Archero
- May 13, 2019
- Habby
- 21h median play time
"Archero" is a single-player fantasy shooter game with outstanding graphics and highly emotional gameplay. As the Lone Archer, you must resist and defeat relentless waves of enemies and bosses to progress. With countless skill combinations and replayability, the game offers a funny yet sometimes buggy experience, despite annoying ads. The never-ending challenge will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Reviews
- Engaging gameplay with a mix of skill and luck, making each run unique.
- Minimal ads that are optional and provide rewards, enhancing the gaming experience.
- Challenging levels that keep players coming back for more, with a variety of enemies and upgrades.
- The energy system is frustrating, limiting playtime and requiring long waits to recharge.
- Difficulty spikes in later levels can feel unfair, often requiring specific upgrades to progress.
- Randomized skill selection can lead to frustrating runs where players are stuck with useless abilities.
- monetization1,918 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing frustration over the heavy reliance on ads and in-app purchases. While some appreciate the option to watch ads for rewards, others feel that the game becomes a grind, pushing players towards spending money to progress effectively. Additionally, issues with ad functionality, such as crashes and unresponsive rewards, have further detracted from the overall experience, leading to a perception of the game as a cash grab rather than a balanced free-to-play model.
“Gameplay is super fun, there isn't a need to make in-app purchases, and the upgrade system is pretty great.”
“This is one of the few games that is fun and isn't obnoxious with monetization; while there is monetization, it only appears if you choose to watch the ads for extra loot.”
“I love the fact that in-app purchases are optional and the game is still completely playable and fun without buying anything.”
“Game used to be good, but they recently decided to be extremely shameless about pay-to-win. It's being introduced slowly as you first play the game so you don't see just how many pay-to-win packages there are, but there's essentially 3 battle passes, tons of packs, 2 VIP passes that auto-renew, 2 extra 'quest' passes, 'first' purchase bonuses, you're prompted to watch ads in almost any content you do, and much more.”
“The gameplay is decent but I've never seen progression more ruined by monetization in my life.”
“The game is fun, but when the home page is cluttered with around 20 different flashing buttons for in-game purchases along with watching so many ads... I get bored and annoyed before I even get to play the game.”
- gameplay1,216 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is generally praised for its fun mechanics, addictive nature, and smooth controls, making it enjoyable for many players. However, several users express frustration with the energy system that limits playtime, leading to a grindy experience, especially at higher levels. Additionally, issues such as network errors, bugs, and a perceived pay-to-win model detract from the overall enjoyment of the gameplay.
“Gameplay is perfect and the game is very addictive.”
“The actual gameplay is really different from the usual game fare on offer, and there's so many things to collect and build upon.”
“The gameplay is fun and the fact that each run is different from the previous one due to the randomization of the skills is awesome.”
“I had to close and reopen the app 7 times to make it past the loading screen, then when I finally made it into the actual game it says something about the network and force closes, so I can't even give an opinion on gameplay because the app didn't work long enough for me to find out.”
“The gameplay is repetitive and becomes boring quickly.”
“Unfortunately, there are very few new mechanics introduced, and the game becomes a repetitive grind fairly quickly.”
- grinding588 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 99 % negative mentions
The game's grinding aspect is a major point of contention among players, with many describing it as excessively tedious and time-consuming. While some enjoy the challenge and find satisfaction in the grind, others feel it becomes monotonous and frustrating, especially as the difficulty ramps up significantly in later levels. The reliance on grinding for gear and upgrades, coupled with low drop rates and a restrictive energy system, often leads to a pay-to-win environment, making progress feel slow and unrewarding for free-to-play users.
“It's fairly fun, nothing really like it, and it's not grindy (at least yet).”
“It lets you grind as long as you have the stamina, which is often the case. You have control over almost everything your character does, and the enemies bring a lot of variety to the game.”
“The game is really fun, quite grindy but enjoyable. I would rate it higher if there was an option to keep the control still instead of moving across the whole screen.”
“And above all, game difficulty has been jacked up keeping you grinding endlessly for little reward.”
“The ridiculous amount of grinding you need to do for a small chance of receiving the items you're looking for in order to upgrade your weapons and defense is pathetic.”
“It's a fun game but you reach a point where you are on the same level for months just grinding for minimum drops to upgrade your gear only to make no progress.”
- graphics407 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed feedback, with many players praising the overall aesthetic, character designs, and smooth animations. However, several users report issues such as lag, visual glitches, and a lack of a low graphics option, which can hinder gameplay, especially on older devices. While the visuals are generally considered appealing, some players suggest that the graphical intensity can overwhelm the screen during chaotic moments, making it difficult to track enemy projectiles.
“The graphics are outstanding!”
“Great graphics, smooth gameplay, a wide variety of enemy types, and a straightforward progression system.”
“The graphics are beautiful and the weapons and upgrades just keep you coming back for more.”
“The graphics are horrific.”
“The game is not improving graphically, optimization (low framerate at low end phones), the skill were bland and boring its the same as always no more addition to skill pool, although this is the pioneer but still no impact and its getting boring everyday, no exciting events and i must admit the copies of this game is way better.”
“I wish the graphics were better, more clear and a little bit brighter colors than what they are.”
- stability222 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with frequent reports of glitches, freezes, and crashes that disrupt gameplay. Many players experience issues such as the game freezing during ads, losing progress, and encountering visual bugs, particularly in later levels. While the gameplay itself is often praised, the persistent technical problems have led to frustration and a lower overall rating from users.
“It's challenging yet simple. I absolutely love the gameplay; there's always a different part, and it's always exciting. The cute, colorful graphics are not buggy at all. I don't have any arcade RPG shooting games or whatever this is, but I'm going to keep this one. You don't have to pay to win, it's easy to level up, the energy recharge rate is great, and there are barely any ads. When there are ads, it's worth watching! :)”
“The game is essentially bug-free and not pay-to-win.”
“I have it on my phone, and it runs great.”
“The game freezes frequently and requires a restart, losing any progress.”
“It's a good game but freezes a lot and is glitchy.”
“The game is fun, but since the last days after the update it has become very much laggy and buggy.”
- story171 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 83 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth and engagement, with many players expressing a desire for a more developed narrative to accompany the gameplay. While some enjoy the mechanics and variety of missions, they feel that the absence of a compelling storyline makes the experience repetitive and less rewarding. Overall, players are calling for improvements in storytelling elements to enhance their connection to the game and its characters.
“It's really interesting, and although it has a bit of story, it's not exactly all about it.”
“The fun part of the game is completing dungeons and moving on in the game, so the most fun parts would be the beginning and middle of the completion of the main story and hero modes.”
“Gives off a good adrenaline rush and is such an amazing game. This game has a long story where you get to build up an awesome character with all sorts of upgrades. This game is great, and I'm so hooked!”
“There's zero storyline overall; I would recommend you give it a try, but I feel like you can get bored of it quickly.”
“The game has no story behind it whatsoever, which in turn made it boring after 10 minutes.”
“The missions are samey, grindy, and boring.”
- optimization83 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received significant criticism, particularly following recent updates that have exacerbated performance issues such as lag and stuttering, especially on lower-end devices. While some players report smooth performance and good graphics, many others experience severe frame rate drops and unresponsive gameplay during intense moments. The developers are urged to address these optimization problems, as they detract from the overall enjoyment and playability of the game.
“At the beginning, a very good game with good optimization, fun to play, and challenging opponents.”
“Good gameplay, cartoony graphics, good performance!”
“Super smooth performance and a very satisfying leveling experience with skill combos.”
“The game is horribly optimized.”
“The reason I'm giving it 4 instead of 5 is because the performance has been terrible since the latest (dragons) update.”
“It's amazing but I suggest you do not get this game till the next update because the current update is terrible in terms of performance and bugs... the software is glitchy and it keeps lagging on most devices, lags, pauses, and unresponsive buttons, lags especially during gameplay and fights against monsters... you try to dodge and the software makes you run on the same spot before you can evade an attack.”
- music67 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game is largely criticized for its absence during gameplay, with players noting that it only plays in the main menu, leading to a bland and empty experience. Many reviewers express a strong desire for background music during levels and battles to enhance engagement, suggesting that the current sound effects are low-quality and repetitive. Overall, the lack of a diverse and dynamic soundtrack is seen as a significant shortcoming that detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.
“I love the main menu music, love the gameplay, love the power-ups and pets who assist you on your quest, and there's hardly any ads.”
“Never gets boring, music is amazing and is damn addictive.”
“Regardless, the game could really use a soundtrack for each chapter as it will give each chapter more personality.”
“Secondly, I don't know if this is a glitch, but there is absolutely no music in the levels. I was expecting an exciting soundtrack, but all I hear is an empty void with the occasional enemy/weapon noise.”
“The only notable downside in my opinion is the total lack of music outside of the main menu theme, which has an awkward cut when it loops.”
“It's just boring without music, so Archero, please get some composers and make some music!”
- replayability49 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game is widely praised for its high replayability, attributed to its innovative mechanics, diverse skill combinations, and procedurally generated levels. Players enjoy the progression system and the ability to experiment with different upgrades, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging. However, some users express frustration with the energy system, which they feel limits the overall replay experience.
“I enjoy this game a lot; it's innovative, easy to pick up, and has replayability with the upgrading and different levels.”
“The procedurally generated levels and random roulette build system is replayable to a tee, and the stats and loot system is compact and yet just enough to keep you interested.”
“I've only played a short while, but the ability to choose individual powers and combine them in interesting ways, along with random stage layouts, pushes the replay value of this game through the roof.”
“The worst part is that this game shines on its replayability, but limiting that is quite stupid.”
“Game has great potential, it has a good concept, decent playability, a lot of replayability, but the energy system ruins it all.”
“Please don't prevent me from playing it by gating the replayability with a slow energy regeneration.”
- humor27 mentions
- 96 % positive mentions
- -7 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often described as entertaining and light-hearted, with players finding amusement in the quirky mechanics, such as the absurd energy system and the minimal upgrades that yield hilariously small benefits. However, the humor can be overshadowed by frustrating bugs and difficulty spikes, leading to mixed feelings about the overall experience. While many enjoy the comedic elements, they also express concerns about gameplay balance and technical issues that detract from the fun.
“It's funny and entertaining but strategic and complex.”
“Upgrading your gear is so expensive after a couple of times and the difference is so hilariously small (for example, if you upgrade your ring, the damage only goes up by 3 xd).”
“The sheer audacity of charging $20 for new characters is equal parts hilarious and infuriating.”
“At higher levels, when you have to play hard to achieve something, it's not funny when the app stops working.”
“The jokes feel forced and often miss the mark, making the humor fall flat.”
“I expected a lot of laughs, but the humor is stale and repetitive.”
- emotional15 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a mix of frustration and emotional investment in the game, highlighting the heartbreak of losing hard-earned resources due to accidental purchases and challenging mechanics that lead to unexpected character deaths. The controls are often described as problematic, causing unintentional movements that detract from the overall enjoyment, yet there remains a hopeful anticipation for future updates that could enhance the experience. Overall, while the game offers a wholesome grind, the emotional toll from its mechanics can be significant.
“Otherwise good game, one really silly, but heartbreakingly fatal mechanic.”
“That's heartbreaking 😢”
“Fun in the beginning, painful in the end, a wholesome grindfest game with little drop rates, some skills are simply useless.”
- character development7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating the intricate design and balance between leveling and gameplay. However, some users note that the difficulty of stages does not adequately scale with character development unless significant financial investment is made. Overall, the character design and attention to detail enhance the gaming experience, despite some concerns about the randomness of power-up selection affecting perceived player agency.
“I enjoy both the character design and the overall gaming experience.”
“The attention to detail of the gameplay areas and character designs is one to applaud (considering it's a free app).”
“Good gameplay design; however, the difficulty of stages does not scale up with player character development unless they spend a tremendous amount of money.”
“This game simply generates random chances to win, thus making players think they are in charge of the character development during the selection of power-ups.”
“The character development is intricate but not difficult.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its superb level design and diverse monster variations, creating an engaging and addicting experience. While the graphics are described as quaint, they contribute to a satisfying overall aesthetic. Additionally, the variety of game modes enhances replayability, encouraging players to invest hours into the game.
“The monster variations are wonderful, and the level design is superb. The graphics are quaint but consistently satisfying, creating an addicting atmosphere that leads to hours of gameplay.”
“The atmosphere is captivating, with a variety of game modes that keep you coming back for more.”
“The combination of an engaging atmosphere and a solid progression system makes this game truly immersive.”