Lithium City

About

"Lithium City" is a fast-paced, action-packed parkour game set in a dystopian future. As a runner, navigate through a sprawling metropolis while evading enemy attacks and collecting valuable resources. Use your parkour skills to climb, slide, and dash your way to freedom in this thrilling, challenging experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 234 reviews

gameplay41 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

Stylish visuals and a captivating soundtrack create an immersive cyberpunk atmosphere.
Engaging gameplay with a variety of mechanics introduced in each chapter, keeping the experience fresh.
Tight controls and satisfying combat mechanics that reward skill and strategy.

The game is quite short, with a playtime of around 2-3 hours, which may leave some players wanting more content.
A significant difficulty spike in the final boss fight can feel frustrating and unfair compared to the rest of the game.
Some level designs, particularly in the later stages, can lead to confusion due to the isometric perspective and limited visibility.

gameplay
123 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
63%
3%
The gameplay in Lithium City is characterized by its fast-paced, engaging mechanics that blend beat 'em up and shooter elements, enhanced by a striking neon aesthetic and a stellar soundtrack. While the game introduces new mechanics and challenges in each chapter, keeping the experience fresh, some players noted that the final boss deviates significantly from the established gameplay style, leading to frustration. Overall, the gameplay is polished and enjoyable, though the game's short length and lack of replay value were common points of criticism.
- “An action game with style and an engaging gameplay loop influenced by Tron, Ninja Gaiden, and some retro beat 'em ups.”
- “The gameplay is tight and fluid, the soundtrack is stellar, artistic direction is utterly gorgeous, and controls feel natural.”
- “Each chapter features a different mechanic, progressing in difficulty as you get further in the chapter.”
- “The final boss more-or-less cheats by throwing out everything you've learned up to that point by imposing a slow burn battle that goes against the agile glass cannon gameplay prior to the boss.”
- “Gameplay is too slow for a game like this and the enemies are very repetitive.”
- “So overall, this game feels like a cheaply made mobile game with very boring and bland gameplay mechanics.”
music
99 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
31%
3%
The music in the game has been widely praised for its beautiful and immersive soundtrack, which effectively complements the game's stunning visuals and cyberpunk aesthetic. Many reviewers noted that the soundtrack enhances the gameplay experience, providing a mix of ambient and energetic tracks that elevate the emotional impact during key moments. While some found the music occasionally generic, the overall consensus is that it is a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's appeal.
- “The music really complemented the art style, and in big fights, it often gave you a sense of tension that was great.”
- “The soundtrack is incredible and managed to do what a game like Hotline Miami did with its soundtrack but with an original score instead of licensed music.”
- “The crystalline, minimalist art style, tight control, and frenzied action all make for an excellent game, but what really pushes it over the top is its banging soundtrack.”
- “Also the soundtrack just doesn't fit this cyberpunk atmosphere as well as I hoped; for the most part, this game has a very generic electronic soundtrack that just doesn't fit.”
- “The art style is simple, but efficient, and while the soundtrack isn't full of bangers, it doesn't need to be; it sounds like it should and has enough motif work to do what it needs to do.”
- “Music in games is a massive driving force to emotionally move the player, and can be a determining factor whether the game is worth being immersed in or not.”
graphics
85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
42%
4%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their striking neon and minimalist cyberpunk aesthetic, which effectively enhances the gameplay experience. Reviewers highlight the beautiful visuals, vibrant colors, and smooth animations, often comparing it favorably to titles like Hotline Miami. The combination of impressive art style and a fitting soundtrack creates an engaging atmosphere, although some players noted occasional issues with visibility in more chaotic scenes.
- “The art style's mix of bright hues and neon light works well to hint at the world outside.”
- “The game is extremely pretty, featuring a neon glass-like aesthetic that is hard to forget accompanied by a banger of a soundtrack that provides a nice ambience for each chapter.”
- “If you care about aesthetics, Lithium City offers an experience unlike any other game on the market - if you want to play a video game set in a synthwave album cover that was recreated as a glass window - with the music to match - this game is for you.”
- “The game does get a bit frustrating towards the very end, as the aesthetic becomes slightly more abstract and thus makes it a little difficult to read what exactly is going on (there's a section with a helicopter I found particularly tough).”
- “This part of the game serves absolutely no purpose and this is where you see the developer was more focused on aesthetics than gameplay as the pillars you must hide behind are translucent to a degree and make it very difficult to tell if you are behind it or not.”
- “The isometric art style makes this pretty annoying, and just isn't very fun compared to the rest of the game and there are a couple sections like this.”
story
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
84%
7%
The game's story is minimal and largely ambiguous, relying on player interpretation rather than explicit dialogue or text, which some players find unsatisfying. While the atmosphere and art style are praised, the lack of a fleshed-out narrative makes it difficult to connect with the characters or feel a sense of accomplishment. Overall, the story serves more as a backdrop to the gameplay, which remains the primary focus.
- “You can tell that there's talent in every department: the music sets up the mood so well, the art style and storytelling are simple but delightful and effective, and the gameplay is the right mix of fun and challenging.”
- “I can appreciate why it took Nico nearly 5+ years to make a hand-crafted, level-based game with stylish storytelling where every chapter introduces new mechanics and maintains great scenario variety.”
- “Plus, I feel like it conveys tone well even without an explicit narrative, leaving enough to get you interested and try to map your own story onto the game.”
- “This alludes to a story, but without any text or dialogue, you'd have to infer the meaning of anything yourself.”
- “There's very little in the way of story and characterization, which is a shame as it's harder to get attached to our heroine or her nemesis, who are the only major characters in the game.”
- “If you care most about story, there is little to be found here - or, rather, there's nothing explicit about the story, and it's up to your own interpretation on what it's actually about.”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find enjoyment in revisiting the core gameplay and striving for better performance, many criticize the lack of additional content, modes, or challenges that would enhance replay value. The short length and repetitive nature of rooms and enemies contribute to a general sentiment that replayability is limited, though some suggest that future updates could improve this aspect significantly. Overall, the game offers minimal replay value as it stands, with potential for growth if new features are introduced.
- “Short but sweet, and plenty of replay value to go with it; it's chock full of pure eye candy - what's not to love?”
- “I've come back to this game a few times and it has fun replayability as well.”
- “You'd barely make it out alive each time, so if there was some time-based or other record to strive for, that'd increase its replayability exponentially - maybe even making it similar to Slay the Spire (the main game plays only for an hour, but because you'd want to get better and better, you'd spend well over 20, 30 hours on it).”
- “It's short and there isn't any replay value either.”
- “There is no replay value at all outside of experiencing the core gameplay in the campaign again and there is no side content like an endless mode or Steam Workshop to compensate.”
- “There's not much replayability since the rooms and enemies are the same, and the solutions to each room tend to be intuitive and obvious (e.g. hide behind the boxes on the conveyor belts to avoid getting shot).”
atmosphere
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
43%
The atmosphere in the game is a mixed bag; while some players praise its flawless style and effective minimalist storytelling, others find the settings repetitive and lacking depth. The cyberpunk theme is appreciated by many, but the generic electronic soundtrack detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is engaging for fans of the genre, though it may not resonate with everyone.
- “It's got a sense of style and atmosphere that is darn near flawless.”
- “Lithium City is a wonderfully atmospheric isometric twin-stick action game.”
- “I love the atmosphere, the art style, the minimalist but still effective storytelling, and most of all, the gameplay.”
- “The atmosphere and setting for different levels are very repetitive and ordinary, with not a hint of story to be found.”
- “The soundtrack just doesn't fit this cyberpunk atmosphere as well as I hoped; for the most part, the game has a very generic electronic soundtrack that just doesn't work.”
- “The atmosphere feels lacking and fails to immerse the player in the intended experience.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
80%
Overall, the game is relatively stable and bug-free, with occasional glitches in cutscenes and some control issues reported. However, the developer is actively addressing these problems through updates, and many players have not encountered significant issues themselves.
- “The game is relatively bug-free.”
- “I haven't encountered any major glitches during my playthrough.”
- “The stability of the game allows for a smooth and enjoyable experience.”
- “At times, the cutscenes can get glitched and they freeze up the game.”
- “The controls tend to be a bit buggy; I almost beat the final boss because of a bug that let me float in space!”
- “This might be the saddest negative review I've ever written, because this game is not overall terrible, poorly made, or buggy at all.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some sections, particularly involving the helicopter, can become tedious and overly difficult, the game overall avoids unnecessary padding and grinding, maintaining a more streamlined experience.
- “I think everyone who has played this will probably agree that when the helicopter shows up, it gets tedious, overtly difficult, and the windows to dodge its bullets are too tight.”
- “Instead, it devolves into a tedious game of tag where you hit her, she runs away, she hits you, then you run away.”
- “In stark contrast to most modern games, Lithium City does not artificially prolong itself by diluting the experience through padding and grinding.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is subtle yet effective, often emerging from chaotic gameplay and unexpected enemy encounters that elicit genuine laughter. Players appreciate the blend of humor with the game's aesthetic and mechanics, particularly enjoying the comedic aspects of certain weapons, like the light disc, which adds to the overall enjoyment and chaos.
- “It's very well put together, with a bleeding-cool aesthetic, a deep library of sound effects, a spectacular soundtrack, general badassery on the part of the mute protagonist, and just a tiny dash of humor, mixed with a simple mechanic that comes together into a really good game.”
- “My favorite weapon by far was the light disc; that thing is hilarious, and the levels with it are just pure, unadulterated chaos.”
- “The game does surprise you at certain points with the enemies and battle situations, in a way that always brought a smile to my face or had me laughing because I should have seen it coming.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is highlighted by significant improvements in female character designs, alongside a rich world and background lore that players gradually uncover, contributing to an engaging overall experience.
- “The character designs, world, and background lore that you gain a basic understanding of through playing is what makes this game great.”
- “Shortly after, the female character designs greatly improve.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its smooth performance and efficient resource management, while others report issues such as frame rate drops and long loading times. Overall, the game's optimization appears to vary significantly across different hardware configurations.
- “The game runs poorly on even high-end systems, making it frustrating to play.”
- “I experienced constant frame drops and stuttering, which ruined the immersion.”
- “The optimization is so bad that loading times are longer than the actual gameplay.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Music plays a crucial role in evoking emotions in players, significantly influencing their immersion and overall experience in the game. Its effectiveness can often determine the game's emotional impact and value.
- “Music in games is a massive driving force to emotionally move the player, and can be a determining factor in whether the game is worth immersing oneself in or not.”