AereA, a musically driven RPG, hits all the right notes aesthetically and musically. Unfortunately in the long run, the game falls a bit flat.
Get on Steam"AereA is a music-themed Action RPG where players, in single-player or local co-op with up to three friends, explore a floating island as one of four different characters to find and return the nine primordial instruments and restore balance. Each character has unique abilities and weapons, and players can collect music sheets to learn new skills. The game features beautifully hand-drawn graphics and nine unique boss battles."
Mac OS
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
Linux
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- Beautifully detailed artwork and captivating soundtrack create an immersive experience.
- The concept of using music instead of weapons is innovative and adds a unique charm to the game.
- Cooperative multiplayer mode offers enjoyable moments when playing with friends.
- The game suffers from unbalanced difficulty, making combat too easy and lacking challenge.
- Confusing level design and poor mini-map functionality lead to frustration in navigation.
- Many players feel the game is unfinished, with a lack of updates and significant gameplay flaws.
- music18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in Aerea is widely praised for its enchanting and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the game's vibrant world and thematic elements. While the soundtrack and musical aesthetics are considered the game's strongest aspects, many reviewers feel that the overall execution and gameplay mechanics do not live up to the musical promise, leaving the RPG elements lacking. Despite its creative concept of using music as a central theme, the game struggles with balance and design, overshadowing its musical charm.
“Cute characters in a beautiful world, using music to save that world.”
“The game's visual and auditory aesthetics are undoubtedly its greatest triumphs, immersing players in a world where music shapes every aspect of life.”
“Aerea’s priority is to make the player feel totally engaged in a mystical world that has been fully committed to representing the power of music.”
“This is just an RPG with a music theme, but the RPG side needs serious work.”
“While it enchants with its thematic elements and captivating soundtrack, it falters in execution, leaving players navigating a discordant melody of strengths and weaknesses.”
“In conclusion, Aerea's enchanting premise and musical charm are overshadowed by its gameplay shortcomings, including unbalanced difficulty, confusing level design, and tedious achievement requirements.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are praised for their beautifully detailed artwork and immersive visual aesthetics, which enhance the overall experience. However, some players note that despite the stunning visuals, there are significant technical issues and glitches that detract from the gameplay. Overall, while the artistic design is a highlight, it is marred by mechanical shortcomings.
“The game's visual and auditory aesthetics are undoubtedly its greatest triumph, immersing players in a world where music shapes every aspect of life.”
“Aerea, a musically driven RPG, hits all the right notes aesthetically and musically.”
“Beautifully detailed artwork.”
“The visuals leave a lot to be desired, with far too many severe glitches.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Aerea's gameplay is marred by unbalanced difficulty, confusing level design, and tedious achievement requirements, which detract from its otherwise enchanting premise and visuals. While some players may appreciate the extended gameplay, many find it lacking in satisfaction and plagued by mechanical flaws.
“Aerea's gameplay suffers from several issues, notably its unbalanced difficulty and confusing level design.”
“While such tasks may appeal to some players seeking extended gameplay, they ultimately fail to provide a satisfying sense of accomplishment.”
“I found myself astounded at how many mechanical holes this game contains when its visuals are so contrastingly stunning.”
- story3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The story emphasizes resilience and the unpredictability of life, highlighting the importance of perseverance in the face of challenges. However, some players found the backtracking in side quests frustrating, as it can lead to confusion and wasted time navigating previously explored areas.
“The moral of the story is that you never know what life has in store for you. If I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
“The side quests take you back into areas you've already been, which can feel like unnecessary backtracking.”
“I accidentally went into the wrong area for a quest and spent 15 minutes just trying to get back out.”
“The story lacks depth and fails to engage the player emotionally.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of Aerea to be tedious and lengthy, often lacking challenge and leading to frustration, particularly for completionists. This detracts from the game's otherwise enchanting premise and musical appeal, highlighting significant gameplay shortcomings.
“Additionally, Aerea includes achievements that cater to completionists but often devolve into tedious and lengthy grinds devoid of challenge.”
“In conclusion, Aerea's enchanting premise and musical charm are overshadowed by its gameplay shortcomings, including unbalanced difficulty, confusing level design, and tedious achievement requirements.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's stability is significantly undermined by numerous severe glitches, which detract from the overall experience. Additionally, the lack of challenging difficulty and subpar visuals contribute to a sense of boredom during gameplay.
“The lack of challenging difficulty makes it quite a boring adventure, and the visuals leave a lot to be desired. There are far too many severe glitches.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I experienced constant frame drops and stuttering, which ruined the overall experience.”
Critic Reviews
A Perfect Soundtrack, Not So Perfect Gameplay
AereA, a musically driven RPG, hits all the right notes aesthetically and musically. Unfortunately in the long run, the game falls a bit flat.
60%AereA Review
AereA’s priority is to make the player feel totally engaged in a mystical world that has been fully committed to representing the power of music. I found myself astounded at how many mechanical holes this game contains when its visuals are so contrastingly stunning.
50%AereA (PS4) – Review
AereA takes the original concept of a musically themed RPG but doesn’t do much with it. The combat is too easy, and exploring different regions is unexciting. While there are a few pieces that stand out, none of them make up for an overall dull experience. What could have been a unique game is, unfortunately, a boring one.
40%
