Diamo XL
- October 13, 2017
- Adamvision Studios
- 9h median play time
Diamo XL is an arcade score-chaser game, where you must survive a persistent barrage of obstacles within a diamond-shaped field. Move your character between five zones to collect points and avoid enemies, with the goal of constantly beating your previous high score. Unlock various alternate player characters as you progress through the game. Created by indie developer Adam Nickerson, expect a small yet solid gaming experience with simple mechanics that provides hours of replayability.
Reviews
- Diamo XL is easy to learn but hard to master, making it addictive and fun for quick gaming sessions.
- The game features a minimalist design and polished graphics, providing a visually pleasing experience.
- With a low price point and engaging gameplay, it's a great value for players looking for a casual arcade game.
- The game lacks variety in levels and enemy types, which can lead to repetitive gameplay after a while.
- Controls can be frustrating, as players cannot change direction once they start moving, leading to unavoidable deaths.
- Some players feel that the game is too simplistic and lacks depth, making it less appealing for those seeking a more complex experience.
- gameplay48 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Diamo is characterized by its simplicity and accessibility, making it easy for players of all skill levels to pick up and enjoy. It features a gradual increase in challenge with unique mechanics and a scoring multiplier system that encourages fast-paced play, while maintaining a balance that prevents frustration. Overall, players appreciate the minimalist design, smooth controls, and engaging mechanics, although some have noted occasional bugs and a desire for more content.
“Diamo has an incredibly simple but clean design and gameplay, and is easy to pick up and quickly understand for a gamer at just about any level.”
“The gameplay concept seems simple at first, as it doesn't emphasize fast reflexes and instead relies on observation skills.”
“The game rewards you for fast-paced gameplay; the faster you are, the better your combo will be as it continuously fades when you aren't moving, keeping you on your toes if you want to make any progress!”
“Very simple gameplay, surprisingly difficult to get over 300-400 points.”
“Some mechanics make it almost impossible to dodge the obstacles at some point, making it a lot harder to complete the diamond shape (which is timed), causing the game to become really hard after 250-300 points.”
“I encountered a few bugs throughout my gameplay; one of them ruined one of my runs: the game randomly started lagging and becoming super choppy.”
- music37 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its upbeat and fitting soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience. However, some players noted that the music can become repetitive over time, suggesting a desire for more variety. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally well-received, players appreciate the option to mute it and play their own music if desired.
“Loving it so far, good soundtrack and crisp presentation.”
“The music fits well with the game, too.”
“As usual, the soundtrack is fantastic - it really reflects the action of the game, starting off slow but building up in speed and complexity as the game continues.”
“Only thing I wish is that there was some variety in the game music... but you can just mute that and play your own.”
“The choice to open with an awful-sounding version of the game's music is bizarre to me, a continuation of the developer's somewhat perverse habit for not putting a game's best foot forward - perhaps they are just not musically inclined.”
“The music is a bit monotonous, but that is easily fixed by playing your own.”
- graphics19 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are characterized by a simplistic and minimalistic aesthetic, which some players appreciate for its clarity and focus on gameplay. However, many reviews note that the visuals are mediocre, with low-quality vector art that lacks substantial options for improvement, especially for a PC game. While some titles in the developer's portfolio show polished visuals and a pleasing design, overall, the graphics do not meet the high standards expected by PC gamers.
“This stayed with the clean simplistic aesthetic of the two previous games and looks great.”
“With polished visuals and a good use of tempo in the music, Diamo XL is an unequivocally recommendable arcade gem.”
“It has a very pleasing minimalistic feel to it, from the graphics to the gameplay.”
“While there are options to change the resolution for the game, all this does is scale up the simplistic low-quality vector art assets used to make the game, which makes little or no difference to the graphics quality.”
“Without any other substantial graphics tweaks, it's not possible for gamers to improve the mediocre 2D visuals.”
“Considering this is being evaluated as a PC game, having the graphics phoned in like this isn't going to result in a high quality, visually impressive game that PC gamers are used to seeing.”
- replayability5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some users find it enjoyable and worth the low price for its challenge, others feel it lacks depth and charm compared to similar titles. Casual players may appreciate its replay value, but those seeking a more substantial experience might want to look elsewhere.
“High replay value purchase =)”
“The content, gameplay, and replayability make Diamo XL worth its low price, especially if it goes on sale.”
“There isn't very much replayability and it doesn't capture the same charm as Bit Blaster.”
“If you are looking for a super casual game then you might pick it up, but if you want anything with depth or replayability then go find a different game.”
“Overall, the game is fun and for $1 it's really worth it for the replayability and the challenge this game offers.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is generally well-received, with players finding it genuinely funny and cleverly designed, though some aspects, like the controls, can lead to frustration. Additionally, the developers' sense of humor is appreciated, as highlighted in the game's specifications.
“Really funny and harder than you think.”
“Also, the dude's sense of humor is great (look at the recommended specs).”
“I wrote what I thought was a 'hilarious' review about this game, but didn't mention how thoughtfully it was designed.”
- story2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is perceived as lacking appeal, with players expressing disinterest in its narrative. It conveys a moral about perseverance and the unpredictability of life, suggesting that resilience can lead to unexpected outcomes.
“Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
“Hardly a success story; gamers just weren't all that interested in the game.”
- stability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its simplicity and near bug-free experience, contributing to a stable performance on various systems, including the x220. While some may find the lack of content a drawback, the overall stability enhances its appeal as a casual title.
“I don't really know what to say about this game; it is just so simple and almost bug-free (for me) that it is way up on my list of favorite games. Maybe some people will not like that lack of content, but really, it isn't a content game; it is just a play-in-between-other-games game.”
“Very nice game; it runs great on my x220.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players note that while there are no missable achievements, achieving a score of 400 in one run and a total of 15,000 points necessitates some grinding and practice. However, obtaining the fastest game piece significantly eases this process, allowing for quicker point collection.
“There are no missable achievements, but the 400 score in one run and 15,000 points in total achievements require some practice and grinding to get. It becomes easier once you unlock the fastest game piece, the brown one, which can move very quickly around the edges, allowing you to collect points much faster.”
“The grinding in this game feels excessive and tedious, making it hard to enjoy the overall experience.”
“I found myself spending hours just grinding for points, which took away from the fun and excitement of the game.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the player's engagement in a dynamic scoring system that rewards precision and connection, creating a sense of satisfaction and investment as they interact with the moving elements. This mechanic fosters a deeper emotional connection to the gameplay experience.