Lost Eidolons
- October 12, 2022
- Ocean Drive Studio, Inc.
- 31h median play time
Those who prefer strategic role-playing games will find a lot to like in Lost Eidolons, while its many existing strengths make it one of the finest SRPGs of 2022.
"Lost Eidolons" is a tactical RPG set in a fantasy world with a focus on strategic combat and party management. Players control a group of mercenaries in a rebellion against a tyrannical empire, with turn-based battles requiring planning and quick decision-making. The game also features character customization and a branching story with multiple endings based on choices made throughout the game.
Reviews
- Engaging story with well-developed characters that keeps players invested.
- Enjoyable turn-based tactical combat with a variety of classes and spells.
- High-quality graphics and voice acting that enhance the overall experience.
- Repetitive side missions with limited map variety that can become tedious.
- Awkward pacing with excessive dialogue and cutscenes that disrupt gameplay flow.
- Some gameplay mechanics, like the boss damage reduction when allies are present, can feel frustrating and unfair.
- story794 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of "Lost Eidolons" has received mixed feedback, with many players appreciating its engaging characters and plot twists, while others criticize its linearity and pacing issues. Although the narrative starts off slow and can feel repetitive, it reportedly improves as the game progresses, offering a blend of familiar fantasy tropes and unique elements. However, some players feel that the dialogue and character development are lacking, leading to a disconnect between gameplay and story outcomes, particularly in how character choices impact the narrative.
“The story is engaging, the gameplay is absolutely awesome.”
“The story was far more interesting than I'd expected, with twists and flawed characters.”
“The story is enticing, with a good solid cast of characters.”
“The story is very linear, you're basically on rails versus your decisions affecting the outcome.”
“The story felt very well put together with multiple forks that influence your endings, but it has a lot of plot holes, plot points that are hyped just to be ignored later on.”
“The story is horrendous... game of thrones season 8 bad.”
- gameplay229 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Lost Eidolons" is a blend of tactical turn-based combat and RPG mechanics, drawing heavy inspiration from the Fire Emblem series. While many players appreciate the strategic depth and unique mechanics, such as the camp interactions and elemental magic, there are criticisms regarding the linearity, pacing, and some frustrating mechanics, particularly related to boss encounters and the relationship-building system. Overall, the gameplay is seen as solid but could benefit from more variety and polish to enhance the overall experience.
“The gameplay is amazing (there are some serious difficulty spikes in the later half, so be careful).”
“The core gameplay loop consists of fighting a tactical battle, sitting through some cut scenes showing developments before and/or after the battle, then spending time in camp where you do some small quests, talk to your companions, buy or sell equipment, and occasionally deal with other new developments that may happen.”
“Great tactical gameplay, RPG customization, and the story takes some surprisingly deep turns.”
“While the gameplay provides a decent experience, it only offers a fraction of the depth found in Fire Emblem.”
“However, I just can't recommend it because of the poor writing, dull linear gameplay, and combat system.”
“The mechanics for improving relationships with companions felt less impactful and did not significantly enhance the gameplay experience.”
- graphics125 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received largely positive feedback, with many players praising the high-quality visuals, realistic character designs, and impressive armor aesthetics. While the medieval aesthetic and overall art style are appreciated, some critiques focus on the animations, particularly during character interactions, which can appear stiff or repetitive. Overall, the game is noted for its beautiful graphics that enhance the immersive experience, especially for a title in its price range.
“The graphics are high quality and much more than what you would expect from a game of this level, surpassing those of a lot of AA games from reputable studios.”
“Graphics are awesome and it runs smooth on the Steam Deck, no issues so far.”
“It's honestly a very visually appealing turn-based game, graphics and art-wise.”
“Additionally, the abilities, particularly spells, fail to deliver the 'wow' factor in terms of graphics.”
“The fire emblem inspirations are apparent throughout the entire game, which is a good thing, but the game feels kind of shallow because effort and resources were poured into things like graphics that really do nothing in the flat and static way dialogue is handled and dominates the majority of your play time.”
“They needed a different art style altogether for their characters, as facial expressions are practically non-existent and you are stuck with wooden dolls.”
- music41 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional depth of the story, while others find it somewhat forgettable or repetitive. Some standout moments are noted, but overall, the music is described as fitting the game's mood without leaving a lasting impression. Voice acting is generally well-received, though it is sometimes hindered by the script, impacting the overall experience.
“The game's soundtrack also sounds nice and somewhat epic, and complements the various battles nicely.”
“The music does a decent job highlighting the mood at any given time, although no tracks particularly stood out as good or bad to me.”
“The music was wonderful.”
“The atmospheric music fails to stick in your head unlike FE music.”
“Soundtracks are quite forgettable except for a few.”
“Music is there, but nothing noteworthy.”
- grinding20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- -10 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight that grinding in the game can be excessively tedious and repetitive, particularly during battles and camp interactions. While some players appreciate the variety in main missions, many find the bonus missions and character dialogues to be long and unengaging, leading to frustration. Additionally, the lack of traditional grinding mechanics limits player progression and experimentation with classes, which some players view as a missed opportunity for deeper gameplay.
“I'm having a blast with this game! It would be great to have more grinding experience, but I believe the developers are listening to the community. I hope they continue to add content, even in DLC, to make the game even better.”
“The grinding mechanics in this game are engaging and rewarding, making the journey feel worthwhile.”
“I appreciate how the grinding system encourages exploration and character development, adding depth to the gameplay.”
“As with all the base games, however, the battles can be very long and tedious.”
“It quickly becomes tedious and although most of it is optional, you'll lose out on helpful rewards if you choose not to suffer.”
“Its a torture knowing it's just going to be the same thing over and over again; I have to go through this because of grinding/quest but it was all too easy compared to main story battles and not enjoyable at all.”
- character development16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the solid integration of character arcs and rapport systems that allow for interaction and influence, while others criticize the lack of depth and control over character progression. Many players appreciate the effort put into character designs, but feel that the generic nature and limited dialogue for some companions detract from the overall experience. Overall, while there are enjoyable elements, the character development may not meet the expectations of those seeking a more dynamic and impactful narrative.
“On the other hand, the plot and character development is a big strong point.”
“Character development is mostly done through a rapport system where, in-between missions, you are able to initiate conversations with your units/friends.”
“As yet only on chapter 7 but enjoying the high level of character interaction and the ability to influence character development.”
“The next issue for me was the character development.”
“Eden, the lead character, leader of a mercenary band, behaves and talks like an introverted 12-year-old child; maybe there is character development hidden somewhere along the story arc, but I'm definitely not staying that long to find it out.”
“Too many companions and not enough character development; some of them don't even talk.”
- optimization15 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization of the game has received mixed reviews. While some players report good performance with no bugs or crashes, others experience significant issues, particularly on lower-end systems and the Steam Deck, including crashes, stuttering cutscenes, and inconsistent frame rates. Many users express a need for improved menu management and overall optimization to enhance the gaming experience.
“Performance is really good, no bugs, no crashes.”
“Some maps run better than others if your machine is not the best tech, but overall a pleasant experience performance-wise.”
“Good performance on Steam Deck as well.”
“I faced a problem of game crashes and bad optimization on the Steam Deck.”
“Needs more optimization; my PC with a Ryzen 2700X and 2080 Ti struggles to load some scenes and barely achieves 60 FPS at 4K.”
“I usually never thumb down a game I didn't play for at least a few hours, but since I got really tired of unoptimized games and unfinished products released like finished ones, I'll make an exception for this one and probably ask for a refund.”
- atmosphere11 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a low fantasy aesthetic that emphasizes serious storytelling and character development, creating an immersive experience with a war camp setting and believable characters. While the graphics and ambiance music are praised, some players find the gloomy mood and ludo-narrative dissonance detracting from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the game successfully builds a solid atmosphere, though opinions vary on its effectiveness and engagement.
“Honorable work: a lot of action sequences, solid surrounding support model inclusion, and a solid atmosphere gives Lost Eidolon a good presentation.”
“Overall, I enjoy the atmosphere, the story, and the art.”
“An immersive, atmospheric war camp with a large cast of well-written characters and dialogues.”
“The anime heroic fantasy aesthetic is replaced by a low fantasy atmosphere, which is a double-edged sword.”
“I'm sorry, but no... this is just too bad. It's European in atmosphere and setting, but it has a Japanese feel to it, and plays like it was made for a phone.”
“There is a lot of talking... a lot. Though to be fair, they're trying to build a war and create an atmosphere.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability has been a point of contention among users, with many feeling that it lacks variety and choices for multiple playthroughs. However, the addition of a new game+ mode has been noted as a positive step towards enhancing replay value, providing some incentive for players to revisit the game.
“Update: A new game+ mode has been added for extra replay value.”
“This would fit that criteria and add some extra replayability to the game.”
“It has some replay value as well.”
“This definitely needed more variety and choice as a replayability issue.”
“As for replayability, I don't see this as being an RPG you're going to play a second time.”
“Yet, none of them are playable.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, featuring some genuinely funny moments and engaging character interactions, particularly in the extra content like notes and books. However, the dialogue often falls into cringe-worthy clichés and stereotypes, which some players found amusing in a negative way. Overall, while the humor can enhance the experience, it may not be the primary draw for all players.
“It isn't emotionally gripping, but the characters' motivations and decisions make sense, and there are funny moments.”
“You'll find yourself very engaged in this, and there are a lot of nice little additions in the 'extra' stuff they've added (loved reading the notes and books that people leave around; there are some funny things in those).”
“I made Klara a vanguard and... I dunno, it looks hilarious on her.”
- stability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is commendable for a first title from a small studio, with minimal glitches and a polished experience. However, as it is in early access, some bugs and freezing issues have been reported, particularly in specific areas, though the developers are actively addressing these problems.
“Overall, I will give the studio another shot on their next title because for a first game, it is very polished, bug-free, and had some great ideas.”
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes or major bugs, which is impressive for a debut title.”
“I was pleasantly surprised by the stability; it felt like a well-established game rather than a first attempt.”
“It is in early access, so there are some bugs, and the game freezes in camp and in the jail. That being said, the devs are working out all the kinks and making improvements on a pretty regular basis.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is generally viewed as lacking depth, though the characters' motivations are coherent and the story is heartfelt, complemented by strong voice acting. While it features humorous moments, a larger budget could have enhanced its emotional impact through more immersive scenes.
“Linear but heartfelt story, great voice acting.”
“I think, had they had perhaps a larger budget, they could have made some really emotional scenes that would have made it more immersive.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers express a desire for more meaningful content and experiences in games, criticizing the prevalence of exploitative monetization strategies that prioritize profit over player engagement.
“We need more of this and fewer soulless cash grabs.”
“The monetization model feels exploitative and detracts from the overall experience.”
“It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls.”
Critic Reviews
Lost Eidolons PC Review
Those who prefer strategic role-playing games will find a lot to like in Lost Eidolons, while its many existing strengths make it one of the finest SRPGs of 2022.
88%Lost Eidolons Review
Lost Eidolons is a tactical RPG that takes time to become attached to. However, once you start to get the swing of things you may just become hooked.
75%Lost Eidolons review — A worthy yet flawed indie strategy RPG
It's hard not to respect and get swept up in the ambition of Lost Eidolons, where even the flaws and mediocre presentation is made worthwhile with some competent, classic SRPG gameplay.
80%