Loop8: Summer of Gods

Loop8: Summer of Gods has a very interesting premise with stunning visuals and amazing music. The creativity in the game can hold back other parts of the mechanics.

Loop8: Summer of Gods’ interesting characters make for an interesting story set in a gorgeous world but simplistic combat and loops that quickly grow repetitive drag this unique JRPG down.

Loop8: Summer of Gods is a game trying to do a bit too much, but not nailing it down completely. Thankfully, it does run flawlessly on the Steam Deck regardless!

Loop8: Summer of Gods is a unique and memorable game that unfortunately falls victim to some severe balancing issues. An intriguing world and likable characters are unfortunately not enough to make this a great experience. While it may appeal to some, JRPG fans looking for a unique challenge may want to look elsewhere.

Loop8: Summer of Gods tries many ideas but doesn't execute any of them well. Most of the game involves you building your relationship with people who don't even want to help you save the world. Its combat is unrewarding and doesn't even feel like its necessary. Its only saving grace is its great art design and, on most occasions, its voice acting.

Loop8: Summer of Gods is a hybrid visual novel and JRPG. It draws gameplay inspirations from Persona, and has a roguelike structure. But it’s best to think of it as a visual novel with mild JRPG elements, because those JRPG elements are slim. Anyone thinking Loop8: Summer of Gods is mainly a JRPG will be very upset. It’s an extremely compelling visual novel, and an incredibly awful JRPG.

For all of its rough edges, and there are plenty of them, I still think Loop8: Summer of Gods is one of the most interesting games I’ll play this year. It also might be the most disappointing game I’ll play this year. There is a lot of potential in the individual ideas and concepts on display here, but that potential is stuck behind some exhausting design decisions that drained the game of whatever joy it sought to provide me.

Loop8 is a game full of great ideas that never come together.

While Loop8: Summer of Gods is a JRPG that has an interesting concept and some genuinely good features, the game is unfortunately bogged down with poor optimizations, questionable gameplay decisions, and a very painful combat system.

I’ve gone on record to say the Lunar franchise is one I treasure so dearly. It came into my life at a pivotal moment, capturing my imagination. So much so, in fact, that it’s the inspiration for three novels that I’ve penned. After the sequel, Eternal Blue was released, there has been nothing but silence. Working Designs going out of business probably didn’t help, leading to dispersed staff. There would be an attempt at a revival on the Nintendo DS, but we don’t talk about that.