Elminage Original

About

"Elminage Original" is a first-person dungeon crawler RPG set in a fantasy world. Players control a party of up to 30 characters, exploring labyrinthine dungeons and fighting monsters in turn-based battles. The game features a robust class system, character customization, and permadeath, adding depth and challenge to the exploration.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 70 reviews

graphics10 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Elminage Original is a well-crafted Wizardry-like dungeon crawler that offers a cohesive and quality experience, making it suitable for both beginners and genre veterans.
The game features beautiful 2D art, a variety of playable races and classes, and enjoyable combat mechanics, allowing for deep character customization and strategic gameplay.
It provides a nostalgic experience with its old-school dungeon crawling elements, while also incorporating quality of life features like controller support and the ability to save mid-dungeon.

The port suffers from significant technical issues, including a poorly designed menu system, nonsensical key bindings, and an overall lack of polish compared to the original PSP version.
Many players find the difficulty spikes and reliance on RNG frustrating, with instances of characters becoming weaker upon leveling up, leading to a tedious save scumming experience.
The dungeons can feel empty and repetitive, with a lack of meaningful content, making exploration less rewarding despite the game's potential for depth.

graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
28%
17%
The graphics of the game are highlighted for their stunning 2D art, which has aged well since its original PSP release, featuring high-resolution illustrations for characters, monsters, and items. While the 3D dungeon graphics are considered average, the overall visual presentation, including a variety of dungeon tilesets and a dark fantasy theme, is praised for its nostalgic charm and quality. Players appreciate the controller support and quality-of-life features that enhance the gaming experience, despite the game not boasting AAA-level graphics.
- “The 2D art is gorgeous and the art style aged well from its original PSP version.”
- “The artwork is very good, mostly realistic (rather than highly stylized and anime-like) and dark fantasy-themed.”
- “There are so many enemy types and each has really good and high-resolution artwork.”
- “The 3D dungeon graphics are nothing special, but the 2D art is excellent; some of the monsters look genuinely terrifying.”
- “It is difficult, unforgiving, and frustrating, but the reward is there for those who can handle the graphics.”
- “Don't go in expecting AAA graphics, but it looks better than emulating it from PSP and the translation is better.”
gameplay
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
56%
19%
The gameplay offers a blend of familiar wizardry-like mechanics enhanced by quality-of-life features such as a minimap and repeat action commands, providing depth for players who enjoy experimenting with different classes and abilities. However, some dungeons lack mechanical interest and variety, and many mechanics are poorly explained, necessitating external resources for full understanding. Overall, while the gameplay is generally well-received, it suffers from some uniformity and a reliance on prior genre knowledge.
- “Their original mechanics fit well along the existing ones and add a delicious complexity to building your party.”
- “The gameplay is what you'd expect from a wizardry-like but with some quality of life improvements, like a minimap and repeat action commands during combat.”
- “For people who enjoy playing around with different classes, different passive abilities, and game mechanics, you won't be disappointed.”
- “I appreciate that each dungeon has its own look, but visual variety can't make up for gameplay uniformity.”
- “There are many other mechanics that aren't explained.”
- “You'll need either a knowledgeable friend, a wiki, or genre knowledge to figure out how the mechanics work.”
story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The game's story is engaging, with a straightforward main quest structure complemented by numerous optional quests that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the narrative's ability to connect various elements, making it feel significant, while the nostalgic visuals and classic gameplay mechanics contribute to its charm. Overall, the story provides a solid foundation that keeps players invested and eager to explore further.
- “It's got a variety of dungeon tilesets and a world map, and a story that threads things together enough for it to matter.”
- “I feel like in today's games there is an over-reliance on things like quest markers and mini-maps showing you exactly where to go.”
- “Mainly because I feel like in today's games there is an over-reliance on things like quest markers and mini-maps showing you exactly where to go.”
- “The main quest has a straightforward structure to it, and there are plenty of optional quests to do as well.”
- “It's got a story that threads things together enough for it to matter.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players find it enjoyable and a good complement to the combat and art, others feel the original soundtrack is lacking. However, the option to import custom music is appreciated, allowing for a more personalized experience. Overall, the music enhances the gameplay but may not stand out on its own.
- “Great tactics and tough battles are complemented by great art and music.”
- “Enjoyable combat is enhanced by good music, creating an immersive experience.”
- “The combination of enjoyable combat and a deep crafting system is elevated by the fantastic music.”
- “The soundtrack isn't that great, but you can import your own.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect enjoyable, particularly appreciating the ability to farm enemies for gold while they familiarize themselves with the game's systems. The art style and controller support enhance the overall experience, making the grind feel rewarding and fun.