Arelite Core

A love letter to the 16-bit era, Arelite Core is a great indie addition to the JRPG library. With its excellent battle system and colorful cast of characters, this game is a great trip down memory lane.

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The age of heroes is passed, yet an ancient evil rises again. Follow the adventures of Karden, a blacksmith on the path to mastering his craft, forced to take a stand against Talameq, an ageless entity bent on devouring the world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

63%

Audience ScoreBased on 37 reviews

story7 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

Arelite Core features a solid combat system with a variety of offensive and defensive abilities, allowing for strategic gameplay and character customization.
The game has charming character designs and engaging enemy folklore, providing a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic JRPGs.
The crafting system allows players to forge their own equipment, adding depth to the gameplay and enhancing the overall experience.

The graphics and environment design are often described as bland and unremarkable, lacking the polish seen in larger titles.
The story is linear and somewhat generic, which may not appeal to players looking for a more intricate narrative.
Some players have noted issues with game balance, including tedious battles and a need for grinding, which can detract from the overall enjoyment.

story
24 mentions
29 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The story is a classic high adventure narrative featuring a linear quest where a group of heroes battles a powerful villain threatening the world, reminiscent of retro RPGs like Paladin's Quest and Suikoden. While the characters and dialogue are engaging, some players find the plot straightforward and the pacing drags towards the end, leading to a lack of motivation to see the finale. Overall, the story is considered fair and enjoyable, though it may feel limited due to its linearity and some minor technical issues.
- “The story and dialogue are very well written, and the combat system brings enough new ideas to the table to seem fresh while still having that nostalgic feel to it at the same time.”
- “The characters are engaging, the story pulls me in, and the combat is fun and rewarding.”
- “The plot thus far is interesting enough that I want to finish the game, which is pretty good for someone like me who so often loses interest halfway through.”
- “I'm near the end-game and just have no desire to slog through the finale and see how the story ends.”
- “The quest did drag a little bit towards the end though and I wouldn't have wanted ten more hours of similar content; the game also crashed a couple of times near the end and there are some typos present in the dialogue, however, those are minor issues.”
- “[Story feels limited at times due to linearity, length seems a bit short for its genre, environments are unremarkable]”
music
14 mentions
43 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic SNES chiptune style, featuring bombastic synths and horns that enhance the overall experience. While some reviewers noted a slightly chaotic quality to the music, it is generally described as fantastic and a standout aspect that complements the game's retro aesthetic. Overall, the soundtrack is considered top-notch and integral to the game's charm.
- “Great SNES-style RPG with a fun combat system and an excellent soundtrack.”
- “The music and sound are also top-notch and really round out this game.”
- “On the technical side, the game feels a bit underwhelming; the music is a bit rackety but has a certain retro flair to it.”
- “Music is mostly pleasing; it is done in the style of SNES chiptune with a lot of bombastic synth and horns up front in the mix.”
- “Graphics, music, and sound effects are all very nostalgic but fail to elevate the overall experience.”
graphics
12 mentions
33 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature vibrant and detailed character designs, particularly in battle, but the overall environments are often described as bland and lacking polish, with repetitive elements like flat green grass. While the visuals may not reach AAA standards, they evoke a nostalgic charm that resonates with the genre, complemented by a retro-inspired soundtrack.
- “For the visuals, the character battle art and designs are large, colorful, and detailed.”
- “Graphics, music, and sound effects all very nostalgic and true to the genre.”
- “Great art style.”
- “Graphics in the overworld and dungeons, however, range from unremarkable to bland.”
- “While the graphics may be lacking that one final layer of polish that all the big AAA studios can afford, they are still very well done, especially the character portraits and animated monsters you face in battle.”
- “Graphics, music, and sound effects are all very nostalgic and true to the genre.”
gameplay
11 mentions
64 % positive mentions
18 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a combat system that initially feels engaging but can become tedious over time, leading players to rely on item mechanics to manage frequent random encounters. While character synergy through status effects and combos adds depth, the overall experience is reminiscent of classic SNES-era RPGs, offering good value for its low price, especially with its custom art and entertaining supporting cast. Despite some criticisms, the turn-based mechanics are noted as among the best in recent memory.
- “Characters through status effects and combo mechanics, and depending on how you build them, can synergize with each other in interesting ways.”
- “Price vs value - its price is really cheap for all the custom art and great gameplay provided.”
- “[The battle system has some of the best turn-based mechanics in recent memory, the supporting cast is entertaining, and the sprite art is fluid and detailed.]”
- “The tediousness of battles means you'll be using the item mechanic to reduce or avoid the plentiful random encounters.”
- “The tediousness of battles means you'll be using the item mechanic to reduce or avoid the plentiful random encounters.”
grinding
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, often resorting to item mechanics to minimize random encounters. However, the scaling difficulty of bosses necessitates some grinding to progress effectively.
- “The tediousness of battles means you'll be using the item mechanic to reduce or avoid the plentiful random encounters.”
- “Unfortunately, boss difficulty scaling does call for some grinding.”