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Element4l

Element4l packs in a difficult challenge and despite its shortcomings you will find something worth your time.
Element4l Game Cover
81%Game Brain Score
music, gameplay
replayability, grinding
83% User Score Based on 285 reviews
Critic Score 70%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

LinuxPCPlaystation 4WindowsPlayStationPlaystation Vita
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Element4l Game Cover

About

Element4l is a single player puzzle game. It was developed by I-Illusions and was released on May 24, 2013. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"Element4l is a single-player platformer game with unique game mechanics and great graphics, featuring an experimental approach to classic platformers. Players control four elements, overcoming nature and the sun in their journey to shape life. The game includes 16 levels, a competitive race mode, and an exceptional soundtrack, offering a challenging and immersive experience."

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Element4l screenshot
Element4l screenshot
Element4l screenshot
Element4l screenshot
Element4l screenshot
Element4l screenshot
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83%
Audience ScoreBased on 285 reviews
music119 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • Beautiful graphics and an amazing soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience.
  • Challenging yet rewarding gameplay that encourages mastery of mechanics and precision.
  • Unique concept of switching between four elements adds depth and variety to the platforming experience.
  • Extremely difficult, with some players finding it frustrating and rage-inducing.
  • Level design can lead to repetitive failures, making progress feel tedious at times.
  • Lack of clear controls and mechanics can lead to confusion, especially for players unfamiliar with precision platformers.
  • music
    176 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many players describing it as soothing, atmospheric, and integral to the gameplay. Several reviewers noted that the soundtrack is so impressive that they would consider purchasing the game just for the music alone. However, some players found the music to be distracting or mismatched with the game's challenging elements, leading to mixed feelings about its impact on gameplay.

    • “The soundtrack of the game is a masterpiece: atmosphere is there.”
    • “Beautiful game with challenging gameplay and an amazing soundtrack!”
    • “The music is fun, happy, and original (it honestly makes the game) oh, and the writing is fun, too.”
    • “I have no idea why people would praise the soundtrack - all I hear are annoying, low quality wind chimes.”
    • “The music is a bit repetitive and irritates when blocked on a level several times, but otherwise, it adds a soothing touch to the game.”
    • “Don't let the cute graphics and peaceful music distract you, this game is hard and not at all relaxing.”
  • gameplay
    79 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by simple yet effective mechanics that offer a mix of relaxation and challenge, with players frequently exposed to new elements and puzzles. While many appreciate the innovative mechanics and beautiful soundtrack, some find the controls finicky and the difficulty frustrating, leading to a mixed reception regarding overall enjoyment. Overall, the game provides a unique and engaging experience, though it may require patience to master its intricacies.

    • “The mechanics are simple but really effective, which is part of what makes the game fun.”
    • “The gameplay itself is immensely enjoyable, easy to learn, but very tricky to master, and with online records and other time trial type goals the replayability is pretty limitless.”
    • “The unique mechanics turn movement itself into a constant puzzle, and mastery yields satisfying efficiency and speed.”
    • “I played an hour and what I saw was the music and art were okay, but the gameplay balance was incredibly frustrating.”
    • “I felt like the whole gameplay was based on failing 10, 20, 30, 100 times until you finally do it, not because you figured it out or all this failing taught something which helped you... no.”
    • “In the end, because the mechanics are never fully explained, when you press the same buttons on multiple attempts and get different results each time it goes from 'tough but fair' to seeming just frustrating for frustrating's sake.”
  • graphics
    51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their calming and beautiful aesthetics, featuring a cute and simplistic art style that complements the soothing soundtrack. Many reviewers highlight the visuals as a standout aspect, noting their charm and inviting nature, although some express frustration with the gameplay's difficulty, which can detract from the overall relaxing experience. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it a visually delightful experience despite its challenging mechanics.

    • “The graphics and design are very calming.”
    • “Innovative gameplay, pretty and polished visuals, and a gorgeous soundtrack.”
    • “Beautiful graphics and amazing music that amps up the tempo and intensity with every combo you make.”
    • “Unless you are fond of the art style and music of the game, or are of an extremely patient and determined disposition and enjoy running your head at walls, I wouldn't recommend buying it.”
    • “It really bothers me since I bought this game more for the aesthetic aspect of it than anything.”
    • “The calm, relaxed aesthetic of the graphics, sound, music, and writing was ruined by the unforgiving twitch gameplay.”
  • atmosphere
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its calming and meditative qualities, enhanced by a beautiful soundtrack and appealing visuals. Many players find the environment immersive and relaxing, making it enjoyable to explore despite some frustrations with gameplay difficulty. Overall, the atmospheric design is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and appeal.

    • “The atmosphere, simplistic graphics, good (though unpausable) soundtrack and simple controls are enough to recommend this game for some casual play.”
    • “I love this game, the atmosphere and music are so meditative and relaxing, and the art is so pretty, that even after playing through and finishing the story I find myself wanting to play more.”
    • “This game is short in length (2 hours approx.), has simple and solid controls, appreciative level design, lush and vibrant atmosphere, background and art design, all backed up by an amazing soundtrack which makes you feel relaxed for hours.”
    • “The atmosphere of the game was generally very calming and relaxed.”
    • “This game is short in length (approximately 2 hours), has simple and solid controls, appreciative level design (reminiscent of Nightsky), lush and vibrant atmosphere, background and art design, all backed up by an amazing soundtrack by Mind Tree which makes you feel relaxed for hours.”
    • “I love this game; the atmosphere and music are so meditative and relaxing, and the art is so pretty that even after playing through and finishing the story, I find myself wanting to play more.”
  • story
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is largely considered minimal or non-existent, with players noting that while the narrative elements present are intriguing, they ultimately fail to develop into a cohesive plot. Despite this lack of a substantial storyline, many players appreciate the game's atmosphere, graphics, and music, finding that the vague narrative allows for personal interpretation and emotional connection as they progress through the gameplay.

    • “I love this game; the atmosphere and music are so meditative and relaxing, and the art is so pretty that even after playing through and finishing the story, I find myself wanting to play more.”
    • “Its simple and brilliant with the vague story it has that lets us, the player, compound it with our struggles as we push through level after level.”
    • “I love the game for it has great music, great graphics, and a rather beautiful story even though there is not any dialogue aside from the captions the game says to you.”
    • “The story is very near non-existent.”
    • “Don't expect any story.”
    • “The game seems like it's trying to tell some story, but in the end it doesn't culminate into anything.”
  • humor
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of quirky dialogue, dad jokes, and clever references to popular culture, which enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the funny text messages and comments that accompany gameplay, adding a lighthearted touch to the adventure. The combination of amusing remarks and charming artwork contributes to a delightful atmosphere that keeps players smiling throughout their journey.

    • “Beautiful soundtrack, nice art, and encouraging/funny text to accompany your playthrough.”
    • “The last nails in the coffin are the 'jokes' and 'funny' remarks that flash as you progress, a mixture of all the fun of dad jokes with the kindness of a pop-up ad.”
    • “The game will also make you smile at some moments, as Mr. Smooth says some funny things throughout the game, which is something I rarely find in games.”
  • replayability
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is generally considered good, driven by enjoyable gameplay and various time trial goals, though some reviewers note that the linear level design limits it somewhat. The large number of expansive levels and additional racing modes enhance replay value, making it appealing for players looking to improve their times and discover hidden elements. Overall, while not exceptional, the replayability offers enough variety to keep players engaged.

    • “The gameplay itself is immensely enjoyable, easy to learn, but very tricky to master, and with online records and other time trial type goals, the replayability is pretty limitless.”
    • “The levels are huge, and there's quite a few of them to increase the replay value.”
    • “The replayability is good, but not great, as the levels are fairly linear.”
    • “This adds a lot of replay value to a game which is really quite short.”
    • “The game has a ton of replay value while you race through levels trying to beat your best time and find that one spark you missed, as well as a racing mode that is incredibly fun if you ever get bored of the solo levels.”
  • grinding
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be frustrating and tedious, yet they still consider the overall experience enjoyable and fun.

    • “But ultimately frustrating and tedious.”
    • “It will be very tedious, but a very fun game nonetheless.”
  • stability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has faced criticism due to glitches, such as ice melting causing players to fall through the floor, and initial crashes at launch. However, some players attribute negative experiences to a lack of skill in navigating its precision-based platforming mechanics.

    • “Ice melting sometimes glitches and kills you by falling through the floor.”
    • “It was a bit buggy at launch with some crashes; I don't know how it is today.”
  • optimization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game suffers from significant optimization issues, making it nearly unplayable with a 360 controller, indicating that it is not well-suited for this input method.

    • “The game is way too demanding and is borderline unplayable with a 360 controller, let alone being optimized for it.”
  • emotional
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is perceived as solid, though it may require significant effort and skill to fully engage with its deeper themes.

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70%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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6h Median play time
5h Average play time
4-6h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Element4l is a puzzle game.

Element4l is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Windows, Linux and others.

On average players spend around 5 hours playing Element4l.

Element4l was released on May 24, 2013.

Element4l was developed by I-Illusions.

Element4l has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its music but disliked it for its replayability.

Element4l is a single player game.

Similar games include DeadCore, Airscape: The Fall of Gravity, Snake Pass, Nihilumbra, LIMBO and others.