Minoria
Minoria is the latest and most ambitious game from Bombservice, and a spiritual sequel to the Momodora series, from the same studio. Fans of Momodora will find familiar aspects in the design and gameplay elements, as they master the ins-and-outs of parries, dodges, and a variety of different spells. The presentation has evolved to an HD format, with aesthetics mixing 2D hand-painted backgrounds and cel-shaded characters. The story takes place during the fourth Witch War. It is a time of fanatical religious fervor. The Sacred Office, a powerful organization leading an Inquisition against heresy, purges the sinners who threaten humanity. Those responsible for conducting a mysterious ceremony that contradicts the rules of the Church are labeled “witches.” Set forth with Sisters Semilla and Fran, missionaries in the Church’s service, on their journey to thwart the witches’ ceremony and protect the common-folk from heresy that endangers the status quo.
Game Discussion
Steam User 8
Minoria stands out as the first Metroidvania game where the parry system not only shields you from damage but also rewards your well-timed parries. The gameplay, while not intricate, offers a weapon and incense system tailored to your preferred style, without the need to manage stats post-leveling up. Facing major enemies or bosses proves moderately challenging, conquerable within the first encounter or after a few deaths. However, the initial phase of the game felt somewhat dull, lacking the immediate allure of other Metroidvania titles I've experienced. I rate this game 7.5/10.
Steam User 5
General Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
I recommend the game, but with caveats.
Even though it differs from the visual style of the Momodora series, I found the game itself to be very beautiful and captivated me from the beginning, but I soon realized how repetitive and boring it was becoming. The enemy variety is very small, the patterns and difficulty are ridiculously easy to learn, and there is no real challenge from the beginning to the end of the game. Practically 99% of incense is expendable (with the exception of healing ones) and the weapons that the game offers are ridiculous. There is no reason to change weapons when they all have the same damage (with the exception of one that is weaker than the others), and their attack patterns only vary 2 or 3 times. The game's music is also nothing outstanding and the level design is weak and leaves a lot to be desired.
One thing that was very evident was that they tried to put a lot of Soulslike elements into the game in a way that didn't match the style of the series (despite this being a spin-off). I feel like it was all very rushed, untested and unrefined.
It's worth noting that I started playing Minoria shortly after playing (and 100% completing) Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight, so comparing both games was inevitable. While in Momodora: RUtM I enjoyed finishing the game more than once, including in Insane Mode, here there is no real incentive to finish the game a second time to get the second ending, which makes the second playthrough frustrating. The map in New Game+ starts completely open, but although this helps, there is no indication of which areas you have already passed through in this second playthrough, which ends up confusing the player a little.
Despite everything, I still recommend the game and I think it's worth at least one playthrough, as you'll hardly want to revisit the game again.
Steam User 3
It's not usually my type of game, I'm bad at hard action games, but I still enjoyed it. Though "just don't get hit 4head" philosophy is always annoying, especially combined with it being extremely easy to roll into contact damage
Steam User 2
The good:
-Beauty soundtrack.
-Beauty pixel art.
-Simple gameplay.
The bad:
-It was easier for me than Momodora: Reverie Under The Moonlight.
Steam User 1
Decent game, with a fairly ok progression system as far as combat leveling and damage goes, and a nigh-invincible counter attack. As a Metroidvania though, it's lacking in the platforming, puzzles and traversal mechanics. Things that I thought Momodora (the developer's other game) did much better at. Some of the regular jumping is a bit too janky for my taste. The map being excessively wide without fast travel (until you *beat* the game) is a bit of a dealbreaker. The incenses feel generally pretty underwhelming. Overall, definitely something to get on sale, but otherwise just ok.
Steam User 7
✔️ The Good
• Beautiful Art Style: Minoria features a visually stunning art style that immerses players in a captivating and atmospheric world.
• Engaging Combat: The game's combat system is fluid and responsive, providing a satisfying blend of challenge and excitement.
• Rich Lore: Minoria weaves a compelling narrative with deep lore, adding layers to the story and the world it unfolds in.
• Variety in Enemies: The diverse range of enemies keeps gameplay interesting, requiring players to adapt their strategies and stay on their toes.
• Atmospheric Soundtrack: The game's soundtrack enhances the immersive experience, setting the mood and tone for each moment.
• Puzzles and Exploration: Minoria incorporates engaging puzzles and exploration elements, adding depth to the overall gameplay.
❌ The Bad
• Lack of Weapon Variety: Some players may find the limited weapon options a drawback, craving more diversity in combat choices.
• Occasional Repetition: Certain gameplay elements, especially in combat encounters, may feel repetitive over time.
• Limited Replayability: While the initial playthrough is engaging, the lack of branching paths or multiple endings may limit replay value.
⚠️The Ugly
• Limited Character Development: The main characters may lack significant development, making it challenging for players to connect on a deeper emotional level.
Overall Score:
10/10
Steam User 1
Maybe due to the length I would say get it on a sale, but otherwise quite enjoyable. The leveling system and combat are a little odd but make sense after a bit. Youre not really supposed to tank hits so its a slight challenge but there are more than enough save points to keep the pacing feeling good. The 'parry' you get also has an insanely generous window. Would love to see a more fleshed out sequel one day.