The Swords of Ditto

Solid Rogue-lite.
The "Mixed" rating for this game is a travesty, it does not deserve a rating that low.
Most of the negative reviews appear to be people that didn't realize this was a Rogue-like/lite game:
-Yes, you start over when you die (but can spend currency you earned during that playthru to send items to your next character.
- No, you don't go thru the whole "tutorial" again -- its your traditional Rogue-like/lite gameplay loop.

Alright, listen. I skimmed some of the other reviews to try and find out why this game still holds a "Mixed" rating on Steam, but there doesn't seem to be a consistent consensus on why, so I'm just gonna talk about it like those reviews don't exist, because this is a very enjoyable little game!

Following in the vein of Adventure Time: Secret of The Nameless Kingdom, The Swords of Ditto seeks to combine classic top-down-Zelda-like gameplay with a cute, hand-drawn cartoon feel (in this case, it loosely reminds me of We Bare Bears). But although it's got a charming "kids' toys and imagination" theme to it, the game is much more challenging than it appears on the surface, so don't write it off as something only your baby nieces and nephews will want to play. It's not DIFFICULT, per se, but certainly challenging, which is something that I always appreciate in a game!

It's also not quite appropriate to call this game a "roguelike", though it does share some elements with that description, so maybe "roguelite" is more apt. The game DOES feature permadeath, but only during the "final boss tower climb" sequence. The world is randomly re-generated every time you perma-die, but always features the same specific recurring landmarks to help you take down the final boss. And the story that unfolds requires you to recurse through this process about 5 times to see it to the end. I can see that being a turn-off for some folks, but I enjoyed the gameplay loop enough that I had no problem sticking to it and eventually completing it after about 30 hours of total play. Your mileage may vary, but hey, it's also something you can just replay indefinitely if you really wanna.

If there's anything to actually complain about, it's that a lot of the repeated stock dialogue (scripted, no voice-over) that plays at key points during each loop is a little lackluster, but it's also a breeze to skip through it, so even that's kinda moot. Some of the per-loop modifiers - the "Mormo's Curse" subtitle in action - are a bit mean (CURSE YOU NEMESIS!), but there are items in-game to help mitigate that, so don't be afraid to look up a guide or ask for tips if you find yourself getting frustrated.

All in all, I legitimately don't know why the game's name is so tarnished on Steam. It wasn't a maximum-thrill life-changing experience or anything, but it sure was fun and worth the price. I loved the presentation and the engaging gameplay. Highly recommended for fans of Zelda Randomizers!

the animation is unique, tho the game gets a bit hard each time u defeat mormos, so always remember to offer ur icon each time after u defeat mormo so it dont get to waste, also for those concerning does if u die u lost ur item? well no.. if u play on regular or easy u will just respawn in ur bed, and since its a rogue like game u would expect repetitive dungeon like gameplay so dont push ur self with this game, give it a rest if u feel like u doing too much

This game... its a hidden gem! it is perfect for Co-op play. It is lika a split screen version of "Zelda - a link from the past", that one also a roguelite.

The Swords of Ditto is a roguelite action RPG that hides a serious challenge beneath its colorful, childlike appearance. With its charming, sweets-like aesthetic and a classic atmosphere that evokes warmth and familiarity, the game features attractive graphics and crisp, clear sound effects, offering a delightful experience. I also played it on my mobile and highly recommend it to casual players and anyone with a youthful spirit who’s looking for a lightweight, inspiring game with a mood-boosting adventure.
Here’s a quick summary I put together of the game:
The Core Concept:
You are a hero chosen every 100 years to fight the evil witch Mormo. If you win, the world lives in peace; if you lose, the world falls into darkness until the next hero rises.
Gameplay:
The game focuses on exploring the map, entering dungeons, and solving puzzles using quirky weapons called "Toys."
The Time Element:
The game places you under a strict time limit (a few in-game days) to prepare for the final battle, forcing you to plan your moves carefully.
Death and Generations:
When your hero dies, you start as a new character a century later. The map changes (procedurally generated), but some progress and relics from the previous hero remain to help you.
Upgrades:
Progression relies mainly on collecting "Stickers" that grant your hero unique abilities and perks.
Conclusion:
In The Swords of Ditto, you play as one of the heroes who must save the world of Ditto from an evil threat known as Mormo. The story centers around an evil creature trying to take control of the world, and the hero is tasked with wielding the magical Sword of Ditto to combat this evil. The game features a unique time-loop concept: each time you die, the game restarts with a new character. This adds an extra layer to the gameplay experience, as the world changes slightly with each attempt, and every action you take affects the future of the world.

Overall, its a charming little game, but with some issues that hold it back. The gameplay is basic but serviceable. The basic loop is you do quests/dungeons and get items to become stronger, do more things to get even stronger, then face the final boss. It's not nonstop fighting like some other roguelikes, you can just run through the overworld for the most part if you like.
It's however, at least on normal, a bit too easy. I did my first run by leveling up proper, then beat the boss, never dying a single time. My second run, I just rushed the boss. I was underleveled, but I took a couple special items and all my healing items from the last run and just tanked everything. If you're a higher level gamer, you'll probably find it similarly easy.
Its also lacking build variety that a lot of other roguelikes have. Sure, you can find different items to use, but that's hardly the same as other roguelikes where certain combinations of items are broken or can completely change how you're playing.
Despite what a lot of people are saying, you don't do the whole tutorial every new run, but you do play a bit too long mandatory intro sequence before you can explore the world each run. Would have been much better to just hop right into a new run.
Besides the difficulty, the other two main gripes I have are the puzzles and bosses. There was maybe one or two puzzles that made me think, the rest are so obvious that it's barely or not even a puzzle.
As for the bosses, I only fought two different ones, maybe the rest are better. I did two separate dungeons that each had the same boss, maybe that was just unlucky. It had two attacks and could summon enemies. Personally, I think a boss fight that relies on summoning other enemies is indicative of the boss not being very good, and this rang true as it was a very easy boss.
The only other boss I fought was the final boss. To spoil it, the boss is invulnerable. You stand on glowing tiles that appear and disappear to fill a meter. When that meter fills, different totems spawn to destroy. When you destroy them, the boss is vulnerable for a time, then they become invulnerable again and the cycle repeats.
The boss has only a few attacks...including summoning more enemies. The enemies are often more dangerous than the boss in my opinion, and again plays into the idea that a boss that can't stand on its own isn't a very good boss. Hell, I had more trouble going through the final dungeon than fighting the boss.
In any case, its not a terrible game. If you're looking for an easier roguelike or just find the art style charming, its worth it on a sale. As of this review, it seems like it can go down to $3 at times. The dialogue isn't super childish, but its also not too adult, so it might also be a fun game to have a kid try as well. Otherwise, if you're a more hardcore gamer who likes a challenge, I recommend something else.

The Swords of Ditto: Mormo’s Curse is a fun, short, and easy-to-pick-up adventure with a really charming art style. The colorful visuals and light tone make it very enjoyable, and the simple gameplay works well for quick sessions. A nice, relaxed experience.