LISA

 PC
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Gamer.nl
    Feb 15, 2015
    70
    This is not an extraordinary RPG or platform game, but it does have its own charm, weird humor and a lot of painful decisions to throw at you. This game might not be brilliant, it sure has a vision.
  2. RPG Fan
    Dec 5, 2019
    67
    While LISA: The Painful attempts to do something unique and bold, it misfires and instead tells a story that works against its own ends, ultimately feeling gratuitous and pointless.
  3. CGMagazine
    Feb 21, 2015
    50
    There’s potential to be found in LISA, but so much of it feels like a rough first draft.

Awards & Rankings

88
#88 Most Discussed PC Game of 2014
74
#74 Most Shared PC Game of 2014

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 188 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 165 out of 188
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 188
  3. Negative: 13 out of 188
  1. ArtemNaumov
    Dec 26, 2014
    10
    Original. Smart. Touching. Its atmosphere takes you far away and holds till the end. Every step matters. Soundtrack is really great as well.Original. Smart. Touching. Its atmosphere takes you far away and holds till the end. Every step matters. Soundtrack is really great as well. The game is simply amazing in every way. Pure indie gemstone.… Full Review »
  2. HomerSimpson99
    Oct 10, 2018
    9
    LISA is a hard-core turn-based, narrative driven game, with a focus on perma-death and survival. The narrative and game-play intrinsicallyLISA is a hard-core turn-based, narrative driven game, with a focus on perma-death and survival. The narrative and game-play intrinsically linked choices in the narrative, and this is where the main strengths of LISA lie, the story overall is decent, but the characters and exploration really elevate LISA beyond a game and into an experience. The interpretation left by the creator means each experience is guaranteed to be unique, and unforgettable, but enough flesh on the bone to still create an amazing experience.… Full Review »
  3. CaKeS
    Jun 21, 2015
    9
    One of the my all-time favorite platformers, if not games altogether. LISA is an intense, hilarious, touching, and shocking platformer with anOne of the my all-time favorite platformers, if not games altogether. LISA is an intense, hilarious, touching, and shocking platformer with an amazing story, surprisingly in-depth combat system, solid controls and gameplay, and basically truckloads of content. It's a very long game for the platformer genre, averaging about 10 hours, but trust me, once you get to the end you'll still feel like it ended too early: I wanted more, though the length is perfect for the storyline.

    There are shocking scenes in this game, and I warn that it's not for everyone. Especially those with abusive pasts, or basically anyone young, as many scenes are--at a lack of better **** up. But that's exactly why I got this game, I love games that mess with your head and this was advertised as such and let me tell you, it did not disappoint in any manner. When you first start LISA you will be confused, maybe overwhelmed, and probably feel like you can't beat it at points. This game is EXTREMELY unforgiving (assuming you don't reload your last save everytime something bad happens): some enemies possess "fatal" moves, which can one shot any of your party members out of the game for eternity (it's said these are extremely rare, though it happened to me multiple times), resting some places can result in party members being stolen and possibly killed, and you are faced with many very tough decisions, usually involving your party member's lives and all your belongings you've gathered.

    This game accomplishes everything it sets out to do: it's a huge (pretty much open) world, where you can adventure to find hidden secrets and other companions that will help you in battle. The story is engaging and it will have you in tears at the final few scenes (I'll admit I teared up at a few points in this game). LISA is a SOLID experience, and I feel like any story-driven game lover will love the heck out of this game simply because of that fact, if not for the solid combat system and hilarious scenarios.

    That was something I did NOT expect: for LISA to be funny. I thought it'd be depressing and shocking the entire time, but some of the scenes in this game made be actually laugh out loud; the writing for this game is beyond brilliant, during the hilarious and dramatic scenes alike. One of my two complaints I have with this game is just how unforgiving it is sometimes: for example, there's an unavoidable event where you could potentially loose your entire party (if you have bad luck), and then the game is unbeatable with no companions. However, it adds a very cool feel to the game; the feeling that each choice really does matter, because it could have fatal consequences. It also lends to the game's foreboding and inevitable mood.

    LISA is depressing, so if you're looking for an upbeat adventure, despite the hilarious snippets, you may want to stray away from this game, as it will not necessarily put you in a good mood, but it is an amazing experience and I think most gamers (if not everyone) should experience this story regardless. My only other
    complaint is the balancing. I feel like the combat--despite the system itself being very solid--is a bit broken given the right team composition. I got a character that could "Oil Up" enemies, and then the other three people in my party could cause fire damage, which will always critical strike on Oiled Up enemies; thus melting many otherwise difficult characters in no time at all. Also, by late game I had so much money and items that I could easily stockpile healing and "AP/TP" items and last forever in combat. The game starts out with scarce resources, which is a great feeling for an apocalyptic game, but then gets a bit too easy later. And I'm not talking about the final island, which I feel is perfectly balanced and wraps the combat up in an incredibly well-done manner.

    Though despite a few cracks like that, the foundation of this game's difficulty is otherwise solid. The curve can be a bit steep but once again, that lends to the overall mood of the game; making you feel hopeless, as you would if you were actually the main character. Brad is his name, and he has an abusive past, he finds a baby girl in a post-apocalyptic world where only men survive, thus vows to raise and protect her from everybody else, but one day she goes missing...

    Very engaging story, satisfying gameplay, basically no cons at all, tear-jerking, shocking, hilarious. Pick up LISA today, I even got it on sale for next to nothing, so I paid a couple dollars for a 10 hour long experience that really stuck with me and became one of my all-time favorite games, and that means a lot coming from someone who has played hundreds of games throughout their life.    … Full Review »
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