“Bloomtown: A Different Story” was one of those games I knew little about, but once I saw footage of it I couldn’t help but feel compelled to give it a try, with its intriguing and nostalgic mix of narrative JRPG and social RPG. By developers Lazy Bear Games and Different Sense Games, it’s set in a charming 1960s Americana world that slowly reveals a darker, supernatural undercurrent. I played through it with high hopes, eager to see how this cool looking game blended monster taming, turn-based combat, and a story-driven experience. While there’s a lot to love, I found myself at times grappling with frustration, as the game’s mechanics couldn’t quite live up to its promising introduction.
The game begins by introducing Emily, the protagonist, and her younger brother Chester, who are spending their summer vacation in the seemingly idyllic town of Bloomtown with their grandpa. At first glance, Bloomtown is a picturesque slice of small-town American life—there’s a local cinema, quaint grocery shops, and more to make it feel cozy and familiar. But it doesn’t take long for the atmosphere to shift. Children begin disappearing, and it becomes clear that there’s something sinister lurking beneath the town’s surface. What begins as a leisurely summer quickly transforms into an unsettling adventure as Emily discovers that the town is not as peaceful as it seems. From the start, the world-building in “Bloomtown” is excellent. The game’s 1960s setting is more than just a backdrop—it’s lovingly crafted, pulling you in with its vintage charm. Yet, beneath this idyllic façade, a demonic world, the Underside, is growing, filled with monsters that are manifestations of the townspeople’s fears and vices. It’s a compelling twist, and the narrative sets up high stakes for Emily and her friends. Solving the mystery behind these disappearances becomes your main goal, and it’s hard not to feel invested in saving this once-charming town from an ominous fate.
The gameplay is divided between two main aspects—exploring the town and battling monsters in turn-based combat. I enjoyed roaming around Bloomtown, uncovering secret areas, and taking part in the town’s various activities. Whether it’s strengthening your abilities at the gym, earning pocket money by working at the grocery store, or cultivating your friendships with other characters, there’s always something to do that will feed back into the story or helps you in combat. This life-sim aspect was one of my favorite parts of the game, and it feels well integrated with the rest of the gameplay. The small, day-to-day activities made the town feel alive, while also offering meaningful boosts to your progression. On the flipside though, when it comes to the combat, “Bloomtown” struggles to maintain the same momentum. At its core, the game’s turn-based tactical battles are meant to evoke a sense of strategy and challenge. You control Emily and her friends, who each have their own set of abilities, and you can summon demons you’ve captured in previous encounters to aid you. There’s also a demon fusion system, where combining certain demons creates synergies and new strategies. On paper, this sounds like a winning combination. The idea of weakening enemies to capture them and then using them in future battles is familiar yet satisfying (you know the similar game I’m talking about), particularly with the variety of creatures you can collect and the potential for complex combos. But the execution doesn’t quite hit the mark. The combat often feels slow and repetitive, lacking the excitement I expected from a game where demon-hunting should be a key highlight. While it’s not outright bad, it does become tedious as battles tend to drag on without much variety. This wouldn’t be as much of an issue if the combat was only a small part of the experience, but given how frequently battles occur, it ends up weighing down the overall pacing of the game. The challenge ramps up in later sections, but it does so in a way that feels frustrating rather than rewarding.
That said, the art direction and soundtrack go a long way in keeping the experience enjoyable. The sprite work, especially in the depiction of enemies and dungeon environments, is visually striking. The cheerful, upbeat music that plays in the town is a nice contrast to the more haunting tunes in the dungeons, and this duality helps reinforce the feeling that there are two worlds coexisting in Bloomtown. So yeah, “Bloomtown: A Different Story” is a game that makes a strong first impression. Unfortunately, as the game progresses, the cracks begin to show, particularly in its combat system, which hindered my personal overall experience. It’s a game with a lot of heart and ambition, but one that stumbles in key areas, preventing it from reaching the heights it sets for itself. While I didn’t leave this little town completely satisfied, I still think it’s worth checking out if you’re a fan of JRPGs with strong narrative elements, especially if you’re drawn to its unique setting and monster-taming mechanics. It might not be perfect, but there’s enough here to make it an enjoyable, if sometimes flawed, experience.
7.5/10
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Related: Nick Navarro Reviews
Gaming since I was given an original Nintendo as a kid. I love great storytelling and unique ingenuity. When both collide in a single game, I'm a happy gamer. Twitter/IG @NickNavarro87
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