Gnomancer
- April 7, 2021
- ProjectorGames
Get on Steam"Gnomancer" is a action-packed game that allows for single-player and local multi-player modes with up to 4 players. Players traverse through the corrupted land of Gnomandia, battling evil hordes and resurrecting gnomes to fight for them. Inspired by Gauntlet and Pikmin, the game features twin-stick shooter mechanics, army management, and procedural loot, all presented in a cheerful aesthetic.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Gnomancer offers a fun and light-hearted gameplay experience, especially enjoyable in couch co-op mode.
- The game features a unique mechanic of recruiting and commanding an army of gnomes, adding a distinct charm to the gameplay.
- Players appreciate the whimsical graphics and engaging storyline, making it a delightful experience despite its early access status.
- The controls are poorly implemented, with the right stick doing nothing, which misleads players expecting a true twin-stick shooter experience.
- There are significant bugs and glitches, including issues with character movement and collision detection, detracting from the overall experience.
- The game lacks basic features like an exit option, and some gameplay mechanics can be frustrating, such as gnomes blocking the player's path.
- gameplay5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its accessibility and well-explained mechanics, making it easy for players to pick up and enjoy. While it offers a balance of simplicity and challenge across its levels, some users noted minor bugs and a lack of graphical polish. Overall, it is considered a fun experience with unique mechanics.
“The gameplay itself works very well for me, especially for an early access title.”
“I didn't bother reading the help info until I'd already played about 2 hours, but it's pretty easy to pick up the basic mechanics, yet it still has the promise of challenges yet to come.”
“The gameplay is easy to understand and controls are well explained throughout the levels. Some levels strike a good balance between being simple and challenging as they progress through the stages or 'chapters' of this game.”
“The gameplay is easy to understand and controls are well explained throughout the levels, some levels are a good level of simple and challenging as they go through the stages or 'chapters' of this game.”
“I didn't bother reading the help info until I'd already played about 2 hours, but it's pretty easy to pick up the basic mechanics; yet it still has the promise of challenges yet to come.”
“Seriously though, it's worth the read and covers the mechanics pretty well.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The graphics feature a whimsical and charming style, highlighted by playful gnome themes and bouncy statues. While the overall aesthetic is enjoyable, some users noted that the visuals lack polish and are accompanied by a few bugs, impacting the overall graphical experience.
“You got your gnome puns, your gnome armies, and a cute, whimsical graphical style of bouncy statues.”
“The graphics are vibrant and full of life, making every scene a joy to explore.”
“The art style is beautifully crafted, with attention to detail that enhances the overall experience.”
“7/10 - great gameplay, fantastic mechanics to make it unique, a few bugs and isn't quite graphically polished either, but nonetheless great fun.”
“The graphics feel outdated and lack the detail expected from modern games.”
“Character models are poorly designed and the environments are bland and uninspired.”
- story2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's story is engaging and unfolds progressively as players advance through levels, each offering four difficulty settings. While the storyline and the concept of commanding an army of gnomes are well-received, some players express minor frustrations with certain elements.
“Each level has four difficulties that unlock progressively as I advanced through the game's story, leading me into the more challenging versions of the levels.”
“I love the storyline and having an army of gnomes, but there are a few things that annoy me and probably others.”
“The story feels disjointed and lacks a coherent flow, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“While I appreciate the concept of the storyline, the execution leaves much to be desired, with many plot points feeling rushed or underdeveloped.”
“The characters are one-dimensional and fail to evoke any real emotional connection, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is criticized for its buggy collision detection, which developers attempt to mask with excessive neon effects, resulting in a perception of a cheap and unpolished experience.
“The developers seem to have tried to cover up the game's problems and buggy collision detection with lots of neon special effects, but it ends up just looking fake and cheap.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game enjoyable, particularly noting the amusing connection to Keemstar, which adds a layer of fun to the overall experience.
“So far, it's really fun to play and funny that this is Keemstar's game, lol.”
