Reaper: Tale of a Pale Swordsman
- February 7, 2014
- Hexage
Reaper doesn't switch up the platform genre much, but the visuals are great and the gameplay will sure to keep you having fun for hours.
Reaper: Tale of a Pale Swordsman is an action-packed, side-scrolling role-playing game. Fight against numerous enemies with various weapons and abilities, while exploring a beautifully designed pixel art world. Upgrade your character, customize your loadout, and uncover the truth behind the pale swordsman's past in this engaging indie title.
Reviews
- The game features beautiful art and a charming story that many players find engaging.
- It is a fun and casual time-passer, making it suitable for players looking for a low-stakes gaming experience.
- The combat system, while flawed, can be enjoyable once players adapt to its mechanics.
- The combat system is overly simplistic and often feels tedious, with auto-attacks and limited enemy variety leading to repetitive gameplay.
- The game is a direct mobile port, resulting in clunky controls and a lack of depth compared to other PC titles.
- The level design is criticized for being linear and filled with frustrating elements, such as pits and unbalanced enemy encounters.
- story65 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players finding it engaging and well-written, particularly in its later stages, while others criticize it for being generic and overly fragmented due to the frequent battles. Many appreciate the art direction and humor, but the pacing and repetitive quest structure detract from the overall narrative experience. Overall, while the story has its moments and can be enjoyable, it often feels overshadowed by gameplay mechanics and a lack of depth.
“This game is wonderful; it has good writing, an interesting setting, and a compelling story.”
“The story is engaging and well-written, with just enough dialogue to keep you interested without overwhelming you.”
“It has great pacing, as you will engage in a hard-fought battle or two and then be treated to some fun and interesting storyline segments in between.”
“The story does nothing to keep you with it and is dull.”
“Well, right there I'll say that if you like the kind of complex stories that RPGs are generally known for, this story is going to feel a bit like 'plot, what plot?' There basically isn't a plot.”
“This game is highly repetitive with a slap on story and game mechanics, and nothing you do in the game really matters other than trying to complete it.”
- graphics28 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the colorful and appealing art style, which enhances the overall experience. However, some players criticize the lack of graphical settings and bland visuals in certain aspects, leading to a perception of slow performance. Overall, while the artwork is often highlighted as a strong point, the execution of gameplay mechanics sometimes detracts from the visual appeal.
“Beautiful graphics.”
“I think you really should buy this, it escalates really fast and has amazing graphics.”
“The first time I tried this game on my Android phone, I was blown away; never before had I seen such a great game with such a colorful and excellent art style.”
“Not sure why this game has zero graphical settings, but it loads and plays like it's in slow motion. It was the same on all three gaming computers I tried.”
“Bland graphics, boring and uninspiring gameplay, and less than four tracks of music for the entirety of the game.”
“Espionage, counter-espionage, and even a little double agent play join it with the somewhat whimsical visuals and slightly clunky mechanics.”
- gameplay24 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it bland and repetitive, criticizing its clunky mechanics and lack of depth. Others appreciate the visual appeal and solid controls, noting that it can be enjoyable for casual play despite its mobile roots. Overall, while the game offers a decent amount of content, many feel it lacks polish and fails to deliver a compelling experience.
“Visually pleasing, mechanic stable and extremely fun to play; you can easily spend hours just playing this and relax.”
“The artwork is good, gameplay is good (i.e., the story isn't slow, it doesn't get too repetitive), and the controls are alright.”
“Otherwise, the movement is very solid and responsive, and you can get a really good flow, which is needed with the combat mechanics mentioned above.”
“Bland graphics, boring and uninspiring gameplay and less than four tracks of music for the entirety of the game.”
“This game is highly repetitive with a slapdash story and game mechanics, and nothing you do in the game really matters other than trying to complete it.”
“Terrible controls, annoying gameplay, poor game mechanics.”
- music11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some praise the phenomenal soundtrack by kubatko for enhancing the overall experience and setting the tone during gameplay, others criticize the limited number of tracks and find the music insufficient to elevate the otherwise bland graphics and gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is noted as a highlight, but it may not be enough to compensate for other shortcomings in the game.
“The music is phenomenal and really sets the tone, both in combat and out in the world.”
“However once you get the hang of combat it is enjoyable and the music is downright awesome!”
“The hand-drawn art is amazing and the soundtrack is even better.”
“Music is just there; there is one track for the menus, another for the world map in 'story mode,' and another one for combat.”
“Unfortunately, it was not worth the few bucks considering the only decent thing about it is the music, and I do not buy games to sit back and listen to music.”
“Can't even play this game; it starts up with nothing but black and white blocks with music in the background.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its wit and ability to elicit genuine laughter, with many players highlighting the funny dialogue and interactions between characters. While some find the humor occasionally stale, it generally adds to the game's charm and enjoyment, contributing to its status as a fun and engaging platformer/RPG.
“It's a super-fun platformer/RPG with beautiful detail, witty humor, a moving story, and an awesome soundtrack by Kubatko.”
“Just some of the conversations had me laughing on the floor.”
“The dialogues between characters are quite funny.”
- grinding7 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often describing the combat as stale and overly lengthy, particularly during quests that require multiple fights. While some appreciate the level of difficulty and the game's overall fun factor, many feel that the grinding detracts from the experience, making it unnecessarily long and dull.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The fights are very tedious and it takes about 3 fights per quest.”
“Combat system is tedious.”
“It's repetitive and tedious, gets dull fast; do I need to say more?”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is criticized for its extremely linear design, resulting in zero replayability value. Players feel that once completed, there is little incentive to revisit the game.
“Extremely linear with zero replayability value.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to play it again.”
“The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying the game feel pointless.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the emotional intensity of the game, highlighting the challenging gameplay that evokes feelings of stress and vulnerability, particularly when faced with overwhelming enemy attacks.
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its captivating and engaging qualities, contributing significantly to the overall experience.
“The atmosphere of the game is incredibly immersive and captivating.”
“The game's atmosphere draws you in, making you feel like you're part of a living, breathing world.”
“Every detail contributes to the rich atmosphere, creating a unique and unforgettable experience.”