I'm 45 and I can absolutely relate. That said, this is why I'm playing it on the Switch - it's easy to just put it on Standby whenever and I can just pick it back up if I need to. And if not, there's usually an Auto Save area nearby. Every safe room with a phone Auto Saves in dungeons, for instance.
im in my 40s i cant relate i came from a time when we didnt have saves or it costed a quarter to continue after all lives where gone and nintendo we were lucky if we had 2-3 save slots
Alex, it looks like there’s so much to praise about the game, and I appreciate your in-depth coverage so much, but most of all I value the way you set expectations for potentially divisive elements too (no manual saving, limited description of roles, etc.). I’m really excited as well that you played it on Switch! Typically these indie games are reviewed on Steam and springing for the Switch version feels like a roll of the dice (“Terra Memoria” is a recent one that I just can’t enjoy on Switch because it plays very poorly, but all initial reviews were of the Steam/PC code).
I have Terra Memoria on the Switch and I'm with you. I don't normally mind performance snafus, but that was one game that I wished played better on that platform.
@@BacklogBattleI’m glad that it’s not just me! I feel like I keep very fair expectations of the Switch given its age - “The Plucky Squire,” by contrast, is perfectly playable while certainly not being “perfect” in respect to performance on the platform - but unfortunately sometimes the gameplay experience really hindered (the aforementioned “Terra Memoria”). I’m glad that is NOT the case here, and on the basis of your review, I’ll be purchasing “Bloomtown” tomorrow and digging in ASAP. You’re the best, Alex!
Im just doing my Persona 3 Reloaded gameplay and then I find out about this game.....this is a puuuure gem! Will be getting it on switch thou cuz I wanna lay down and play in my bed.
Loved the review. But no manual saves, no tutorials for the combat, hard to capture monsters and bugs does deter me from getting it. I was excited with how wonderful the game looks, but I have no patience with variables which will hinder my experience.
@@BacklogBattlethat is more sad when the special traits of its combat are not explained well. Thank you for the clarification on the general tutorials.
Yes a guide would be amazing! I plan on getting the game and get frustrated when I'm a bit lost or something is a bit different than what I'm expecting.
Hilariously, I actually just finished watching Gravity Falls for the first a few days ago. And honestly, I dig the vibes and gameplay on display here, though the inability to manually save makes my inner 90s kid really skiddish xD Hopefully it can get a few QoL updates, I would love to check this one out!
Odd that theres no manual save, i feel most rpgs do, or at least the ones ive played do. But this does look pretty interesting, espically the combat. i dont think i've fully grasped it for m this video, but i defo think id need to play it too fully understand!
Hey Alex, guys here. Ever play final fantasy tactics? That’s the last time I remember a spell missing. It’s not common at all and frustrating to have happen in a resource managed action like spells
Thanks for the review! Would you say this is anything like Sea of stars? It was one of my favourite gaming experiences ever, and I am looking for something to fill the void.
Time moves forward? Does this mean there are (time) triggered events? Do I have to rush to figure out what I should be min-maxing before some time limit triggers some big event that I might be wholly unprepared for?
I like the game and there's a lot of good but the writing is a big pain point for me. If people appreciate good writing, this game feels like it was written in another language and then stuck in Google translate sometimes. It also likes to just throw things together (story and gameplay) with little to no explanation. There's a lot of good here, but I say wait to see if fixes for the writing are on the way as that's really my only issue with the game
I'm not sure I can get into the battles with the so frustrating misses all the time. It drove me insane in the demo it's just not fun I don't get why it's included. That plus so many spells not dealing any damage by default the demo felt really rough to play. I'll wait for more reviews because despite all the nice qualities it feels like this game could disappoint me so much.
I'm honestly more interested in the game because of the time period. The 60s is an interesting time period for a game, and I'm honestly just glad it's not the 80s. I despise the 80s. The time period, the nostalgia for it. Can't stand it. The sprite work is also fantastic. The systems, despite their issues, grab my attention. I'll check it out.
It depends on where you're going: Going into shop/house interiors have zero loading time. Going into the Wilderness is 3 seconds. Going into the part of town with the library is about 20 seconds. Going from Bloomtown to the first dungeon is 8 seconds. Either way, not as bad as the games you mentioned.
Played the demo and was very captivated. But the blatant persona rips down to the music where just too much for me. I dont know why since im loving persona so much but it immediately turned me off the game. Its too similiar, it feels wrong. Love the stranger things vibe tho. Wish everyone a lot of fun with the game!
I don't know if it's just me or being older, but the inability to manually save makes me anxious.
I'm 45 and I can absolutely relate. That said, this is why I'm playing it on the Switch - it's easy to just put it on Standby whenever and I can just pick it back up if I need to. And if not, there's usually an Auto Save area nearby. Every safe room with a phone Auto Saves in dungeons, for instance.
AGREED. 41 here btw
im in my 40s i cant relate i came from a time when we didnt have saves or it costed a quarter to continue after all lives where gone and nintendo we were lucky if we had 2-3 save slots
@rammur it's like you didn't play any games between the 80s and now
@@BacklogBattle im just bein dumb i know what ya all talking about
The pixel art here is SOLID! ❤️❤️
Alex, it looks like there’s so much to praise about the game, and I appreciate your in-depth coverage so much, but most of all I value the way you set expectations for potentially divisive elements too (no manual saving, limited description of roles, etc.). I’m really excited as well that you played it on Switch! Typically these indie games are reviewed on Steam and springing for the Switch version feels like a roll of the dice (“Terra Memoria” is a recent one that I just can’t enjoy on Switch because it plays very poorly, but all initial reviews were of the Steam/PC code).
I have Terra Memoria on the Switch and I'm with you. I don't normally mind performance snafus, but that was one game that I wished played better on that platform.
@@BacklogBattleI’m glad that it’s not just me! I feel like I keep very fair expectations of the Switch given its age - “The Plucky Squire,” by contrast, is perfectly playable while certainly not being “perfect” in respect to performance on the platform - but unfortunately sometimes the gameplay experience really hindered (the aforementioned “Terra Memoria”). I’m glad that is NOT the case here, and on the basis of your review, I’ll be purchasing “Bloomtown” tomorrow and digging in ASAP. You’re the best, Alex!
Yeah, I'm definitely looking forward to playing this on Switch tomorrow. Looks like it's made for handheld gaming.
It definitely felt like it was! Was really fun to play it on the Switch!
This review got me excited. Glad to see its on steam. Gonna pick this up and try it
It has a corgi as a party member. I'll buy it twice
Wow, this looks super cool! I'll definitely check this out
Lovely review. Yes please for a guide ^^
Great review. I still want to play it as much as months ago when i first saw it on Twitter.
Thanks!
I’m all in for this game. I’ve been following bloomtown since its announcement. Buying at soon as it hits the eshop
Been very excited for this game for a while. Thanks for the review! I will be sure to pick it up now.
This might be a contender for my personal best indie JRPG of all time along with Cassette Beasts. This looks peak!
Hope you enjoy it!
One of the best games I played all year. Great game
Great review! Would love a combat guide
Im just doing my Persona 3 Reloaded gameplay and then I find out about this game.....this is a puuuure gem! Will be getting it on switch thou cuz I wanna lay down and play in my bed.
Loved the review. But no manual saves, no tutorials for the combat, hard to capture monsters and bugs does deter me from getting it. I was excited with how wonderful the game looks, but I have no patience with variables which will hinder my experience.
@@PersonWhoIsTired to be clear, there ARE tutorials for combat. But they don’t talk about the other aspects unique to it, like the Roles.
@@BacklogBattlethat is more sad when the special traits of its combat are not explained well. Thank you for the clarification on the general tutorials.
Yes a guide would be amazing! I plan on getting the game and get frustrated when I'm a bit lost or something is a bit different than what I'm expecting.
Does the dog tell me to go the F to sleep?
Nope
I have been playing this for like 5 hours straight.
Hopefully this gets a disk or cartridge release it looks like one of those games you want to have 😅
What a fantastic setting.
Can't believe Swole Doge is a party member 😂
I might by this down the line for my steam deck
thx for this review i just learned about this game and i wanted smthn like it for a minute
You're welcome!
Pretty good video, thank you for your work!
This game does look interesting, I might give it a shot one day.
Hilariously, I actually just finished watching Gravity Falls for the first a few days ago.
And honestly, I dig the vibes and gameplay on display here, though the inability to manually save makes my inner 90s kid really skiddish xD
Hopefully it can get a few QoL updates, I would love to check this one out!
A guide would be awesome, and you should be kind and make one.
What if I’m not kind and I make one?
Definitely picking up.
About how long was your playthrough?
About 25 hours. But I might’ve left the Switch on for a bit lol!
Odd that theres no manual save, i feel most rpgs do, or at least the ones ive played do. But this does look pretty interesting, espically the combat. i dont think i've fully grasped it for m this video, but i defo think id need to play it too fully understand!
Hey Alex, guys here. Ever play final fantasy tactics? That’s the last time I remember a spell missing. It’s not common at all and frustrating to have happen in a resource managed action like spells
@@Doyleman777 yes: more than 2 decades ago
@@BacklogBattleoof! I enjoy a playthrough about once a year. Either way that’s the only other game I can think of with missing spells.
Thanks for the review! Would you say this is anything like Sea of stars? It was one of my favourite gaming experiences ever, and I am looking for something to fill the void.
@@maartjevanbennekom3265 I personally like it better than Sea of Stars, even with its rough spots!
Please make a video guide about the turn based mechanics I’m confused :(
Time moves forward? Does this mean there are (time) triggered events? Do I have to rush to figure out what I should be min-maxing before some time limit triggers some big event that I might be wholly unprepared for?
It mostly just controls when shops are open or not. There are no timed quests.
@@BacklogBattle Awesome! Thanks for the info.
we can no change party members? i thought we could use demons/summons like shin megami tensei
You can use demons/summons. You need to capture them first and then equip them
All Rpgs now a days need to have that auto off. Thats a huge plus for me.
Auto advance text you mean?
Emily and Chester??? Both linkin Park singers? Can’t make this stuff up lol
That's some huge coincidences right there LOL
the color palette reminds me more of ffta2 or chained echoes rather than stardew valley.
I should go back to persona 5
thanks! any chance for a physical copy?
No word on physical
I like the game and there's a lot of good but the writing is a big pain point for me. If people appreciate good writing, this game feels like it was written in another language and then stuck in Google translate sometimes. It also likes to just throw things together (story and gameplay) with little to no explanation. There's a lot of good here, but I say wait to see if fixes for the writing are on the way as that's really my only issue with the game
What is the name if the song?
Which one? (There were three)
How is the difficulty. I hope it’s not too easy
I talk about it in the video
Got some eastward vibe
do you think this game will have more than one ending or is it more linear?
It didn't feel like I could have a fail state when I played it? I can't really say. I got a good ending imo.
I'm not sure I can get into the battles with the so frustrating misses all the time. It drove me insane in the demo it's just not fun I don't get why it's included. That plus so many spells not dealing any damage by default the demo felt really rough to play.
I'll wait for more reviews because despite all the nice qualities it feels like this game could disappoint me so much.
Emily gets an Agility Up earlier on that helps!
I'm honestly more interested in the game because of the time period. The 60s is an interesting time period for a game, and I'm honestly just glad it's not the 80s.
I despise the 80s. The time period, the nostalgia for it. Can't stand it.
The sprite work is also fantastic. The systems, despite their issues, grab my attention. I'll check it out.
I think the era it's set in is fine and fits the game's vibes well. I do like that from time to time they comment on things like the songs of the era.
I'm betting the load times on the Switch is horrible. It always happen with new releases - Souldiers, Blodstained: RON, Eiyuden Chronicle, etc.
It depends on where you're going:
Going into shop/house interiors have zero loading time.
Going into the Wilderness is 3 seconds.
Going into the part of town with the library is about 20 seconds.
Going from Bloomtown to the first dungeon is 8 seconds.
Either way, not as bad as the games you mentioned.
@@BacklogBattle How about load times going into and out of battles?
@@aldenmonzon8594 no load times
Played the demo and was very captivated. But the blatant persona rips down to the music where just too much for me. I dont know why since im loving persona so much but it immediately turned me off the game. Its too similiar, it feels wrong. Love the stranger things vibe tho. Wish everyone a lot of fun with the game!
Think of it as a cover album. An homage. Nothing wrong with that!