Artis Impact Review

Artis Impact is handcrafted by solo indie developer Mas, who spent over four years shaping this pixel art RPG. Right off the bat, with how the game enamors you with its artistic prowess, you can tell it's been created with love. Sort of like how a mother raises a child. Yeah, that's how much Artis Impact will leave you awestruck.

Modern RPGs are predictable: hyper-realistic visuals and vast open worlds, which aren't bad things per se, but they're just overdone. Artis Impact, on the other hand, is intimate. Not only does it make you feel warm, but it also feels inviting. The game will make you feel like you belong at home, because it's welcoming despite being in a post-apocalyptic setting.

This may sound weird, but the game's powerful in the sense that it makes you believe in humanity; it makes you feel like you are allowed to laugh even in your darkest hours. Mas clearly poured personal dedication into every element of the game. Calling the game a product would be a disservice to such heartfelt storytelling. It's a passion project, one that goes beyond business for Mas. 

As for the story? So you step foot in a world still reeling from a catastrophe, where any remaining humanity works to rebuild their lives, as you're met with AI-driven threats that once wiped your kind off the face of the planet. Doesn't sound far from reality, does it?

Nonetheless, you are Akane, a mercenary working under the banner of an organization protecting the surviving communities. You are not alone by the way; you have got Bot. Who is this Bot? This may sound ironic given we're literally fighting AI in this world, but Bot is an AI computer cube. In other words, he's perhaps a Jarvis to your Iron Man in a world that is festered with Elon Musk's Grok. 

At this point, you could be expecting a combat-heavy experience given the premise, but you'd be wrong. Artis Impact surprises by leaning into slice-of-life pacing, allowing room for moments of calm, friendship, and simple beauty amid the wreckage. The narrative is more about the people than the war; the story allows for moments of self-reflection, further reinstating the message that "games are art."

So now, if you were to get to know Akane, what would your first impression of her be? Akane isn't your typical femme fatale that you'd often see in games like these. She is fragile, just like us who are playing with her. But don't mistake her fragility for her weakness; she showcases that vulnerability, too, can be embraced positively. In the darkest of moments, she can laugh.

She's positive even as she finds it hard to come to terms with the fact that her best friend is an AI cube. You uncover her further as the game progresses. You wouldn't expect a character with such depth in an indie game; she belongs in Hollywood but is stuck in the world of Artis Impact, but good for us, RPG fans. The moments when Akane is alone with her thoughts provide some of the most thought-provoking segments in the game. 

Each character you meet along the journey feels carefully written, which can be felt through organic interactions. Some moments are lighthearted, others bittersweet, and each encounter will leave you craving more. The mundanity is the game's trump card: a shared meal in a safehouse or a conversation over a restored painting. It'll carefully draw you into an environment that makes you appreciate the small things in life.

Mas's storytelling never feels rushed; instead, it lets you bask in the glory of a larger narrative arc. The story also puts you at a crossroads on many occasions, making you write your destiny in the game by making choices that will have major implications in your game world. 

Artis Impact balances simplicity with depth if we are talking about gameplay. Exploration is key to the experience, inviting you to wander a world that's a blend of urban and nature. Interacting with the environment often reveals subtle storytelling, dropping Easter eggs for you to discover, like areas with useful items or a dialogue or two from your side cast. 

Combat is not the sole focus for Artis Impact, yet it plays a meaningful role in developing Akane. The game introduces turn-based battles, but if strategy is what you're on the hunt for, Artis Impact may not be your prey.

There's also leveling of weapons and RPG features that we all know and love, though simplified, to achieve the goal of making the game accessible for all. And Bot will be at your assistance too. Bot begins with healing functions, but you can get him to attack, too. 

Overall, Artis Impact focuses on simplicity; you'll find yourself mashing the same few attacks for hours on end, but that still keeps the game from feeling repetitive because the game's daily simulation aspects will keep you hooked for the 10-hour-long adventure. Between main missions, you'll get the opportunity to take up side hustles for extra cash; you can decorate your home or even cook meals.

So, between you dealing with threatening AI problems and managing smaller issues, it just makes you feel like everyday life. The game is a love letter to pixel art. The post-apocalyptic setting, although it does denote a wounded world, definitely does not lack color.

The comic-book-style art for gameplay and manga-like illustrations for cutscenes just go to show the attention to detail that went into Artis Impact. Everything is hand-drawn, creating an engaging world where animations are smooth, immersing you in a world that never falls asleep.  

The audio design complements the visuals perfectly. Sound effects are clean and purposeful, whether it's the metallic ring of a sword strike or the satisfying click of unlocking a door. The audio never feels like an afterthought; it's as much a storytelling tool as the visuals and dialogue. It dabbles in horror and humor just as much, basically any sort of emotion, based on the scenario you are put in.

By the time you reach the end of Artis Impact, it becomes clear that Mas isn't trying to go toe-to-toe with the major studios. More than the game feeling like a game, it's a work of art on your screens. Starting from the visuals to the story, the game is unapologetically whimsical, but it can be serious when it needs to be, as we see ourselves tackling mental health or even sexism through the lens of Akane. 

Artis Impact stands out because it knows exactly what it wants to be. It offers a tightly crafted experience where simplicity is its biggest strength, and that's a rare sight to see in an ever-growing world of RPGs. The slow pacing may not appeal to everyone, but the game is rewarding, only if you've got a little humanity to spare.