Einlanzer

About

Einlanzer is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Andrew Ryan Henke and was released on March 1, 2017. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Einlanzer is a single-player Role Playing game with a compelling story and splendid game mechanics, reminiscent of 90's JRPGs. The game offers a 40+ hour campaign, tons of side-quests, and 28 original music tracks. Its strategic battle system and permanent storyline changes based on moral decisions provide a unique and immersive experience."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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92%

Audience ScoreBased on 110 reviews

story52 positive mentions

grinding9 negative mentions

Engaging story with interesting characters that evoke emotional responses.
Classic turn-based combat system with strategic depth and character customization.
Abundant content with side quests and multiple endings, providing high replay value.

Difficulty spikes can be frustrating, especially with random encounters and status ailments.
Some characters and subclasses feel underdeveloped or less impactful than others.
Minor grammatical errors and repetitive music can detract from the overall experience.

story
141 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
61%
2%
The game's story is a blend of classic JRPG tropes, featuring a familiar "save the world" narrative enriched by engaging characters and emotional depth, particularly in the latter stages. While some players find the plot predictable and filled with clichés, others appreciate its nostalgic feel and the impactful choices that can alter the storyline. Overall, the storytelling is well-executed, with a strong emphasis on character development and a variety of side quests that enhance the experience.
- “The storyline is strong and well-told, with interesting twists and neat surprises throughout. The game presents several moments where you're required to make major decisions that impact the direction of the story, and the characters are almost all likable.”
- “The story is very immersive and gives you a sense of purpose as you play the game.”
- “This one has it all - a great story, unique, well-fleshed characters, side quests, and a turn-based battle system. It took me 79 hours to finish!”
- “Now the main reason I dropped the game was that I had huge issues with the story.”
- “These plot holes made the story pretty unbelievable, and when it stops feeling believable, I stopped caring for it.”
- “The story ended up being quite a treat, though it was a bit too flat for most of the game.”
gameplay
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
61%
8%
The gameplay in Einlanzer is characterized by its traditional turn-based combat system, offering a variety of character customizations through subclasses and skills that enhance strategic play. While many players appreciate the depth and replay value provided by different character builds and branching storylines, some express frustration with difficulty spikes and the frequency of random encounters, leading to a sense of burnout. Overall, the game successfully captures the essence of classic RPGs, delivering a polished experience with engaging mechanics, though some players feel it could benefit from a more concise structure.
- “Einlanzer does some very important things right: it has customizations for every character in the form of subclasses and multiple equippable item types.”
- “The combat is fun and very strategic, especially on harder gameplay difficulties.”
- “There's a vast amount of skills available to every character, which allows for great strategic play, and even more so when paired with other combat mechanics you can utilize.”
- “Gameplay has unpredictable difficulty spikes, which seems to be a trend for RPG Maker titles.”
- “There were some parts that caused immense frustration, especially with deaths that reversed hours of gameplay.”
- “The one area I dislike, though it is very fitting for the era of games this pays homage to, is the combination of enemy density and a horrid escape mechanic that basically means you have to fight every single battle.”
music
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
57%
19%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its repetitiveness and reliance on standard RPG Maker tracks, which can become tiresome during extended gameplay. While some found certain themes enjoyable and well-composed, particularly in capturing the JRPG essence, others criticized the lack of variation and the intrusive volume levels during key moments. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as average, with a few standout pieces, but it fails to consistently enhance the gaming experience.
- “Everything is fairly believable for what it is, and all of the art and music assets are used appropriately.”
- “Visuals are satisfactory and music is well-composed in the style of JRPGs from the nineties.”
- “Audio: the soundtrack is, surprisingly, very good.”
- “The music is repetitive (most of them are also standard RPG Maker background scores).”
- “If you like the same 10-second blaring horns for battle music on loop, over and over again, this is for you!”
- “There might be a tune or two that fit the scene, but 85% of the music is bad, just bad.”
graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
The graphics of the game are generally described as satisfactory, evoking nostalgia for classic SNES titles, which appeals to fans of the JRPG genre. While some players prioritize story over visuals, many appreciate the aesthetic and tone, noting that the graphics are good but not groundbreaking compared to modern standards. Overall, the visuals are considered a solid complement to the game's engaging narrative and well-composed music.
- “Good worldbuilding, aesthetic, and tone.”
- “Einlanzer stands above those games and has a vast array of visuals for both buffs, debuffs, and other effects.”
- “The graphics are really pretty and there are numerous original music scores.”
- “Problem with most games nowadays is that they are too focused on fast-paced action and the graphics.”
- “While the combat visuals aren't quite as extensive as, say, FF6 or Chrono Trigger, they're still good and I wasn't disappointed.”
- “Visually, you can expect SNES graphics, but for us fans of JRPGs, that is not much of a concern.”
grinding
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Reviews on grinding in the game are mixed; while some players appreciate the balanced difficulty that minimizes the need for grinding, others find certain bosses require specific strategies and equipment, leading to some grinding. Many agree that the game is designed to reduce tedious grinding, especially on harder modes, but some players still encounter lengthy, repetitive sections that can feel like grinding. Overall, the game offers a variety of experiences regarding grinding, with some players enjoying the challenge while others find it frustrating.
- “The creator built the leveling up into the game so there is almost no grinding.”
- “I feel like hard mode is the best way to play the game due to this reason as the game is super satisfying on hard mode, with no grinding required, which is nice.”
- “+no grinding required”
- “You'll be doing the same things down the path of a linear storyline just the same, though your party composition could dramatically alter how you go about beating different bosses and grinding your XP and GP.”
- “They are long, tedious mazes that make you beg for an exit/warp spell that does not exist; you will waste a lot of time traversing through the snoozefest levels.”
- “Avoiding fights was not a choice, because the new stage 'regulars' would own you, which equates to grinding or save/walk/reset (trying to escape is a bad joke).”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is well-received, with players noting that the character banter and dialogue often lead to genuine laughter, creating memorable moments amidst challenging gameplay. The writing is praised for its cleverness and charm, effectively blending humor with character development and an engaging storyline. Overall, the game successfully incorporates humor that resonates with players, enhancing the overall experience.
- “At times, Einlanzer made me burst out laughing with the characters' banter; other times, I was cursing out a boss for wiping my party with two of the same Tsunami II spell.”
- “Dialogue is cute and funny, also concise and flavored, which is a bonus.”
- “The writing is solid with a good mix of character development, character growth, and humor.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a deep emotional connection to the characters and storylines in JRPGs, often describing experiences as heart-wrenching and memorable. The narratives evoke a range of feelings, from love to hate, and are considered the primary draw of the genre, overshadowing other aspects like graphics or gameplay. Many reviewers highlight the emotional impact of the endings, noting that such experiences can lead to lasting attachments and a desire to replay the games.
- “I got emotionally attached to the characters, and it had a good story.”
- “Heart-wrenching events make players hooked to a JRPG, making them want to play the game until they finish it. This creates a memorable experience that encourages replaying and garners positive reviews and recommendations.”
- “Surprisingly mature, emotional ending.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The game offers significant replayability due to its multiple endings, a morality system, and impactful choices that alter gameplay and outcomes. Players can explore various side quests and character compositions, enhancing the overall experience with each playthrough. Overall, the design encourages players to revisit the game to discover different narratives and endings.
- “Because of all the choices you make that affect the gameplay and outcome, there is definite replay value and I look forward to seeing what ending I get next time.”
- “Multiple playthroughs to see what I suspect to be three different endings and go both ways with your morality are clearly intended, though the replay value of the game on the whole will largely rest on what part composition and thus what gameplay experience you wind up focusing on.”
- “The game seems to have a morality system, and depending on the outcomes of the different choices you make, this could make for immense replay value.”
- “Also, did I mention that the decisions you make can profoundly change the course of the game all the way up to the very end, giving it lots of replay value to top things off?”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development in the game is generally viewed as solid, featuring a mix of growth and humor, though some interactions may feel overly sentimental. However, opinions vary, with some players noting a lack of depth and meaningful progression in character arcs. Overall, while there are moments of good development, expectations for profound storytelling should be tempered.
- “Character development is good, although some of the interactions are a bit saccharine for me, but they are not that many, so I can deal with it.”
- “The writing is solid with a good mix of character development, character growth, and humor.”
- “In fact, there is zero character development.”
- “The plot is pretty decent with some okay character development, but don't come looking for anything deep and meaningful.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is generally viewed positively, as it delivers on its promise of a substantial RPG experience with over 40 hours of content, suggesting that players feel they receive good value for their investment.
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its engaging writing, rich worldbuilding, and well-developed characters, contributing to an immersive experience. However, some players express a lack of motivation to replay the game despite appreciating its atmospheric elements.
- “I enjoyed the writing, the worldbuilding, the characters, the class system, and the atmosphere.”
- “I enjoyed the writing, the worldbuilding, the characters, the class system, and the atmosphere, but I don’t think I will ever have the willpower to play through it again.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is reported to be relatively bug-free, indicating that extensive beta testing likely took place before its release, contributing to its overall stability.
- “So far, this game is relatively bug-free, which means that there was probably extensive beta testing prior to the release.”