I backed it on Kickstarter. Absolutely incredible game. The art and animations are so detailed and impeccable, the story and characters grip you from beginning to end, and the gameplay is such fun.
I hope so much there may be a second game. It was over far too soon! Regardless, I'll be watching for your next game!
Incredibly fun game! I paid for it on steam and it works fantastically. My only complaint is that its too short. I beat it really quickly. I wish there was a bit more.
This game, while lovely on the surface, has a storyline with some terrifying implications. Halfway into the game, you arrive at a fascist state of gray squirrels where squirrels of color and LGBTQ squirrels are oppressed. The dictator on the throne says he just loves dominating over people, I mean squirrels. And it is revealed later, now a little spoiler warning here, that the original gray squirrel settlers in the past massacred innocent squirrels of color and brought their peaceful country to utter ruin. Today's fascist state of gray squirrels, no matter how glorious it may seem, is just a sorry mockery of this ancient nation of squirrels of color. Now our heroic rodents raid the fascist state to take down the gray squirrels. At one point, the dictator asks the heroes, "Do I have to be punished for the sins of my ancestors?" The dev's answer is a resounding yes. The dictator dies a horrible, painful death. The squirrels of color seize the assets and take over the whole country afterwards.
What makes this storyline terrifying is the way the dev presents the gray squirrels. From top to bottom, the gray squirrels are depicted as cardboard villains with no redeeming quality, who the dev implies deserve not only revenge genocide but also to be tortured in the process. There is no "Gray squirrels are squirrels too" moment. If you are a gray squirrel, you are a fascist and you must die. Doesn't this rhetoric sound familiar to you.
It's a shame because this really is a lovely game otherwise. The setting is interesting, the graphics are charming, nice music, etc. It's just the political messaging is so ominous and in-your-face, that it actually kills a chunk of the fun. If you sympathize with the oppressed rebel squirrels, you won't have any problem probably. But if you are more likely to be classified as a gray squirrel yourself, you'll feel uncomfortable playing these parts of the game.
"From top to bottom, the gray squirrels are depicted as cardboard villains with no redeeming quality, who the dev implies deserve not only revenge genocide but also to be tortured in the process."
I have two screenshots right here that you might be interested in. It's a shame itch won't let me upload them as webp.
If you felt they were written with no redeeming qualities, then you played that section with your eyes closed; as there were several Greys with redeeming qualities.
I really, really hope you make a Small Saga 2, a dlc or a New Game+. Its sad that the fights are limited, that the game end when you are at max power. That this beautiful games ends in general. Would love MORE! xD
Played this on Steam and it is genuinely one of the best games I have played in a very long time. The writing was fantastic.
I highly recommend it to anyone who is considering it. Just one warning: it's very easy so anyone looking for a challenging combat-focused RPG, this game is not that. The narrative and world makes up for that by a long shot.
I originally paid for this game back on Kickstarter years ago when it was first announced, and despite that I ended up waiting 5 months before I got around to playing it, due to my fears of "ok but I don't like RPGs, so how can this game be any good?"
Goddamn. I remember now why I immediately threw money at this game after finishing the demo. Absolutely incredible. I even picked the exact right tier, Deluxe Edition, which includes the music that I've added into my playlist because I love it so much. :3 (getting an NPC of my own in would be awkward, especially given there's only one fox in the story and... well.)
Also, the phrase "uwu softboi" hit me like a sack of bricks, but like, wrapped in a lemon (in that good "pan-galactic gargleblaster" way???) The idea of a Redwall-esque medieval style rodent society going onside alongside modern-day humans is so delightful tbh, and the juxtaposition between the two just makes for one of the most interesting "parallel rodent society" stories I've seen yet.
Today, I bought and finished Small Saga (on Steam, sorry; had I known the game was here, I would've bought it here). Upon that completion, I decided to buy the accompanying DLC to chuck a tip at the dev for having crafted such a beautiful, epic, and incredible adventure. It's about eight hours long and it's packed to the brim with incredible characterisation and exciting plot beats that other games struggle to even come close to. The turn-based combat isn't anything special but it's well executed but that's not what you're here for; you're here for the fantastic story.
I'm still amazed that the setting is just the gutters of a regular, non-magical Earth populated by talking rodents who've taken to medieval societies and yet the story accomplishes being a fantastic epic in its own right. The mundane becomes otherworldly, divine and demonic alike, and the presentation is immaculate. I heartily recommend this game to everyone. It's a real treat amongst indie titles.
Thanks Darya. As everyone has said, this is a wonderful and charming game. In the beginning, it was just a rpg. In the end, it was a beautiful, impactful journey. I hope creating the game was as much as a compelling experience as it was for me playing it.
I'm not much of a gamer, but I watch a bunch of LPs, but partway through watching I had to get it. Played through it in a couple of days, just finished it now, and just... wow.
You have a knack for telling story and character though game mechanics which I've not seen before. I enjoyed the story but the characters were amazing.
The battle mechanics are great too! They feel really tight and tuned in.
This was an incredible time, just about every part of this game charmed my pants off. Great work and thank you so much for this wonderful story! A blessed way to start 2024 <3
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I backed it on Kickstarter. Absolutely incredible game. The art and animations are so detailed and impeccable, the story and characters grip you from beginning to end, and the gameplay is such fun.
I hope so much there may be a second game. It was over far too soon! Regardless, I'll be watching for your next game!
Incredibly fun game! I paid for it on steam and it works fantastically. My only complaint is that its too short. I beat it really quickly. I wish there was a bit more.
This game, while lovely on the surface, has a storyline with some terrifying implications. Halfway into the game, you arrive at a fascist state of gray squirrels where squirrels of color and LGBTQ squirrels are oppressed. The dictator on the throne says he just loves dominating over people, I mean squirrels. And it is revealed later, now a little spoiler warning here, that the original gray squirrel settlers in the past massacred innocent squirrels of color and brought their peaceful country to utter ruin. Today's fascist state of gray squirrels, no matter how glorious it may seem, is just a sorry mockery of this ancient nation of squirrels of color. Now our heroic rodents raid the fascist state to take down the gray squirrels. At one point, the dictator asks the heroes, "Do I have to be punished for the sins of my ancestors?" The dev's answer is a resounding yes. The dictator dies a horrible, painful death. The squirrels of color seize the assets and take over the whole country afterwards.
What makes this storyline terrifying is the way the dev presents the gray squirrels. From top to bottom, the gray squirrels are depicted as cardboard villains with no redeeming quality, who the dev implies deserve not only revenge genocide but also to be tortured in the process. There is no "Gray squirrels are squirrels too" moment. If you are a gray squirrel, you are a fascist and you must die. Doesn't this rhetoric sound familiar to you.
It's a shame because this really is a lovely game otherwise. The setting is interesting, the graphics are charming, nice music, etc. It's just the political messaging is so ominous and in-your-face, that it actually kills a chunk of the fun. If you sympathize with the oppressed rebel squirrels, you won't have any problem probably. But if you are more likely to be classified as a gray squirrel yourself, you'll feel uncomfortable playing these parts of the game.
"From top to bottom, the gray squirrels are depicted as cardboard villains with no redeeming quality, who the dev implies deserve not only revenge genocide but also to be tortured in the process."
I have two screenshots right here that you might be interested in. It's a shame itch won't let me upload them as webp.
average leftist garbage, what do you expect?
Looks to me like you got offended, nerd.
If you felt they were written with no redeeming qualities, then you played that section with your eyes closed; as there were several Greys with redeeming qualities.
I really, really hope you make a Small Saga 2, a dlc or a New Game+. Its sad that the fights are limited, that the game end when you are at max power. That this beautiful games ends in general. Would love MORE! xD
Played this on Steam and it is genuinely one of the best games I have played in a very long time. The writing was fantastic.
I highly recommend it to anyone who is considering it. Just one warning: it's very easy so anyone looking for a challenging combat-focused RPG, this game is not that. The narrative and world makes up for that by a long shot.
I originally paid for this game back on Kickstarter years ago when it was first announced, and despite that I ended up waiting 5 months before I got around to playing it, due to my fears of "ok but I don't like RPGs, so how can this game be any good?"
Goddamn. I remember now why I immediately threw money at this game after finishing the demo. Absolutely incredible. I even picked the exact right tier, Deluxe Edition, which includes the music that I've added into my playlist because I love it so much. :3 (getting an NPC of my own in would be awkward, especially given there's only one fox in the story and... well.)
Also, the phrase "uwu softboi" hit me like a sack of bricks, but like, wrapped in a lemon (in that good "pan-galactic gargleblaster" way???) The idea of a Redwall-esque medieval style rodent society going onside alongside modern-day humans is so delightful tbh, and the juxtaposition between the two just makes for one of the most interesting "parallel rodent society" stories I've seen yet.
Today, I bought and finished Small Saga (on Steam, sorry; had I known the game was here, I would've bought it here). Upon that completion, I decided to buy the accompanying DLC to chuck a tip at the dev for having crafted such a beautiful, epic, and incredible adventure. It's about eight hours long and it's packed to the brim with incredible characterisation and exciting plot beats that other games struggle to even come close to. The turn-based combat isn't anything special but it's well executed but that's not what you're here for; you're here for the fantastic story.
I'm still amazed that the setting is just the gutters of a regular, non-magical Earth populated by talking rodents who've taken to medieval societies and yet the story accomplishes being a fantastic epic in its own right. The mundane becomes otherworldly, divine and demonic alike, and the presentation is immaculate. I heartily recommend this game to everyone. It's a real treat amongst indie titles.
Thanks Darya. As everyone has said, this is a wonderful and charming game. In the beginning, it was just a rpg. In the end, it was a beautiful, impactful journey. I hope creating the game was as much as a compelling experience as it was for me playing it.
Blown away by the game!
I'm not much of a gamer, but I watch a bunch of LPs, but partway through watching I had to get it. Played through it in a couple of days, just finished it now, and just... wow.
You have a knack for telling story and character though game mechanics which I've not seen before. I enjoyed the story but the characters were amazing.
The battle mechanics are great too! They feel really tight and tuned in.
Loved it.
This was an incredible time, just about every part of this game charmed my pants off. Great work and thank you so much for this wonderful story! A blessed way to start 2024 <3
I recently bought Small Saga on Steam, but it feels like such a perfect Nintendo Switch game to me... it may be worthwhile to port. Love your work ^^
You are an amazing developer working with such a limited engine, keep up the good work man