Earth's Shadow
- January 31, 2023
- WRF Studios
- 8h median play time
Get on Steam"Earth's Shadow" is a post-apocalyptic, open-world survival game set in a ravaged world taken over by hostile creatures. Gather resources, craft weapons and gear, and build your own safe haven to withstand the dangers of the wilderness. Engage in intense combat, form alliances, and make difficult moral choices that will determine your fate in this unforgiving environment.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Impressive game for a solo developer, showcasing unique ideas and engaging gameplay.
- Fast-paced combat with a variety of weapons and loot, providing a satisfying power fantasy.
- Atmospheric graphics and immersive world design that enhance the overall experience.
- Game suffers from bugs and performance issues, particularly during boss battles.
- Loot and enemy balance can be inconsistent, leading to frustrating encounters with bullet sponge bosses.
- Some mechanics and tutorials are unclear, making it difficult for players to fully understand gameplay elements.
- gameplay27 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
Overall, the gameplay is praised for its fun mechanics, engaging combat, and solid progression, with standout features like the dash mechanic that adds invincibility and enhances the experience. While some players note a lack of originality, the game successfully combines familiar elements from the looter shooter genre with unique twists, resulting in an enjoyable and polished experience. However, a few reviews mention that the gameplay loop can become repetitive or confusing at times.
“I really like the mechanics that they have set up and the overall gameplay.”
“Not only does it have a great story, it comes with amazing gameplay and the details are just *chef's kiss*; a lot of big developer companies can't compete with this game, it's so well made and a ton of fun to play!”
“The movement feels good and the dash mechanic makes the combat very fun.”
“I'm not a big fan of roguelikes in general, but since Returnal has such long stretches of gameplay with very few shortcuts, the roguelike aspect really kills the fun.”
“The gameplay loop is boring and confusing.”
“Whether it's in the visual, in the sound, or in the gameplay mechanics...no new game is immune.”
- story22 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as intriguing and engaging, with memorable characters and a captivating atmosphere, though some players find it obtuse or basic at times. While many appreciate the depth and execution of the narrative, others note that it can feel stretched or secondary to the gameplay. Overall, the story enhances the experience, but opinions vary on its complexity and impact.
“This game is an all-around ton of fun; it has a great setting, intriguing story, fluid combat, and gameplay.”
“The story is intriguing and the voice acting is professional; the soundtrack brings it all together beautifully.”
“The game has a very intriguing atmosphere that I find very appealing, and there seems to be an interesting story that is slowly revealed to the player, creating a very eerie and ominous vibe.”
“The story is just kind of there and really it would be fine if it wasn't.”
“The story was fairly basic, nothing terrible or overly drawn out, but nothing too amazing.”
“I know most of the plot and stuff about the character but not from the game, from the Steam store page.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their stunning visuals and immersive atmosphere, effectively capturing the essence of an alien planet and a dark gothic aesthetic. Players appreciate the smooth optimization and clean design, which enhance the overall experience, making it feel polished for a title from a small studio. While some reviewers note that the visuals may not be groundbreaking, they are deemed suitable and engaging for the game's sci-fi dungeon crawler mechanics.
“One of the best things about this game is the immersive atmosphere and top-notch graphics.”
“The visuals are simply stunning, and the world design is captivating, making you feel like you're truly exploring an alien planet.”
“Stunning visuals, smooth optimization (works perfectly on epic settings), very nice movement and everything is just so smooth.”
“Graphics remind me of a Simon Bisley heavy metal magazine story where visceral violence abounds and is your only way of survival.”
“Scary and ghoulish science fiction visuals like a 1960's Italian doomsday film or some alien landscape a la Planet of the Vampires.”
“Whilst not necessarily doing anything original, the mechanics all seem solid with visuals suitable for the setting.”
- atmosphere13 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, featuring stunning graphics that enhance the sense of mystery and danger. Players appreciate the attention to detail and the intriguing, ominous vibe that permeates the environments, making exploration feel both exciting and perilous. Despite some repetitive elements in early levels, the overall atmospheric experience contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
“One of the best things about this game is the immersive atmosphere and top-notch graphics.”
“The game has a very intriguing atmosphere that I find very appealing, and there seems to be an interesting story that is slowly revealed to the player and has a very eerie and ominous vibe - which I love - so I am curious to see how it is executed in the end.”
“Soaking with unnerving eerie atmosphere where alien horrors abound on a planet of terror where everything wants to kill you.”
“A really fun dungeon crawling first person action-RPG in a spooky/mysterious atmosphere.”
“I will say some of the early levels seemed a tad repetitive as far as atmosphere and objective, but the game wasn’t boring even in those levels.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game currently faces optimization issues, particularly on the Steam Deck, with performance dips during significant boss battles and occasional bugs. While these problems are not game-breaking, players are hopeful for future updates to improve overall performance.
“The performance on the Steam Deck isn’t all that great; I'm waiting for a future update.”
“Fun game, but not completely optimized just yet.”
“It does have its cons of being a bit buggy here and there, and having some performance issues during big boss battles, but nothing game-breaking by any means.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally enjoy the grinding aspect of the game, appreciating its straightforwardness and lack of excessive tutorials. However, they note that the randomness and imbalance of loot can make farming the same maps necessary for better rewards, which may detract from the overall experience.
“Enjoyed very much, only downside is loot is random and not balanced, meaning there is no way to get better loot unless farming the same maps.”
- music3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its exceptional quality and seamless integration with gameplay, enhancing the overall experience. Regular updates from the developer keep the soundtrack fresh, while professional voice acting complements the intriguing story, creating a cohesive audio-visual atmosphere.
“The background music is amazing, fitting perfectly with the gameplay and adding to the overall experience.”
“The game is constantly updated by the developer, and the soundtrack is fantastic.”
“The story is intriguing, and the voice acting is professional; the soundtrack brings it all together beautifully.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game offers substantial content and alternate modes that enhance replayability, allowing players to enjoy hours of gameplay without boredom. However, some users feel that it may not fully capitalize on its replay potential at this stage.
“I played the main story from start to finish in one sitting, but there are alternate modes for replay value.”
“It's a well-made game with a lot of content and replay value, and you can easily spend hours playing it without getting bored.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, though players have noted occasional bugs and performance issues, particularly during large boss battles. However, these problems are not considered game-breaking.
“It does have its cons of being a bit buggy here and there, and having some performance issues during big boss battles, but nothing game-breaking by any means.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its humor and distinct personality, which enhance its enjoyment and uniqueness.
“The game is filled with humor and personality, making it more enjoyable and unique.”
“The witty dialogue and hilarious situations kept me laughing throughout my playthrough.”
“I love how the game incorporates humor into its storytelling, making even the serious moments feel lighthearted.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users acknowledge some minor issues in the game but emphasize that it still evokes strong emotional responses, suggesting that the overall emotional impact is significant despite the need for some refinement.
