Elemental Survivors
- August 25, 2023
- Samobee Games
- 47h median play time
Get on SteamElemental Survivors is an old-school RPG with enemy hell game elements, where you auto-attack your way through randomly-generated lands to defeat enemies and collect Elemental Gems. With a train of party members, elemental evolutions, and god-like summons, the game offers constantly updating content and a simple control system. The world has been overrun by a massive number of enemies, and it's up to you and your party to rid the world of evil. The game is in Early Access and welcomes all feedback for frequent updates.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a charming retro aesthetic reminiscent of classic JRPGs, with cute character designs and a nostalgic soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- Elemental Survivors offers a unique gameplay loop with a party system that allows players to recruit characters, each with distinct abilities and stats, adding depth to the combat and strategy.
- The game is easy to pick up and play, with well-documented mechanics and a streamlined upgrade system that encourages experimentation and replayability.
- The user interface and overall game design are criticized for being poor, making navigation and gameplay less enjoyable.
- Many players find the weapon balance to be problematic, with certain weapons being overwhelmingly strong while others feel weak, leading to repetitive gameplay.
- The game can become grindy, especially in the later stages, with some players feeling that the experience gain and unlock mechanics are not well-balanced.
- music62 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its outstanding quality and diversity, featuring a customizable soundtrack with various genres that enhances the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the seamless integration of the music, which maintains an engaging tempo without being intrusive, and many describe it as one of the best electronic soundtracks in recent indie games. The nostalgic nods to classic gaming and the ability to unlock additional tracks further enrich the overall enjoyment of the game.
“An indie game like this has no business having one of the best electronic music soundtracks I've heard in years.”
“The music is diverse and it slaps; the party mechanic is pretty good, and the characters are fun.”
“Aside from the visuals, the music is also amazing, with a mix of different electronic music that can either lend the game a chill experience with drum and bass, trance, and house, or a more up-tempo electropop track that sets the mood for slaying a bunch of monsters.”
“The soundtrack is nuts.”
“Ps: the soundtrack is all killer no filler.”
“But most importantly, the songs just slap so damn hard!”
- gameplay40 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
Elemental Survivors offers a solid gameplay experience that combines top-down roguelite mechanics with nostalgic visuals reminiscent of early Final Fantasy games. While it may lack the intensity of some competitors, it features an engaging core loop, weapon evolution, and character synergies that enhance replayability. However, some players note a lack of depth in gameplay mechanics and express a desire for more customization options.
“The gameplay itself is solid; there are multiple levels with different themes, the weapons have upgraded forms and synergize with different party members who grant different types of buffs like added projectiles or bigger melee range, more combo hits along with buffs to damage and the main stats for that type of attack.”
“Compelling core gameplay loop.”
“The general gameplay is a lot more active (and often involves some actual aiming), there's more customization that I'd compare to roguelites, and there's a much bigger gap between surviving and becoming unkillable.”
“The gameplay itself is extremely simplistic with almost no interesting depth outside of some unlocks.”
“The only two mechanical complaints I have is that I don't think attacks should be upgrade-locked.”
“I just wanna see the gameplay, not the ugly UI.”
- graphics36 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
Elemental Survivors features charming 16-bit graphics that pay homage to classic JRPGs, particularly the early Final Fantasy games, creating a nostalgic aesthetic that contrasts well with other titles in the genre. While the overall art style is praised for its retro appeal, some users noted inconsistencies in font styles and pixel sizing that detract from the cohesive look. The combination of visuals and sound design contributes to an engaging atmosphere, enhancing the gameplay experience.
“Elemental Survivors is another top-down roguelite bullet heaven game that distinguishes itself by paying homage through visuals and some mechanics to the early Final Fantasy games in the way that Vampire Survivors has echoes of Castlevania.”
“The art style is great, the soundtrack is awesome, and the difficulty is just right.”
“The font styles are all over the place, and the smoother serif style clashes with the aesthetic.”
“Inconsistent pixel sizing isn't the end of the world - Vampire Survivors is certainly guilty of it - but if you can make it consistent, it goes a long way to really selling the NES aesthetic.”
“Another great entry in the bullet heaven genre with nostalgic old school JRPG graphics.”
- story6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The story is set in a traditional fantasy world that combines elements reminiscent of Dragon Quest and Vampire Survivors, providing an engaging atmosphere. However, players express frustration over having to repeat quests to unlock content that should have been accessible initially, although side quests offer additional activities beyond the main narrative.
“I love the traditional fantasy look and feel; I feel like I'm playing Dragon Quest meets Vampire Survivors.”
“On top of that, side quests exist to give you something to do other than just walking around.”
“I hate repeating a quest to get an unlock I should have gotten the first time I met the requirements.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated for its cleverness and authenticity, as it captures an old-school vibe without relying on nostalgia or heavy references. Reviewers feel that the developers infused genuine love for classic games into the humor, resulting in enjoyable and subtle nods rather than mere callbacks.
“This game does a great job of capturing that old school vibe without feeling like it is just a nostalgia trap or referential humor like other games; instead, it just feels like the people who made this game really loved those other games and included fun little nods to them.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly when it comes to battling bosses, which can feel repetitive and drawn out.
“The bosses were admittedly tedious, though.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers suggest that the choice of a visually appealing pixel font can significantly enhance the game's atmosphere, indicating that aesthetic details play a crucial role in creating an immersive experience.
- stability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users consistently praise the game's stability, noting that it runs smoothly and provides an enjoyable experience. Overall, it is regarded as a reliable choice for players.
“Hard to pass up for the deck as it runs great and is lots of fun.”
