I enjoyed several aspects of the game: enemies initiating combat on the map with visible models (even though the detection is flawed, requiring the player to stand on specific tiles if they don’t trigger attention through a routine), the farming logic, the battle system where equipment determines mechanics (and handicaps), as well as the idea of the basic attack consuming a minimal amount of SP, which gave the Guard option an excellent function in combat. By the way, it would be important for Guard to activate automatically when auto-battle is enabled, because right now, the player simply waits without SP regeneration.
However, the Lioncrest set—which can be obtained right at the start with the key—completely trivializes the initial section. Neither Wretched Hag nor Forlorn can deal damage; only the Tommyknockers and the Backsville enemies after the first boss manage to inflict 1 damage. I’m not sure this was a wise decision, as it discourages early experimentation with weaker enemies. Interestingly, if the player accepts Gwynfey and equips her fully, she still takes damage, unlike Artor, who remains untouchable until the game truly begins in Crestfallen. That said, the build dynamic in Crestfallen, as you bring more people into the base, is quite interesting. I found it a bit difficult to navigate, but the area’s music is excellent and enhances the visual storytelling.
Halvagrim, at the far north of the Swamp of Treason, was completely static on the map, and I was very surprised to realize he was a boss. Despite being the only enemy in the area, he was 100% passive. This contrasts with Daetrhas and Sandigo, who, since they are positioned in an impassable part of the labyrinth, must be defeated for the player to progress. Interestingly, Auberon is also passive. By the way, for me, the desert is one of the worst areas in the game. The map is way too large, has little visual guidance, and honestly, I couldn't progress past a certain point. My guess is that there's a bug, as there should be an access point at the oasis. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out the path to the boss with the Holy Grail fragment.
Aside from the fact that Artor is a silent protagonist, I think the game delivers a very complete experience. You implemented multiple mechanics, distributed collectible items well, and created a solid logic for exploration and secrets—a good example being Levitation, which is essential to reach Caerhaix Tower. The boss progression was also very well thought out. Auberon, with his four phases, is one of my favorites. For me, the hardest was the Maimed King; his damage output is massive, making the fight truly challenging. However, the game crashes during this battle. I managed to get him down to half health once, when he transitions into his second form, but the game froze. I leveled up some more, tried again, and it crashed at the same point. I believe this is the limit of my playthrough.
I always try to finish the games I start, but honestly, I’ve done a lot of grinding and invested a good amount of time. Maybe im doing something wrong, maybe its a wrong path. So, for me, this is where I stop. Still, it was a very fun and enjoyable experience. Thank you for sharing your game! I had a great time, and you managed to capture the essence of Dark Souls within RPG Maker remarkably well.