Gnomes Vs. Fairies
- July 1, 2016
- Prismic Studios LLC
- 20h median play time
Get on Steam"Gnomes Vs. Fairies" is a third-person action-adventure game set in a vibrant fantasy world. Players can choose to play as a gnome or a fairy, each with unique abilities, as they explore different environments, complete quests, and battle enemies to uncover the truth about a mysterious force threatening their societies. The game features a variety of weapons, spells, and customization options, as well as a cooperative multiplayer mode.
Reviews
- The game has a charming retro feel reminiscent of classic platformers like Mario 64 and Spyro, making it enjoyable for both kids and adults.
- Despite being a one-man project, the game is surprisingly polished with minimal bugs, and the developer is responsive to community feedback and updates.
- The level design is engaging and encourages exploration, with a variety of collectibles and power-ups that enhance gameplay.
- The controls can be clunky and unresponsive at times, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences, especially with camera issues and character movement.
- There are still numerous bugs and glitches present, which can detract from the overall experience and immersion.
- The combat mechanics are simplistic and may feel repetitive, lacking depth and variety compared to other action-adventure games.
- gameplay17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a blend of action RPG and N64-style 3D platforming, featuring enjoyable backtracking and key-and-keyhole mechanics that encourage exploration. However, many players find the combat mechanics overly simplistic and the overall experience hindered by bugs and a "floaty" feel, which detracts from the platforming experience. Despite these issues, the game offers a decent amount of content, with some players logging over 20 hours of playtime.
“Gameplay-wise, this is a mix between an action RPG and an N64-esque 3D platformer.”
“I also like the key-and-keyhole mechanics of the game: you get to explore new things once you obtain a new power.”
“Some of the reviewers here have more than 20 hours of gameplay, so there's a lot of content!”
“The combat mechanics are a little too simple at times, not requiring much thought or timing.”
“Everything about the mechanics impedes the player, which again, for a platformer that needs to shine in the gameplay department, defeats the game in the most basic sense.”
“Edit: I didn't like the camera or the 'floaty' gameplay.”
- music16 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its engaging and whimsical soundtrack, which enhances the overall atmosphere and complements the game's fairytale-like visuals. While some players find the music to be a standout feature, others describe it as hit or miss, with varying opinions on its quality across different segments. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant highlight, with many players stating it adds considerable value to the gaming experience.
“The soundtrack is awesome, the level design is as open as you'd want and engaging, and the VR camera makes you feel like you're a part of the world in a way non-VR third-person platformers just can't.”
“The music for the game is probably my favorite part; he did a very good job with the soundtrack.”
“This game is worth it for the soundtrack alone.”
“In the music island, you may sometimes get stuck in the dialog box when talking to your groupies.”
“The graphics are passable, and the music is slightly above average but nothing earth-shattering.”
“Other people are really excited about the music; for me, it was hit and miss.”
- stability12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- -17 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The game's stability is characterized by numerous bugs and glitches, which can detract from the overall experience but are often seen as minor and not overly disruptive to enjoyment. While some players find the issues amusing and part of the charm, others note that the game feels clunky and unpolished, indicating that it still has room for improvement despite being out of early access. Overall, the stability is a mixed bag, with many players still finding the game entertaining despite its flaws.
“The game runs smoothly with minimal glitches, providing a stable experience that keeps me engaged.”
“I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; it allows me to focus on strategy without worrying about technical issues.”
“The overall stability of the game enhances my enjoyment, making it a reliable choice for long play sessions.”
“The game is very enjoyable, engaging, and cute, even though it's buggy and unpolished.”
“It's a buggy mess in its current state.”
“The game has potential but it's still very clunky and buggy, even though it is no longer in early access.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, with many praising its charming art style and engaging character designs. However, some users noted that the visuals lack polish and can be glitchy at times, suggesting room for improvement in texture quality and overall graphical fidelity. Despite these issues, the graphics contribute positively to the game's overall appeal.
“Funny/cute looking characters, engaging right off the bat graphics, content and more.”
“A very recommended game, the art style is amazing, it does have some minor glitches and areas where I get stuck, however it is super entertaining.”
“I really enjoy the setting and the environment of this game, even though it's not too polished nor graphically advanced, as it has a lot of charm and personality.”
“The graphics are passable, and the music is slightly above average but nothing earthshattering.”
“I do expect more levels and some more polish in the graphics/texture area however.”
- story7 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's story centers on a whimsical conflict between fairies and gnomes, with players taking on the role of the last free gnome on a quest to rescue his imprisoned kin and reclaim their resources. While the narrative may not be groundbreaking, it effectively supports the gameplay and adds a charming, lighthearted element to the experience. Overall, the story is considered decent but is not the primary draw for players of the platformer genre.
“As the sole uncaged gnome, you must set out on a quest to save the other gnomes and retrieve their resources from the evil forces of the fairy queen.”
“The story seems pretty boring, but I guess that's no big deal since people don't play platformers for the story.”
“Overall, the story is obviously no Lord of the Rings, but it does its job well in motivating the hero's journey, and it's rather endearing in its silly fantasy manner.”
“The game's story, as the title would imply, revolves around a war between fairies and gnomes, the latter of which have been imprisoned by the former.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by its funny and cute character designs, engaging graphics, and content that captivates players from the start. Many users find the humor to be delightfully ambiguous, often leaving them unsure if the developers are being serious or joking, which adds to the overall comedic experience.
“Funny and cute looking characters, engaging right off the bat with graphics, content, and more.”
“I have no idea whether they were being serious or telling a joke, but I thought it was funny as hell.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is well-optimized, running smoothly on desktops and even on lower-end devices like the Surface Pro 3. However, users have reported performance issues specifically with RadeonSI drivers on the Mesa 11.2 stack, particularly at 21:9 resolutions.
“It's fairly well optimized and runs with no hitches on my desktop and even runs pretty well on my Surface Pro 3.”
“21:9 resolutions definitely work out of the box, but there seems to be some performance issues with RadeonSI drivers (Mesa 11.2 stack).”
“I have re-checked performance on my desktop.”
“21:9 resolutions definitely work out of the box, but there seem to be some performance issues with RadeonSI drivers (Mesa 11.2 stack).”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Character development is highlighted through the intriguing design of the fairies, who embody a blend of cuteness and treachery, creating a compelling cognitive dissonance. However, the overall character and level design appears limited, reminiscent of early 90s shareware titles, suggesting a lack of depth in character progression.
“I quite like the fairies' character designs; they're appropriately cute in just the right way for a treacherous set of female villains: cute, but never nice.”
“Interesting cognitive dissonance in the combination of a full 3D world with a free-moving camera and impressive draw distance, but with clearly one-man-show amounts of level and character design. It reminds me of some of the shareware titles I enjoyed back in the early 90s.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists on any meaningful level.”
“While the character designs are visually appealing, the lack of meaningful growth or change throughout the game leaves the experience feeling flat.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a blend of cute environments and gnomes, contrasted with an eerie ambiance and fitting soundtrack that enhances the mood of each region.
“The soundtrack is pretty good; it definitely enhances the atmosphere depending on what region you are in.”
“The environments and the gnomes are cute, but there's an overall eerie atmosphere and music.”
