Lemnis Gate
- September 27, 2021
- Ratloop Games Canada
- 2h median play time
With its well executed timeloop concept, Lemnis Gate could be the sleeper shooter of 2021.
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games StoreIn Lemnis Gate, a turn-based FPS game, you'll engage in 4-dimensional battles within a 25-second time-loop, thinking differently to outsmart and outmaneuver opponents with a varied cast of deep-space operatives. Each of the five rounds offers the chance to alter the timeline as past, present, and future converge in this mind-bending, strategic combat experience. Note that online multiplayer services will be discontinued from 11 July 2023.
Reviews
- Lemnis Gate offers a unique blend of FPS and strategy, allowing players to think several moves ahead like in chess.
- The game features diverse operatives with distinct abilities, enhancing the strategic depth and replayability.
- The time loop mechanic creates engaging gameplay where players can alter past actions to influence future outcomes.
- The player base is very small, leading to long matchmaking times and difficulty finding games.
- The game has been plagued by bugs and crashes, affecting the overall experience and enjoyment.
- The developers have ceased support and shut down servers, making the game unplayable for many.
- gameplay68 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Lemnis Gate is widely praised for its unique and innovative mechanics, particularly its time manipulation and turn-based real-time elements that challenge players' strategic thinking and FPS skills. While the game offers a rewarding and engaging experience, some users note that it has a steep learning curve and requires time to master its intricacies. Despite minor issues like matchmaking and server performance, the overall consensus is that the gameplay is fun, distinct, and deserving of recognition for its creativity.
“A very unique and niche game, Lemnis Gate offered engaging and deep gameplay that exercises both FPS skills and strategic thinking in a time loop setting.”
“The gameplay is so intricate, the concept intriguing, very innovative, and complicated as well.”
“Everything runs and feels smooth, the gameplay mechanics are unique and well thought out, and the skill ceiling is basically as high as your ability to understand the construct of time.”
“The amount of time in rounds is too low for much variance in gameplay.”
“Asynchronous timeloop gameplay is even more stressful than other shooters.”
“Mastering the gameplay, however, is the hard part, and even I haven't done that.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally praised for their modern, high-resolution quality, especially when played at 4K, contributing to a visually impressive experience. However, some users note issues with hitbox accuracy during gameplay and criticize the lack of diversity in character aesthetics. While the graphics are solid, there are concerns about the polish and clarity of certain settings, which detracts from the overall experience.
“Graphics are pretty great (I play at 4K though, so most games do), gunplay varies by character but they each feel solid in their own right, the diversity in each game is essentially infinite.”
“Memorable and distinct characters, truly innovative gameplay (you actually probably have never played anything like this) and great graphics.”
“Graphic is modern and high res.”
“The unlockable aesthetic is garbo.”
“Everyone kind of has the same aesthetic, but not much personality.”
“What it lacks in polish, aesthetic quality, and fluidity of movement and gameplay, it makes up for in core design principles.”
- monetization6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's monetization strategy was criticized for its lack of visibility and promotion, leading to a dwindling player base and eventual server shutdown. Reviewers suggested that a shift to a free-to-play model with a battle pass, along with a robust advertising campaign, could have salvaged the game's potential. Overall, the absence of effective marketing and communication from the developers contributed significantly to its failure.
“The game can't be bought any longer as of April 11, and the server shut down on July 11, 2023. It was such a good game with potential; the only problem was that it didn't have enough players. If they had started a real campaign with ads and trailers on social media and made it free-to-play with a battle pass, they could have saved this game.”
“This has somehow been hidden from the front page of the store and didn't even show up on new and trending on its release day, so I hope they start advertising soon to make sure this game doesn't die.”
“Bought day one, the game has lacked players since its beginning. It's such a shame because it's really original; the character design and artistic direction are really good. The game had everything to become something special, but the zero communication and advertising did not attract players. The emptier the game was, the emptier it became, and the developers abandoned it very quickly after realizing the flop, which is such a shame because the game was very promising.”
- stability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game runs well and is visually appealing, but there are occasional bugs and server crashes that affect stability. While many enjoy the gameplay experience, these issues can detract from the overall enjoyment.
“Really fun, runs great, and looks good visually.”
“Game plays and runs great otherwise.”
“Only played a few matches but it is awesome, runs great, and is a great concept.”
“But that's not my experience; it can be buggy, and the server does crash every so often.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is inconsistent; while some players report smooth performance and enjoyable gameplay, others experience significant lag and frame stuttering that can hinder the overall experience, particularly in timing-critical moments.
“The game runs smoothly.”
“Performance is good and the main game loop is really well thought out.”
“Really good game, easy to learn, fun gameplay, runs smoothly. 10/10 would buy again.”
“Lag can make this game unplayable due to frame stuttering, and in a game where timing is essential, a missed shot can mean everything.”
“The optimization is so poor that even high-end systems struggle to maintain a stable frame rate.”
“Frequent crashes and long loading times indicate a lack of proper optimization, severely impacting the overall experience.”
- story2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The story is praised for its compelling narrative, particularly the emotional weight of having the first four team members undertake suicide missions, while the fifth member's role in saving and validating them adds depth. However, some players express a desire for a more traditional single-player campaign instead of focusing primarily on multiplayer.
“Having the first four members of your team go on suicide missions and then having the fifth deployed to save and validate the first four is incredible.”
“The narrative twists and character development kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire game.”
“The emotional depth of the story made me feel connected to the characters in a way that few games achieve.”
“Having the first four of your team go on suicide missions and then having the fifth deployed to save and validate the first four is incredible.”
“I would have accepted a 10-mission bad story mode rather than having to learn on the fly in multiplayer mode.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers a compelling concept that allows for nearly endless replayability, thanks to its diverse combinations.
“Great concept, almost endless replayability due to the combinations.”
“The variety of choices and outcomes makes each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
“With multiple paths and strategies to explore, I find myself coming back for more.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players suggest that while Lemnis Gate offers a refreshing alternative to traditional MMO grinding, its success as a top online PvP game hinges on developer support and player exploration.
“The grinding in this game feels endless and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I find myself repeating the same tasks over and over, which really takes away from the enjoyment.”
“The amount of grinding required to progress is overwhelming and detracts from the overall experience.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features strong character design and artistic direction, showcasing potential for meaningful character development. However, the lack of player engagement and subsequent abandonment by developers hindered its growth, leaving the promising elements underexplored.
Critic Reviews
Lemnis Gate Review – Time-Locked Potential
Lemnis Gate is a game at odds with itself. Its well-executed time loop mechanics could potentially appeal beyond the usual hardcore shooter crowd, but the game’s matchmaking shortcomings and lack of single-player content will keep that wider audience at arm’s length. Lemnis Gate is fun, but it feels like a concept that needed more resources to fully realize its promise. That said, if you are a dedicated shooter fan looking for something a little different, you may find yourself doing the time warp again (and again and again).
75%Lemnis Gate review — 4D chess with guns
Even if you are not a fan of competitive multiplayer, Lemnis Gate is worth checking out due to its highly original mechanics, tactical sandbox abilities, and fluid shooter action.
80%Lemnis Gate: Phenomenally Unique & Brilliantly Innovative – PS4 Review
Lemnis Gate is as complex as it is fun. While its complicated mechanics may seem overwhelming at first, when you actually jump into a match it feels both intuitive and easy to understand. Each of the seven heroes are incredibly unique and fun to play as, and the sheer amount of content on offer makes it a worthwhile package. For its low price point, it would be silly to pass up picking up Lemnis Gate.
90%
