Ephemeral Tale
- January 18, 2022
- Dawdling Dog
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Ephemeral Tale" is a dungeon crawler/looter game with hand-crafted environments, JRPG-style combat, and a loot-driven progression system. Collect over 80 unique pieces of gear and build your own playstyle, while exploring diverse dungeons and fighting exciting enemies. The game offers various accessibility options, including customizable control schemes.
PC
Phone
Steam Deck
Windows
Tablet
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features a nostalgic turn-based combat system reminiscent of classic RPGs, which many players find enjoyable.
- The pixel art style and music are well-received, contributing to an immersive atmosphere.
- The loot system adds an element of unpredictability and excitement, with a variety of items that can enhance gameplay.
- The game suffers from bland level design and repetitive gameplay, leading to a lack of engagement after the initial hours.
- Combat can become too easy and lacks depth, with many encounters scaling to the player's level, diminishing the sense of progression.
- The durability system for equipment feels unnecessary and can be tedious, as players frequently need to manage gear that breaks over time.
- gameplay17 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mix of nostalgic turn-based RPG elements and modern mechanics, offering a blend of progression and interesting loot systems that some players find engaging. However, others criticize it for lacking depth and becoming repetitive, with issues related to balance and RNG affecting the overall enjoyment. While the game features well-designed boss fights and a charming aesthetic, opinions vary on its long-term appeal and mechanical complexity.
“Gameplay is reminiscent of nostalgic turn-based RPGs from the Game Boy era.”
“TL;DR: Great roguelike with very interesting mechanics and lots of progression to keep you playing.”
“Even on the easiest settings, boss fights seem well designed and fresh; both I fought were very different and had reasonable mechanics for early bosses.”
“In my opinion, it costs too much for the lack of mechanical depth.”
“Overall, gameplay just gets extremely boring and repetitive despite the RNG loot.”
“Even on the easiest settings, boss fights seem well designed and fresh; I only fought 2, but both were very different and had reasonable mechanics for early bosses.”
- music11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its ability to enhance emotional scenes and complement the pixel art style. While some players express mixed feelings about certain chiptune tracks, standout pieces like the battle music and the "corrupted castle" theme are highlighted as particularly enjoyable. Overall, the soundtrack effectively contributes to the game's fun and engaging atmosphere.
“The pixel art is well made and the music is effective at conveying the emotions of the scene.”
“Some solid retro tunes--battle music is a very nice track.”
“I'm not the biggest fan of chiptunes; some of the songs in this game definitely have abrasive highs, but some of the music in the game is great (I'm looking at you, Corrupted Castle).”
“Music and sound effects match the graphic style.”
“Music is fitting, graphics and art are cute, UI is functional and minimalistic.”
- story9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The story is described as classic and nostalgic but ultimately serves as a background element rather than a focal point, lacking excitement and depth. Players note that certain story events may not trigger, leading to potential progression issues, and the overall narrative feels light, especially in a dungeon crawler context. While there are some interesting elements, the emphasis is more on gameplay and upgrades than on a compelling plot.
“Classic, nostalgic story.”
“If you like a reasonably tough grind with a reasonably interesting story and tons upon tons of permanent upgrades to make every run feel like progress.”
“The story is background and not very exciting.”
“Some story events don't happen, so you may get stuck in certain areas.”
“It's light on plot at the moment, but plenty of gameplay to keep things interesting in early access!”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to the cumbersome user interface for transforming loot and the low drop rates for desirable orange gear. While the game offers multiple playthroughs and new game plus options for continued grinding, many feel that the process becomes repetitive and frustrating after a few cycles. Additionally, the attribute distribution system is seen as another tedious element that detracts from the overall experience.
“The chances of getting an orange sassy are pretty low, so eventually it's just grinding.”
“It's a good game to play for a while, but after two playthroughs and still having no way to reliably farm orange gear, it gets tedious.”
“The witch that can transform found loot into new stuff is super annoying from a user interface point of view; it's too tedious and takes too long.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are characterized by charming pixel art that complements its unique style, with a functional and minimalistic user interface. Players appreciate the engaging visuals and audio, which enhance the overall experience and contribute to the game's appeal.
“When I originally purchased this game, I knew that I would be drawn in by the artwork, customization, ability to form broken combos, and unique dialogue on each item you collect.”
“The visuals, audio, and unique game style will take hold of you, leaving you wanting more!”
“Music is fitting, graphics and art are cute, UI is functional and minimalistic.”
“The graphics are disappointing and lack detail.”
“The pixel art style feels outdated and uninspired.”
“The visuals do not live up to the expectations set by the game's premise.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report significant stability issues, particularly noting that opening chests can cause the game to freeze.
“Sometimes the chest itself freezes your game just by opening it.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
“I experienced constant lag and stuttering, which ruined the overall experience.”
