Cassette Beasts is a new monster-collecting, open-world RPG with a rather unique combat system. Each monster in the game, as well as their respective moves, has an elemental type that determines its strengths, weaknesses, and abilities.
In most RPGs, the effectiveness of a particular move against a particular type of creature is usually expressed as a numerical damage multiplier. But in Cassette Beasts, the chemistry system replaces this with a range of status effects, which can be beneficial or detrimental depending on the type matchup.
In this game, every monster and every attack has an elemental type. There are 14 unique types, some familiar and some quite distinctive, such as Plastic, Glitter, Glass, and Astral.
Elemental Type Chart
The Type Chart in Cassette Beasts is a table that shows the interactions between different types. The rows represent the attacking types, while the columns represent the defending types. Each cell in the table indicates the effect of an attack of a certain type on a defender of another type:
- Green Cell: If the cell is green, the attack buffs the defender. A buff is a positive effect that can enhance the defender’s stats or abilities. For example, a Fire-type move on a Water-type monster might give it a healing steam shroud.
- Red Cell: If the cell is red, the attack debuffs the defender. A debuff is a negative effect that reduces the defender’s stats or abilities. For instance, a Water-type move on a Fire-type monster might extinguish it, reducing its attack stats.
- Yellow Cell: If the cell is yellow, the attack changes the defender’s type, which can significantly alter the defender’s strengths and weaknesses. For example, a Fire-type move on a Plastic-type monster might melt it, turning it into a Poison type (see image below).
- Blank Cell: No effect.
Reading the chart horizontally (across a row) gives you the perspective of the attacker. As the attacker, red cells are desirable as they debuff the defender, while green cells are less beneficial as they buff the defender.
Conversely, reading the chart vertically (down a column) provides the perspective of the defender. Here, green cells are advantageous as they mean the defender gets a buff, whereas red cells are detrimental as they mean the defender gets debuffed.
The chemistry system in Cassette Beasts focuses less on numerical progression and more on systems mastery and horizontal progression. This has several advantages like:
- Providing strong personality to certain types and monsters.
- Encouraging strategic synergies with your partner.
- Contributing to a balanced battle system in the context of an open-world game.
The game also features typeless moves, which inherit their typing from the monster using them, adding another layer of strategy to battles.
