The Dark Queen of Mortholme

Im sad this doesnt have a mobile port because I really wanna try it out and see what a game that has been recommended by a lot of my favourite YouTubers is like

I don't really have a problem with the game like some other ppl do, feels like how a boss and a player would be in a souls game but reversed. One thing that bugs me tho, even when giving the bot so much power CANCELING AN ATTACK OR A MOVE IS EXTREMELY UNFAIR and wouldn't make sense to do so! also the bots reaction speed is too fast and irritating.

But other than that, the story was fun and it makes sense how that bot "player" is able to be so strong and overpower the boss after so many runs and retries, makes it seem like how I used to play souls games and looking up tutorials and weaknesses for certain bosses till i beat them.

7/10 very fun

there are bad and good things. balancing issues,not being able to counter (read the guy who made an essay below),  ext. but the story is good and a fun game overall. a thing i would like is replay-ability like the hero noticing you also come back and other things

Honestly a let-down. Expected better. Hero somehow dodges 99% of the moves at the end. On top of that, you can't attack much, and hero shouldn't be able to stand right next to you, or stand in the pole of the weapon when using 1 and not get hit at all. On top of that, he reacts before you even use the move, he dodges and moves out of the way right when you hit the key.

Issues that need fixing imo, especially if its gonna be on steam if you don't want a "mostly negative" review rating:

1. Moves are a bit sluggish

2. Hero is cheating, given he dodges and moves as if he can see the future. Super not fun, and does not give the proper "you're the final boss" experience. Makes it feel terrible near the end, especially with how he somehow adapts before even seeing the moves, if not just 1 or 2 times, which is humanly impossible when you get beat almost instantly those 2 times, giving you almost no time to even learn. Even pro players wouldn't be able to do that. Complete bs.

3. Unbalanced; hero gets tons of stuff, yet we have no counter, or any new abilities, or buffs, or anything. Our hp bar is in sections, yet the final one is all that matters. A true "final boss" would have a form for each section, not just the last. makes me feel the dev(s) have no clue about how 'final bosses' actually work, and just winged it with little knowledge whatsoever, especially how the hero can just stand in the handle of your weapon, or just on top of you for no reason and not get any damage.

4. plot armor; for being the final boss, its absolute bs that the hero just so happens to gain things perfectly countering you (ie; the shield near the end), negating a lot of the downsides without giving you anything. Ties into the unbalanced side, and the fact that the dev(s), again, have no clue how to design a true 'final boss' given how they should (and are) designed for end-game, and not "Oh, you can crush him early, but he overcomes it" which makes no sense, since you're supposedly the FINAL BOSS.

5. Final form also suffers from the unbalanced issues, and the sluggish issues. For as "final boss" (of which you aren't, given how underpowered you are at the end) it's just entirely not it, and needs some work. Not polish, but work. Actually fixing; not padding to make it seem fixed.

All-in-all, it's promising, but that's just it. So much for being "the most powerful being in the universe"

If this is gonna be on steam, there either needs to be difficulty options, or the dev(s) need to actually learn how bosses work, and re-balance this. It's pitful how OP the hero gets, especially compared to you, the "most powerful being in the universe", "final boss", or whatever you wanna call it. Makes no sense for the hero to just dodge every attack frame perfect, and sometimes just be immune to damage entirely. Glad I spent no money to play this. Would've made a refund if I did.

Last tidbit: overly positive community. I see little criticism here, which is bad. Constructive criticism is heavily needed, which I see almost none of, only people praising it here in the comments. Which makes little sense, given the above issues. And the ones that are get heavily downvoted, then met with dismissive comments. No, a "final boss" shouldn't move as if they ate a whole jar of pickles, nor should they attack slowly. A "final boss" should be quick and devastating, of which, this isn't (which is highly disappointing). 

Final thoughts: This game isn't what it comes off as, and is a let-down if you care about gameplay. Story is nice, but I saw it marketed as a "you are the final boss" (which is 110% wrong), and I genuinely don't see the dev(s) fixing or changing anything to make it a more enjoyable experience, so this is more of a warning. So, go ahead, downvote me, dismiss all this, but I assure you it will disappoint a lot of people once released on steam, but I'm sure you white knights can handle it :)

Other than that, I rate this a solid -25/10, docking points for every issue above, and some extra for how the story and gameplay favor the hero. Will prob update this if/when these issues get fixed, and the hero isn't some cheating load of bs that insta dodged or gets free I-frames. Hope this serves as a warning for those not to pay money for this, or even waste your time playing it until the dev actually fixing the balance issues, as none of the other commenters are highlighting any criticism at all, acting as if it's a great, perfect game.

THIS MOVEMENTS IS SO LONG THAT GOOD GAME TURNS INTO 0/10 PIECE OF SHIT

normal que en un determinado momento aga daño solo con existir, se mata solo con asercarse

beautiful

This is a masterpiece beyond any that I was expecting!

The visuals are amazing. I love the "clean" look of my hollowed halls. The reflections are so crisp and the animations are so fluid and clean. I regularly forgot that these were pixels.

The audio is very well mixed. I don't think I noted it till episode 2, but when I walk around, the sounds of my footsteps, armor, and chains (I think?) echoing gently through the space are so beautifully subtle. It really gives you a sense of space without forcing you to listen to every footstep.

The story, oh my word, the story. Yes, at first, it's a great laugh. I love the quipy relationship between these two. But then it starts to fade, gradually, naturally, and eventually, it becomes very real. I stopped making jokes myself at some point, I got so wrapped up in it!

I love how we have multiple phases, as a boss, but in this game, we have multiple emotional phases in the form of how you dispose of the body. I won't spoil it, but it actually got me choked up.

Extremely well done! I'm so glad Itch recommended this, I can't wait to see what else you've made/make! 

You did an amazing job at capturing what playing as a boss would really feel like! All of my attacks felt powerful yet slow enough that the hero could respond to my moves and dodge accordingly!

I loved when the hero would comment on seeing a new move or when they brought in a new tool to fight us with!

The hero's growth helped a lot to make sure battles didn't feel like they were dragging on too long. This also helped to keep us engaged with your story to really look forward to the next set of dialogue coming up!

I greatly enjoyed the pixel art designs and the music was especially intense! 

Great work on this game. I'm so excited to see where this game has progressed to with the Steam release coming up!

This was amazing, a great twist and fun dialogue. Art is amazing also, feels great to be a boss

This game is an absolute masterpiece! I would say great job, but that doesn't do the game justice.

i was DEVASTATED after this. they're doomed T-T

the art is very nice and i like their designs. the tall dark and powerful queen vs bright and tiny creature but with absolutely demolishing abilities. i replayed it so many times trying to get the ending where the hero gives up, but this little shit is too good for me lmao. makes me feel bad about the villains in other games. STOP DODGING ME LET ME DESTROY YOU

this is fire, but it would be even better you made a full rpg game, and your the hero on an adventure

Wow, you made a fantastic experience!

Good game, nice quick demo.

Played it and thought it. This story is not about the Hero and the Queen but about my whole life...

Something for when you leave the corpse to rot please? :3

superb!!!

Cara, que jogo bom!
Parabens!!!

This is so good, one of the best games I've played in a while.

This was a very unique and interesting gaming experience!
An interesting and nuanced take on the classic trope of trying again and again against a boss, with the twist that you are playing as the boss trying to keep the hero at bay.

The story begins as a classic action-adventure story, but swiftly evolves to something more. This makes the game worth a 5/5 from me.

If you want a deeper take from my side, I have a review bellow containing spoiler to the experience and story.

----- Spoiler to gameplay and story -----

The mechanics are enjoyable but eventually pretty predictable. The fighting is not necessarily scripted to be experienced as an action-fantasy game since the Hero's reactions to your attacks are carefully designed to fit the pace of the story. Sometimes it feels like the Hero is "letting" you hit them, to serve and progress the story, plot points and pacing.

But this game is not designed to be an action-adventure game, it's a narrative game which explores the blooming relation between the Hero and the player's character, the undying empress of darkness. What started out as a classic action-adventure story and dialogue, effectively evolves to a deeper conflict of different personalities, questions of fate and the meaning of life. One could say the Empress biggest fear is the fear of change where the change renders her irrelevant, which is why she is so steadfast of being the Eternal  Tyrant of Darkness.

This is a really good story and fantastic game. The comments in this review about the predictable gameplay should be seen more as an analysis and not as a critique. Really well done game, I look forward to see what else the creator is coming up with in the future! <3

For those interested, we are working with Mosu on bringing the game to Steam. Please see the Steam link in the bio above. Thanks!

that was awesome, i felt like i was reading a book, but you control the character, this was  pure entertaiment

towards the end i expected the hero to walk in while I burned the corpse of their previous run-through. Loved the game and there is so much left that could be done with the concept (but even if not it is already super impactful as is).

Pretty cool game

Excellent excellent!

Cool game idea and work out.
Few notes tho,
1) the enemy knows to respond to moves I haven't even used yet, bit of a downer. Would be more fun if they actually learned from what you have used
2) It'd be fun if you could leave the bodies laying around at some point and have an interaction on that. Maybe aditional when you do remove the bodies again.