Elowen's Light
- March 15, 2023
- Douglas Terhune
"Elowen's Light" is a charming game with a procedurally generated world, featuring beautiful pixel art and a calming soundtrack. The story follows Elowen's journey to restore her companion by collecting magical orbs and helping quirky characters and creatures. With hours of post-story exploration, critter avoidance, ability upgrades, and plant collection, this game offers a relaxing and accessible experience.
Reviews
- The game features adorable art and a charming soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere.
- It offers a relaxed, low-stakes platforming experience that is enjoyable for both casual and more experienced players.
- The unique avoidance mechanic and sweet story create a cozy vibe that many players appreciate.
- The platforming controls are frustrating, with issues like unintended jumps and bugs that disrupt gameplay.
- The game is quite short, with a lack of content and depth that leaves players wanting more.
- There are several technical issues, including confusing menus and glitches that can lead to lost progress.
- story46 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story in "Elowen's Light" is described as cute and charming, fitting well with the game's calming atmosphere and "cottage-core" aesthetic. While the main narrative can be completed quickly, players appreciate the sweet backstory and the overall light-hearted storytelling, though some found the plot minimal and occasionally confusing. The soundtrack enhances the experience, making it a relaxing game for those seeking a brief yet enjoyable narrative journey.
“The story is well written and suits the overall 'cottage-core' vibe of the game.”
“It is a sweet and endearing story that while the main narrative can be completed quickly, there is still a world narrative to explore.”
“Overall, Elowen's Light is a unique take on platformers that's worth checking out if you enjoy light-hearted storytelling with art and music to match.”
“The storyline was very minimal and doesn't impact gameplay.”
“It wasn't a bad storyline, just that there wasn't much there.”
“My only gripe is that it only took me an hour to finish the story, while the other two (and some change) were to complete the last achievement (which is to jump 10,000 times).”
- music36 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its soothing and calming qualities, enhancing the overall atmosphere and mood of the story. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a perfect accompaniment for relaxation and enjoyment, often describing it as nostalgic and fitting for the game's art style. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
“I love the animation and the music, a very calming game with a cute storyline.”
“The music for the game is very soothing, fitting quite well with the theme.”
“This is a really chill side scroller with calm background music and a little twist.”
“The soundtrack really brings the mood to the story and is great to just chill to.”
- graphics22 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming aesthetic, featuring a cozy pixel art style that enhances the overall relaxing experience. Players appreciate the adorable character designs and effective use of lighting, which contribute to a nostalgic and enjoyable atmosphere. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout aspect, making the game highly recommendable for those seeking a visually appealing platformer.
“The use of lighting in areas along with a pixel art style gives the game a uniqueness that adds to the feel of the world.”
“Graphically, it's super pretty. I love the character design, and the cutscene art is really nice too.”
“Love the art style and music; it's a cozy game with a nostalgic feel.”
“I wish this wasn't the case, and I hope the developer does some improvements to make it one I would recommend as I love the two characters and their art style.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as a straightforward platformer that introduces a unique avoidance mechanic, enhancing the overall experience. While there are minor bugs, they are being addressed promptly and do not significantly impact gameplay. Players can enjoy a smooth flow once they grasp the mechanics, with unlockables adding depth to the experience.
“Once you understand how each of the mechanics come together, you end up in an interesting flow and can just vibe with the game.”
“From a gameplay perspective, it is a straightforward platformer that plays it safe, but the unlockables really change the flow of the game.”
“There are a couple of small bugs here and there, but it looks like the developers are patching those quickly, and they don't really affect the main gameplay.”
“The avoidance mechanic is a neat twist on the genre, and the story is sweet.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game experiences some stability issues, including minor glitches such as characters appearing in incorrect states and terrain-related problems like falling through the ground. While these bugs can be distracting, they are generally not severe enough to significantly impact gameplay.
“I restarted it, and it got really buggy and would have me collect plants and show Briony standing on the porch when she wasn't alive again yet.”
“There are some instances of falling through terrain and other minor glitches, but not enough to be a huge issue.”
“I restarted it, and it got really buggy and would have me collect plants and show Briony standing on the porch when she wasn't alive again yet.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its beautiful art and music, creating an immersive escape for players.
“This game is a nice escape into beautiful art, music, and overall atmosphere.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the character design and graphical presentation are praised for their beauty and artistic style, there is no specific mention of character development in terms of narrative depth or growth throughout the game. The focus appears to be more on aesthetics rather than the evolution of characters.
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its focus on collecting magic through gentle interactions with the environment and animals, fostering a sense of care and connection. Players experience a rewarding cycle of growth and empowerment as they unlock new abilities, enhancing their emotional investment in the game.