game price to be justified and a good deal even without discounts.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 100.0h
  - Story completion: 40.0h
  - Session length: 2.0h
  - Endgame: 30.0h
  - Reasoning: The evidence provided includes several quotes that mention significant playtime and the depth of content in Monster Sanctuary. Players report spending a substantial amount of time to complete the game and its postgame challenges, with one player mentioning they could 100% the game before the 100-hour mark. This suggests that the typical total time to finish the game (game completion) is quite high. Additionally, the mention of beating all postgame challenges indicates a significant amount of endgame content. The evidence also suggests that the main story can be completed in a substantial amount of time, given the depth and satisfaction derived from the game.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game starts slow and repetitive but becomes enjoyable and engaging once players overcome the initial learning curve and start exploring and customizing their teams.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: Overcoming the initial learning curve and understanding the mechanics.
  - Time to anchor: 2h 0m
  - Friction: Learning curve at the beginning; Repetitive early stages
  - Unlock drivers: Reaching a certain level; Understanding the mechanics
  - Conditions: Exploring new areas; Customizing teams
- Player Archetypes:
  - Build-Crafter Grinder (buy)
    - Motivation: Strategic depth and team customization
    - Playstyle: Experiments with different team compositions and builds, enjoys replayability and challenge modes.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Strategy gamer; Team builder
    - Reference games: Pokemon; Dragon Quest: Monster
  - Creature Collector (buy)
    - Motivation: Collection and team variety
    - Playstyle: Enjoys collecting and trying out different team combinations, seeks games similar to Pokemon but with more depth.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Pokemon fan; Creature collector
    - Reference games: Pokemon; Dragon Quest: Monster
  - Grinder (sale)
    - Motivation: Achievement and progression
    - Playstyle: Focuses on grinding and leveling up monsters to achieve specific goals, may find the process frustrating but ultimately rewarding.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: Grinder; Achievement hunter
    - Reference games: Pokemon; Dragon Quest: Monster


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:
- Fun and engaging gameplay (weight 0.44): The game is widely praised for its enjoyable and addictive gameplay. Players find it entertaining, with a good overall quality and fun challenges.
- Unique genre blend (weight 0.25): The game uniquely blends Metroidvania exploration with creature collection and tactical combat. This combination is well-executed and offers a fresh experience.
- Exploration and secrets (weight 0.25): Players enjoy the open exploration and the rewarding discovery of hidden areas and treasures. The game offers a lot of content and secrets beyond the main story.
- Beautiful pixel graphics (weight 0.24): The game features beautiful and charming pixel art graphics. The artwork and animations are highly praised for their quality and expressiveness.
- In-depth battle system (weight 0.24): The battle system is complex and strategic, featuring 3 vs 3 battles with well-designed mechanics. Players appreciate the depth and thought put into the combat system.
- Monster combinations and diversity (weight 0.2): The game offers a vast roster of monsters with various combinations and synergies. Players enjoy the diversity and the ability to tinker with different monster teams.
- Turn-based combat (weight 0.18): The game features turn-based combat with adjustable speed, appealing to fans of turn-based RPGs. The combat system is praised for its depth and complexity.
- Unique skill trees (weight 0.13): Each monster has its own skill tree, adding depth and customization to the gameplay. Players enjoy the thought-out and in-depth skill trees.
- Monster collecting (weight 0.13): The game features enjoyable monster collecting mechanics with a variety of monsters to collect. It appeals to fans of monster taming and collection.
- Unique monster playstyles (weight 0.12): Each monster has a unique playstyle and abilities, allowing for different team compositions and strategies. Players enjoy the customization and uniqueness of each monster.
- Engaging soundtrack and design (weight 0.11): The game features an engaging soundtrack, sound design, and map design. Players appreciate the creative and engaging aspects of the game.

Common complaints:
- Weak and unremarkable story (weight 0.28): The story is criticized for being plain, uninteresting, and irrelevant. Characters are often described as one-dimensional, and the narrative is seen as mediocre and lacking a good hook.
- Uninteresting and complex puzzles (weight 0.24): Many players found the puzzles to be uninteresting, too complex, and time-wasting. Specific complaints include disliking jumping puzzles, switch puzzles, and mazes, which are seen as meaningless and not very challenging.
- Repetitive jumping puzzles (weight 0.2): Jumping puzzles are seen as repetitive, tedious, and difficult. Players express frustration with the abundance of these puzzles, which are often described as annoying and absurdly challenging.
- Boring and repetitive combat (weight 0.19): Combat is described as boring, uninteresting, and repetitive. Players find the fights drawn out and unrewarding, leading to a monotonous experience.
- Difficulty spike at the end (weight 0.16): There is a significant difficulty spike towards the end of the game, particularly in the final boss fights. This sudden increase in difficulty can be frustrating for players.
- Poor map design (weight 0.11): The map design is criticized for being uninteresting, poor, and tedious. Players also note the limited number of teleportation points, which adds to the inconvenience.
- Excessive grinding required (weight 0.09): The game requires a lot of grinding, which is seen as time-consuming and excessive. Players feel that too much grinding is necessary to progress.
- Grating and repetitive music (weight 0.07): The music in the game is described as grating, repetitive, and lacking variety. Players find the music to be generic and unappealing over time.
- Difficult initial understanding (weight 0.07): The game is difficult to understand initially and does not ease players into its complexity. Players find it challenging to grasp the game mechanics at the start.

Gameplay feedback:
- Metroidvania-style exploration and puzzles (weight 0.57): The game features extensive Metroidvania elements, including connected maps, exploration, and puzzle-solving. Players navigate through a vast overworld, solving puzzles and unlocking new areas with acquired abilities.
- Monster collection and team building (weight 0.5): A significant aspect of the game is collecting and building a team of monsters. Players can capture, train, and build synergies between different monsters, adding depth to the gameplay.
- Turn-based combat with strategic elements (weight 0.28): The game includes a turn-based combat system with strategic elements, similar to JRPGs. Players engage in 3v3 battles that require tactical planning and team synergy.
- Unique skill trees for monsters (weight 0.26): Each monster has its own skill tree, allowing for complex customization and multiple build options. This adds a layer of strategy and personalization to team building.
- Variety in monster designs (weight 0.17): The game features a diverse range of monster designs, each with unique traits and abilities. This variety enhances the visual appeal and strategic depth of the game.
- Comparisons to Pokémon (weight 0.1): The game is often compared to Pokémon due to its monster collection and combat mechanics. However, it also differentiates itself with unique elements like team synergy and strategic depth.
- Difficulty settings and curve (weight 0.09): The game offers adjustable difficulty settings and a dynamic difficulty system. This allows players to tailor the challenge to their preference and ensures a balanced experience.
- Grinding and leveling mechanics (weight 0.08): Players can grind for levels and experience points to strengthen their monsters. This mechanic is essential for progressing through the game and tackling more challenging content.
- Map navigation and markers (weight 0.08): The game includes a map marking system and transport options to aid in navigation. This helps players keep track of explored areas and plan their next moves.
- Replayability options (weight 0.07): The game offers high replayability with various activities, replayable bosses, and different strategic options. This encourages players to revisit the game and try new approaches.

Performance notes:
- Smooth performance reported (weight 0.1): Many players reported that the game runs smoothly without any technical issues or performance hiccups. This includes positive experiences on the Steam Deck.
- Frequent blue screens (weight 0.03): Some players have experienced frequent blue screens while playing the game. This indicates a significant technical issue that needs attention.

Recommendations:
- Highly recommended for fans (weight 0.31): The game is highly recommended for fans of creature collection games, JRPGs, turn-based strategy, and metroidvania genres. It is particularly praised by fans of Pokémon and similar monster collector games.
- Worth the purchase (weight 0.14): Many reviewers state that the game is worth the purchase, especially at its sale price. It is considered a good investment of time and money.
- Recommended for specific player types (weight 0.08): The game is recommended for families, players seeking a calm and easy experience, and those who enjoy map exploration and turn-based battle games.
- Difficulty and guides (weight 0.07): Some players recommend changing the difficulty to 'Master' for a challenge or switching to 'Casual' if the late-game difficulty spike is too high. Guides are suggested for better understanding of mechanics and exploration.
- Gameplay tips and strategies (weight 0.06): Players suggest various strategies such as choosing the wolf as the initial monster for ice builds, focusing on debuffs for a strong party, and including a shield character in the team for easier gameplay.
- Engage with additional content (weight 0.04): Players enjoyed the end-game content and recommend engaging with optional trainer battles for a fuller experience.
- Complexity and effort required (weight 0.02): The game is worth playing but requires significant effort and has a level of complexity that players should be aware of.
- Support for future games (weight 0.02): The game is considered worth supporting to encourage the development of future games in the series.

Other player notes:
- Chinese translation included (weight 0.03): The game comes with a Chinese translation, although some players feel the translation quality is average.
- Official merchandise available (weight 0.03): The game offers official merchandise for purchase, which is appreciated by the players.
- Infinite jump patch shared (weight 0.02): A player shared a separate patch that enables infinite jumping, which might be useful for some players.

Emotions:
- Enjoyment (weight 0.26): Players find enjoyment in the game's combat system, monster designs, and strategic gameplay mechanics. The exploration, team building, and variety of monsters contribute significantly to the overall positive experience.
- Frustration (weight 0.2): Players experience frustration due to the game's difficulty spikes, complex mechanics, and repetitive puzzles. Issues with platforming, grinding, and unclear progression paths also contribute to this frustration.
- Excitement (weight 0.13): Players are excited by the game's unique blend of genres, strategic depth, and the freedom to create unique teams. The challenge and variety of gameplay mechanics also contribute to this excitement.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.11): Players feel satisfaction from the game's strategic depth, complexity, and the ability to successfully implement strategies. The amount of content, replay value, and the overall gameplay experience contribute to this feeling.
- Disappointment (weight 0.07): Players express disappointment due to the game's lack of originality, repetitive gameplay, and unbalanced combat system. Issues with map design, character design, and lack of updates also contribute to this disappointment.
- Joy (weight 0.05): Players experience joy from the game's enjoyable gameplay mechanics, monster collection, and combat systems. The blend of genres, engaging gameplay, and overall positive experience contribute to this joy.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Players appreciate the game's depth, unique features, and the original combination of genres. The detailed pixel art, unique skill trees, and the game's challenge are also highly valued.
- Love (weight 0.03): Players express love for the game due to its unique blend of mechanics, overall experience, and the game's art and environment. The enjoyable gameplay and worth of the price also contribute to this love.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Players are enthusiastic about the game's features, combat mechanics, and storytelling. The retro-gaming feel and the overall positive gameplay experience contribute to this enthusiasm.
- Frustrated (weight 0.02): Players feel frustrated due to excessive platform jumping, difficulty spikes, and grinding mechanics. The RNG mechanics and confusing terrain also add to this frustration.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.01): Players feel nostalgia as the game reminds them of classic RPGs and Super Nintendo games. The comparison to Pokémon and the positive gameplay experience reminiscent of childhood contribute to this feeling.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Players are pleasantly surprised by the game exceeding their expectations. The positive aspects of the game and its hidden gem status contribute to this surprise.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Players experience boredom due to repetitive gameplay mechanics and overall gameplay experience. The combat and traversal also contribute to this feeling of boredom.
- Excited (weight 0.01): Players are excited about the game's combination of various elements they enjoy. The engaging gameplay and the viability of many teams until the end game contribute to this excitement.
- Approval (weight 0.01): Players approve of the game's combat system, exploration, and story progression. The game's complexity and the appreciation of its Pokémon-like aspects contribute to this approval.
- Relaxation (weight 0.01): Players find the game's chill and calm experience relaxing. The overall gameplay experience contributes to this feeling of relaxation.
- Anticipation (weight 0.01): Players are looking forward to potential sequels or expansions. The anticipation for the next game in the series contributes to this feeling.
- Happy (weight 0.01): Players are happy with the game's engaging nature and overall fun factor. The game's features and positive experience contribute to this happiness.}