Pyre is a shockingly cohesive game. When I first learned that Pyre was a "sports - virtual novel hybrid" my first thought was about how that could possibly work. The fact that it does is a testament to how well this game is designed.
The best thing about Pyre is the Rites (the sports matches). Like any good sport the rules are simple, however there is a lot of depth to the gameplay, and the game will never stop pushing you to find that depth. The fast paced and high stakes nature of the Rites makes them thrilling and engaging to perform. Part of the way the game accomplishes this is by characterizing the opposing teams effectively. The opponents will never be just a nameless enemy, they will have motives, and mostly likely a bone to pick against you. There are significant consequences to winning or losing that go beyond just leveling up, but effect the story to.
Although Pyre has virtual novel elements, the game is actually fairly light on story and dialogue. There is a significant amount of it, but its never overwhelming, and it'll never get in the way of the star of the show, the Rites. The story has good themes and is compelling, and the characters get just enough time for you care about them.
I only have one nitpick, which is the hard mode. This mode is locked until you beat the game so this won't affect the average player, but its still a minor flaw. The main issue is that the increases in difficulty aren't fun, because they change the rules of the game in a way that feel unfair. Sports matches are all balanced sides, and the difficulty modifiers tip the scales in a way that feels very much so unbalanced against the player. I'd much rather have experienced a more organic difficulty increase.
That being said, I still consider Pyre to be amazing. The game has no major flaws, and manages to be great at everything it does. In typical Super Giant fashion, the visuals and music are both excellent. The game is tightly designed and tightly paced. The only thing I'm disappointed about is that so few people have played it. The game is an extremely unique experience and deserves your attention. Play Pyre.
The best thing about Pyre is the Rites (the sports matches). Like any good sport the rules are simple, however there is a lot of depth to the gameplay, and the game will never stop pushing you to find that depth. The fast paced and high stakes nature of the Rites makes them thrilling and engaging to perform. Part of the way the game accomplishes this is by characterizing the opposing teams effectively. The opponents will never be just a nameless enemy, they will have motives, and mostly likely a bone to pick against you. There are significant consequences to winning or losing that go beyond just leveling up, but effect the story to.
Although Pyre has virtual novel elements, the game is actually fairly light on story and dialogue. There is a significant amount of it, but its never overwhelming, and it'll never get in the way of the star of the show, the Rites. The story has good themes and is compelling, and the characters get just enough time for you care about them.
I only have one nitpick, which is the hard mode. This mode is locked until you beat the game so this won't affect the average player, but its still a minor flaw. The main issue is that the increases in difficulty aren't fun, because they change the rules of the game in a way that feel unfair. Sports matches are all balanced sides, and the difficulty modifiers tip the scales in a way that feels very much so unbalanced against the player. I'd much rather have experienced a more organic difficulty increase.
That being said, I still consider Pyre to be amazing. The game has no major flaws, and manages to be great at everything it does. In typical Super Giant fashion, the visuals and music are both excellent. The game is tightly designed and tightly paced. The only thing I'm disappointed about is that so few people have played it. The game is an extremely unique experience and deserves your attention. Play Pyre.