Eldest Souls

The game's story is largely minimal and fragmented, primarily conveyed through sparse lore and item descriptions rather than engaging character development or a cohesive narrative. While some players appreciate the atmospheric setting and the potential for deeper storytelling, many find the focus on boss battles detracts from any meaningful plot, leading to a lack of investment in the story. Overall, the narrative feels tacked on and is often overshadowed by the gameplay, making it less appealing for those seeking a rich story experience.

The graphics of the game are generally praised for their charming pixel art style and beautiful environments, which effectively complement the dark fantasy theme. However, some players note issues with readability and hitbox accuracy, leading to frustration during gameplay. Overall, while the visuals are appealing and well-designed, they are sometimes undermined by gameplay mechanics that do not fully utilize their potential.

The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many reviewers praising its orchestral quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere during boss fights. While some found the soundtrack to be generic or forgettable, others highlighted its fitting nature and ability to create an engaging ambiance. Overall, the music is considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing significantly to the overall experience despite some mixed opinions on its memorability.

The game offers significant replayability through features like New Game Plus, multiple fighting styles, and various skill trees, allowing players to experiment with different builds and face upgraded boss challenges. While some reviewers noted that the game's shorter length and focus on boss encounters might limit its replay value compared to similar titles, many still found it engaging enough to warrant multiple playthroughs. Overall, it is designed with replayability in mind, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.

Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and frustrating, often describing it as a "head bashing simulator" with unbalanced boss fights that require repetitive attempts to overcome. While some appreciate the lack of traditional grinding mechanics, many feel that the difficulty is more punishing than enjoyable, leading to a monotonous experience rather than a rewarding challenge. The game's design choices, such as limited exploration and slow-paced combat, contribute to a sense of boredom and annoyance rather than excitement.

The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its beautiful pixel art, immersive audio, and overall design, creating an intriguing and engaging experience. While some players appreciate the atmospheric elements that enhance gameplay, others feel that certain aspects, like world design, can feel restrictive or lacking in warmth. Overall, the combination of art style, music, and environmental storytelling contributes to a compelling atmosphere that resonates with players, despite some criticisms regarding execution.

The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting significant bugs, including mismatched hitboxes, unresponsive controls, and glitches that disrupt gameplay, such as being pushed out of arenas or encountering dark screens. While some appreciate the challenging gameplay and concept, the overall consensus is that the game suffers from frustrating technical issues that detract from the experience.

Players express a mix of emotional responses to the game, with some feeling intense frustration and sadness during challenging boss battles, while others find a lack of emotional connection to the characters and world. The game's difficulty can evoke strong feelings, but many reviewers note that it lacks the emotional depth found in titles like Dark Souls, leading to a sense of disconnection despite moments of triumph. Overall, the emotional impact is inconsistent, with some moments eliciting tears and others feeling hollow.

Players find the humor in the game to be a delightful complement to its challenging gameplay, with amusing observations about game mechanics, such as the absurdity of a rusting obsidian sword. The comedic elements often arise from the punishing yet entertaining boss fights, where players experience both frustration and laughter at their own misfortunes. Overall, the humor enhances the enjoyment of the game, making the tough moments more memorable.

Character development in the game is generally viewed as lacking depth, with some players appreciating the art and design of the characters but criticizing the absence of a compelling narrative or significant growth. While there are positive remarks about the NPCs and scattered lore, many reviewers feel that the simplistic storyline and minimal character arcs detract from the overall experience.

Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players report smooth performance without issues, others note a lack of polish and optimization in certain areas. The ability to experiment with boss crystals and classes adds depth to the optimization experience, but mastering rotations can feel limiting.

The monetization aspect of the game is perceived negatively, as players feel that the increased difficulty in the New Game Plus (Ng+) mode, which includes more damage taken and reduced healing, may be a tactic to encourage additional spending or purchases to enhance gameplay.