Elliot Quest

+7

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 145 reviews

story8 positive mentions

grinding13 negative mentions

Elliot Quest offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic games like Zelda II, with engaging gameplay and a compelling world that encourages exploration.
The game features a solid level-up system that allows players to customize their character, making the gameplay progressively more approachable.
The pixel art and music are well-crafted, contributing to an enjoyable atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.

The game suffers from a lack of direction and clarity, often leaving players confused about where to go next and what items do.
Players face significant frustration due to the experience loss upon death, which can lead to tedious grinding and backtracking.
Technical issues, such as bugs and unresponsive controls, detract from the overall enjoyment and can lead to a frustrating gameplay experience.

story
75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
84%
5%
The story of Elliot Quest is often described as vague and open to interpretation, which may not appeal to all players. While some appreciate the unique storytelling approach through flashbacks and text during gameplay, many find the narrative lacking clarity and coherence, especially at the beginning. Overall, the game prioritizes exploration and gameplay mechanics over a strong narrative, leading to mixed feelings about its story.
- “Great soundtrack, excellent atmosphere, and an original slice of a story makes this a sure thing.”
- “Once you understand the game's story development logic and enjoy the style of gameplay of a side scroller and dungeon explorer, this game is for you.”
- “Elliot Quest takes heavy inspiration from the first three Zelda games in general and from Zelda II: Adventure of Link in particular, while improving on some of the more tedious aspects of it.”
- “The story also blows.”
- “Further, when the game starts, there's basically no cutscene or story, you just find yourself in a forest and have no idea what is going on.”
- “Later, in dungeons, a lot of the story is told in text while you are playing, and half the time I miss it, but it is so vague that it doesn't make sense until almost the end of the game.”
gameplay
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
59%
9%
The gameplay is a nostalgic homage to classic 8-bit titles, featuring engaging Metroidvania-style level design and solid mechanics that appeal to fans of retro gaming. While the challenge level is high and rewarding, some players find the lack of checkpoints and occasional awkward mechanics frustrating, particularly when it comes to leveling up and exploration. Overall, the game offers a tough yet satisfying experience for those who appreciate its old-school aesthetic and depth.
- “Engaging gameplay and very well thought out Metroid-style level design and ability acquisition.”
- “The gameplay is solid, with good 2D shooting action, and the level-up system is very good and dynamic.”
- “For those who enjoy exploring their surroundings, their alternatives, and the hidden mechanics of their game world, this is an experience I can't recommend highly enough.”
- “The game is pretty, but the controls are laggy and somewhat unresponsive (I'm playing with an Xbox One controller). The difficulty is high, and there are some odd level and gameplay design choices.”
- “I understand the appeal for perhaps those who wish to challenge themselves, but this is not the 20th century where checkpoints are difficult to work into games for whatever reason. Leaving them out does not help an aesthetic; it hurts gameplay.”
- “The lack of checkpoints can put you back 2-3 minutes of gameplay, and up to even 5 if you wish to be thorough like me.”
music
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
18%
11%
The music in the game is generally praised for its strong, melodic quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its homage to classic bit tunes. However, some criticisms arise regarding its similarity to Nintendo's music, leading to concerns about originality. Overall, while opinions vary, the soundtrack is often described as enjoyable and fitting for the game's aesthetic.
- “The platforming feels solid, the pixel art is attractive, the world is interesting and varied, and the music is strong, melodic, and sets the atmosphere well.”
- “Overall, the game is gorgeous, and the music is a good homage to the bit tunes of yesteryear.”
- “Great soundtrack, excellent atmosphere and an original slice of a story makes this a sure thing.”
- “In fact, some of the music is so similar I'm surprised they weren't sued by Nintendo.”
- “This game has terrible controls and rips off Zelda sound effects and music left and right.”
- “The music is mediocre.”
graphics
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
19%
19%
The graphics of the game are described as basic yet charming, featuring a unique and memorable art style that includes well-executed sprite work. While some players appreciate the simplicity and aesthetic appeal, others feel that the lack of detailed explanations and modern gameplay elements detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the visuals are considered beautiful and contribute positively to the game's atmosphere.
- “It's got a great visual aesthetic, music, and game feel.”
- “The art style is wonderful and unique, and the music and sound effects are great, too (there are also some well-placed Link to the Past references).”
- “- graphically beautiful game”
- “Very basic game in terms of graphics and gameplay.”
- “I buy the simplicity in graphics, that's fine, but the game could have explained more.”
- “I understand the appeal for perhaps those who wish to challenge themselves, but this is not the 20th century where checkpoints are difficult to work into games for whatever reason; leaving them out does not help an aesthetic, it hurts gameplay.”
grinding
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding in the game to be tedious and often frustrating, with some resorting to exploits to level up quickly. The experience is marred by an XP penalty for death, which discourages exploration and leads to repetitive grinding for health and gold. While the game offers some fun moments, the overall sentiment is that the grinding detracts from the enjoyment.
- “It either leads to boring grinding for health, or that you die a lot.”
- “There's some one-time bonus coin-chests in the game, but those really just feel like a reminder of the stupid grinding you're doing for gold, rather than something to be excited about.”
- “[*] XP penalty for death discouraged exploration and led to mundane grinding at times.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its attractive pixel art, varied and interesting world, and a strong, melodic soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the combination of solid platforming and an engaging story as key elements that contribute to a visually enjoyable and immersive atmosphere.
- “The platforming feels solid, the pixel art is attractive, the world is interesting and varied, and the music is strong, melodic, and sets the atmosphere well.”
- “Great soundtrack, excellent atmosphere, and an original slice of a story makes this a sure thing.”
- “A visually enjoyable atmosphere.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is reported to have significant stability issues, with users consistently noting that it is plagued by numerous bugs.
- “But it's incredibly buggy.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The game is noted for its excellent optimization, with users reporting that it runs smoothly without any performance issues.
- “The game runs smoothly, providing a seamless experience.”
- “The optimization is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay.”
- “I appreciate how well the game runs; everything feels fluid and responsive.”