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 good graphics and a well-polished atmosphere, making it visually appealing.
- The voice acting is solid, contributing to the immersive experience of the game.
- It offers a unique storytelling approach, allowing players to explore personal themes and emotions through the protagonist's journey.
- 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 by the end.
- Gameplay is very linear with minimal interaction, making it feel simplistic and lacking depth.
- story82 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, with many players finding it confusing and lacking clarity, often requiring players to piece together loosely connected memory fragments. While some appreciate the atmospheric storytelling and mechanics, others criticize the plot for being obscure and unsatisfying, leading to a sense of disconnection from the narrative. Overall, it is seen as a short walking simulator that may appeal to those who enjoy interpretative storytelling, but it leaves much to be desired in terms of coherence and depth.
“The game has a good storyline and the graphics run smooth as well; it is well worth picking up, especially while it is on sale.”
“I love story-rich games where that's the main point, and just exploring and interacting with the environment while the story plays out.”
“The mystery of the story is compelling enough to make you want to keep going and understand what is going on.”
“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 got the idea they were trying to convey, but a lot of detail had no explanation at all, and in the end made the story too simple.”
- graphics32 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised as impressive for an indie title, featuring smooth animations, a beautiful environment, and engaging visuals that enhance the overall experience. However, some critiques mention that the main character's design lacks polish compared to the surrounding world, and there are occasional issues with frame rate drops and resolution settings not saving. Overall, the visuals contribute positively to the game's eerie atmosphere and storytelling.
“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.”
“Good storyline but quite confusing, the graphics look great, the voice acting is also not bad for an indie game, decent puzzle and platforming, eerie environment, sound also good, beautiful graffiti can be found during the play-through.”
“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; the graphics are decent, but there are some FPS drops, though it remains stable.”
- gameplay22 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally considered basic and linear, with trivial puzzles that lack challenge, leading to a mixed reception. While some players appreciate the smooth mechanics and atmospheric environments, others criticize the lack of depth and the game's tendency to stutter. Overall, it offers a short experience that some feel is worth the low price, but many find it lacking in engaging gameplay elements.
“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 (that's around 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, the story was largely left to interpretation, but for me, not in a good way.”
- atmosphere16 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its eerie and unsettling atmosphere, enhanced by a strong soundtrack and solid voice acting, which effectively keeps players on edge with occasional jumpscares. While the world-building allows for some exploration, opinions vary on the overall coherence of the narrative, particularly towards the end. Overall, the atmospheric visuals and environmental details contribute significantly to the game's immersive experience.
“The game has an eerie atmosphere, and while the world-building is fairly narrow, it still leaves room for some exploration.”
“Great atmosphere and music, nice assets and storytelling.”
“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.”
- music14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % 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 impressive work of composer Laryssa Okada, noting her previous success with "Manifold Garden." Overall, the soundtrack and voice acting are considered standout elements, contributing positively to the game's storytelling.
“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.”
“The game has a soothing music.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers a playtime of approximately three hours, but players note that it lacks significant replay value, making it unlikely to engage them for multiple playthroughs.
“The game is around 3 hours if you carefully explore it, and there is practically no replay value.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers feel that the emotional aspect of the game could be improved, suggesting that the design should better engage players' empathy to create a more impactful experience.
