August 23, 2019
Kyodai Ltd

ELEA

Elea is a conundrum; a mirror-maze of beautifully rendered but almost indecipherable vignettes, tying together into an arc that is nearly inscrutable. Without a coherent story to tie them too, the puzzles involved become chores, and advancement becomes its own reward. Adventure gamers and fans of deeply surreal sci-fi might find things to enjoy here, but more casual players might want to look closer before buying.

53%Game Brain Score

story, graphics

stability

52% User Score Based on 62 reviews

Critic Score 60%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

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About

ELEA is a single player simulation game with mystery and science fiction themes. It was developed by Kyodai Ltd and was released on August 23, 2019. It received neutral reviews from both critics and players.

"Experience the surreal story of Elea. In this episodic first-person Sci-Fi adventure you play as a space scientist recovering your lost husband. Venture out on a curious interstellar journey, full of devastating memories and startling secrets."

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52%

Audience ScoreBased on 62 reviews

story28 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

The game features stunning graphics and detailed environments that create a mesmerizing visual experience.
The story is intriguing and has the potential for deeper exploration, with elements reminiscent of classic sci-fi literature.
The sound design and music contribute positively to the atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience.

The gameplay is plagued by slow movement speed, frustrating controls, and numerous bugs and glitches that hinder immersion.
The narrative feels incomplete and ends abruptly, leaving many questions unanswered and a sense of dissatisfaction.
Voice acting lacks emotion, which detracts from the emotional weight of the story and key moments.

story
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
26%
7%
The game's story is described as a compelling family drama set against a mysterious backdrop, reminiscent of Stanislav Lem's works, but it suffers from poor voice acting and a disjointed narrative that leaves players feeling unsatisfied. While some appreciate the need for deeper engagement with the text to grasp the plot, others criticize the pacing and lack of coherent progression, leading to a sense of frustration despite the intriguing setup. Overall, the visuals are praised, but the storytelling is seen as lacking depth and clarity.
- “This game is not for everyone - if you appreciate great visuals and a bit of digging to understand the compelling story, then it's for you.”
- “If you are into slow-paced story games, this is a great one for you!”
- “"elea" is a great adventure game with solid story & beautiful visuals.”
- “The bit and pieces of the story are scattered with little to no context, as well as an unclear timeline.”
- “Visually pleasing, but a braindead story with no logic.”
- “This game is garbage lol, runs like absolute trash, the story is boring asf, the 30 fps cap or capless doesn't make any sense.”
graphics
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
85%
11%
4%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their fantastic quality, beautiful visuals, and impressive lighting, making it stand out as an indie title. Many reviewers highlight the unique and detailed design, particularly in room aesthetics, although some find certain fractal visuals overwhelming. Overall, the game's visuals contribute significantly to its appeal, complementing its compelling story and sound design.
- “The sound design and music score are lovely, the visuals are of excellent quality, and the voice acting is fine.”
- “I hope the second episode will follow soon — great graphics for an indie title and excellent musical score.”
- “I can say: really beautiful graphics and room design from the point of view of the interior.”
- “Some of the fractal visuals are too crazy even for me.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality, with many reviewers describing it as a masterpiece that effectively captures the melancholic atmosphere of space travel. The sound design complements the visuals, creating a unique and immersive experience, while the background music is noted for its soothing qualities. Overall, the combination of excellent sound and music enhances the game's appeal significantly.
- “The sound design and music score are lovely, the visuals are of excellent quality, and the voice acting is fine.”
- “As for the music, it is a masterpiece; the author of the music perfectly conveyed the atmosphere of melancholic space travel.”
- “I hope the second episode will follow soon — great graphics for an indie title and excellent musical score.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its emotional depth, enhanced by a masterfully composed soundtrack that captures the essence of melancholic space travel. This combination creates a memorable and immersive experience for players.
- “As for the music, it is a masterpiece; the composer perfectly conveyed the atmosphere of melancholic space travel.”
- “All of the above creates an emotional and memorable atmosphere.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game presents a compelling family drama set against a mysterious backdrop, reminiscent of Stanislav Lem's works, which contributes to an emotional and memorable atmosphere. However, the overall impact is significantly diminished by the voice actress's lack of emotional delivery, failing to convey the intended feelings during critical moments.
- “All of the above creates an emotional and memorable atmosphere.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, leading users to strongly advise against purchasing it, even at a discounted price, due to its unfinished state.
- “Don't even think about buying this buggy and unfinished crap on sale.”
- “All the bugs and glitches make it unplayable.”
- “The game is riddled with issues that ruin the experience.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is generally praised for its excellent optimization, delivering smooth performance throughout most of the experience, with only minor frame drops noted during a specific section in chapter 3.
- “Excellent performance, so smooth! I only noticed a few drops at chapter 3 in the elevator when changing between decks.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The gameplay is noted for its intriguing story and the incorporation of experimental elements reminiscent of Hideo Kojima's work in PT, enhancing the overall experience.
- “It has an interesting story, and I like how the developers are incorporating some of Kojima's experimental gameplay elements from P.T.”