Element: Date

About

In "Element: Date" , set in the 23rd century, you search for a compatible partner through a popular dating app in the Three Systems. With 9 diverse romantic interests, touch/mouse controls, and fully voiced narration, this sci-fi game offers a unique experience, avoiding combat and instead focusing on conversation and connection. Your choices lead to 1 of 18 potential endings, making for a personalized and immersive adventure.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

63%

Audience ScoreBased on 160 reviews

story39 positive mentions

stability17 negative mentions

The game features interesting tactical battles that become increasingly challenging as you progress, providing a satisfying gameplay experience.
The graphics and animations are well-designed, contributing to an engaging sci-fi atmosphere.
The character progression and unique abilities add depth to the gameplay, allowing for strategic planning and team synergy.

The game suffers from significant bugs that can disrupt gameplay, including issues with combat mechanics and AI behavior.
The save system is frustrating, as players cannot save between battles, leading to the need to replay entire missions if they fail.
The storyline is simplistic and lacks depth, with dialogue and character interactions feeling underdeveloped.

story
214 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
78%
4%
The game's story is generally described as linear and simplistic, with some players finding it engaging and reminiscent of titles like Mass Effect 2, while others criticize it for being clichéd and lacking depth. Players appreciate the character development and the ability to recruit allies, but many express frustration with bugs and difficulty spikes that detract from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the story has potential for a sequel, and some players find it compelling enough to keep them invested throughout their playthrough.
- “The story is intriguing and finds its way in the sci-fi corpus.”
- “The storyline is very compelling even from the start.”
- “The game has polished game mechanics and a very deep and intriguing story, making it an excellent overall choice as far as I can tell.”
- “The story is short and messy; there are no side quests or anything, it's just the old model of 'choose a planet, do a mission, reward, repeat.'”
- “The story isn't anything to write home about; I was definitely getting some Mass Effect 2 vibes here, with attempts to gather a crew to take on a hidden, shadow enemy.”
- “What the game lacks is storytelling; while the story itself is good (although not that extraordinary but really in place for the setting), the way it is told is not that satisfying.”
gameplay
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
66%
5%
The gameplay of the game is a mix of tactical turn-based mechanics reminiscent of XCOM, featuring a dual action point system for movement and attacks, but it lacks depth and complexity, leading to a somewhat simplistic experience. While the game offers clear mechanics and a visually appealing design, many players find the AI behavior and mission structure frustrating, with some noting a lack of engaging content and the absence of save options during challenging segments. Overall, it presents interesting concepts but falls short of delivering a fully polished and immersive tactical experience.
- “If you like indie, turn-based, and some unusual gameplay experiments, just give it a try.”
- “The gameplay is smooth, and the storyline is great.”
- “The game has polished game mechanics and a very deep and intriguing story, making it an excellent overall choice.”
- “Game mechanics are very rudimentary and clumsy.”
- “Main gameplay loop is lacking depth and just plain boring.”
- “You make a great game and then you throw all the hard work out the window by forcing the player to go through large chunks of very difficult gameplay without the ability to save, so that in the likely outcome that you fail, you have to do it all over again.”
graphics
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
24%
10%
The graphics of "Element: Space" receive mixed reviews, with some praising the high production value, aesthetic appeal, and detailed animations, while others criticize them as dated and lacking depth. Many players appreciate the vibrant art direction and overall visual design, but some feel that the graphics serve more as a distraction from gameplay issues. Overall, the visuals are seen as a strong point, though not without their flaws, particularly in character detail and animation execution.
- “High production value graphics, animations, sound effects, and music.”
- “Awesome graphics, I especially like the world built for the game.”
- “The graphics are great, the gameplay is nice (took a bit to get used to, but then it was smooth), and the story really keeps you wanting to play non-stop.”
- “The graphics are poor and look like they were created with 3D modeling tools from the 1990s; they remind me of the Final Fantasy VII era. This game looks like it predates the PS1 days.”
- “The character visuals up close, especially in the profile sections, lack detail.”
- “Even with my PC configuration meeting the minimum and being close to the recommended requirements, my frame rate wouldn't go over 11 after a certain point, even on the lowest graphics settings.”
stability
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
5%
85%
The game has been widely criticized for its instability, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and crashes, particularly at launch. While some players have noted improvements due to ongoing updates, many still experience significant issues that hinder gameplay. Overall, the game's stability remains a major concern, affecting the overall enjoyment for many users.
- “Other than that, the game appears pretty polished and bug-free to me.”
- “If there were absolutely no glitches in this game, I would definitely consider replaying it.”
- “Too buggy to play.”
- “Extremely buggy, locks up all the time.”
- “This has so many glitches and crashes that you wonder how it was released.”
music
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
31%
15%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players praising its high quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, particularly during combat and key moments. The soundtrack evokes nostalgia for classic sci-fi, fitting the game's aesthetic and atmosphere effectively. However, some players noted a desire for more variety in battle tracks and improvements in sound effects during combat.
- “High production value graphics, animations, sound effects, and music.”
- “I absolutely love the intro music too.”
- “The music is very good and is one of the aspects I like the most, bringing me back to the golden age of sci-fi of the 70s and 80s.”
- “Could use some improvements on voices and music.”
- “My only real concern at the moment is the sad lack of variety in battle tracks (though I really like the soundtrack so far, I just want more of it).”
replayability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the multiple endings and character choices that enhance replay value, others find it limited due to fixed maps and a lack of substantial content between playthroughs. Achievements aimed at encouraging multiple runs are seen as a weak incentive, and the overall experience may not warrant repeated play for everyone. However, those who enjoy the combat mechanics may find enough variety to justify additional playthroughs.
- “Turn-based battles drenched heavily in story - with multiple endings for replayability.”
- “This is a challenging turn-based combat game with a great deal of replayability. Choosing different companions not only allows for different combat styles but also different endings. Make the wrong choices and you will end up losing it all.”
- “You can make some different decisions during the campaign, so there is some replayability in terms of that and in terms of choosing what new characters to go after and add to your roster.”
- “The game boasts replayability, but I don't see it.”
- “The inclusion of achievements that would force you to play the entire campaign several times seems like a weak attempt to generate 'replayability'... it's not worth it.”
- “Due to the use of fixed, 'hand-crafted' maps, and the requirement for your storyline character to always be part of your trio, replayability is somewhat limited.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the humor in the game to be a highlight, with entertaining gameplay and the potential for amusing moments, despite a clichéd story. Overall, the comedic elements contribute positively to the gaming experience.
- “Gameplay is hilarious and the story is cliché, yeah, but it entertains.”
- “And with plenty of potential for funny moments.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews highlight a mixed emotional response, with some players feeling indifferent about their investment, while others appreciate the game's ability to evoke strong emotions, including tears and a sense of challenge. Overall, the emotional impact varies significantly among players.
- “The combats had some bugs, but I loved how they made me cry and sweat; it's good to see a challenge nowadays.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and boring, often requiring repetitive actions to succeed. Many have expressed frustration with the need for strategic approaches, as rushing through missions typically leads to failure.
- “You have to do this three times, and it's just tedious and boring.”
- “I failed a lot of times in this mission because I tried rushing it... 'Leeroy Jenkins' style. Eventually, I realized that strategy just won't work and had to take a rather tedious route by killing all enemies to complete the level.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its engaging animations and immersive environments, blending both classic and modern elements. Despite being in early access, it is considered a standout title that offers a refreshing and enjoyable experience.
- “Great atmosphere, animations, and environments.”
- “Normally I would stay away from early access games as a recommendation, but this game is a fresh and interesting gem with some great atmosphere and fun gameplay in a very old and new school way.”