Etrom 20th Anniversary Edition
- November 1, 2023
- AgeOfGames
- 5h median play time
Get on SteamIn Etrom - The Astral Essence’s 20th Anniversary Edition, play as a former elite soldier with a mysterious past who must navigate through a dark futuristic Middle Ages filled with arcane rituals, endless wars, and otherworldly realms. Explore diverse locations, uncover secrets, and battle enemies using techno-mystical blades in this immersive point-and-click action RPG. Discover the truth about the Astral Essence and your existence in a captivating and treacherous world.
Reviews
- Etrom offers a unique blend of magic and technology, creating an intriguing and immersive atmosphere that captivates players.
- The game features a rich narrative with a dark and poetic setting, drawing players into its bizarre and mysterious world.
- Despite its technical issues, many players find the game to be a rewarding challenge, reminiscent of classic action RPGs from the early 2000s.
- The game suffers from frequent crashes and technical glitches, making it frustrating to play and often unplayable on modern systems.
- Controls are awkward and unintuitive, leading to a steep learning curve that can deter new players from enjoying the experience.
- The save system is punishing, with limited options that can result in significant setbacks during gameplay.
- story18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The story of "Etrom" is described as both intriguing and eccentric, featuring a unique setting and well-developed characters that captivate players despite its lack of traditional structure and clarity. While the gameplay can be challenging and the quest journal is deemed ineffective, the dark and poetic atmosphere, along with the mystical dialogues, create a compelling narrative experience that appeals to fans of unconventional storytelling. Overall, the game offers a rich, albeit difficult, journey that rewards those willing to engage with its complexities.
“But somehow, after a series of ferocious and endless fights, after some violent, rough and somehow mystical dialogues, the world of Etrom captures you and you want to understand what the hell is happening with this story of the astral essence and the deities of abysses that hunt you.”
“The game's strange and unique story and setting may initially catch players off guard, but it's precisely this eccentricity that makes Etrom such a compelling adventure.”
“Its dark and poetic atmosphere, coupled with its unique storytelling and setting, make it a journey well worth undertaking for those seeking something different from their gaming experience.”
“That's pretty much the whole story, and even multiple endings feel more like a dull and uninspired choice.”
“There's only a few maps, there's only a few optional objectives, while the rest of the gameplay is just you fighting the enemies (which are everywhere, hiding on every corner and usually just start running at you all at once with no intellect or tactics involved) and trying to figure out where to go and what to do (map aside, the quest journal in this game is useless too).”
“I read the old development story on IGN and I think it's a shame there never was a larger sequel.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay experience is marred by frequent bugs and crashes, which can disrupt play on various hardware configurations. Players find the combat simplistic and repetitive, with limited map options and a lack of strategic enemy AI, while navigation and quest tracking are often frustrating. Despite these issues, the game offers a variety of weapons and unique mechanics that contribute to its challenging atmosphere, particularly in its dark and bizarre world.
“Although the gameplay is a fairly simple action RPG, it has a series of details and game and narrative mechanics that make it very difficult, particularly at the beginning, when you enter a truly dark and bizarre world.”
“It would not be appropriate to compare the mechanics and systems of Etrom to games that are released today, but Etrom has a great variety of weapons that suit different occasions.”
“From the point of view of the originality of the gameplay, we have several elements such as:”
“We regret to share that bugs and system crashes, both during game launch and during gameplay, can happen frequently on some hardware and software configurations. That's what they say right on the store page, while recommending us to Google for a third-party software and fix things manually.”
“There's only a few maps and optional objectives, while the rest of the gameplay is just you fighting the enemies (which are everywhere, hiding on every corner and usually just start running at you all at once with no intellect or tactics involved) and trying to figure out where to go and what to do. The quest journal in this game is useless as well.”
“Technical issues such as crashes and other technical hiccups may rear their ugly heads from time to time, disrupting the flow of gameplay.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Etrom is praised for its captivating and haunting atmosphere, blending medieval and sci-fi elements with an unconventional narrative. The dark and poetic ambiance enhances the immersive experience, making it a compelling choice for fans of atmospheric RPGs, despite a challenging start. Overall, it offers a unique journey that stands out in the gaming landscape.
“Its unapologetically odd narrative, coupled with a dark and poetic atmosphere, creates an immersive experience that's as captivating as it is haunting.”
“Its dark and poetic atmosphere, coupled with its unique storytelling and setting, make it a journey well worth undertaking for those seeking something different from their gaming experience.”
“Etrom has a great atmosphere and plot, not to mention the great mix of medieval, godly weapons with sci-fi machinery!”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that while the game is still buggy, it is significantly more stable than previous versions, with fewer game-breaking issues encountered during gameplay.
“It's much more limited and way less buggy than before.”
“Don't get me wrong, the game is still buggy as hell; you just won't encounter a game-breaking bug at every turn.”
“The stability issues are still present, but they are less frequent than in previous versions.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding in the game excessive and unenjoyable, leading to a negative impact on their overall experience.
“There is a lot of grinding, and it doesn't feel fun at all.”
“The grinding is excessive and makes the game feel tedious.”
“I find the grinding to be monotonous and draining.”
- graphics1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The graphics are considered dated, but players quickly become immersed in the game, often forgetting about the visuals after a short period of play.
“The graphics are stunning and truly bring the game world to life.”
“I was blown away by the attention to detail in the environments and character designs.”
“The vibrant colors and smooth animations make every moment visually captivating.”
“I hardly remember anything anymore, but I play it again with pleasure, moving on to the dated graphics (which after a few minutes I don't even notice anymore).”
“The graphics feel outdated and lack the polish expected from modern games.”
“While the gameplay is enjoyable, the visuals are a major letdown and detract from the overall experience.”
