Elium: Prison Escape
- February 28, 2018
- Lone Artisan Games
Get on Steam"Elium: Prison Escape" is a swordfighting action roguelite set in a medieval prison. As Jarren Sorengar, a master swordsman, players must escape the unforgiving prison environment through reactive combat AI and action or stealth playing styles. With random dungeon generation, each playthrough offers a new experience in first and third-person views.
Reviews
- The combat system is engaging and requires skill, offering a mix of timing and positioning that makes battles feel rewarding.
- The game has a dark and immersive atmosphere, with varied environments that enhance the overall experience.
- It's an indie title developed by a single person, showcasing potential and creativity, making it a commendable effort despite its flaws.
- The game suffers from repetitive gameplay and a lack of enemy variety, leading to a feeling of monotony as players progress.
- Controls can feel clunky and unresponsive, which detracts from the overall combat experience and can lead to frustrating moments.
- There is minimal story content and progression feels shallow, with many mechanics and systems lacking depth or variety.
- gameplay16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of stealth mechanics and melee combat, though many players find the stealth elements ineffective and the overall mechanics somewhat shallow and repetitive. While the game offers a straightforward approach to combat and assassination, it lacks variety in gameplay and visual elements, leading to a less engaging experience. Some players appreciate the charm of its simplicity and the inclusion of a dismemberment mechanic, but overall, the gameplay could benefit from more depth and innovation.
“With a medieval setting, stealthy gameplay, and real sword fighting simulation, this game is totally worth playing.”
“Everything about Elium pointed toward a gameplay experience that I would absolutely love.”
“No unnecessary embellishments, just straightforward, solid gameplay.”
“There are no traps, clever puzzles, or mix-it-up gameplay surprises along the way.”
“Its janky, it's sparse, and the gameplay loop is literally just find a guy to stab and see if he has any money or slightly better armor than you.”
“Tl;dr: the game is mechanically shallow and rather repetitive; you should probably get Dark Messiah of Might and Magic instead, as it is available for about 10 bucks on Steam.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered decent but not groundbreaking, with some reviewers noting a lack of variety and consistency in visual design. While the lighting and animations can be hit or miss, the overall aesthetic is immersive enough for an indie title. However, performance issues and glitches detract from the experience, despite the availability of graphics options for customization.
“Being an indie game, the graphics are not cutting edge, but everything looks consistent and immersive.”
“It's brutal and unforgiving, which fits the art style.”
“The graphics aren't bad, nor is the lighting surprisingly.”
“Did not enjoy at all, incredibly glitchy controls, terrible lighting, visuals, music.”
“Every room aesthetically looks the same, and nothing ever changes.”
“The animations and graphics combine to make it look like you're fighting possessed mannequins that shout at you in a language that may or may not be real.”
- story8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal and lacks depth, primarily revolving around a simple premise of escaping a dungeon without any substantial narrative or character development. Players find the storyline to be underwhelming, with repetitive gameplay and no significant plot progression beyond the initial setup. While some enjoy the gameplay mechanics, they express a desire for a sequel that could offer a more engaging and fleshed-out story.
“The whole escape story as a motivation is secondary to me, but provides a nice excuse to catch a breath after a tough fight and just skip some enemies with sneaking or stealth kills.”
“I really enjoy this game and would love to someday see a sequel with a bigger world and fleshed out story.”
“Story wise, there really isn't any.”
“The storyline only goes as far as the intro and there's no further narrative, so you're just left having to find a way out of the prison levels.”
“There is no story segments to unravel, no new abilities to acquire, and no variation in enemies to amp up the challenge.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive quality, effectively drawing players in with a dark and engaging environment. Reviewers highlight the combination of challenging yet fair combat within this captivating setting, making it a compelling experience for fans of the genre.
“The whole atmosphere of the game is well done and really draws you in.”
“If you enjoy difficult but fair combat in a dark atmosphere, you should definitely give Elium a try.”
“The atmosphere is nice.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with users noting subpar performance, especially during larger brawls. However, the presence of numerous graphics options allows players to adjust settings to improve their experience.
“Here's my PC (laptop) so you can put the performance in some context.”
“Performance-wise, it's not great, but it luckily has plenty of graphics options to tweak.”
“Larger brawls are a mess, both combat-wise and performance-wise.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Reviews on the music aspect are mixed; while some users find it enjoyable and effective in setting the tone, others criticize it alongside various technical issues in the game.
“The music is good and really sets the tone.”
“Did not enjoy at all, incredibly glitchy controls, terrible lighting, visuals, and music.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is mixed; while it features only 9 levels, players can find value in the combat system, challenging achievements, and endless mode. Additionally, the inclusion of random dungeons, unlocks, and global leaderboards offers substantial replay potential for dedicated players aiming to improve their scores and complete challenges.
“It is, however, a relatively short game with only 9 levels; replay value would rely on whether you liked the combat system and would like to complete the challenging achievements or score high in the endless mode.”
“It is, however, a relatively short game with only 9 levels. Replay value would rely on whether you liked the combat system and would like to complete the challenging achievements or score in the endless mode.”
“There is also a lot of replay value between random dungeons, unlocks, achievements, and the global leaderboards, which should keep a dedicated fan base trying for new records for years to come.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization model is praised for its fairness, as it avoids microtransactions and gimmicks, presenting the game honestly and valuing the effort put into its development.
“It seems like a lot of work that really went underappreciated despite asking for a fair price, including no microtransactions, no gimmicks, and showcasing the game as honestly as possible.”
“It feels like the developers are more focused on squeezing money out of players than delivering a quality experience.”
“The monetization model is frustrating, with too many paywalls that hinder progress and enjoyment.”
“I was disappointed to find that essential features are locked behind a paywall, making it hard to enjoy the game fully without spending extra.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by nostalgic elements, such as the kick ability reminiscent of "Dark Messiah," which elicits laughter through amusing physics interactions, like guards' bodies hilariously ragdolling off cliffs.
“The addition of a kick ability is a welcome throwback to the Dark Messiah days, and I won't deny chuckling at the sight of the guards' bodies ragdolling off the edge of a cliff.”
