EDENGATE: The Edge of Life
- November 29, 2022
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Get on Xbox Games Store"EDENGATE: The Edge of Life" is a challenging 2D pixel art metroidvania game. Fight through hordes of enemies and bosses in procedurally generated levels, utilizing a variety of weapons and abilities. Uncover the mystery of the EDEN Corporation's sinister plans while navigating a dark, atmospheric world.
PC
Playstation 4
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features impressive graphics and a well-crafted atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience.
- The voice acting is solid, contributing to the immersive storytelling and emotional depth of the game.
- Despite its short length, the game offers a compelling narrative that encourages reflection on mental health and personal experiences.
- The game's description is misleading, leading players to expect a mystery-solving adventure rather than a linear walking simulator.
- The story can be confusing and lacks clarity, leaving many players with unanswered questions and a sense of disconnection.
- Gameplay is overly simplistic, with trivial puzzles and limited interactivity, which may not satisfy players looking for a more engaging experience.
- story41 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its intriguing elements and emotional depth, while others find it confusing and lacking coherence. Many reviews highlight that the narrative relies heavily on exploration and collecting memories, which can leave players feeling disconnected from the plot. Overall, while the atmosphere and storytelling mechanics are praised, the clarity and depth of the story itself leave much to be desired, making it more suitable for fans of walking simulators than those seeking a robust narrative experience.
“The game is short, but the low price and production value makes it an easy recommendation for anyone that enjoys games with great storytelling.”
“The mystery of the story is compelling enough to make you want to keep going and understand what is going on.”
“Great atmosphere and music, nice assets and storytelling.”
“A short thriller that is cheap and has a truly garbage plot twist.”
“The story it tries to tell is simply not there; it's all really random and makes absolutely no sense.”
“I've completed the game in around 1:30, and being a story-driven game with no real gameplay loop, the story was largely left to interpretation, but for me, not in a good way.”
- graphics16 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised as impressive for an indie title, featuring smooth animations, beautiful environments, and a strong visual atmosphere that enhances the storytelling. However, some critiques mention that the main character's design lacks polish compared to the surrounding world, and there are occasional technical issues like FPS drops and resolution settings not saving. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it worth considering, especially during sales.
“The game has a good storyline and the graphics run smooth as well (I played both the PC and Xbox Series S version) and it is well worth picking up, especially while it is on sale.”
“The visuals and audio in this game are really impressive for an indie title, and the eye candy is what did it for me.”
“Graphically, the only drawback is that the main character isn't as polished as the world around her, and considering most of the game is just watching her walk around, that should have been a bit more of a focus.”
“Also, the game can't save my resolution and graphic settings; I had to reset everything every time I started the game.”
“Not really sure what to think of the game at this point; graphics are decent, with some FPS drops but still stable.”
- gameplay11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many users noting its linearity and simplicity, particularly criticizing the trivial puzzles and occasional stuttering. While some appreciated the atmospheric environments and storytelling mechanics, others felt the lack of a substantial gameplay loop detracted from the overall experience. Overall, the gameplay is described as basic and short, with a completion time of around 1.5 hours.
“I quite enjoyed the mechanics of storytelling.”
“But I very much enjoyed the mechanics which were used to tell the story.”
“The gameplay feels smooth and most environments are very atmospheric and visually striking.”
“Overall, I give it a 6/10 because the gameplay is basic and everything is linear. The puzzles are easy, and for some reason, the game stutters at times.”
“As for the gameplay, your primary task is to keep the W key pressed down for around 90 minutes and to 'solve' a handful (about 5) 'puzzles', which are so trivial that they don't even deserve to be called that.”
“I've completed the game in around 1:30. This is not really why I'm on the fence about the recommendation; being a story-driven game with no real gameplay loop, that story was largely left to interpretation, but for me, not in a good way.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its eerie and unsettling atmosphere, enhanced by a strong soundtrack and solid voice acting. While the world-building allows for some exploration, the overall experience is visually striking and immersive, though some players found the ending confusing and unsatisfying. Overall, the atmosphere effectively keeps players on edge with its creepy elements and environmental detail.
“Pretty much the only positive thing I can say about this game is that the soundtrack does a good job of generating a dense atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere is just creepy enough to keep you on edge, and I did have a few jump scares.”
“The voice acting is solid, and the atmosphere is okay.”
“The game has an eerie atmosphere, and while the world-building is fairly narrow, it still leaves room for some exploration.”
- music7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its soothing quality and ability to create a dense atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience. Many reviewers highlight the effective soundtrack and voice acting, with particular recognition for composer Laryssa Okada's work, which adds depth to the storytelling. Overall, the music stands out as a significant positive aspect of the game.
“The game has soothing music.”
“Pretty much the only positive thing that I can say about this game is that the soundtrack does a good job of generating a dense atmosphere.”
“Great atmosphere and music, nice assets and storytelling.”
“I knew this game through the music composer Laryssa Okada (check out Manifold Garden, her previous game composition work), therefore I gave this game a try.”
“Hope to see more creative projects from the developers and the music composer.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game offers a playtime of approximately three hours with thorough exploration, but it lacks significant replay value, making it unlikely for players to return after completing it.
“The game is around 3 hours long if you carefully explore it, and there is practically no replay value.”
“Once you finish the game, there's little incentive to play it again since the story doesn't change.”
“After completing the main storyline, I found no reason to revisit the game as it lacks different paths or outcomes.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers feel that the game's emotional impact could be enhanced through improved design elements that better engage players' empathy.
“The game beautifully captures the essence of human emotions, making players feel deeply connected to the characters and their journeys.”
“I was genuinely moved by the story; it resonated with my own experiences and left a lasting impact on my heart.”
“The emotional depth of the game is astounding, as it explores themes of love, loss, and redemption in a way that feels incredibly real.”
