Born of Bread Review

Developer: WildArts Studio Inc.

Platforms: PC (Reviewed), PS5, Switch, Xbox Series S/X

Genre: RPG

Publisher: Dear Villagers

Born of Bread is a wacky and joyful RPG Adventure revisiting turn-based combat tropes. This game was developed by WildArts Studio Inc. and published by Dear Villagers. There are some games with similar mechanics to Born of Bread, such as the Mario and Luigi RPG or Sea of Stars, but the game has its own stand-alone quirk to it. This review was done for the PC, but the game is also available for Switch, Xbox series and PlayStation series.

Born of Bread is a single-player game where you play as Loaf, a character made of bread. The story follows Loaf’s adventures as an unlikely hero with his newfound friends, who find themselves encapsulated by a lot of drama in the world. The game offers a strange yet charming storyline where a baker is instructed to make bread for the Grumpy Queen but ends up creating the bread golem, Loaf. Instead of offering Loaf up to be eaten, he adopts him. On the other hand, you have a group of archaeologists who dug up the wrong tomb, releasing a bunch of mischievous demons. The demons are on the hunt for the important sun crystal, which brings them to the castle. As Loaf and the demons encounter one another, the real adventure begins for the protagonist.

bornofbread1

The controls for Born of Bread are fairly simple to get used to. The game on PC is supported both by a controller or keyboard/mouse. I found that using the controller made it a lot easier to get used to the controls and that there were not any delays. Whilst using the keyboard and mouse, there were a few hiccups that interfered with the controls, but nothing major. As you begin your journey, you are instructed with controls and an understanding of mechanics as you progress onwards. The controls were easy enough to get used to, and most of them were highlighted as you were playing through the game, which is very helpful.

The art style has a great resemblance to Paper Mario, which gives it a charming and appealing aesthetic. I love the character designs as they have such a life. Loaf has a distinctive appearance with a doughy texture and paper-like quality that compliments the art style. The cast of characters in Born of Bread is extremely colourful and lively, which brings charm to this game. The art style reminds me of a sticker book/storybook where everything pops out and is bright. Everything about the game, even the little details, has some glimpse of bread to it. The main menu is a bakery oven, and the loading screens are loaves of bread. The soundtrack for Born of Bread is upbeat and unusual. It has a mix of mediaeval elements in tune with fantasy and whimsical beats. The music really gets you bobbing your head back and forth in rhythm to the character’s little bounce. The sound effects are also exaggerated, which I enjoy, especially the whack sound effect. The music also changes from area to area. Sometimes, there’s such serene: gentle music with drum beats, triangle notes and flutes playing, and other times, in battle, there are more amped-up beats that get you into the fighting mood. The music captures the environment, which brings the game to life. Both the art style and soundtrack are complementary to one another, making this game have its surreal appearance.

bornofbread2

This game has a lot to offer, which makes it the perfect RPG to play. Born of Bread features a blend of exploration and turn-based combat with intuitive controls. I liked the turn-based combat in this game as it was not difficult to understand and had many options to choose from. The levelling-up ability is also so cute as you get to stamp cards in order to pick your skill/upgrade. As you explore towns and dungeons, you can interact with NPCs, look for hidden, loot, and pet animals, or tackle optional side quests. Exploring also leads to encountering enemies. Enemies tend to wander around the area, and you can choose to engage with them. Engaging with the enemies allows Loaf and his friends to level up, which is always the better option for future progression. The game also includes light platforming elements, with the option to disable fall damage. The gameplay is similar to other RPG games, but it still has a delightful atmosphere and quirky story that captivates the player.

bornofbread3

I really enjoyed the game for its story aspect: being able to meet the unique characters brought great joy. The journal would definitely have to be one of my favourite parts of the game, as it is its own little wonder. The backpack Tetris is such a special way to get players to organise their tools. The journal looks as if a child put together a scrapbook, which is extremely fun to flip through and fill out as you progress on your journey. Another detail that I really loved was the facial expressions of the characters. Especially because Loaf does not speak, his facial expressions tell their own story, which I adore so much. The turn-based combat in this was a lot of fun as each attack was its own little mini-game, from spamming buttons to correctly timing the space to hit a green bar. These little mini-games made the turn-based combat much more fun, as sometimes the repetitive attacks can get boring. There did seem to be a weird glitch where when the characters finished battling, they would respawn back and glitch in and out of the world for a minute. Besides that, I enjoyed the game a lot and had so much fun battling enemies, unravelling the story and trying to unlock the achievements.

bornofbread4

Born of Bread is a lovely RPG. It captures a wholesome gaming experience that is suitable for everyone, especially for those looking for a casual RPG. The plot revolves around a childlike fascination with the new world and the ability to engage in battles whilst meeting new friends. It is a fun adventure that has such charm to it. Born of Bread is an appealing and immersive cartoon-story book-like game that brings the best RPG elements together. I highly recommend checking out Born of Bread yourself!

Overall: 9/10