Artis Impact Review – Beautiful, Flawed, and Full of Heart

Artis Impact Review

Artis Impact is a turn-based indie RPG crafted by a single person, and it shows. I mean that as both a compliment and not.

On the one hand, this game is gorgeous and full of heart. On the other, it has a very specific sense of humor that can really hamper a player’s enjoyment. Also, even on the highest available difficulty, you will probably break the combat balance without even trying.

In a post-apocalyptic world shared by humans and AI, a young woman named Akane lives with her companion Bot. Together, the two of them roam a beautiful but dangerous land, protecting it from rogue AI and other threats. And when there are no threats, they get into silly arguments and cause trouble for each other.

The game wants to be a somber and melancholy exploration of what it means to be human when the line between man and machine blurs. However, it is jammed full of optional scenes, many of which are dripping with a very out of place crass humor. The result is a title that’s full of tonal dissonance, which sometimes enhances the experiences and sometimes just annoys.

A Work of Art

Artis Impact is, as mention above, a turn-based RPG with a number of life sim elements and a lot of missable content. In battle, Akane can guard, attack, or use Arts or items on her turn. Bot can attack with her or heal her for a bit of health. And enemies will use their own moves after she goes. It’s pretty typical stuff.

What stands out are the animations, which are gorgeous. Akane fluidly shifts from waving her sword defensively into each attack. It looks like something from a beat ‘em up or pixel-based fighting game, not an RPG. It’s truly remarkable to experience. Unfortunately, it’s easy to break the combat balance simply by engaging with it as you’re supposed to.

You’re supposed to reset Akane’s level when she reaches max, gaining permanent upgrades in the process. Unfortunately, hitting Rank 2 breaks the early game, and things do not get better from there. You simply don’t need to develop any combat strategy more complex than ‘use Peerless, guard occasionally.’ Every once in a while, there’s a very tough boss, but the Peerless-guard strategy is still all you need. If it’s somehow not working, healing items will change that.

Outside of combat, Akane can socialize, pick up quests, and do a variety of activities. The life sim portions are pretty engaging, if not as deep as they could be. It’s fun to wander around town, completing quests, saving money, and finding optional events. However, some of those events lead to the game’s tone problem.

Artis Impact is Lovely, But Full of Contradictions

Artis Impact is packed with optional scenes, missable events, and tons of collectibles. However, it does have a central narrative, even if it can be somewhat unfocused. Unfortunately, the dialog is riddled with typos and often reads like a machine translation. The grammar is especially bad.

Akane and Bot have an entertaining dynamic. She’s a bleeding heart and her partner is a cold and calculating machine, so they clash constantly. Despite that, they clearly care for each other in their own ways. Most characters have some degree of charm to them and it’s fun to watch them change as you complete quests.

One thing I do have to complain about is an uncomfortable undercurrent of sexism. To be clear, I don’t think the game is intentionally being sexist. The most extreme examples of chauvinism aimed at Akane and her female friends are played for laughs. However, the constant reminders that Akane ‘will make a good wife’ still feel odd. And there are many moments where characters joke about Akane’s body or her lack of a boyfriend that left a bad taste in my mouth.

That said, there is an option to play in Super Safe Mode, which takes some crass jokes out.

Akane’s quest to uncover her past and protect her town moves as fast as the player wants it to. You can put the plot on hold and focus on the slice of life elements whenever you want. Spending your time exploring, fighting through optional dungeons, and working part-time jobs gives access to resources and optional power-ups.

You Will Break the Combat Balance

Artis Impact’s world is a visual feast. Its lush pixel art, detailed comic book-style cutscenes, and melancholy soundtrack are simply gorgeous. The storytelling, when it gets serious, is also very effective. The somber and cute moments can be really powerful.

There’s a nice contrast between the sketchy ‘panels’ that appear during cutscenes and the simple in-game animations. The world map is delightfully retro. It feels like something of an old Legends of Zelda or Dragon Quest game. And it has lovely sound design. The melancholy soundtrack adds a nostalgic edge to match with the faux-retro visuals.

The simple visuals and stunning soundtrack craft a really magical and often mournful atmosphere. Unfortunately, the game’s writing often seems to clash deliberately with this almost ethereal mood. The crass humor does contrast sharply with the beautiful art direction. However, even without the underpinnings of misogyny, it can leave a bad taste in a player’s mouth. It’s like the game leans into irony because it’s worried you might be taking Akane and her story too seriously.

A lot of skill books and optional Masteries don’t say what their effects are until purchased. Many quality of life upgrades are available for one-time purchases. It feels a bit like paying to make the game easier and more convenient. And there’s so much missable content in this game that you need a guide to even know where to check.

All in all, Artis Impact is a fascinating work of art from a solo developer. I just wish the combat was more balanced and the English translation were better.

***Steam code provided by the publisher***