pureya

Developer: Majorariatto | Publisher: Majorariatto | Release Date: 2021 | Genre: Arcade / Minigame Collection / Casual | Website: Official Website | Purchase: Steam

After creating Majotori, a narrative trivia game that mixed quirky humor with surprisingly dark outcomes, Majorariatto returned with something completely different. pureya is not a trivia game, visual novel, platformer, or traditional arcade title. Instead, it is a rapid-fire collection of microgames where players are thrown from one challenge to the next every ten seconds while trying to collect as many marbles as possible. It is the type of game that sounds almost too simple on paper, but quickly becomes much more addictive than expected.

The easiest comparison is WarioWare, although pureya has a very different rhythm. Instead of being asked to interpret quick one-word prompts and perform bizarre actions, players are given a collection of arcade-style minigames that all use the same two-button control scheme. These can include dodging obstacles, moving characters between lanes, guiding objects through hazards, shooting enemies, bouncing between platforms, and plenty of other quick challenges. Every ten seconds the game switches to another minigame, forcing players to adapt instantly while trying not to lose their flow.

The simplicity of the controls is one of pureya’s greatest strengths. Everything is controlled with only two buttons, which makes the game extremely easy to pick up. However, this does not mean it is easy to master. Each minigame uses those two buttons differently, and learning how each one behaves is part of the fun. Some challenges clicked with us immediately, while others took a few attempts before they made sense. As expected from a collection like this, some minigames are definitely better than others, but the rapid pace means that even weaker ones are over before they become too annoying.

The main mode dynamically adjusts the speed depending on how well players are doing. Perform well and the pace increases, making the game more frantic but also means more marbles can be collected in the allotted time. Make too many mistakes and things slow down, giving players a chance to recover. This system works well because it keeps pureya accessible without completely removing the challenge. It also means the game constantly hovers around the edge of what the player can handle, which gives the main mode a nice sense of momentum.

Each run is all about collecting marbles. These are scattered throughout the minigames and are used afterward in a pachinko machine to unlock new content. This includes new minigames, music tracks, and skins for the various sprites. The full game contains 32 minigames, 46 linked ten-second music pieces, and a very large number of skins to collect. On paper, this sounds like a generous progression system, and to some extent it is. The problem is how players unlock everything.

After completing a run, players spend their marbles in the pachinko machine. Dropping marbles into the correct slot fills a bar, after which a set of spinning numbers appears. If the numbers line up, players receive unlocks corresponding to the number shown. Continuing to land marbles in the hole while the numbers spin increases the luck percentage. In practice, though, the system can become a chore. Missing the slot means filling the bar takes longer, and getting numbers that do not match wastes time because players have to repeat the process again.

This would be less of an issue if every unlock felt meaningful, but that is not always the case. Unlocking a new minigame requires collecting four pieces of its picture, which can make progress feel slow. Skins and music tracks are nice bonuses, but unlocking duplicate skins feels like a pointless waste when there is still so much other content left to find. There are some funny cut-scenes tied to certain spins, which help add personality to the system, but the pachinko quickly becomes the weakest part of the overall package.

Oddly enough, pureya becomes more enjoyable once players stop relying entirely on the main mode for progress. Individual minigames can be played separately, and these challenge players to survive as long as possible while the speed keeps increasing until it reaches the fastest level. Some of the minigames become surprisingly addictive when played this way, especially once their mechanics finally click. It is also a much better method for amassing enough marbles to feed the pachinko machine, which makes unlocking content less painful.

Another welcome feature is the ability to disable specific minigames, music tracks, or sprite skins. This is very useful because everyone is likely to have a few minigames they enjoy less than the others. Being able to remove them from rotation helps tailor the experience without compromising the overall structure. It is a small quality-of-life feature, but one that makes a noticeable difference over time.

Visually, pureya uses chunky pixel graphics with drop shadows that give many of the sprites a slightly three-dimensional look. The style is bright, cheerful, and extremely readable, which is essential when each challenge only lasts ten seconds. The minigames cover a wide range of themes, so the visuals never feel too repetitive despite the simplicity. Some skins are amusing, and the sheer number available gives the game a playful toy-box feel.

The soundtrack is another highlight. The music is dynamic, with short ten-second pieces that link together as the minigames change. This is a clever idea and helps the game feel far more cohesive than it might have with abrupt musical cuts every few seconds. Some tracks are catchier than others, but the overall audio presentation is excellent for such a simple-looking arcade game.

Controls are responsive, which is vital for a game built around quick reactions. Whether dodging hazards or guiding a character through a tight space, mistakes usually feel like the player’s fault rather than the controls. The two-button setup also makes pureya easy to play with almost any input method.

Overall, pureya is a clever, charming, and frequently addictive minigame collection held back by a progression system that can feel needlessly grindy. Most of the actual microgames are fun, the presentation is excellent, and the dynamic music ties everything together beautifully. Unfortunately, unlocking everything through pachinko is more tedious than satisfying, especially when duplicate skins or failed number rolls waste time. Even so, the core gameplay is strong enough to keep pulling players back in for another run.