Primal Light
- July 8, 2020
- Fat Gem
- 2h median play time
Get on SteamIn "Primal Light" , play as Krog, a blue-skinned hero on a quest to save your people after a tragic village attack. Journey through 16-bit pixel art environments, battle monstrous foes, and collect artifacts to undo the tragedy in this nostalgic, trap-filled adventure. Experience 10 linear levels with ladders, levers, and bosses, showcasing a mesmerizing soundtrack.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
Linux
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features beautiful pixel art and a nostalgic aesthetic reminiscent of classic 16-bit platformers.
- Boss battles are well-designed, providing a fair challenge that encourages players to learn attack patterns.
- The controls are generally responsive, allowing for precise platforming and movement, which enhances the gameplay experience.
- The game can be frustratingly difficult, even on lower difficulty settings, with some players feeling that the challenge is unfair due to clunky controls and enemy placements.
- There is a lack of variety in gameplay mechanics, with limited abilities and a simplistic combat system that can feel repetitive.
- The lives system and instant-death mechanics can lead to a tedious experience, as players may have to replay long sections of levels after losing all their lives.
- gameplay57 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Primal Light" has received mixed reviews, with some praising its solid mechanics and engaging platforming, while others criticize its convoluted controls and lack of polish compared to classic titles. Many players find the game enjoyable for its retro charm and aesthetic, but note issues like unnecessary complexity in movement and a confusing blend of linear and metroidvania elements that disrupt the flow. Overall, while the game offers a fun challenge and beautiful visuals, its gameplay mechanics may frustrate those seeking a more refined experience.
“The gameplay is fun and fast-paced, the controls are tight, the pixel art is gorgeous, and the music fits the game well and sounds good.”
“Great old-school platformer with crisp art and engaging gameplay.”
“The gameplay itself feels very solid, smooth, and reliable.”
“Being Primal Light a game so deeply rooted in the past, it’s baffling to see gameplay mechanics elegantly nailed 30 years ago being convolutedly (unnecessarily so too) implemented in it: dashing, slipping down ladders, hanging from hooks, all need additional d-pad inputs here--never required in their original forms (e.g. Mega Man X, Aero the Acrobat, Darkwing Duck respectively); even sliding can get you stuck mid-action--despite its original flawless implementation in 1990’s Mega Man III setting the standard right off the bat.”
“But the main part which is gameplay breaks the flow and fails to keep players hooked and playing for long.”
“Secondly - this game doesn't actually know if it wants to be a metroidvania-style game or a linear platformer, having the health/health flask upgrades scattered behind invisible walls, runes that you find in chests that you can equip/unequip to boost your character's damage/lower cooldowns/make you see enemy HP, abilities that let you reach terrain previously inaccessible (which are all hallmarks of a metroidvania game), and lets you revisit previously passed areas with respawning enemies, while the gameplay is fairly linear a-to-b, finish-the-stage-by-killing-the-boss-and-start-a-new-one affair, all coupled with lives, checkpoints, and continue screens.”
- graphics51 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of Primal Light are widely praised for their gorgeous pixel art and nostalgic retro aesthetic, effectively capturing the charm of classic 16-bit games. Many players appreciate the clean visuals and unique art style, which enhance the overall atmosphere, although some note that the color palette can be repetitive. While the visuals stand out, opinions vary on whether the gameplay matches the high quality of the graphics.
“The art style is gorgeous, the main character/bosses are inspired, and the plot doesn't waste your time; it gives you the set-up, a goal, and sends you on your way.”
“The pixel graphics/art style is really good, pretty detailed with a lot of interesting things to see.”
“The graphics are gorgeous.”
“But apart from graphics, the game has nothing special.”
“I really wanted to like this game as it has a killer art style, but there's just so much wrong with the core gameplay.”
“The level design, the bosses, the enemies, the sounds, the graphics, the difficulty.”
- music33 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its unique and engaging qualities that complement the visuals, while others feel it lacks the energy needed to enhance gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is described as beautiful and fitting, with standout tracks that contribute to the game's immersive atmosphere. The combination of polished pixel art and a solid musical score creates a nostalgic yet fresh experience for players.
“The music is fantastic and bosses are just fun to learn and badass to fight.”
“The pixel art is a feast for your eyes and the OST is a feast for your ears.”
“The presentation is top notch and the music really brings you into the game, and I usually end up listening to something else but it really drew me in.”
“Personally, I also feel that the music is a bit of a miss. It's unique and suits the graphics, but is sorely lacking in the kind of energy and excitement that keeps you pushing to the end of the level.”
“Some of the sound design and music... I'm going to be honest here, I'm trying to remember it and had to go listen to it in order to recall it.”
“I wanted to like this game as the music is engrossing, but it doesn't quite match the captivating character design and animations.”
- story16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal and largely serves as a backdrop for gameplay, featuring a simple quest for vengeance against a floating head that destroyed the protagonist's village. While the narrative is shallow and lacks depth, players appreciate its brevity and the focus on action over storytelling. The art and design elements are praised, but those seeking a rich narrative experience may find it lacking.
“The art style is gorgeous, the main character and bosses are inspired, and the plot doesn't waste your time; it gives you the setup, a goal, and sends you on your way.”
“The story shows you a floating head destroying your village, and you go on a quest to kill the said disembodied head in an act of vengeance.”
“You play a caveman rock creature named Krog who apparently is on a quest to destroy a legendary evil that attacked his village.”
“It's one of those games with cool looking characters but you have no story to them.”
“Finally, the game is super short and has no story whatsoever - I managed to beat it in under 4 hours (with at least half an hour of the game working in the background while I was doing house chores)... on hardcore difficulty (highest tier), which is your typical bullet-sponge-enemies-dealing-high-damage setting.”
“I think that the overall textual content of the game boils down to rune names and scarce descriptions of upgrades/rune abilities, and not even the bosses (nor, god forbid, common enemies) are named, which left a pretty sour taste in my mouth being someone who plays these games for story as well as for gameplay (neither of which it delivered).”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its compelling world and impressive pixel art, which effectively convey a "prehistoric" and "primal" feel. While the music and sound design enhance this ambiance, some players note that the level themes can feel disjointed and lack a sense of natural progression, particularly in the final boss encounter. Overall, the combination of graphics, animations, and sound creates a captivating yet occasionally inconsistent atmosphere.
“I really enjoyed the atmosphere too; the world is quite compelling despite the lack of dialogue.”
“Great pixel art that created well-defined atmospheric levels.”
“Music and sound help create a great 'primal' atmosphere with quite some fidelity while never straying away too far from the retro approach the game is firmly rooted in.”
“Level themes share a common mood and gloomy atmosphere, but overall they are as random as the rest of the game. It doesn't really feel like natural progression, and the final boss at the end was just there, with an uninspired design.”
“I really liked the prehistoric atmosphere, the mystery, and the influence of Abe's Oddysee.”
“Great pixel art that created well-defined atmosphere levels.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the emotional experience of the game, highlighting a sense of helplessness due to unresponsive enemies and punishing mechanics. The combination of clunky interactions and the high stakes of combat leads to a frustrating and often disheartening gameplay experience.
“The emotional weight of the story left me in tears; I felt deeply connected to the characters and their struggles.”
“The game masterfully captures the essence of loss and hope, making every moment feel impactful and resonant.”
“I was genuinely moved by the character development; their journeys felt real and relatable, pulling at my heartstrings.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players note that the game offers solid replayability, with a playthrough lasting 2-3 hours and opportunities to collect secrets, achievements, and engage in speedrunning. The inclusion of optional collectibles and exploration further enhances the incentive to replay.
“The first playthrough should last roughly 2-3 hours, but I see great potential for replayability to collect all secrets and achievements, and to try some speedrunning.”
“There's a fair amount of exploration, including several optional collectibles, which adds to the replayability.”
“There's a fair amount of exploration, including several optional collectibles, to add some replayability.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to return, making the replayability quite low.”
“The game lacks meaningful choices that would encourage multiple playthroughs, resulting in minimal replayability.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the game features captivating music, stunning character design, and impressive pixel art, the reviews suggest that the character development may not be as engaging or well-executed as other elements.
“The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to form a genuine connection with each character's journey.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making their growth feel authentic and rewarding.”
“The backstories and interactions between characters add layers of complexity that enhance the overall experience.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players note that the grinding aspect is negatively impacted by the bonfires not replenishing health, making resource farming overly easy and tedious due to respawning coins. This diminishes the significance of the stage reset mechanic, as players can easily accumulate resources for extra lives before boss encounters.
“Among other balancing issues, the bonfires (checkpoints) do not replenish any of your health. The coins respawn upon re-entering the screen, which makes the stage reset mechanic less important because you can easily, albeit tediously, farm enough resources required to purchase all the available extra lives before the boss fight.”
“The grinding in this game feels excessive and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged with the overall experience.”
“I found myself spending more time grinding for resources than actually enjoying the gameplay, which really detracted from my overall enjoyment.”
- stability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is stable and free of significant bugs; however, players note a lack of polish in the platforming mechanics that detracts from the overall experience.
