Cassette Beastsis an indiepixel game with a lot of charm,surprising depth, and intriguing adventures. Players find themselves on a quest to defeat heaven’s servants and prove their merit to their peers. The game sets itself aside from otherturn-based RPGsby taking a leaf fromPokemon’sbooks, introducing a monster fighting system and combing it withPersona’sturn-based strategy party setup. There are some limitations; namely, only one partner may accompany the player at a time.
Each partner that gamers meet along the way brings different powers and aspects to the party. They each have with their own personal quests exploring why they are stranded in New Wirral alongside the protagonist. Talk to them, fight with them against wild monsters, and possibly romance a few along the way. It’s up to the player who they choose, as each character offers something unique and different.
6Barkley
Man’s best friend is represented in this game bya canine companionof cute and cuddly proportions. Barkley, an apt name, takes the idea of a good boy to new heights. Beyond the fluffy exterior and what he might lack in conversation, he makes up for with everything else.
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In battle, Barkley’s Signature Tapetransforms him into aPombomb,another dog that is far more aggressive and battle-hardened. The Pombomb brings about Barkley’s protective nature, with fiery and fighting elemental alignments. If players choose Barkley, they may find themselves lacking topics to talk about, but will gain a friend for life.
5Meredith
The bespectacled Meredith has a heart of gold and a mouth that moves a mile a minute with snark, sass, and a clear lack of making deep connections. However, if players can get past the antisocial armor that confounds conversation, they will find a fine companion. Players may find Meredith lacking in depthunless they pursue romanceand open up the dialogue with her by investing time and love.
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Combat chips away at the rockiness surrounding her stoicism as she embodiesKitelly,a feline electric type monster. On the surface she may seem prissy, but once leveled up, the claws truly come out. Her elemental electric alignment is versatile in battle, as conductive debuffs on ailments can hamper the hardiest of foes.
4Eugene
Cool as a cucumber with a fashion sense to boot, Eugene’s blonde hair and flashy jackets do little to determine the man behind the get-up. Obsessed with doing the right thing, he is a moral compass who seeks to rectify every injustice he encounters. Though it may be a trope of many an RPG game, his backstory is spiced up by the clever dialogue ofCassette Beastsandthe iconic villainsof his story: Undead Real Estate Agents.
Outside his general persona when conversing, his Signature Tape,Clocksley,isn’t a stand-out by any merit. Reflecting his passion and steadfast ideals, Clocksley is the immovable object of morality. He’s a hero of high defense and attack, but moves slowly compared to the other partners available to the player.
3Kayleigh
An encounter of the first kind, Kayleigh is a consummate tour guide andtutorial for the playerswhen they first arrive in New Wirral stranded, alone, and attacked by a wild creature. Kayleigh comes to the rescue, providing players with their first Signature Tape and introducing them to battle on the island. Though she plays the typical best friend archetype at the start, many players may be willing to ditch her as soon as possible for the more intriguing characters later.
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However, players may want to explore Kayleigh’s backstory a bit more once they embark on her personal quests, which explore the dangers of idol worship and how she confronts her past around the topic. Her Signature Tape,Sirenade,is the first beast the audience will see. She is quick and deadly, and is only enhanced upon furtherexploration and evolutionwithin the game.
2Viola
The esoteric and eccentric Viola portrays a different picture than the rest of her castaway cast mates. The only way to describe Viola is in two words: individualistic and Shakespearean. It’s a character choice used many times in gaming history and, dependingon the writingexecution, it can grate the ears or delight them. Thankfully, Viola falls into the latter category.
Cassette Beastsis a tidy package of a game and know what it wants to do with convictions, a sentiment shared by Viola. She knows what she wants, accepts the weird world she finds herself in, and navigates it expertly by driving dialogue, story, and narrative arcs forward with gusto. The ‘break a leg’ mentality is great to encourage players. Her Signature Tape,Spirouette,is a great support, helping allies and debilitating enemies alike.
1Felix
An artist on the journey of self-discovery with a flair for the French arts, Felix has a relaxed mellow vibe. There is far more to the man than his shaved sides, earrings, and overalls. As with all characters inCassette Beasts,his backstory reveals an embarrassing half-feline half-human creation from his past, a creation born from his tween mind.
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The interaction between hiscat-girl creationand himself is some of the best rapport dialogue in the entire game. Felix is great in battle too. His Signature Tape,Brushroom,is a grass-type that eventually can decimate all foes in the player’s path. Felix overall is a great guy that players will be remiss to explore and experience in their play through.
Cassette Beastsis out now on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PC, Xbox Series S/X, and Linux.
