Exaella
- May 14, 2018
- Andrew Oudot
Exaella through the dark corridors of the artificial sleep centre Xonasu. On the way, you must solve multiple tasks, gather resources, and defend itself and the helplessly sleeping patients of a Xonasu complex.
Reviews
- The art style and UI design are beautiful, creating a captivating atmosphere.
- The music and sound effects are well done, enhancing the overall experience.
- The game offers an interesting concept and aesthetic, particularly for fans of sci-fi and anime.
- The combat feels clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustration during gameplay.
- The story is poorly conveyed, leaving players confused about the plot and objectives.
- The gameplay mechanics are slow and lack depth, making the experience feel tedious at times.
- story14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally seen as underdeveloped, with minimal exposition and a lack of lore, though the initial premise and environmental storytelling are appreciated. Players find the narrative simple and only fully grasp it after progressing through the missions, indicating that while the story concept is intriguing, it is not effectively conveyed throughout the gameplay. Overall, the story receives mixed feedback, with some enjoyment derived from the setting rather than the plot itself.
“The story concept is nice, though not fully conveyed in the game.”
“At first, I wasn't sure what the story was about; I only figured it out when I completed mission 2. The story is simple, but the way the environment tells it is the most interesting.”
“I like the premise and the overall setting, but aside from some exposition at the very beginning of the game, there's barely any story to speak of, nor is there any lore to be found.”
“At first, I wasn't sure what the story was about; I only figured it out when I completed mission 2. The story is simple, but the narrative that the environment tells is the most interesting.”
“The combat, to be honest, is really disappointing; it's really boring and hard to control. It took me a few attempts to finally get used to the controls and beat the first mission.”
- music12 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game and its accompanying OVA is highly praised, with many users noting its good quality, fitting atmosphere, and intense compositions. The soundtrack enhances the overall experience, contributing positively to the game's aesthetics and enjoyment. Overall, the music and sound effects receive strong ratings, with some users giving them a 9/10.
“I quite enjoyed the music in the OVA, and the game has some pretty nice tunes as well.”
“The music is throbbing and intense.”
“Check out Exaella OVA OST in the store if you liked the aesthetics.”
“The music and sound effects are also well done.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 44 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been widely criticized for its lack of depth and engaging mechanics, with many reviewers describing it as bland, clunky, and uninspired. While the game's atmosphere and art style are praised, the overall gameplay experience is considered a significant downside, making it less appealing for those seeking a robust gaming experience.
“The gameplay is the only downside as others have mentioned.”
“This doesn't break the game and I still found it enjoyable, but if you are wanting a solid gameplay experience, I'd look somewhere else.”
“The gameplay is the only downside, as others have mentioned.”
“There is a lack in game mechanics as far as movement and abilities.”
“Unfortunately, the game falls victim to a clunky interface, mind-numbingly boring gameplay, and very uninspired battles.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received high praise for their beautiful anime art style and appealing UI design, creating a captivating atmosphere that many players enjoyed. However, while the visuals are a standout feature, some reviewers noted that the gameplay itself is lacking, which may detract from the overall experience.
“As many reviewers mentioned, the art style and UI design are very beautiful.”
“The atmosphere and visuals are what I enjoyed most about the game.”
“The game's anime art style is beautiful; the atmosphere is there.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its beautiful visuals and a captivating gloomy sci-fi aesthetic, making it a standout feature despite criticisms of clunky gameplay and slow controls. Players recommend it primarily for its artistic qualities rather than its mechanics, suggesting it appeals to those who prioritize atmosphere over gameplay fluidity.
“The atmosphere and visuals are what I enjoyed most about the game.”
“Overall, I'd recommend this game to people who want a gloomy sci-fi atmosphere.”
“Beautiful scenery and a well put together atmosphere.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be clunky and tedious, leading to frustration and a lack of motivation to progress beyond the early levels.
“When I finally got to fight some enemies, the battles turned out to be so clunky and tedious that I just had to quit.”
“All in all, I felt that the game is way too tedious to even bother trying to get further than the second level.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is noted for its simple and cute design, which is memorable despite the limited outfit options for the main character. While the enemy designs are considered adequate, the overall variety is lacking, particularly for a short game.
“The character design is simple and cute but memorable, though it's unfortunate that she only has one outfit in the game. The enemies are well-designed, providing a decent variety for a short game.”