Cassette Beasts - Attack On Childhood Nostalgia
Back in 1999, my older brother borrowed a Game Boy Color from a friend, and I bear witness while playing my first Pokémon game. I wasn't big on Pokémon at the time growing up, but was part of the trend. Even to the extent of buying collectible cards and watching the beloved TV series. Then I grew up, and started putting my attention elsewhere.
As a teenager, I grew up watching Scott Pilgrim movie before reading the comics, explored the music scene when learning about punk rock and pop rock music, and played Undertale. Playing Cassette Beasts opened up like this collage of such memories, and more.
A charming game that was actually fun to play with an endearing setup and has no problem being a bit dark and edgy too. And it's funny how a bunch of indie devs manage to put the game developer of Pokémon to shame when it comes to creativity and originality. Even if it has its inspirations, it just feels like a game that caters to this childhood fantasy while bringing a few unique twists.
First off, I really like that the name of this game has something to do with music and summoning beasts. Quite literally, since my character gets granted a cassette player to use in order to battle with monsters. By default, my first monster tape was a Bansheep.
There's a lot that it differentiates itself from any other known monster collecting RPG, first off the artstyle is similar, but it is mixed with influences from the likes of Undertale, and Scott Pilgrim as well as setting ambiance and tone from both of them.
The world of course is a supposed meta manifestion of those as well, because the characters are from the real world that somehow got thrown into this fictional land with all kinds of strange things to uncover. Take Keyleigh for example, she's actually from Ireland. The other character I meet, named Eugene, tasked me to help him take out vampire real estate agents.
And it is a world that is begging to be explored. New Wirral happens to be ripe with new adventures, exploring the land involved a lot of platforming mixed with puzzle solving, exploring caves, and finding new people whether friend or foe.
I kid you not, they upped Pokémon by bringing platforms, wind leaks, levers for area puzzles, each of them creating this verticality in exploration. It's fun, and sort of like this overfill of stuff to do, because even without them, I wouldn't have much of an issue exploring the land.
Progressing through the game, I'll meet more battle partners to befriend and duke out, learn, and record copies of other monsters. Collecting other monsters needs me to record them while my character is vulnerable to attack without their monster, as well as weakening the other monster to do so. So far, playing with a partner has made that strategically possible.
There are 4 major elemental types that play into battle; like air, water, fire, and earth. Other elements that are also immediately introduced in the early stage of the game are metal and glass. Those last two pretty much have a tendency to stand out because if you know science, metal is somewhat impervious to a few of them. Glass isn't but shattering that has a punishing effect.
Each of the tape monsters do have additional tapes, so I can insert any extra passive
or abilities of my choosing, even ones based on elementals different from the monster type. It's these kinds of options with the freedom to play how I want is in each battle.
But what is the main story supposed to be about? What do all these characters want in the end? There is a giant myth to chase, beings of supernatural and reality bending power that supposedly has the ability to get all of us back to the real world.
In-between is the kind of storytelling that makes me doubt about this quest, thinking maybe staying here would be greater, but even then, there's more to internalize with some existential dread. This game, even with it's oozing charm, playing soothing BGM with melodic harmonies and a vocalist that is recurring in songs of any situation, has a lot of dark stuff to show. People die, cosmic horror dwell within, people follow dreadful conspiracy theories, and a heck ton of weird things.
From early exploration I was being bombarded by requests, exploring rumor mills, and main questlines. One main quest, after doing an errand involving wood collecting, lead me to battle an Archangel, before defeating her which reveals that she has the means to return us back.
But with a catch, I have to collect 8 different versions of her. Part of the reason why I have this chill in the back of my head, is because the game's exploration in certain areas of the map does a good build up of tension and dread, that eventually culminates in some climactic moments.
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As I went on, I found some nutjobs constantly trying to battle me and then give me rhetoric like this, some of the Easter Eggs and references they pick obviously seemed like the writers were having a blast. Probably high on weed, because this cracked me up at times. It took me a while, with some cleverly set up puzzles for the areas, and sidetracking off course, but before I have to find my first Archangel, I had to do Kayleigh's quest of going to her own town.
And on the way, before entering the town past the fortress wall, I met this nice, eclectic anthropomorphic monster, that was nice enough to give me some tutorials about teleporting to destinations on the map. Which is a godsend considering all the hassle I've gone through (especially battling the crazies out there).
But the real absurdity starts when Kayleigh finally meets up with her chief, and egotistical ex-boyfriend, Dorian. Because he is so adamant on fulfilling his follower's promise, he went ahead into the forbidden cave, and got on the Archangel's nerve so badly, it vaporized him literally.
But for us, Morningstar was a deadly foe. Testing what I've learned and constantly destroying me. I had to fight em 3 times, before realizing I was playing it wrong. Each time its AP was full, it would launch a devastating ultimate that took out me and Kayleigh, no matter how many monsters we've switched to.
But after some farming, finessing my character, I started to change strategy. Using walls before ultimate was a save I would be thankful for. Using different elements of my other monsters to create afflictions, and then mix that with other elements to get surplus damage. Us fusing together made us unstoppable too, then strengthening our bond after battle which provided bonus stat.
Monster battles did get harder, but this was part of the fun. There were many ways to play out the game, adapt to the changes, and increase the amount of equipment and items I could hold. Thanks to a largely progressive system, I really did start to grow.
And of course, the other main quests needed me to fight against 12 monster trainers for my ranger application. They are a range of personalities that also provide variation of battle challenges, that kind of serves the purpose of readying for tougher battles. I didn't go far, and only beat 1 trainer, but judging by how good the game has been for 6-7hrs, I have no doubt that will be the case.
I really did have fun playing this game, it had a wholesome charm and intrigue to it overall. Great characters to interact, amazing soundtrack that elevates the mood, some of the best influences from various media, subversive, and really engaging combat and exploration.
If you love Pokemon, I mean the old games even, this will take you back to those great times. But it's also a celebration of sorts of what makes video games so great in general.
Post Update: Yeah, I forgot to mention that the game has split-screen co-op. Meaning you and a friend could both explore and battle while having controlling over the characters. That's something Pokemon never put in the first place.
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I was looking at this game recently and very nearly picked it up. The fusion mechanics looked interesting, as well as some of the subtle darkness and humor you mentioned. I never got into pokemon video games, and that is probably why I passed on this game for now. But after reading your review, I think I'll have to keep it in consideration next time I'm looking for a new game.
Visually it's a marvel, it has everything I like; A 2D style combined with a very polished pixel art. I didn't know it, I hadn't even heard of it and I'm surprised, considering the quality it has. I'm not an extreme Pokemon fanatic, but that turn-based combat along with the exploration touches you mention, make it a game that is definitely in my sights to play in the future.
I think even non-pokemon players can get into a game like this. It has so much going for it.