Tortured Hearts - Or How I Saved The Universe. Again.

Usually I would reccommend a game like this. There is a lot to like about Tortured Hearts. A lot to discover, but I have seldom seen a game that depends so much on ingame knowledge that is not really clear to the player. The start is not only rough but you constantly run into walls at each corner of the game. It is incredibly frustrating. There seems to be a specific way to play the game and after two characters I do not have the energy to start another to find out.

This game has a ton of content and it was obviously a labor of love by the author. It's quite the lengthy adventure, though my time is rather misleading, because the version I playtested was a beta version that wasn't completely optimized, resulting in a lot of load-time lagging. If the author is able to eliminate these load-lag issues, then he's crafted quite an amazing product. The character improvement system is quite interesting and rather addicting. The gameplay actually harkened me back to the old Infocom text adventures of yore--always on the lookout for some obscure, creative solution to various puzzles. Once you've managed to level up your primary skills (and got some team members), combat seemed quite manageable (I read some early reviews that criticized this, but I enjoyed it for the most part). Anyway, anyone that really appreciates a lot of time put into game design and a passionate author should give this one a whirl. I just hope the author is able to release the "improved" version I playtested without the lagging. My actual game-time is probably close to half what I clocked here. --Adam

love it 1 of the best rpg i have played in years 9/10 for me

There is a lot about this game I like. The writing is definitely the selling point. It is very interesting and it's a fun world to do whatever you want in. But, there is a bunch of things that make playing a pain. Mostly in menus and interfaces. And figuring out the combat system requires a personal divination from the stars above. But after a few characters and much save scumming, I find myself coming back to try new things. I have not managed to get very far because I keep messing up conversations that turn into fights. But I want to learn more. I will be the first to admit part of the problem is myself getting frustrated and needing to take a break. All in all, I find there are more redeeming qualities than negative. Give it a try and if it gets frustrating step back for a bit. It might just grow on you.

I played the demo over a year ago, and could not quit thinking about this game from time to time. I am glad that I finally bought it. This little gem is very underrated. I'm truly coming to that realization. The reviews are pretty good, but the game doesn't seem to be as well known as it should be. This is a gorgeous piece of work. I have the ability to play some graphic intensive games, and own nearly 900 STEAM games. This game is not demanding in the graphics department, but it still looks and sounds awesome to me, also I love the immersive feel of it. I can't explain it. The game seems genuine; it doesn't try to be something that it isn't. Its old school vibe somehow makes itself at home in these contemporary times. The game forces your intellect and imagination to cooperate with it. This cooperation leads to nostalgia. Its look seems crude at first, yet its beauty grows on you and it manages to convince part of my brain that this place is more real than its graphic-intensive counterparts. I really like this game. It is incredibly immersive and deep once you get into it. This little world is amazing to me. I've changed my mind in the middle of this paragraph, I don't lik…

- So fun to play, rating 98/100