Ether
- August 15, 2024
- Mad Sailors Games
Get on SteamOverviewEmbark on a challenging 2D platforming adventure with Ether, a skilled space mercenary, in a quest to retrieve vital data from an abandoned ship. Navigate through various hazards using your Jump, Wall Jump, Dash, and even a Jetpack!Key Features Hardcore Platforming Action: Brace yourself for a tough platforming experience. Precision and timing are crucial and a little error will cost you …
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Reviews
- The game offers a hard but fair challenge with well-designed stage progression and diverse level mechanics.
- Controls are simple and effective, allowing for satisfying gameplay that encourages players to find creative solutions to obstacles.
- The graphics and soundtrack are well-executed, enhancing the overall experience of the game.
- The game lacks additional features or unlocks, which may limit replayability and motivation beyond the initial challenge.
- Some jumps in the game are frustratingly difficult, which could deter players from progressing.
- The story feels underdeveloped and does not contribute meaningfully to the gameplay experience.
- gameplay14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally well-received, featuring evolving stage mechanics and a challenging yet fair platforming experience that avoids repetition. However, critics note a lack of additional content, such as unlocks or extra modes, and suggest that the storytelling could be improved by integrating narrative elements more organically into the gameplay rather than relying on cutscenes. Overall, while the core gameplay is solid, it could benefit from more engaging features to enhance the overall experience.
“Overall, the game does a good job evolving the stage mechanics and it does not get too repetitive, although the platforming is mostly vanilla.”
“(+) Hard but fair challenge, good stage progression in terms of mechanics.”
“The soundtrack and graphics are fine, but what's really important for this kind of game are the gameplay and level design, and it delivers.”
“The platforming is mostly vanilla.”
“If you're going to include a story, it's better to insert it through random characters in the area without stopping the gameplay, rather than using mandatory cutscenes.”
“The gameplay and level design are what really matter for this kind of game, and it delivers.”
- story8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The story in the game is perceived as underwhelming and largely irrelevant to the overall experience, with many players suggesting that it could be better integrated into gameplay rather than presented through mandatory cutscenes. Reviewers recommend a more organic storytelling approach, such as discovering lore through interactions with characters or environmental elements, to enhance engagement without interrupting the flow of play. Overall, while a narrative exists, it fails to significantly enrich the game.
“Maybe instead of just doing cutscenes, I would recommend telling more narrative by finding things in the game, maybe running into a character that gives you some lore, try to do it without stopping the gameplay for the next project.”
“I would consider that gameplay alone isn't the most compelling feature by itself; there should be something else to reward that gameplay, maybe some unlocks, maybe some extra modes, maybe a better way of telling a story more organically.”
“There is a story, but I don't think it does much for the experience. It's just kind of there, and I didn't pay attention to it. The sprites and levels look fine, but I didn't care for the art style in the cutscenes.”
“Not to say that a game like this needs a story, not always, but if you're going to do it, I think it's better to insert it through random characters in the area without stopping the gameplay, and not mandatory cutscenes.”
“The story didn't do anything for me. Maybe instead of just doing cutscenes, I would recommend telling more narrative by finding things in the game, like running into a character that gives you some lore. Try to do it without stopping the gameplay for the next project.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally clean and well-executed, with sprites and levels receiving positive remarks; however, the art style in the cutscenes has drawn some criticism. Overall, while the visuals are satisfactory, they do not significantly enhance the gaming experience.
“The graphics are clean and the music is excellent.”
- music4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised as excellent, complementing the clean graphics. However, many reviewers emphasize that while the soundtrack is good, the primary focus should be on gameplay and level design, which are also well-executed.
“The graphics are clean and the music is excellent.”
“The soundtrack and graphics are fine, but what's really important for this kind of game are the gameplay and level design, and it delivers.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find humor in the satisfaction of subverting the developers' intended routes, particularly during speedruns, which adds an amusing twist to the gameplay experience.
“It's also satisfying to sometimes bypass the route the developer expected you to take; this should be funny to speedrun.”
