Enemy

85%
Game Brain Score Based on 117 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
Enemy Game Cover
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"Enemy" is a single-player Role Playing game that offers around 10 hours of playtime. The game is a tactical role-playing experience, where players explore an open world with elements and characters inspired by classic video games. Combat is turn-based and inspired by the 1994 X-Com game, featuring realistic physics and permadeath for added tension. Each playthrough features a procedurally generated world, providing a unique experience each time.

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Reviews

85%
Audience ScoreBased on 117 reviews
gameplay6 positive mentions
stability5 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique and fully destructible environment, allowing for creative tactical strategies and interactions during combat.
  • It offers a challenging and rewarding gameplay experience, reminiscent of classic turn-based strategy games like XCOM, with permadeath mechanics that heighten the stakes.
  • The developer is actively engaged with the community, addressing bugs and feedback promptly, which enhances the overall experience.
  • The controls can be unintuitive and clunky, making it difficult for players to navigate and execute strategies effectively.
  • The game suffers from bugs and crashes, particularly when there are many environmental interactions or during intense combat scenarios.
  • The steep learning curve and punishing difficulty may deter casual players, as many encounters can feel overwhelmingly challenging without sufficient preparation.
  • gameplay47 mentions

    The gameplay of this title is characterized by its turn-based strategy mechanics, reminiscent of XCOM, with a focus on tactical decision-making and character management. While some players appreciate the depth and challenge it offers, others find the mechanics unintuitive and the pace slow, leading to a mixed reception. The destructible environments and retro aesthetic add unique elements, but the game's punishing difficulty may deter those unfamiliar with the genre.

    • “A turn-based strategy game with leveling mechanics where you play characters from a variety of video game genres, trying to defeat four evil kings.”
    • “I never felt like the gameplay was mindless; every decision felt strategic.”
    • “For fans of classics and those who appreciate simple, yet engaging and challenging gameplay in a retro environment, this game will be a real treat.”
    • “It's a neat idea, but I found the gameplay slow and plodding, the weapon stats extremely confusing, and the game to be generally confounding and not fun.”
    • “This game takes XCOM and turns it into a retro-styled version, but the mechanics backfire on it, making it excessively difficult.”
    • “There is no flanking mechanic, no 'real' cover mechanic, no suppression, no interesting abilities that allow you to control enemies, nothing.”
  • graphics18 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting a simplistic, voxel aesthetic reminiscent of Minecraft that may initially deter some. While the visuals are often described as rough or gloomy, reviewers emphasize that the gameplay and mechanics are what truly matter, suggesting that the graphics should not overshadow the overall experience. Overall, the retro-style graphics may not appeal to everyone, but they are considered fitting for the game's design and atmosphere.

    • “Think of XCOM but with Minecraft-style graphics and a fully destructible environment.”
    • “A brutally difficult game that combines the visual aesthetics of Minecraft with the tactical combat of the original XCOM.”
    • “Visually, it has the voxel appeal of Minecraft; simple graphics no longer denote simple gameplay, so it's a decent aesthetic for the styles it's calling on, and it deals with the environments uniquely as massively destructible.”
    • “So this game obviously has rather rough graphics.”
    • “If you're looking for cutting edge graphics and gameplay, this probably isn't the game for you.”
    • “_Graphics can be a bit off-putting: not the most flattering looking game, but that can be overlooked since the gameplay is so deep.”
  • music15 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its ability to set the mood and enhance the atmosphere, particularly noting the impressive soundtrack by Samuel Juel Kovacs. However, some players find the music to be basic, sparse, or occasionally out of place, leading to a sense of repetitiveness over time. Overall, while the music is generally considered suitable for the game's style, it may not appeal to everyone.

    • “Great game, great music, and some familiar charm.”
    • “Amazing soundtrack too!”
    • “Thanks to the marvelous soundtrack by Samuel Juel Kovacs, the atmosphere in the game is tense and dark.”
    • “Limited by the sound and the music.”
    • “Hampered by the music and sound, and in my opinion, the difficulty.”
    • “The music is very out of place in many situations.”
  • story10 mentions

    The game's story is described as minimal and lacking depth, with a straightforward premise of a world dominated by four bosses. Players express disappointment in the absence of a compelling narrative, noting that the limited exploration and character interactions fail to develop a meaningful plot. While some players hope for future improvements in storytelling, the current experience feels sparse and underwhelming.

    • “The plot is short and to the point: the world has been taken over by four boss characters.”
    • “I started the quest with my two NPC mates, walked out of the house, a guy with a fire bomb was waiting behind a tree and we all burned to death.”
    • “I came into an area and ran into a young princess; she wanted to help my quest, so I let her tag along.”
    • “There is no story to be had in this game.”
    • “If there was a story, I wasn't able to see it within the 4 or 5 tiles I explored over 4 restarts.”
    • “It would be nice to see some more variety between classes when starting a new game, and story could be developed a bit, but this may be in the works; I can't say.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its slapstick elements and unexpected outcomes, such as a rifle emerging from a copyright-friendly block and the chaotic results of missed attacks leading to comical destruction. Players find joy in the absurdity of sandbox physics, where actions like throwing bricks at enemies can result in hilariously unpredictable consequences, enhancing the overall fun and entertainment.

    • “However, causing an entire castle to collapse and kill a boss after a missed throw knocks out a load-bearing wall never ceases to be hilarious.”
    • “There's nothing quite as hilarious as ripping a brick out of a wall and chucking it at a skeleton's face and watching all his little bits go flying.”
    • “That said, occasionally something mental will happen… like missing and knocking a tree on yourself, but that’s all part of the fun (not to mention hilarious!).”
  • stability5 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, with multiple users reporting frequent crashes and bugs that disrupt gameplay, even during non-active phases like enemy turns. Overall, the experience is marred by these technical problems, detracting from the intended charm and depth of the game.

    • “Unfortunately, despite how fast-paced the action can be for a turn-based XCOM-like (which is unusually cool), the game is buggy as heck and has crashed on me multiple times out of nowhere, even while I was just waiting for an enemy turn to end.”
    • “I was expecting a charming take on XCOM with some depth; instead, I got a buggy crapfest with little imagination.”
    • “It is a little buggy, however, and seems to lack some updates from previous versions; for example, vision is now tied to 'mind' instead of being its own stat.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed feedback; while some players experience smooth performance, others encounter significant frame rate drops, particularly during complex physics interactions. This suggests that the game's optimization could be improved to enhance the overall experience.

    • “The physics optimization is generally solid; I personally didn't run into too many problems unless a lot of crazy things were happening at once, like a fire burning down a two-story building. However, the physics engine can occasionally cause the normally silky smooth framerate to chug.”
    • “Great concept but poorly optimized.”
    • “The physics engine sometimes makes the normally silky smooth framerate chug, especially when a lot of crazy things are happening at once, like a fire burning down a two-story building.”
    • “In other words, the game isn't optimized very well.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    The game is noted for its high replayability, with players highlighting its challenging nature as a key factor that encourages multiple playthroughs. Many users express that the difficulty keeps them coming back for more, indicating a strong incentive to replay.

    • “I have never beaten it, so it obviously has tons of replayability.”
    • “It's got replay value and, excuse the French, 'bloody tough'.”
    • “Tons of replayability.”
    • “The game lacks significant replayability, as once you've completed it, there's little incentive to return.”
    • “After finishing the main story, I found no compelling reasons to play through again.”
    • “The limited choices and outcomes make replaying feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players find it impactful, particularly with early character deaths that evoke feelings, others feel a lack of emotional investment beyond the main character, who can die without significant consequence. Overall, the emotional experience is overshadowed by the game's fun and chaotic gameplay.

    • “It's somewhat emotional even at the beginning, watching a character die.”
    • “The game evokes a strong emotional response, making you feel deeply connected to the characters.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is a blend of nostalgic elements from classic hero genres of the 80s and 90s, creating a simple yet enjoyable environment. Enhanced by Samuel Juel Kovacs' remarkable soundtrack, the overall ambiance is described as tense and dark, adding depth to the gameplay experience.

    • “It's got roots in everything, all the classic hero-type genres the '80s and early '90s could throw at you, and a simple, fun atmosphere to play in.”
    • “Thanks to the marvelous soundtrack by Samuel Juel Kovacs, the atmosphere in the game is tense and dark.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

10hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
10-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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