Eterium

63%
Game Brain Score Based on 23 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Eterium Game Cover
Starting at $0.87Buy now
Get on Steam

Eterium is a single-player Science Fiction Shooter game, reminiscent of 90's classics like Wing Commander and X-Wing. As a pilot in the United Earth Alliance, battle against the vicious Revi alien race in over 50 story-driven missions with advanced AI, customizable joystick support, and 3D cockpits. Experience intense space combat with dynamic difficulty, ship damage system, and asteroid fields in this modern take on space flight sims.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

63%
Audience ScoreBased on 23 reviews
story8 positive mentions
stability3 negative mentions
  • Eterium successfully captures the nostalgic feel of classic space combat games like Wing Commander, providing enjoyable and addictive gameplay.
  • The game features solid controls, especially with a joystick or gamepad, and offers a variety of mission types that keep the combat engaging.
  • Despite its low budget, the game has decent graphics and a well-designed cockpit view, enhancing the immersive experience of space battles.
  • The missions can be repetitive, often requiring players to fly to empty waypoints or engage in similar combat scenarios, which can lead to monotony.
  • The story is generic and lacks depth, with wooden character portrayals and minimal dialogue, making it hard to connect with the narrative.
  • There are technical issues, including bugs and a lack of voice acting, which detract from the overall experience and immersion.
  • story50 mentions

    The story in the game is generally considered standard for space combat titles, featuring a straightforward war narrative that serves primarily as a backdrop for missions. While some players appreciate the attempt to provide context through character interactions and mission structure, many find the storytelling elements, such as the use of static anime-style visuals and lack of backstory, to be lacking and unengaging. Overall, the narrative is seen as passable but ultimately forgettable, with a desire for more depth and development in the story arc.

    • “Fairly straightforward war story with pretty well-structured missions and a bit of surprises here and there.”
    • “The story overall is certainly not unique in that it has been told countless times before, in many different forms, but I still think the story is passable and has some very interesting moments - this despite the bland and generic conversations between characters.”
    • “I'm pleased to say Eterium is not one of those and is a fun game which holds your interest long enough to get through the campaign, which would probably take up at least 8 hours of your time if you go through all the pilot dialogues in between missions.”
    • “The story is pretty standard for space combat games.”
    • “Eterium more or less nails the space fighter sim, but drops the ball completely when it comes to tying the missions together and providing context; thus, it feels like playing one meaningless but fun simulator mission after another.”
    • “I was disappointed that I could not name my pilot, given that all dialogue is text-based, they attempt to flesh out our character with a backstory and it is far from a silent protagonist.”
  • graphics13 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the cockpit and ship designs as well as the outer space atmosphere, while others criticize the low-resolution textures and subpar explosion effects. The overall aesthetic is described as decent with a cartoonish feel that suits the game's vibe, though some players feel it lacks the polish of higher-budget titles. Despite its graphical shortcomings, many appreciate the game's charm and smooth performance, especially considering it was developed by a small team.

    • “Great cockpit and exterior ship graphics, along with the outer space atmosphere and planets in the background, have great graphics as well.”
    • “Graphically, the game is decent with a slight cartoonish feel, yet this lends itself to the vibe of the game.”
    • “It has a certain charming nature about it, and is graphically superior to a lot of indie games out there.”
    • “The negatives are the visuals; everything has this low-resolution texture feel, with explosions looking particularly poor, which is contrasted with the amazing cockpit designs.”
    • “The graphics are pretty basic; you could argue that Starlancer/Freelancer have better graphics than this game, and the ship designs are hardly inspiring.”
    • “The only issue I have with this game is that it's very repetitive, and the explosion graphics and gunfire, along with the character graphics, could have been better.”
  • gameplay9 mentions

    The gameplay is generally praised for its solid mechanics, reminiscent of classic space combat games like "Wing Commander," earning a score of around 8/10. While some aspects may feel rough around the edges, the depth and engaging nature of the gameplay keep it interesting without overwhelming complexity. Overall, it is considered the main highlight of the game, overshadowing the story.

    • “Gameplay is like a solid 8/10 and well worth your time.”
    • “That being said, the overall feel of the game makes it clear that gameplay is the main focus, and damn is it good!”
    • “I suppose I could be wrong about this, but 'Eterium' bears very strong marks of being a direct homage to 'Wing Commander.' Pretty much every character and ship in the game seems to be an expy for something you might have encountered in adventures involving the Tiger's Claw, and the basic gameplay elements all seem to be the same.”
    • “The gameplay is very, very similar to how I remember 'Wing Commander 1' and '2' playing, which is why I bought it.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, it is a solid sim with enough depth to keep it interesting without being overly complex or simple.”
  • music5 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, effectively complementing the gameplay and space combat, though some players feel it lacks the grandiosity and depth of larger productions. While the dynamic music track adapts to in-game events, there are criticisms regarding the absence of more impactful music and voice dialogues. Overall, it serves its purpose but leaves room for improvement.

    • “Very good controls, music, sounds, space combat, good story, gameplay.”
    • “There is a dynamic music track, just like in Wing Commander, which changes based on events during flight.”
    • “Music and dialogues are always difficult to make, and they have to fit into the movies.”
    • “The only criticism I have is that the game really lacks large, bombastic music and voice dialogues.”
    • “Music and dialogues are always difficult to create, and they need to fit well into the game's context.”
    • “While there is a dynamic music track that changes based on events during flight, it still feels underwhelming.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is enhanced by impressive cockpit and exterior ship graphics, as well as a visually stunning outer space setting with planets. Players appreciate the near-perfect controls, which contribute to the immersive experience, though many feel that adding radio chatter during missions would further enrich the atmosphere.

    • “The cockpit and exterior ship graphics, along with the outer space atmosphere with planets in the background, have great visuals.”
    • “The controls are close to perfect, especially with a good flight stick, and small details like maximum permitted take-off velocity enhance the atmosphere of this game.”
    • “It would add a lot to the atmosphere if you could get some radio chatter during combat or when you're reading through the various scenes that tell the story.”
    • “I don't mind so much out of mission, but during one it could really add to the atmosphere and such.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Users report that the game has stability issues, with bugs causing disruptions, such as needing to eject after completing a main objective.

    • “Oh, and it's a bit buggy - I completed a main objective, but had to eject on the way back.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it hard to enjoy the experience.”
    • “I encountered several glitches that disrupted my gameplay and made it frustrating.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Users express a desire to overlook the narrative, suggesting that the emotional impact of the game is overshadowed by a lackluster story, leading them to focus instead on the gameplay experience reminiscent of classic titles like Wing Commander.

    • “The emotional depth of the characters felt shallow and unconvincing.”
    • “I was expecting a gripping narrative, but it left me feeling indifferent.”
    • “The attempts at emotional moments fell flat and lacked genuine impact.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game performs exceptionally well with no lag, even at maximum graphics settings, but players have reported several notable bugs that detract from the overall experience.

    • “The game runs beautifully, with no lag even when streaming at maximum graphics settings, thanks to excellent optimization.”
    • “Optimization is top-notch; I can enjoy the game without any performance issues, even during intense moments.”
    • “The developers have done a fantastic job with optimization, allowing for smooth gameplay across various hardware configurations.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Eterium

Videos

Similar Games