Lords of Exile

85%
Game Brain Score Based on 80 reviews
  • music
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Lords of Exile Game Cover
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In "Lords of Exile" , players traverse 8 levels of linear design as a cursed knight named Gabriel, battling creatures of the night and samurais in ancient Far Eastern lands. With a variety of mechanics, from throwing weapons to melee combat, players face off against powerful bosses and gain new skills to enhance abilities. Upon completing the game as Gabriel, players can unlock two additional game modes and play as Lyria, offering a distinct gameplay experience.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

85%
Audience ScoreBased on 80 reviews
music21 positive mentions
grinding5 negative mentions
  • The game features great music and a charming retro aesthetic that captures the essence of classic 8-bit games.
  • Gameplay is enjoyable with solid platforming mechanics and a fair challenge, especially with the inclusion of checkpoints that prevent frustration.
  • The level design is varied and creative, with unique bosses that provide a satisfying experience, particularly for fans of the genre.
  • The difficulty is inconsistent, with many enemies and bosses being too easy, while the final boss presents a significant spike in challenge that can feel frustrating.
  • Controls can feel clunky at times, particularly with the double jump mechanic, which may lead to accidental deaths during platforming sections.
  • The game lacks replay value and additional content, making it feel short and potentially forgettable after completing it.
  • music39 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchy, high-quality tracks that enhance the overall experience. The soundtrack is described as a blend of nostalgic chiptune and modern influences, fitting well with the gameplay and evoking a strong retro vibe. Overall, the music stands out as a highlight, making the game enjoyable even for those who may not be as engaged with other aspects.

    • “The music is very good; each track is nice to listen to and fits with the game so well.”
    • “Great old school feeling game with tight controls, great visuals, fantastic soundtrack with some really fun levels and bosses.”
    • “Absolute fire soundtrack, great aesthetic, nods to the classics, and so on.”
    • “The game presents well to start and has a solid soundtrack, but it feels hollow.”
    • “The game also ripped off Cyber Shadow's stage 2: disposal facility soundtrack.”
    • “Lords of Exile pretty much made Cyber Shadow's level 2 music the entire theme tune for the whole game.”
  • graphics21 mentions

    The graphics of "Lords of Exile" are highly praised for their detailed pixel art style, effectively capturing the nostalgic essence of classic 1980s games. Each level features diverse and visually appealing designs, from ghost ships to castles, enhancing the overall experience. While the retro aesthetic is celebrated, some players noted a lack of display options, which could have further enriched the visual presentation.

    • “The pixel graphic art style is really good, very detailed with a nice use of colors, designs, and scenery that really captures the look and feel of classic 1980s games. The levels are very good; each level is quite diverse, from a ghost ship to a castle to even the inside of a monster, and each one makes you just want to stop and look at everything.”
    • “The graphics look charming with the retro style.”
    • “The game is easier than NES Castlevania, but with similar graphics.”
    • “The graphics and audio are all a treat, and it is very satisfying to play.”
    • “The game has an extremely convincing NES-era aesthetic and incentivizes methodical gameplay.”
  • gameplay20 mentions

    The gameplay is generally praised for its balance of challenge and accessibility, reminiscent of classic 1980s side-scrollers, with engaging mechanics and enjoyable platforming. However, some players noted issues with specific mechanics, such as inconsistent double jumps and overused features that detract from the overall experience. While the game offers a nostalgic aesthetic and solid action platforming, it could benefit from more innovative level design and refined gameplay elements.

    • “Now then let’s get into the likes, the gameplay is really good. It's your traditional side scroller: get from point A to point B while killing enemies and bosses, sort of like old school side scrollers. But unlike those old school side scrollers that were stupidly hard, here this game has the right balance of being hard but fair. All it takes is learning the controls and soon you'll be able to become a master of the game.”
    • “Okay now that I'm finished with that, Lords of Exile is a very good retro-styled action platformer that is a great love letter to classic 1980s platformers while improving on it, with really good gameplay, really good pixel graphic art style, and really good enemies and bosses. I highly recommend getting this game if you're interested in school-styled side scrollers.”
    • “In fact, the gameplay feels very close to perfection.”
    • “This intentional mechanic caused me to miss jumps more often than I'd like and could benefit from some adjustment.”
    • “50% of said difficulty comes from the double jump just downright deciding, despite being a required mechanic, 'nah, I don't feel like activating right now, guess you'll just die.'”
    • “You unlock summons that help you traverse levels, but they equate to holding the button to charge up abilities to 'pull me over a big hole' and 'slice block in your way,' both of which seem implemented not as a means to benefit the gameplay, but as a way from having the players finish the game within the 2-hour return window.”
  • story10 mentions

    The story in "Lords of Exile" is generally considered decent but lacks depth, with players noting that it feels minimal and often unclear, especially regarding character backstories. While the game features a second character, Lyria, her narrative is revealed too late, leaving players wanting more context from the start. Overall, the focus seems to be more on gameplay and music rather than a compelling storyline.

    • “Some really great music, decent story, and good gameplay.”
    • “Also when you beat the game as Gabriel, you unlock another character, a ninja girl named Lyria, who can run and has projectile weapons and her own story.”
    • “Short story - I highly recommend for retro game lovers, and the soundtrack I recommend for anyone who loves great game music.”
    • “Also for the ninja girl Lyria, I wish they had a backstory for her in the beginning; we only find out her story way later in the game, so when we play as her, it would have been appreciated to know what her deal is.”
    • “You play through the same stages, fight the same (mini) bosses, and have basically no difference in story.”
    • “The story is barely there, and I'm not even sure I understood it or how the levels and characters were related to each other.”
  • grinding5 mentions

    Players find the grinding in the game to be tedious, particularly due to frequent delays and the need for constant assistance from a character, which disrupts the flow of gameplay. While some appreciate the absence of traditional grinding mechanics and backtracking, others feel that certain gameplay elements can become repetitive and slow down the experience.

    • “At first the game was good, but later on it became too tedious.”
    • “It's like every 10 seconds you need this guy to clear the path for you, and considering that there's several seconds of delay between each of his shots, it can feel very tedious at times.”
    • “Gimmicks that rely on these JoJo stand powers become tedious really fast, by slowing down gameplay.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is criticized for being low due to a lack of content, with some users suggesting that shorter games should compensate with high replay value. While a few players found it enjoyable and noted decent replay value, the consensus leans towards disappointment in this aspect compared to other titles like "Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon."

    • “Short but great with good replay value.”
    • “I don't mind shorter games, but they really need to have very high replay value, and this one does not.”
    • “What really drags it down is the lack of content and replay value.”
    • “Buy Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon (1 & 2), they are better than this game and offer more replayability.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is initially light-hearted and enjoyable, but it takes a sharp turn towards frustration and difficulty as players approach the final levels, which can detract from the overall experience.

    • “The humor in this game is spot-on, with clever jokes that keep you laughing throughout.”
    • “I love how the game balances its challenging moments with hilarious dialogue and situations.”
    • “The quirky characters and their witty banter add a delightful layer of humor to the gameplay.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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