ElecHead
- June 22, 2019
- NamaTakahashi
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"ElecHead" is a thrilling single-player platformer game that showcases awesome gameplay with stunning phenomenal graphics. Players control a robot with the ability to electrify objects and solve puzzles to progress through levels. The game is designed by "NamaTakahashi" and features a wonderful soundtrack that complements the game's atmosphere, making it an unforgettable experience for players, also known as "Tsuyomi".
Nintendo Switch
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox
Reviews
- Exceptional puzzle platformer with clever mechanics that challenge players creatively.
- Elegant design and charming visuals enhance the overall experience, making it enjoyable and engaging.
- Short but satisfying gameplay that respects players' time, with a variety of secrets to discover.
- The game is quite short, which may leave some players wanting more content.
- Some puzzles can be overly cryptic, requiring guides to fully complete the game.
- The lack of text in menus can lead to confusion, particularly with options that affect gameplay.
- gameplay185 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Elechead" is characterized by its clever use of a simple core mechanic—electrifying surfaces by touching them—which is explored in numerous inventive ways throughout the game. Players encounter a variety of well-designed puzzles that challenge their creativity and problem-solving skills, with a satisfying difficulty curve that gradually introduces new concepts without overwhelming the player. While the game is relatively short, it maximizes its mechanics effectively, providing a rich and engaging experience that encourages experimentation and exploration.
“While simple at its core, Elechead gets a surprising amount of depth out of its main mechanic, and those 'a-ha' moments were plentiful throughout.”
“An ingenious puzzle platformer that, like all the greats, is devilishly simple in its premise but iterates upon just a couple of mechanics to deliver a truly unique experience.”
“The game wrings an amazing amount of complexity out of a simple set of mechanics, as each room makes you really think about how the electricity and head throwing mechanics actually work.”
“My only complaint is the need to abuse broken game mechanics to get that 100% completion, especially because you'd never discover these exploits by playing the game normally.”
“The super secret clip out of bounds area was kind of silly, wish there was a reasonable way for the player to find it on their own and if the mechanic there was utilized longer, it made the game feel unfinished with that added in, showing what more it could be.”
“I think they could've done just a bit more given how versatile the game's central electricity mechanics are.”
- music84 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its catchy and well-composed chiptune soundtrack, which enhances the overall gameplay experience and complements the charming pixel art style. Reviewers noted that the soundtrack is both engaging and non-intrusive, effectively contributing to the game's atmosphere and flow, particularly during puzzle-solving moments. While some found the visuals a bit simplistic, the combination of music and sound design was consistently praised as a highlight of the game.
“The music is wonderful and contributes to the flow of playing the game, even when backtracking in an empty room or while retrying a platforming challenge.”
“The soundtrack is really nicely composed and complements well with the process of thinking your way through some of the trickier puzzles that might have you stumped for a little bit; but it's never a tiresome experience, overall.”
“The pixel art is beautiful, the chiptune soundtrack does a great job of building on the familiar melody, the puzzles are so well crafted and so fun to figure out that I never once thought to look up a solution even when I got stuck a couple of times.”
“The soundtrack is just as lazy as the rest of the game and sounds like what they call 'earth music' in that Rick and Morty episode.”
“Visually the game has a simple color palette and a soundtrack that doesn't have much to it but more than gets the job done.”
“The music is very well done too.”
- graphics55 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming, retro aesthetic, featuring simple yet effective pixel art and a limited color palette that enhances gameplay clarity. Reviewers appreciate the clean visuals and nostalgic vibes reminiscent of classic 8-bit games, complemented by a catchy chiptune soundtrack that adds to the overall experience. The art style is described as both aesthetically pleasing and functional, making it easy for players to engage with the puzzles while enjoying the game's artistic presentation.
“The graphics are cute and easy to read (and extra palettes are always a nice touch) and the chirpy music is fun too.”
“A brilliant puzzle platformer with incredibly simple mechanics and a beautifully restrained four-color aesthetic.”
“What an amazingly creative and rewarding puzzle platformer, accompanied by stunning visuals.”
“It is a little bare bones visually (what you see in the screenshots is what you get in terms of art) but still aesthetically pleasing, and the soundtrack and sound effects are well done.”
“While a lot of people compare it to VVVVVV due to how nostalgic the music and more simplistic art style, it reminds me a lot more of the puzzle flash games I grew up on than the Atari era design V was based on.”
“The atmosphere drips of early 8-bit nostalgia and the graphics and music fit well.”
- story18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The story in Elechead is described as minimal and simplistic, primarily serving as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a focal point. While some players found the narrative elements intriguing, they noted that the game lacks depth and could benefit from more content and context. Overall, the emphasis is on puzzle-solving and platforming, with just enough story to provide a loose framework for the experience.
“There is a little bit of plot to be inferred from the scenery and the ending cutscene, and the twist at the end definitely got an audible 'woah!' from me.”
“Fun way to exercise the brain, and a cool story with minimal effort needed to build the plot.”
“Maybe too little content, and no story other than what the Steam store gives you.”
“Elechead’s emphasis is on platforming and puzzles, without any semblance of a story.”
“The game has just enough story to tie it all together, but don't expect much more than that.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate that "elechead" avoids tedious grinding in its core gameplay, as the puzzles remain engaging rather than frustrating. However, some note that post-game exploration can feel repetitive and slow, requiring players to re-solve previously completed puzzles to uncover missed secrets, which can detract from the overall experience.
“One of the downsides of this game is that, inherently, it is tedious to travel throughout the map in post-game or completionist efforts simply because virtually every room is a puzzle, and you have to therefore solve previously-solved puzzles again repeatedly to search for secret rooms you missed the first time through the area.”
“I could now look for all of the hidden remote thingys but that is a bit slow and tedious compared to the core gameplay.”
“You will end up grinding against every wall.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers some replayability through secret collectibles and multiple endings, appealing to completionists and speedrunners. However, many players feel that once the main content is completed, there is limited incentive to replay, as the overall experience is relatively short.
“Tons of replay value to be had with collecting as well.”
“As it stands, it's a short game that doesn't strike me as having a whole lot of replay value, although I think it would be a great game for speedrunners to spend time honing skills at.”
“Almost no replayability unless you're trying to find all the collectibles or speedrun it.”
“Short with not much replay value, but I'm happy to pay for this game and piece of art.”
“It features secret collectibles and two endings, meaning it has some degree of replayability if you're up to find them all.”
- humor5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- -40 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Overall, players appreciate the humor in the game, often finding themselves smiling and laughing while tackling challenging puzzles. However, some critics argue that the humor is not universally appealing, with comparisons to other games that succeed without relying on comedic elements, suggesting a divide in taste regarding the game's comedic approach.
“I found myself smiling and laughing as I played through each of the just difficult enough puzzles - many times going 'there is no way I'm solving this' to 'holy crap I did it!!' in a matter of minutes.”
“Sane Trilogy also did not have to resort to toilet humor.”
“Those two negative reviews are funny.”
“The humor in this game falls flat.”
“I found the jokes to be unoriginal and lacking in wit.”
“The attempts at humor felt forced and didn't resonate with me.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its wholesome and entertaining qualities, evoking a sense of cleverness and satisfaction in players as they navigate diverse puzzles using a simple yet innovative mechanic. The emotional experience is enhanced by the charming character design and engaging gameplay that fosters a feeling of accomplishment.
“Cool game, made me feel smart.”
“As in all the best puzzle games, one simple central mechanic — electrifying surfaces by touching them — is complicated bit by bit and cleverly worked out in all its possibilities.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is characterized by a cool, mysterious vibe enhanced by excellent music and artwork, evoking a sense of early 8-bit nostalgia. The limited color palette and minimal text contribute to a unique and endearing experience that resonates with players.
“A cool, mysterious atmosphere aided by great music and artwork.”
“The atmosphere drips with early 8-bit nostalgia, and the graphics and music fit well.”
“This is just my personal preference, but I think the limited color palette and near complete lack of text makes for a very endearing atmosphere.”
