Bloomtown: A Different Story [PC] | REVIEW

With its social elements, demon recruiting, and turn-based combat in a twisted realm, it won’t take players long to realise that Bloomtown: A Different Story was clearly influenced by Persona. Thankfully, it does a wonderful job with the ideas that it borrows from Atlus’ beloved RPG series, all whilst adding its own unique elements to the storytelling that help make it a real treat to play.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Bloomtown: A Different Story puts players in the role of Emily, who, alongside her brother Chester, spends the Summer in a cozy little town called Bloomtown with her grandfather. Everything SEEMS pretty normal at first, but Emily soon finds herself transported to another realm known as the Underside where she meets Lucifer. Yep, you get to have a little chat with the devil, where he gets you to sign a contract to stop three powerful demons from unleashing their fury upon Bloomtown.

It sounds totally bananas, but it makes for an engrossing tale that I found myself wholly invested in from the moment I started playing. Whilst it was obvious from the get-go that something was amiss in Bloomtown, the way that everything unfolds is wonderfully executed to maintain a balance of normality and dark intrigue. More and more mysteries begin to unravel as you progress, with the game offering Stranger Things-style vibes that see a plucky group of kids look to defy the odds to prevent a dark force from taking over their town.

I really enjoyed the storytelling of the Bloomtown: A Different Story, with the writing, the characters you meet, and the strange scenarios you find yourself in all coming together wonderfully to make for a tantalising tale. What makes it even more alluring is the fact that you’ll get to make dialogue choices throughout the game that can affect how events pan out, with Emily having a varying set of stats that’ll affect her success in these situations: kindness, knowledge, guts, and charisma. You’ll also roll dice to pass a skill check and determine if your choices in these moments are successful, with them often bringing rewards to the player that’ll make their life a little easier in-game. It’s always fun to see what the results of these actions can be, and whilst they don’t always make a massive impact on the story, they bring with them plenty of quirky and amusing moments that all add to the charm of the experience.

“Bloomtown: A Different Story is a charming RPG that kept me utterly engrossed with its gorgeous world, enjoyable combat, and clever storytelling.”

There’s also plenty to do throughout Bloomtown to ensure your days are kept busy, with players able to indulge in a bit of farming, exercise, hanging out with friends to build relationships, and so forth, with the game showcasing its Persona-like vibe with its social aspects. There’s even a day-and-night cycle to follow in the game with a handy little clock shown in the top corner of the screen, with players having to manage their time carefully to keep on top of everything. Spending time to socialise or complete tasks brings with it benefits though, with players able to improve their stats, unlock new skills, or simply gather the items necessary to deal with the danger that comes with the Underside.

What, you didn’t think you’d be able to take on some demons without a bit of battling, right? Bloomtown: A Different Story features turn-based combat that’ll see players battling it out with a variety of creatively-designed demons, with a focus placed on exploiting their elemental weaknesses to string together combos and defeat them in battle. Again… sound familiar? It’s probably because the game was also clearly inspired by Persona in its combat, albeit in a more streamlined form. You’ll even be able to recruit enemies to your cause by downing them and initiating ‘Hold Up’, which sees you roll dice to determine your success in recruiting them (the demons can also be fused to create a more powerful form, which is very Persona-like).

It might sound like I’m knocking Bloomtown: A Different Story for its Persona-like similarities, but honestly? I was a big fan. It complemented the unique tone of the game, whilst it was always fun to recruit new demons to my cause, grow their strength, and then unleash their abilities in combat. It also helps that there’s enough depth to the game’s combat to ensure it remains strategic and fun throughout, with an emphasis placed on using both melee and ranged attacks to keep on top of enemies. However, enemy placement affects what attacks can reach them, meaning you’ve got to think your actions through carefully to ensure you deal with them in the right order – especially since your ranged attacks are limited. It might sound complex, but anyone who is familiar with turn-based combat will feel right at home.

Check out some screenshots down below:

The only downside to the combat is that battles could really drag out. Trying to exploit enemy weaknesses, dealing with status ailments, and having to take a tactical approach to deal with enemy formations can be time-consuming, especially when you’re facing an easier opponent that sees you simply go through the motions to succeed. And when an enemy IS tough and you’re ill-prepared? Too bad, you can’t escape from battle, so you’ve just got to take the loss. Whilst none of these issues make combat bad by any means, they do give it a slower pace that could get a little tedious during longer play sessions.

Still, whilst it has its imperfections, combat was still a lot of fun and certainly complemented the more laidback approach of exploring Bloomtown itself. And believe me, there’s plenty to do outside of battling, with an abundance of quests to complete that’ll keep you occupied as you start to make your mark on the town. You’ll always be kept busy, and whilst the number of tasks you take on might feel overwhelming at times, the fact that you can handle them how you please (and get to make little decisions that affect them) ensures they’re ALWAYs satisfying – even IF the decisions you make don’t always go as you’d expect them to…

I’ve got to give a shout out to the game’s visuals, which are absolutely wonderful. The pixel art of the game is phenomenal, with the blend of niceties in Bloomtown and the more unsettling tone of the Underside making for a world that’s a real treat to explore. The animations are impressively fluid to see in motion, whilst the detail of the world ensures there’s always something unique to see. It really is gorgeous, whilst the catchy soundtrack adds to the charm when exploring the world.

Developer: Lazy Bear Games, Different Sense Games
Publisher: Twin Sails Interactive
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2445990/Bloomtown_A_Different_Story/