Nepenthe

When I first played this game, I was really disappointed. It really wanted you to care, despite having nothing original to offer, plus, the Toby Fox style of humor felt very forced. While I liked the overall artstyle, this game really could've used more polish. That being said, when I replayed the game and got the second ending, I was really impressed. While it was still short and the dialogue was wonky at times, I realized that the creator truly put a lot of passion into it. There were great scenes, the story genuinely got me invested. That's the biggest problem and the greatest quality of it: The important scenes are well-made, but because the concept of the game was build mostly around them, the rest is... average. I still haven't played one of the endings, but I can already say that this game had potential. I just feel like it should've focused less on the random, wacky humor, and instead could've done more story, because most of it is told through exposition dumps. Not to mention there aren't any interesting characters here. Undertale, which Nepenthe was clearly based on, had you invested no matter which path you chose. You liked all of the characters, or at least felt something towards them, and different endings expanded on them, instead making you care for the first time. I can still recommend this game. It's cheap, visually insteresting, and the dialogue is so ridiculously bad, over the top at times, that it's amusing to read.

Story: It lacks depth and I don't feel invested, even after I obtained all 3 endings and explored around (including crack on fake trees in Myway). Gameplay: I played on "Story" mode and it's as easy as advertised. So I just walked around most of the time and solved a few optional puzzles. Visual: The pencil hand-drawn style is the best aspect of the game. Audio: Fairly good choice of free music/SFX. Other: The native SteamOS/Linux version works well enough, but Steam achievements don't work at all. I also faced a bug where a member of party isn't shown (no head or HP bar) during battle, although I can use the action normally. It's not as exciting/good as I hoped. I definitely would rather choose neutral/information, although I decided to choose positive since the price is lower than $1 on sale.

This sweet hand-drawn RPG takes a refreshing approach where fighting isn't always the best solution. With an Undertale-like combat system infused with humor, the game offers a delightful twist on traditional RPG mechanics. Its quirky characters and witty dialogue, combined with a unique art style, create an engaging and memorable experience. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a humorous, narrative-driven adventure with its own distinct charm.