Gnomes Vs. Fairies

About

Gnomes Vs. Fairies is a single player and multiplayer casual role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Prismic Studios and was released on October 2, 2015. It received positive reviews from players.

Gnomes vs. Fairies is a PS1/N64 style Hack 'n' slash-Action RPG platformer. Upgrade your gnome's abilities with dozens of items and master the 5 elements of sword magic, it's a totally unique retro fantasy platformer blending all the best elements of classic 3D titles such as Mario 64, Zelda OoT, Spyro the Dragon, and more.

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86%

Audience ScoreBased on 84 reviews

music18 positive mentions

stability22 negative mentions

The game has a charming retro feel reminiscent of classic platformers like Mario 64 and Spyro, making it enjoyable for both kids and adults.
The developer is responsive and actively works on updates and bug fixes, enhancing the overall experience.
The level design is engaging with a mix of platforming and RPG elements, providing a satisfying collectathon experience.

The game suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, which can detract from the gameplay experience.
Camera controls are often problematic, leading to disorientation and difficulty in navigating levels.
Combat mechanics are simplistic and can feel unresponsive, making encounters less engaging.

gameplay
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
82%
9%
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 reviewers find the combat mechanics overly simplistic and the overall experience hindered by bugs and a "floaty" feel, which detracts from the platforming experience. While there is a decent amount of content, the gameplay lacks depth and polish, leaving room for improvement.
- “Gameplay-wise, this is a mix between an action RPG and an N64-esque 3D platformer.”
- “This mechanic lends itself to some nice backtracking sequences that I enjoy a lot.”
- “I also like the key-and-keyhole mechanics of the game: you get to explore new things once you obtain a new power.”
- “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.”
music
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
35%
9%
The music in the game has received high praise for its engaging and atmospheric soundtrack, with many players highlighting its fairytale-like themes and diverse styles, including accordion and rock influences. While some found the music slightly above average, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack significantly enhances the gaming experience, making it a standout feature worth the price of admission. Additionally, the music creator level adds further value, allowing players to engage creatively with the game's sound.
- “The music for the game is probably my favorite part; he did a very good job with the soundtrack.”
- “The soundtrack is pretty good, definitely gives off the atmosphere depending on what region you are in.”
- “This game is worth it for the soundtrack alone.”
- “The graphics are passable, and the music is slightly above average but nothing earthshattering.”
- “The environments and the gnomes are cute but there's an overall eerie atmosphere and music.”
- “Other people are really excited about the music, for me it was hit and miss.”
stability
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
92%
The game is generally described as "buggy" and "clunky," with numerous minor glitches that can detract from the experience, particularly in the HUD and combat mechanics. Despite these issues, many players still find the game enjoyable and entertaining, suggesting that the fun outweighs the instability for most. Overall, while the game shows potential, it remains unpolished and in need of further refinement.
- “This game is a buggy mess... and I love it!”
- “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.”
graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
50%
17%
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, with many praising the charming art style and engaging character designs. However, some players note that the visuals lack polish and can be glitchy at times, leading to a desire for more refinement. Overall, while the graphics are considered good, there is room for improvement in terms of texture quality and overall polish.
- “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 you can get stuck, however, it's 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.”
story
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
65%
21%
The game's story centers on a whimsical conflict between fairies and gnomes, where the player, as the last free gnome, embarks on a quest to rescue imprisoned comrades and reclaim lost resources. While the narrative is described as simplistic and not particularly engaging, it effectively supports the gameplay and adds a charming, albeit silly, fantasy element. Overall, the story serves its purpose in motivating the hero's journey, even if it may not captivate all players.
- “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.”
- “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 story is pretty decent; the gnomes had some sort of four crystals that were destroyed, which unleashed fairies into the world, and almost every gnome was taken prisoner except the protagonist.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its funny and cute character designs, which, combined with engaging graphics and content, create an entertaining experience. Players often find themselves amused by the ambiguous tone of the dialogue, leaving them unsure if the humor is intentional or not, yet still finding it highly enjoyable.
- “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.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
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 using 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).”
- “21:9 resolutions definitely work out of the box, but there seems to be some performance issues with RadeonSI drivers (Mesa 11.2 stack).”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
Character development is highlighted through the unique design of the fairies, who are portrayed as cute yet treacherous villains, creating an intriguing cognitive dissonance. However, the overall character and level design appears to be limited, reminiscent of early 90s shareware titles, suggesting a lack of depth in character development.
- “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.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The game features a charming yet eerie atmosphere, highlighted by cute environments and gnomes, complemented by a well-crafted soundtrack that enhances the mood based on the player's location.
- “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.”