Reaper: Tale of a Pale Swordsman

62%
Game Brain Score Based on 325 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Reaper: Tale of a Pale Swordsman Game Cover
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.
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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.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Windows
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Ouya
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

62%
Audience ScoreBased on 325 reviews
story50 positive mentions
grinding12 negative mentions
  • The game features beautiful hand-drawn art and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • The combat system, while simple, can be engaging and fun, especially when utilizing the various abilities and upgrades available.
  • The story is entertaining and has moments of humor, making it enjoyable to progress through the quests.
  • The combat can feel tedious and repetitive, with a lack of variety in enemies and encounters leading to a monotonous experience.
  • Controls are clunky and often unresponsive, particularly when using a keyboard, which detracts from the gameplay experience.
  • The game is extremely linear with little to no replayability, as choices made during quests often lead to the same outcomes.
  • story130 mentions

    The game's story receives mixed reviews, 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 frequent combat interruptions. Many appreciate the art direction and humor, but feel that the narrative is often overshadowed by repetitive gameplay and tedious questing. Overall, while the story has its moments, it may not satisfy those seeking a deeply immersive or impactful narrative experience.

    • “This game is wonderful; it has good writing, an interesting setting, and a compelling story.”
    • “There is a pretty great story behind this one, and there's just enough dialogue to keep you interested as to see what unfolds next.”
    • “It really feels like the game had more passion put into the art direction and, dare I say, the story (which really starts to pick up around the end) than the main part of the game itself.”
    • “There's a very downer plot twist near the end that just makes no sense at all, and the ending itself is unsatisfying.”
    • “I've played a little over an hour of this and must say I was disappointed when I first started it; the story basically falls through because it's difficult to pay attention to since it flies by so quickly.”
    • “The story does nothing to keep you with it and is dull.”
  • graphics57 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the beautiful and colorful art style, while others criticize the lack of graphical settings and bland visuals. Many appreciate the whimsical and engaging artwork, which enhances the overall experience, but some find the gameplay frustrating despite the decent graphics. Overall, the visuals are often highlighted as a strong point, contributing positively to the game's 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.”
  • gameplay49 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive and uninspiring, often criticizing the clunky mechanics and poor controls. While some appreciate the visual appeal and the potential for casual enjoyment, others feel that the gameplay lacks depth and polish, making it less engaging overall. Despite its flaws, a few players noted that it can still provide hours of entertainment, particularly for those who enjoy a slower-paced experience.

    • “Visually pleasing, mechanically 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.”
    • “The gameplay was pretty boring with very simple combos to start with, mainly just having you sit there automatically wailing on enemies until you generate enough rage points to actually use a command to do damage.”
  • music22 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some praise the phenomenal soundtrack by Kubatko for its ability to set the tone during gameplay, others criticize the limited number of tracks, noting that it feels insufficient for the overall experience. Despite the lack of variety, many find the music enjoyable and immersive, enhancing the game's atmosphere. However, some players express disappointment, feeling that the music alone does not justify the game's shortcomings in graphics and gameplay.

    • “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.”
    • “Bland graphics, boring and uninspiring gameplay, and less than four tracks of music for the entirety of the game.”
  • humor16 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its wit and ability to elicit genuine laughter, with many players highlighting the funny dialogues and interactions between characters. While some find the humor occasionally stale, it remains a significant and enjoyable aspect of the overall experience, contributing to the game's charm and addictiveness.

    • “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.”
    • “This game is mega addicting, and the cynical humor makes me laugh.”
  • grinding14 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with many noting that combat encounters can become stale and unnecessarily lengthy, particularly during quests that require multiple fights in succession. While some appreciate the game's art and story, the grinding experience often detracts from overall enjoyment, leading to a sense of frustration and fatigue.

    • “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.”
    • “[spoiler] In the end, one eventually finds that the game becomes unnecessarily long and tedious as one of the final quests has you fight several tough encounters in a row, and that can include any random encounters you happen upon.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    The game is criticized for its lack of replayability, being described as extremely linear and offering no incentive for players to revisit it.

    • “Extremely linear with zero replayability value.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a sense of frustration and challenge, as players face overwhelming obstacles and enemies that create a heightened sense of tension and urgency. This difficulty can evoke strong feelings, making the gameplay experience both intense and emotionally charged.

  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its cool and engaging quality, creating an immersive experience for players.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

80% average critic score

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