Loop8: Summer of Gods, published by XSEED Games and developed by Marvelous is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated titles for its settings and gameplay dynamics that, at least at first glance, bring it closer to the famous Persona series. Marvelous title offers similar social dynamics and turn-based combat and is available today on PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
About the Game
Loop8: Summer of Gods offers an immersive RPG set in 1980s rural Japan. The game follows the life of Nini, a teen who arrives in the quaint Japanese town of Ashihara. The player explores the town, builds relationships with its inhabitants, and battles against the Kegai in turn-based fights where outcomes depend on the connections made and choices taken.
Nini has a unique ability to reset the world, allowing him and his allies to repeat the month of August until they succeed, or until the Kegai defeats them. With the world ending in a month, the player’s actions and decisions directly impact the game’s course.
The game is characterized by its nostalgic and beautifully depicted rural Japanese townscape, engaging mechanics where everyday actions influence battles, and an emotion-driven AI system that responds to player decisions, providing a unique experience in each playthrough.
Loop8: Summer of Gods Reviews
But now, let’s see if the RPG has met the expectations so far. Below, I have gathered some reviews of Loop8 from the most famous magazines and websites.
Nintendo Life (50)
Loop8: Summer of Gods is a long-winded and repetitive adventure that fails to deliver on its enticing premise. The game combines elements of a classic turn-based Japanese RPG with roguelike mechanics, similar to Persona. However, it lacks the engaging pacing of Persona or the addictive nature of games like Hades or Neon White. The story, centered around the main character Nini’s repeated attempts to stop the Kegai from destroying the village of Ashihara, lacks depth and fails to keep the player invested.
The gameplay loop involves managing time, building relationships with characters, and engaging in activities, but the dialogue and relationship-building become monotonous after multiple playthroughs. The roguelike elements are limited to resetting the timeline upon failure, requiring the player to repeat conversations and dialogue. The battle system is appreciated but frustrating due to limited control over teammates’ actions. The game’s presentation, including visuals, animations, and soundtrack, is praised, but the overall experience is described as a repetitive and frustrating chore that fails to create an emotional impact. Read NintendoLife Review
Destructoid (50)
The review highlights that Loop8: Summer of Gods is an unconventional RPG that focuses more on social simulation than traditional RPG mechanics. The gameplay involves completing tasks and building relationships in a small seaside town while also fighting invading spirits called Kegai. The Karel System, meant to create unique experiences through player actions, is underwhelming and doesn’t significantly impact.
The game follows a looping narrative where progress resets after each loop, leading to repetitive gameplay and dialogue. The review notes that the conversations can feel like busy work, and the lack of guidance on which actions lead to desired outcomes is frustrating. The battle system allows control over the protagonist but leaves AI control for teammates, leading to occasional frustration. The game’s presentation, visuals, and soundtrack are praised despite its flaws. The review concludes that Loop8 has interesting ideas and concepts but falls short due to exhausting design decisions that detract from the game’s overall enjoyment. Read Destructoid full review
RPG Site (4)
The review expresses disappointment with Loop8: Summer of Gods, stating that it didn’t live up to the initial expectations of being a relaxing social simulation RPG. The game is criticized for focusing too much on numbers and stats, and lacking in interesting gameplay and storytelling. The review highlights the limited scope of the town and repetitive interactions with the 12 characters. The AI system, which was meant to create unique experiences, is deemed underwhelming, and the conversations lack depth and characterization. The time loop mechanic, while initially intriguing, becomes monotonous due to repeated dialogue and lack of variety. The battles are average at best, with uninteresting locations and AI-controlled party members. The review acknowledges improvements made through patches but ultimately finds Loop8 to be a flawed game that fails to deliver on its promising concepts. Read RPG Site full review
Siliconera (4)
The author expresses disappointment with Loop8: Summer of Gods, stating that despite having good ideas, the game falls short in execution. It is described as obtuse and pretentious, trying to be clever but failing to deliver. The review provides an overview of the game’s story and mechanics, including the time loop element and the relationship-building aspects. The battles are criticized for lacking strategy and being repetitive. The review mentions the difficulty in connecting with the characters due to generic interactions and a lack of depth. The repetitive nature of the loops and the slow pacing are seen as drawbacks. The review concludes that while Loop8 has some potential and interesting concepts, it ultimately fails to deliver an enjoyable experience. Read Siliconera full review.
Pros and Cons of Loop8: Summer of Gods
Pros:
- Interesting premise and concepts: Loop8: Summer of Gods is praised for its initial premise and unique ideas, such as the combination of turn-based RPG mechanics with roguelike elements and social simulation aspects. The game’s setting and story hooks are often considered intriguing.
- Appreciation for the game’s presentation, visuals, animations, and soundtrack: Several reviews highlight the visual and audio aspects of Loop8, praising its art style, attention to detail in the environments, character designs, and overall aesthetic. The soundtrack is also mentioned positively, adding to the immersive experience.
- Some praise for the battle system and the ability to control the protagonist: While there are criticisms, some reviews acknowledge the battle system, which allows players to control the main character and make strategic choices during combat encounters.
- Recognition of the game’s attempt to incorporate social simulation mechanics: Loop8’s focus on building relationships with characters and managing social interactions is acknowledged positively, as it adds depth to the gameplay and offers a unique aspect to the overall experience.
Cons:
- Repetitive gameplay loops and dialogue: Multiple reviews point out that the game falls into repetitive patterns due to the time loop mechanic, where players must repeat conversations and dialogue in each cycle. This repetition can make the gameplay feel tedious and monotonous.
- Lack of depth in the story and character relationships: Some reviews express disappointment in the storytelling and character development, citing a lack of depth and meaningful interactions. The conversations can feel shallow and fail to establish strong emotional connections with the characters.
- Frustrating design decisions, such as the time loop mechanic and limited control over teammates’ actions: While intriguing initially, the time loop mechanic becomes tedious and repetitive. Additionally, the limited control over AI-controlled party members in battles can lead to frustration and a lack of strategic options.
- Monotonous and underwhelming conversations: Reviewers mention that the dialogue options and interactions with characters often feel like busy work, lacking meaningful choices or impactful outcomes. The conversations may not provide enough depth or variety to engage players effectively.
- Disappointment in the execution of promising ideas and concepts: While the game has interesting concepts and potential, reviews express disappointment in the overall execution. The game fails to fully deliver on its promising ideas, resulting in a lackluster and underwhelming experience.
- Lack of guidance and clarity on desired outcomes: Some reviews mention frustration due to a lack of clear direction on which actions or choices will lead to desired outcomes. This can make it challenging for players to progress or make meaningful decisions within the game.
- Pacing issues and slow progression: The pacing of Loop8 is criticized in certain reviews, mentioning slow progression and time-consuming activities that can impede the game’s overall flow.
- Battles lacking strategy and location variety: The combat encounters are described as lacking strategic depth, with limited options for controlling teammates and repetitive battles. The lack of variety in battle locations further diminishes the overall enjoyment of the combat system.
Loop8: Summer of Gods presents a mixed bag for players and reviewers alike. On the positive side, the game shines with its unique blending of turn-based RPG mechanics, roguelike elements, and social simulation. Its compelling premise, striking visuals, immersive soundtrack, and the element of strategic choices during combat are also appreciated. However, the game’s potential seems overshadowed by a myriad of issues. These include repetitive gameplay loops and dialogue brought about by the time loop mechanic, lack of depth in story and character relationships, frustrating design decisions, monotonous conversations, and issues with game pacing.
Moreover, battles are deemed to lack strategy and variety, and the overall execution of promising ideas falls short of expectations. A prevalent concern is the lack of clear guidance on progressing in the game, which can hinder player engagement and satisfaction. Consequently, while Loop8 presents some intriguing ideas and elements, its execution and certain design decisions have led to a less-than-stellar reception.
