Five Elements

About

Five Elements is a real time strategy game about managing energies of five Taoist elements (fire, earth, metal, water and wood). The hero is a monk in quest for Enlightenment.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

72%

Audience ScoreBased on 36 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The game features an interesting puzzle-tactical mechanic that encourages strategic thinking and planning.
It has a unique setting and gameplay that combines meditation themes with tactical elements, making it engaging and thought-provoking.
The RPG progression system allows for replayability and the unlocking of new abilities, enhancing the overall experience.

The game suffers from significant bugs, including crashes and AI that can act unfairly, which detracts from the enjoyment.
The steep learning curve and difficulty spikes can be frustrating, especially when certain levels feel unsolvable or overly challenging.
The timer mechanic and some design choices, such as lack of key rebinding and unclear UI, hinder the overall gameplay experience.

gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
The gameplay is praised for its interesting mechanics and depth, offering a complex experience that evolves over time. A tutorial effectively introduces players to the core concepts, while sound effects complement the gameplay without being distracting. Overall, players feel the game is worth its regular price due to its engaging interactions and immersive mechanics.
- “The mechanics of this game are interesting, and I have to admit I feel a bit bad that I picked it up during the winter sale, since it's probably worth the regular price.”
- “I am enjoying this game and how complex the gameplay gets to be over time.”
- “In-depth gameplay allowing for many different interactions.”
- “I can't really remember the premise, since it's basically irrelevant to the gameplay, but from memory you play a warrior seeking training in meditation from a monk to reach enlightenment.”
- “Sound effects are suitable to the gameplay, with nothing unexpected.”
- “Gameplay - five elements includes a tutorial to gently introduce you to the core concepts.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The game's graphics are simplistic, stylized, and abstract, primarily featuring color-based elements that serve a functional purpose rather than showcasing high-end visuals. While the graphics are adequate for gameplay, they lack options for customization beyond basic resolution settings, making them less impressive for display purposes. Overall, the visual design aligns with the game's real-time mechanics but does not aim to impress with graphical fidelity.
- “The graphics are functional as they are, but Five Elements isn't a game that you'd leave on 'attract mode' to show off your new graphics card.”
- “Graphics - the graphics are stylized and abstract.”
- “The game has a very simplistic graphic concept (essentially connecting and occupying slots with elements represented by colors) and nice music, and is real-time based, though you can pause it to plan your next moves.”
- “There are no graphics options beyond resolution and full-screen/windowed mode.”
- “The configuration menu has a graphics quality option, but the only selection is 'advanced'.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The music in the game is described as slow and calming, fitting well with its meditative theme. While it enhances the overall experience, it is not considered memorable enough for players to seek out the soundtrack.
- “The game features nice music that complements its simplistic graphic concept.”
- “The music enhances the overall experience, providing a soothing backdrop to the gameplay.”
- “I didn't find it annoying, but I also wouldn't rush out to buy the soundtrack if one were available.”
- “The music is slow and calming, as a game about meditation should be.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
The game's story features various modes and presents a somewhat superficial depth of wisdom through its narrative elements. It includes still-image hand-drawn cut scenes that provide background context at key moments.
- “There are still-image hand-drawn cut scenes at certain points in the game to present the background story.”
- “The game features different modes and presents a not-so-deep wisdom in the story bits.”
- “There are still-image hand-drawn cutscenes at certain points in the game to convey the background story.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, especially towards the end, yet they still enjoy the overall experience, likening it to a simplified game of rock-paper-scissors.
- “The game feels like a never-ending grind, especially towards the end, which can be frustrating.”
- “The grinding aspect makes it feel repetitive and tedious after a while.”
- “While the gameplay is enjoyable, the excessive grinding detracts from the overall experience.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The RPG system enhances replayability by allowing players to select different skills in each playthrough, encouraging varied gameplay experiences.
- “The RPG system allows for replayability by choosing different skills in different games.”

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Five Elements

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Five Elements

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