El Paso, Elsewhere

El Paso, Elsewhere feels good to play and is beautiful to look at. But even more than that, it's simply an outstanding piece of southern gothic fiction, with a quality of writing that blew me away.

84%Game Brain Score

story, music

stability, grinding

92% User Score Based on 1,965 reviews

Critic Score 76%Based on 26 reviews

Platforms

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About

In "El Paso, Elsewhere," experience a supernatural neo-noir third-person shooter set in a reality-shifting motel. Battle an array of monsters, including werewolves and fallen angels, while saving victims of Draculae. With a fully-voiced story campaign, destructible physics objects, and an original hip-hop soundtrack, prepare for a thrilling and action-packed adventure.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,991 reviews

story404 positive mentions

stability18 negative mentions

Engaging and heartfelt story that explores themes of addiction and toxic relationships.
Great voice acting and a unique soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
Fun gameplay mechanics reminiscent of Max Payne, with satisfying shooting and slow-motion effects.

Repetitive level design and enemy variety that can lead to boredom over time.
Some gameplay mechanics, like the dive feature, feel unnecessary and can hinder performance.
The game may feel too long, with 50 levels that could benefit from trimming to maintain pacing.

story
1,004 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
58%
2%
The story of *El Paso, Elsewhere* is a standout feature, weaving a deeply emotional narrative that explores themes of love, trauma, and addiction through the lens of a supernatural neo-noir setting. Players are drawn in by the well-crafted character dynamics and engaging voice acting, which enhance the storytelling experience, despite some criticism regarding the game's length and repetitive gameplay. Overall, the narrative is praised for its depth and relatability, making it a compelling reason to play, even if the gameplay itself can feel monotonous at times.
- “And it is a story that manages to touch and awe without seeming heavy-handed, even though it is one of tragedy, grief, and the protagonist's efforts to not sink under their weight.”
- “The bulk of the story is an astonishingly deep and methodically spoken narrative of a broken romance, emotional abuse, and psychological torture that I truly wasn’t prepared for nor was I expecting it to be better written than many movies I’ve seen explore these subjects.”
- “The story is a fantastic and genuinely moving depiction of female on male abuse that we really never see in media.”
- “The story is convoluted and has many cringeworthy moments, and the cutscenes are just long bouts of exposition.”
- “It's just a long slog through a bunch of areas you've already seen rearranged to keep whatever semblance of a 'story' there is going.”
- “Because most of this story is told through cutscenes and those feel like the focus of the game.”
music
910 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
54%
2%
The music in "El Paso, Elsewhere" has received widespread acclaim for its energetic and diverse soundtrack, which blends genres like rap and electronic, enhancing the game's atmosphere and emotional depth. Many players noted that the original tracks, often performed by the lead voice actor, significantly elevate the experience, making it feel like a cohesive part of the narrative. However, some found the rap elements polarizing, with opinions varying on their effectiveness and appeal, but overall, the soundtrack is frequently described as a standout feature that complements the gameplay beautifully.
- “The soundtrack and voice-acting alone are worth the price of admission.”
- “The music is 100% something I didn't expect to be so good.”
- “The soundtrack is so exceptional that it warrants standalone listening, and the environments are breathtakingly atmospheric, immersing players in a world that is as beautiful as it is haunting.”
- “This game could have been awesome and I was fooled by the horrible cringy zoomer soundtrack.”
- “It's crazy to me that the current top review is praising the soundtrack, because the music is awful.”
- “The game itself is an acceptable Max Payne clone but the soundtrack is a fucking abomination.”
gameplay
799 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
57%
9%
The gameplay of "El Paso, Elsewhere" draws heavily from the Max Payne series, featuring a straightforward loop of shooting, dodging, and diving with a bullet time mechanic that many players find enjoyable yet repetitive over time. While the game offers customization options and a variety of weapons, the enemy design and level structure can lead to monotony, with some players feeling that the gameplay doesn't evolve sufficiently throughout its lengthy campaign. Overall, the engaging narrative and strong atmosphere often overshadow the gameplay's shortcomings, making it a mixed experience for players.
- “The gameplay loop of shooting, dodging, diving with on-demand bullet time is well executed and feels great.”
- “Had a lot of fun playing through this one, plus the game gives you the ability to add modifiers to your playthrough which can change up the gameplay drastically from run to run.”
- “Great gameplay and super tight narrative with excellent voice work.”
- “There's 50 levels to play through to complete the whole story, and while there are new environments and plot moments to experience, the gameplay and enemies get pretty redundant after a while, and I think the length would have been just perfect at 30-35 levels.”
- “Repetitive enemies, repetitive environments, and mediocre gameplay really drag it down from what it could have been.”
- “The gameplay is simple enough to get the hang of but it keeps it interesting and engaging without over complicating everything.”
graphics
227 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
57%
5%
The graphics of "El Paso, Elsewhere" are characterized by a low-poly aesthetic reminiscent of early 2000s games, which some players find charming and atmospheric, while others see it as outdated. The visuals are complemented by modern lighting and a unique art style that enhances the game's moody, neo-noir atmosphere, though the simplistic graphics can lead to performance issues on certain platforms. Overall, the game's visuals, while not cutting-edge, effectively contribute to its storytelling and immersive experience, appealing particularly to fans of retro aesthetics.
- “The visuals bleed style from every pore.”
- “What the dev does to show emotion and perspective with PS2 graphics is incredible.”
- “El Paso, Elsewhere stands out as a remarkable hidden gem of indie gaming experience, boasting stunning visuals, a fascinating narrative, all complemented by an incredible soundtrack.”
- “The graphics are low-poly and do not try to impress with fancy features or massive textures.”
- “I'm not too sure how you fail to make your game run smoothly when the graphics are...what they are, but that's sadly the case.”
- “Hideous graphics, garbage gameplay, dirt cheap level design...utter crap.”
emotional
132 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is profoundly impactful, with a narrative that explores themes of broken romance, emotional abuse, and psychological trauma, often evoking strong reactions from players. Many reviewers noted the game's ability to deliver heartfelt and raw storytelling, likening its emotional depth to that of high-quality films, despite its indie status. The combination of masterful writing, engaging characters, and a compelling soundtrack creates an immersive experience that resonates deeply with those who have faced similar struggles.
- “The narrative delivers a moving and thought-provoking depiction of this issue, adding depth and emotional resonance to the overall experience.”
- “I also broke down sobbing more than once as this game's thematics began to cohere around what it means to find yourself in the aftermath of gaslighting and emotional abuse.”
- “It's all wrapped up in a gut-wrenching, emotional story about toxic relationships and idolizing 'perfect' past days instead of looking ahead.”
atmosphere
110 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
45%
3%
The atmosphere of "El Paso, Elsewhere" is widely praised for its immersive neo-noir aesthetic, combining strong narrative elements with a haunting soundtrack and engaging sound design. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke deep emotional tones through its art direction and voice acting, creating a unique and captivating experience that stands out in the action shooter genre. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay repetition, the overall atmosphere is described as exceptional, drawing players into a beautifully crafted world filled with mood and style.
- “The soundtrack is so exceptional that it warrants standalone listening, and the environments are breathtakingly atmospheric, immersing players in a world that is as beautiful as it is haunting.”
- “Incredible atmosphere, enjoyable fast-paced gunplay with slow-mo (Max Payne style), a striking low-fi visual style, punchy writing and cutscene direction, and great vocal performances all combine to create something truly special.”
- “Every moment of this game drips atmosphere, and the shooting and slow-mo is satisfyingly solid.”
- “The actual graphics, while resembling something from 2000 or earlier, are still drenched in atmosphere despite their low fidelity and are paired with great sound, whether it be punchy gunfire or rabid snarls of nearby enemies punctuated by a highly varied soundtrack I wasn’t expecting to jam out to!”
- “While its darkness and brooding atmosphere may make it appear like another Max Payne game at first glance, it's the story that really stands out.”
- “Graphically it may not seem to impress for those wanting more than PS1 style characters, but the atmosphere will make up for it in level design.”
optimization
75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
31%
21%
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting severe stuttering, frame drops, and technical bugs, particularly on certain maps and during specific gameplay actions. Despite these performance issues, the exceptional voice acting, writing, and overall narrative quality have led many to recommend the game, suggesting that the storytelling and performances may overshadow the technical shortcomings for some players. Overall, while the game excels in narrative and voice performances, its optimization problems detract from the overall experience.
- “Some minor gripes with hitboxes and technical performance did nothing to dampen how fantastic I felt finishing the game.”
- “The script, vocal performances, and cinematography are top-notch, and the soundtrack is both striking and thematic.”
- “Incredible atmosphere, enjoyable fast-paced gunplay with slow-mo (Max Payne style), a striking low-fi visual style, punchy writing and cutscene direction, and great vocal performances all combine to create something truly special.”
- “Very poorly optimized.”
- “Stuttering and frame drops are a huge issue on 3 maps in particular.”
- “Encountered a bug or two, and started having some pretty bad performance issues at times on the second half of the game that actually messed me up on some encounters.”
humor
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending darkly comedic elements with a tragic narrative, creating a unique balance that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the clever writing, humorous dialogue, and absurd situations, which provide levity amidst heavier themes of trauma and relationships. The game's ability to deliver laughs while maintaining emotional depth is frequently highlighted, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking.
- “The writing and humor is amazing.”
- “What makes the serious notes all the more effective is that El Paso does have a sense of humor it proudly displays from time to time, but never so much that it cheapens the game's atmosphere.”
- “It's darkly humorous, playing liberally on noir tropes.”
stability
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting various glitches and bugs, particularly in the latter half of the game, including issues with hitmarkers and crashes. While some users experienced a relatively smooth gameplay experience, others noted frustrating technical problems that detracted from their enjoyment. Overall, the game is described as having significant stability issues, especially for a title from a talented development team.
- “It's also been a relatively bug-free experience.”
- “Runs great on deck, and does everything it says on the tin.”
- “It's not 100% bug-free and there are rough spots and some repetition, but overall, this is the kind of game that I would 100% recommend to any Remedy Games lovers.”
- “What got to me was how buggy it was towards the second half.”
- “Edit: oh also, turns out the game is pretty buggy - had a couple crashes and the game just stopped tracking achievements at some point.”
- “Great game, but it is a bit buggy in the last half of the game.”
grinding
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and repetitive, with players expressing frustration over the monotonous level design and gameplay mechanics. Many reviewers noted that the experience felt cheap and unengaging, leading to a lack of motivation to continue playing, particularly due to the repetitive nature of the tasks and the drawn-out levels. Overall, the grinding is seen as a significant detractor from the game's enjoyment, overshadowing any potential rewards.
- “Unfortunately, it is also soul crushingly tedious.”
- “There are 50 levels and they get incredibly tedious and repetitive.”
- “All of these issues made for a very tedious and frustrating experience that was more rewarding of trial and error than skill, and I just didn't enjoy the game.”
replayability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
36%
27%
The game offers moderate replayability, with playthroughs lasting around 8-12 hours and features like replayability sliders that encourage multiple runs. However, some players feel that the pacing drags, limiting the appeal of replaying, while others appreciate the depth and challenge that enhance their experience. Overall, the replayability is seen as dependent on personal enjoyment of the game's narrative and mechanics.
- “I liked the replayability sliders, will probably beat this game again but on increased speed.”
- “The gameplay, soundtrack, writing, voice acting, movement, easter eggs, replayability, all of that stuff: tight as hell.”
- “Games like this should be replayable - perhaps some kind of arcade mode or score attack - but this one just drags out too long for that to be appetizing.”
- “[low replayability]”
- “Not super long (one playthrough will probably take most people about 8-12 hours) but has some replayability in it.”