Exanima
- April 29, 2015
- Bare Mettle Entertainment
- 14h median play time
Exanima is a 3D isometric RPG set in a dark, low fantasy world with a focus on realism and immersion. It offers a deep combat system based on physics, accurate collisions, and locational protection, as well as smart AI, interactive environments, and roguelike elements. The game warns players that its physics-based combat is more skill-based and complex than traditional animation features. "Those who would enter the underworld shall not only forfeit their lives... ...but bring oblivion to all mankind."
Reviews
- gameplay2,470 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Exanima is characterized by its unique physics-based combat mechanics, which offer a steep learning curve but can be highly rewarding once mastered. Players often find the controls clunky and unintuitive at first, leading to frustration, but many appreciate the depth and complexity that emerge with practice. The game features two main modes—story and arena—allowing for both immersive dungeon crawling and skill-building combat practice, though the lack of tutorials and save mechanics can detract from the overall experience.
“The physics-based nature and mechanical intricacies of the combat system demand you spend some time learning the combat system before you can actually do anything.”
“The combat mechanics here are tough to learn, but very intuitive and rewarding once you get them down.”
“The gameplay loop is very interesting and challenging, the game literally throws you down a pit with a stick and a 'good luck!', you get 0 markers, 0 maps that tell you exactly where you are, 0 questlines, it's just you, your wits and some lore spilled to you via environmental storytelling/books you find out and about.”
“I imagine with time I can decipher this game's mechanics, but if it's taking more than two hours to feel like I'm getting anywhere at all, I quit.”
“This game has some serious potential and I do really think even in its current state it could be a good game, but it's borderline criminal to have such a mess of complicated controls and mechanics without giving the player an equally in-depth management of their game controls and keybinds.”
“The actual gameplay of Exanima is an absolute unintuitive mess.”
- story1,944 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story aspect of "Exanima" is described as minimal and fragmented, requiring players to piece together lore through environmental storytelling, notes, and scrolls scattered throughout the dungeon. While some players appreciate the atmospheric and immersive nature of the storytelling, many criticize the lack of a clear narrative, objectives, and the overall unfinished state of the story mode, which is still in early access. Overall, the game offers a challenging experience with a focus on combat, but the story may not satisfy those looking for a traditional narrative structure.
“The game is still great, probably the greatest sword fighting game ever made, has lots of content in the story mode and practically infinitely replayable in the arena mode.”
“The lore, which is told by parchments and NPC interactions, also adds to the storyline.”
“The story mode puts you in a beautiful labyrinthine underground city.”
“Little to no story.”
“Story mode is completely up its own ass.”
“The story is effectively look guy walks like a fucking idiot and combat's stupid... enjoy.”
- atmosphere908 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and dark qualities, drawing comparisons to titles like Dark Souls and Diablo. Players appreciate the detailed sound design, lighting, and environmental storytelling that create a tense and foreboding experience, enhancing the overall gameplay. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics and repetitiveness, the game's atmosphere remains a standout feature that captivates and engages players throughout their exploration.
“Very addictive, tense, great combat and it's dripping with atmosphere!”
“The atmosphere slaps too—creaky doors, creepy music, the clank of steel, it’s all great.”
“The atmosphere is breathtaking and grabbing, if you enjoy being nameless and morally unrestricted then definitely give this game a try.”
“The campaign I refuse to touch after it becoming plainly clear that it is focused more on atmosphere and overwhelming difficulty than providing a fair and balanced experience.”
“The rest of the wandering aimlessly and guesswork puzzles and monotonous atmosphere makes it so I just can't give it a good review, despite the fact I may pick it up now and again.”
“There is a lot to be interested in here, the atmosphere, the world and exploration, it's just buried behind a control scheme that does not work and ruins every aspect.”
- graphics716 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful visuals, intricate lighting, and atmospheric design that enhance the overall experience. However, several users report significant graphical issues, including bugs and performance problems, particularly with AMD graphics cards, which can detract from gameplay. Overall, while the aesthetic appeal is often highlighted, the technical execution appears inconsistent, leading to a varied reception among players.
“Great game and all, love the graphics and unique combat.”
“The graphics are scrumptious, the physics are revolutionary for this type of game - perhaps even the industry and I will happily wait for this game to be released as it clearly is a labor of love with some very intelligent devs which keep the community updated with (on average) monthly in-depth development logs from the lead dev.”
“The graphics are amazing and the dungeon is awesome and honestly if you went with a more arcade style combat system this would be at the top of my list for must-play RPGs.”
“There are so many graphical issues that I would not suggest playing something that has so many hardcore elements to it.”
“Seems like a similar issue again with the graphics settings; you can't edit much, especially no brightness settings, which considering the game doesn't support HDR really sucks, because the game then becomes super dark. Judging by the text on the menu, it seems like an HDR thing, and normally you would just set the game to run in a borderless window but that's not an option here. In fact, you can't even control the resolution of the game, so if you set it to a window, it's just randomly super small.”
“This was a very good and fun game, but about a year ago I've had game-breaking graphics issues with the character creation and inventory system, and it doesn't seem like there is any way to fix these issues.”
- humor428 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from its physics-based mechanics, leading to numerous hilarious moments such as characters tripping, falling, and engaging in clumsy combat reminiscent of drunken brawls. Players find the combination of frustrating controls and unexpected comedic outcomes both entertaining and addictive, often resulting in laughter during gameplay. While some may find the humor wears thin over time, many appreciate the game's ability to create unique and funny scenarios through its unpredictable physics engine.
“The physics make for a lot of funny moments, and the combat is super fun; it should be called 'drunken knight simulator'.”
“It's hilariously funny when my character's arms get stuck in a closed door or when they trip and fall on their face on only slightly uneven terrain, but I doubt that was the intent of the developers.”
“The unpredictability that the physics and AI can provide leads to amazingly tense combat, potential for hilarious scenarios, and challenging gameplay.”
“Got through an hour that was not funny or interesting, just a series of 'how do I?'”
“- Pugilism is so clunky, unfair, and unfunny.”
- music404 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the dark and eerie ambiance of the dungeon setting. However, many players note that the soundtrack can become repetitive over time, particularly during extended exploration, and some express a desire for more variety and the ability to adjust sound levels separately. Overall, while the music contributes significantly to the game's mood, its repetitiveness and lack of customization options are common points of criticism.
“The hypnotizing soundtrack and ambience coupled with the gloomy dungeon locale only help to immerse you in the experience.”
“The music is fantastic and the lore, much as I have the attention span of a dead newt, it has a mystery you can unravel for yourself, much à la the Souls series and their numerous item descriptions.”
“The atmosphere is astounding with music that perfectly complements the mystery and intensity of the world, which can be super tense.”
“The physics are cool, but whenever you're not fighting, you're walking around a boring, massive, unfinished dungeon with repetitive music.”
“Just... for the love of god... please work on the music.”
“The passageways are boring and the music is on constant loop.”
- grinding250 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and repetitive, particularly in arena mode, where players must engage in numerous battles to earn basic gear and experience. While some players find enjoyment in the combat mechanics and the challenge of mastering them, many express frustration over the lack of meaningful rewards and the time-consuming nature of progression, often leading to a sense of burnout. Overall, the grinding is seen as a significant barrier to fully enjoying the game, with many players wishing for a more balanced approach to progression.
“There is an arena mode which makes the campaign feel irrelevant, but then the mode feels too grindy at times, and not the good kind of grind.”
“The amount of grinding you have to do to just buy basic items is just ridiculous and if you die you lose the save.”
“Each time you die you have to do the same tedious dungeon over and over again.”
- replayability166 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability, particularly through its engaging arena mode and the challenge of dungeon crawling, with players noting the satisfaction of mastering its unique combat system. While many enjoy the randomized loot and secrets that enhance replay value, some feel that the story mode lacks variety and could benefit from additional content or multiplayer features. Overall, players find the game worth its price, with potential for extensive playtime, though some express concerns about diminishing replayability over time.
“This game has an incredible amount of replayability whether it's through the story mode or arena, and the combat is incredibly satisfying.”
“The game has an immense replay value, given the randomized nature of the game and how the skill ceiling is ever expanding as you improve.”
“The arena is highly addicting and has amazing replay value.”
“You're going to run out of things to do as there is next to no replayability in the vanilla game; however, for $15, it's worth the price and I enjoyed my time with it.”
“I really wanted to enjoy this game, but in its current state, I feel like it lacks replayability.”
“Overall, I have to recommend the game because the mechanics are very interesting, the immersive feel is pretty intense, and it feels very rewarding when you manage to do well. However, because there's not really any build variety to try, and it's always the same dungeon layout, which removes the whole exploring aspect after your first run, I find there's not much replay value.”
- stability154 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and crashes affecting gameplay, particularly in character creation and combat scenarios. Many players experience frustrating issues such as freezing, memory leaks, and unresponsive controls, which detract from the overall experience. While some find the glitches amusing, the consensus is that the game remains unpolished and in need of significant improvements to reach a stable state.
“Runs great on Linux via Proton.”
“The game runs great with a few settings set to medium and low.”
“It has extraordinary potential and will give you a fun, bug-free experience as it stands.”
“The game is buggy, the campaign is unfinished, and the update pace is excruciatingly slow.”
“However, something got broken recently and it seems that arena mode in particular has suffered the worst fate with constant game-breaking glitches.”
“Crashes constantly, glitches everywhere, combat feels too clunky (I understand it's physics-based, but a hammer to the jaw from a running fat guy not knocking someone over is where I draw the line), no updates in 2 months either.”
- optimization94 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its smooth performance and impressive graphics, even on lower-end systems. However, some users report issues with menu glitches, stuttering, and performance drops in specific scenarios, indicating that while the core game runs well, certain aspects still require improvement. Many players express a desire for the developers to prioritize optimization and stability over adding new content.
“Game is incredibly well optimized, looks great and very atmospheric.”
“Despite being an early access game, it is really well optimized; the devs really have put a lot of work and care into this game.”
“As for optimization, I can run Exanima on max settings and it runs smoother than any other game I have played, especially for an early access title.”
“I only wish the developers were more focused on increasing optimization and stability as opposed to introducing more content to a broken game.”
“The performance can be a pure nightmare, slowing the game down and making combat much harder.”
“The arenas added in the new update lag my machine; granted my computer isn't good, but I will lose fights because the RNG of the arenas tanks my performance and it becomes impossible to play.”
- emotional56 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is profoundly impactful, with players frequently expressing feelings of attachment, frustration, and heartbreak due to the game's mechanics and character interactions. Many reviews highlight the intense emotional experiences tied to character deaths and the steep learning curve, often leading to tears and a sense of loss. Overall, the game evokes a strong emotional response, making it both a rewarding and punishing experience for players willing to engage deeply with its challenges.
“Only play this if you want to cry.”
“I spent 8 hours with Darin and I was so close to finishing the game with him. We got killed by a skeleton, I could not save him; I feel like an emotional wreck.”
“This game made me cry.”
- character development10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is described as complex and somewhat overwhelming, with players feeling disoriented and challenged from the outset. While there are elements of character design that are appreciated, such as the visual aesthetics and armor sets, the actual development process is perceived as lacking depth, offering only basic customization options. Overall, the experience emphasizes a steep learning curve and a harsh world, setting a serious tone for player engagement.
“Textures looked good both from far away and up close, character development was wonderfully, needlessly complex, and being dropped into the world with just a torch, wandering very confused, and getting immediately killed by the literal first enemy set the tone that the world of Exanima is not to be taken lightly.”
“The graphics are fair, I liked some of the aspects of character design (I don't want to say creation as you're only doing what they look and sound like).”
“Great hidden gem, love the physics-based combat and spooky level/character design.”
“Repeat from the movie Edge of Tomorrow but without the exposition at the start letting you know why or any sort of character development (ok, you do get to name your totally generic person).”
- monetization8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized as a potential cash grab, with users expressing frustration over aggressive advertising and labeling it as a scam. Despite some acknowledging the game's quality, the overall sentiment leans towards disappointment in its monetization practices.
“Or was it just another cash grab scam 'early access' project...”
“Cash grab, do not buy.”
“Stop spamming my library with ads!”