Enclave
- October 4, 2013
- Starbreeze
- 40h median play time
Get on Steam"Enclave is a single-player historical hack and slash game with a good plot and atmospheric medieval combat. Experience two separate story-driven campaigns, playing as one of 12 character classes in over 25 detailed fantasy missions. Despite some bugs, the game boasts impressive 3D graphics, epic battles, and a touch of humor."
Reviews
- Nostalgic experience that brings back childhood memories for many players.
- Strong art style and detailed environments reminiscent of classic RPGs.
- Variety of playable characters and campaigns adds replayability.
- Clumsy combat mechanics and poor hit detection make gameplay frustrating.
- Buggy physics and level design can lead to getting stuck or dying unexpectedly.
- Lack of mid-level saving and frequent crashes detract from the overall experience.
- story336 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story of Enclave is generally described as a simplistic and generic good versus evil narrative, with players able to experience it from both light and dark perspectives through separate campaigns. While some players appreciate the dual storylines and the character variety, many find the plot to be lackluster, poorly written, and often overshadowed by the gameplay mechanics, which focus more on combat and gold collection than on narrative depth. Overall, the story serves as a basic framework for the action rather than a compelling element of the game.
“You can choose to play as both the 'light' and 'dark' side of the story, each side having its own set of missions, story, maps, and objectives.”
“The story is a typical classic fantasy story of good versus evil; you will collect gold to help build your character, and once unlocked, you can use any character of that alignment at your strategic disposal.”
“Despite its flaws, Enclave's gameplay is still a very fun and enjoyable experience, and the option of replaying most of the missions as any character from that mission's respective campaign ensures a great deal of replay value.”
“The story is boring and cliche.”
“The story is pretty generic action fantasy stuff.”
“The story is somewhat weak but for those who haven't played it before, there's enough story to keep you going.”
- graphics188 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered dated but still hold up reasonably well for its time, with many reviewers appreciating the art style and atmosphere despite acknowledging technical limitations. While some players find the visuals charming and nostalgic, others criticize them as poor compared to modern standards, noting issues like brightness resets and occasional graphical glitches. Overall, the game's graphics evoke a sense of nostalgia, appealing to those who value gameplay and story over cutting-edge visuals.
“The graphics are outstanding for such an old game, and it has a beautiful soundtrack, but the combat is really starting to show its age.”
“The graphics hold up fairly well and the game supports modern widescreen resolutions (although the menus are all pre-rendered to 4:3).”
“The graphics are absolutely wonderful for its time, and even don't look half bad by today's standards; the fact that 1920x1080 is a supported resolution is just icing on the cake.”
“The graphics are extremely dated.”
“On top of that it looks terrible; 2003 may not have been a banner year for 3D visuals, but this has aged horribly.”
“The graphics are terrible, but I could overlook that if the game was strong in all other categories.”
- gameplay151 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is a mix of fast-paced combat and simplistic mechanics, emphasizing enemy elimination and gold collection across various missions. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and variety of characters, many criticize the outdated controls, poor hit detection, and frustrating mechanics that detract from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the game offers a degree of replayability and can be enjoyable for those who appreciate classic action RPGs.
“The gameplay emphasizes fast-paced combat over quests or dialogue, with the main objective being to eliminate all enemies in each level and gather as much hidden gold as you can.”
“The gameplay is smooth, responsive, and satisfying.”
“The graphics, the music, the gameplay, and the combination of character styles and level design/aesthetic all come together to make a tight, superbly crafted action adventure fantasy game with semi-RPG elements that is endlessly fun, and always worth revisiting.”
“Absolutely worst swimming mechanics in video game history.”
“The gameplay is boring and it just doesn't make for a very appealing game.”
“The camera is so bad it gets me dizzy after 5 minutes of gameplay.”
- music59 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting the beautiful and dynamic soundtrack that adapts to gameplay situations. While some comments note that the soundtrack can be repetitive or generic at times, the overall consensus is that it effectively complements the dark fantasy setting and contributes significantly to the game's immersive experience. Many players consider the music to be one of the standout features, making it memorable and impactful.
“Adding to the atmosphere is a beautiful soundtrack that enhances the game's dark fantasy setting.”
“The music is phenomenal and smoothly transitions based on if you are in combat or not.”
“The soundtrack shines out, making every level more interesting and worth exploring.”
“The soundtrack is lacking, with only a few songs that you keep hearing over and over, but hey, at least they're good.”
“None of them seem to have any personality whatsoever, and to make matters worse the musical score is incredibly generic.”
“Music is generic & loops through the levels.”
- stability26 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 4 % neutral mentions
- 85 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with many users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and crashes that detract from the overall experience. While some players note that the game can still be enjoyable despite these issues, the consensus is that the buggy physics, hit-box problems, and occasional crashes significantly hinder gameplay. Overall, the game's stability is a major concern, with many reviewers expressing disappointment over its technical shortcomings.
“No glitches so far.”
“This game is fun, good looking, and runs great.”
“The game runs great and with it on sale for less than a dollar, it's a steal.”
“However, playing on my PC, it kept crashing and was very buggy.”
“Where it falls short is its buggy hit boxes, crashes, and really short story.”
“This game is a buggy mess.”
- atmosphere25 mentions
- 72 % positive mentions
- 16 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its captivating soundtrack and detailed environmental art, which together create an immersive dark fantasy setting. Despite some dated graphics and gameplay mechanics, the overall ambiance, enhanced by sound effects and music, effectively draws players into its world. Many reviewers highlight the strong blend of visual and auditory elements that contribute to a memorable and engaging experience.
“Adding to the atmosphere is a beautiful soundtrack that enhances the game's dark fantasy setting.”
“The music, the atmosphere, the battles, everything pulls you right into this world.”
“Graphics are dated, but not some poorly designed textures or anything; it does create the atmosphere.”
“Atmosphere, which is glorified in the trailer and the description, is as atmospheric and interesting as a generic action/adventure game of the late 90s.”
“The gameplay is great, but what really makes this game stand out to me is the seemingly perfect blend of graphic style, sound effects, and music that all work together to create a strong atmosphere for this game.”
- replayability18 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers a moderate to high level of replayability, primarily due to its diverse character selection, multiple campaigns, and the ability to play through missions with different factions. While some players find the simplistic mechanics and level design detract from the replay experience, others appreciate the variety and customization options that encourage multiple playthroughs. The presence of secret characters and bonus stages further enhances its replay value, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate exploring different gameplay styles.
“In conclusion, this game blessed my very early years of gaming with its simplistic core mechanics and its potential for replayability.”
“However, the replay value is high, warranting more attention than one playthrough can give.”
“The character selection system also adds a bit of replayability as it's quite fun to play as each of the characters and find which one suits your playstyle better.”
“It is a step down from severance in the class of PC ARPGs from the early 2000s, but quite enjoyable - short, straightforward, and with a nice money-based progression system that adds replayability.”
“The 'coins' (money bags) are hidden so cheaply within all in all very badly designed levels that it doesn't feel like an achievement at the end of the level and doesn't really add a lot of replay value because that would require one to play a level again!”
“Though Enclave is without a doubt not without its flaws, it's still a very enjoyable game that offers a considerable degree of replay value.”
- humor9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by absurd moments, such as enemies comically jumping off cliffs and unexpected events like a siege weapon interrupting dialogue. While some players appreciate the humor, noting it as a highlight, others find it inconsistent and overshadowed by gameplay frustrations. Overall, the humor is present but varies in effectiveness, with some moments eliciting genuine laughter while others fall flat.
“And enemies will often jump off cliffs to their deaths, which is admittedly funny.”
“Right off the bat, you get several minutes of exposition full of weird names you don't understand. Skipping this, you are greeted by a lady in black robes talking trash about how dead you are. Mid-sentence, her words get blown to pieces by a siege weapon on the other side of the wall. It's quite funny, actually, but that's where the fun in this game ends.”
“Game is really cool and pretty :D I found a speed bug :D really funny :D”
- character development9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game features minimal character development, with players noting that the narrative is primarily driven by the story events rather than character growth. While the character designs are appreciated, they do not contribute to any significant development throughout the gameplay.
“Although the game places little emphasis on character development, it still manages to present a fairly interesting narrative, driven to a greater degree by the events of the story rather than the characters.”
“I also liked the character design and the feel of the game.”
“The character designs are rather decent.”
“And don't get me wrong, it was/is/will forever be enough for me, but don't come to this game hoping for any sort of character development.”
“There's no character development but you find money on levels which you can buy better gear with.”
“Character development is also pretty much non-existent.”
- monetization8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users initially frustrated by intrusive ads and pop-ups promoting other games. However, recent updates appear to have resolved these issues, leading to a more positive reception regarding the game's advertising practices. Overall, while there were concerns about aggressive monetization tactics, many players now find the game enjoyable without significant ad interruptions.
“Why the hell are there ads in this?”
“It’s just been let down because the game creators annoyed everyone by advertising other games in the actual game which is no longer the case because they fixed that.”
“First, they use a script to shove ads down your throat.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized, with reviewers expressing disappointment in the lack of a compelling narrative and engaging characters, especially given the studio's previous successes. Instead of a grand adventure, players encounter simplified combat mechanics and a dull storyline, leading to an overall unsatisfying emotional experience.
“Made by the people of Starbreeze Studios, the same ones who brought us the emotional Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, the horror of The Darkness, and the fun times of Payday 2.”
“If you're expecting a grand adventure full of interesting characters, heartfelt stories, and unique locations, then I'm afraid you won't find it here.”
“The emotional depth of the story is lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“I felt no real emotional investment in the plot; it was predictable and uninspired.”
“The game tries to evoke feelings but ends up feeling hollow and unengaging.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has been widely criticized, with users reporting significant issues such as camera stutterings, sound glitches, and frequent crashes. Many players experienced a lack of smooth performance, describing the game as feeling unpolished and difficult to navigate, even in menus.
“Yeah, there are camera stutterings and crashes.”
“- Stuttering sound.”
“It kept flickering and stuttering, even fast-forwarding through the menus so much that I couldn't even start the game.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game can feel tedious and anticlimactic, with players often finding themselves aimlessly exploring rather than engaging in meaningful combat. While some players appreciate the lack of traditional grinding for stats, the extended periods of wandering can detract from the overall experience.
“It goes from being tedious to anticlimactic.”
“Grinding for stats vs actual skill and tactics in combat.”
“I basically just ended up running around until I found my way, but sometimes it could take up to several minutes, which was very tedious.”
