Siralim
- July 20, 2015
- ThylacineStudios
- 18h median play time
Siralim is a deep RPG with light roguelike elements that allows you to summon and customize hundreds of creatures to fight in strategic battle. Fight your way through randomly generated dungeons and complete randomized quests. Find rare treasure and use it to upgrade your castle, empower your creatures, craft powerful artifacts, learn new spells, and much more. Features Randomly generated dungeo…
Reviews
- Deep and complex gameplay with a vast array of mechanics and customization options for monsters and equipment.
- Endless replayability with randomly generated dungeons and no level cap, allowing for continuous progression.
- Charming retro graphics and a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic monster-collecting games like Dragon Quest Monsters.
- Lack of a compelling story or direction, leading to a sense of aimlessness in gameplay.
- Can become grindy and repetitive, especially as players progress and face similar challenges.
- User interface issues, such as cumbersome menu navigation and lack of sound options, detract from the overall experience.
- story72 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely criticized for its lack of depth and progression, with many reviewers noting that it feels more like a grind than a narrative experience. While there are elements of flavor text and a basic premise involving monster taming, the overall plot is minimal and does not provide a compelling reason to engage with the game beyond its mechanics. Players who prioritize gameplay over story may find enjoyment, but those seeking a rich narrative will likely be disappointed.
“This game is a really great tribute to old monster taming games like the original Dragon Quest Monsters series.”
“Hundreds of monsters, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, tons of randomized dungeons to explore, lots of spells and items to use, and a rather tongue-in-cheek story about you succeeding your father as king of the land of Siralim and doing whatever it takes to ensure its prosperity.”
“If you like Dragon Quest Monsters or that sort of thing, obviously you'll like this.”
“There is some flavor text, often cynical and snarky, but nothing like a proper story, themes, or a well-developed setting.”
“The story is basically non-existent, so you will be disappointed if you are looking for some interesting plot or even your basic run-of-the-mill fantasy story.”
“My major complaint is that since it doesn't have anything resembling a story, after a while everything starts to get a bit samey; it's ultimately only a turn-based RPG after all.”
- gameplay48 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Siralim is characterized by its deep mechanics and extensive customization options, appealing primarily to players who enjoy complex systems and grinding. While the game offers a wealth of content and procedural generation, it can feel repetitive and overwhelming, especially for those seeking a narrative-driven experience. Overall, it excels in providing a satisfying gameplay loop for fans of turn-based RPGs, despite its simplistic graphics and lack of story.
“The game feels like it has Disgaea levels of content (near infinite), and the gameplay loop is ridiculously satisfying.”
“A fun retro-styled game whose simplistic presentation belies the rich and engaging depths of its mechanics.”
“What it lacks in story it more than makes up for with excellent mechanics and gameplay.”
“I've installed and played Siralim several times, always coming to the same conclusion: the game appears to have many mechanics, complexity, depth of customization, and lots of monsters to collect and power up... but in reality, it's just a lot of the same thing with different descriptions.”
“The graphics are respectable, but the gameplay is just slightly janky, with every dialog box needing to be confirmed by the player (including things like damage numbers in combat), and even then having a small delay before the confirm command can be input.”
“The game also is a huge time sink, and it takes a while to get going... mechanics are introduced slowly, and it'll be a big pile of hours before you see what the game can really do.”
- graphics32 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming old-school pixel art style that appeals to fans of retro aesthetics, reminiscent of Game Boy Color titles. While some players appreciate the unique and detailed designs, others find the simplistic graphics jarring and repetitive, particularly in dungeon environments. Overall, the graphics evoke nostalgia and are considered suitable for the gameplay experience, though opinions vary widely among players.
“The graphics are extremely old school pixel style yet each one feels unique and interesting.”
“This game is like a love letter to that style of game, beautiful retro graphics that would not be out of place on the Game Boy Color.”
“The graphics are similar to those good old GBC games and I am amazed at how the devs captured the color palette similar to the old games from the GBC.”
“When I started it up, I was disgusted at the graphics and I laughed at any idiot who would be dumb enough to play a modern game with such ugly graphics and simple gameplay.”
“Like Minecraft, the community says 'you'll get used to the graphics/art style' - the problem is that I never did get used to them; I still think they are fairly horrible and jarring.”
“The art style is nothing compared to any modern AAA game, but it is surely appropriate for the type of game, and if you are a fan of those old school sprites, then you will definitely love it.”
- grinding30 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is heavily focused on grinding, requiring players to engage in numerous battles for minimal rewards, which can feel tedious and repetitive. While some players appreciate the depth of strategy involved in team building and resource management, others find the lack of a compelling plot and the sheer volume of grinding overwhelming. Ultimately, this game caters to those who enjoy extensive grinding mechanics, offering a variety of ways to acquire resources and customize teams, but may not appeal to players seeking a more narrative-driven experience.
“Perhaps this is why so much of the game is intensely grindy - you're expected to fight a million fights for a negligible percentile increase because you don't have to spend very much time or energy on any individual battle.”
“This whole game is just grinding to make you and your monsters stronger.”
“The game is grindy but basically that kind of addictive grindiness you can get in playing those hack n slash lootfests.”
- music24 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it charming and immersive, while others describe it as repetitive and uninspiring. Many users appreciate the nostalgic feel of the soundtrack, though some opt to turn it off in favor of their own music. Overall, while the music has its highlights, it lacks variety and sound effects during combat, leading to a somewhat empty experience.
“The music is appropriate for an olde-timey RPG and the nether creature system lets you make super high-powered versions of the monsters you love the most.”
“One last thing, the music's pretty good, especially the boss theme, and the pixel graphics are pretty damn crisp and well made.”
“I stayed for the music, just amazing.”
“The music gets to be a bit repetitive, but I suppose I can turn that off when I get completely tired of it.”
“The music is charming at first and certainly helps with immersion and the nostalgia factor, but you will probably find that your adult ears are less tolerant of repetitive tunes than your kid ears were.”
“Apart from a lack of story, the only other concern is the rather uninspiring music, though this can be easily turned off in the menu (hell, I usually just play with my own choice of music playing in the background).”
- replayability10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, highlighted by its infinite level cap and numerous customization options, making it highly addictive and engaging. Players appreciate the random elements and the ability to collect and develop monsters, contributing to a sense of endless replay value. Overall, it is regarded as one of the most replayable games available.
“The game has endless replayability since it puts Disgaea's 9999 level cap to shame with its infinite level cap.”
“Extremely addictive and by far one of the most replayable games I've ever seen.”
“The replay value seems to be infinite without any level cap or restrictions.”
“The replay value seems to be infinite without any level cap or restrictions.”
“It is less a rogue-like and more a Pokémon-style monster collecting game with an emphasis on long-term replayability.”
“Essentially endless replayability.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the humor in the game, noting that the NPCs and dialogue are infused with wit, reminiscent of the comedic style found in Disgaea, but without the excess that can detract from the experience.
“The NPCs and dialogue are filled with a sense of humor and wit that keeps the game entertaining.”
“It's like Disgaea, but without all the annoying humor that can sometimes detract from the experience.”