Skelly Selest
- May 1, 2018
- caiys
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam"Skelly Selest" is a fast-paced, action-packed dungeon crawler game. As a holy warrior of the Selestial Order, players must purge the Skelly abominations and defend the Sanctuary from their vile invasion. With procedurally generated levels, crushing difficulty, and intense combat, each playthrough offers a unique and challenging experience.
Reviews
- Skelly Selest offers a vibrant and charming pixel art style, complemented by an engaging chiptune soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience.
- The game features a variety of modes and characters, providing a good amount of replayability and keeping the gameplay fresh and interesting.
- At its low price point, Skelly Selest delivers a solid amount of content and fun, making it a great value for fans of the roguelike genre.
- The controls can feel unresponsive and janky at times, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences, especially during intense moments.
- Some players find the game to be relatively easy, lacking the depth and challenge found in other roguelikes, which may lead to a shorter overall experience.
- The visual clutter and high contrast graphics can make it difficult to distinguish between enemies and the background, potentially hindering gameplay.
- music51 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's soundtrack features 20 upbeat chiptune tracks from royalty-free composers, which complement the gameplay well as background music but may not resonate outside of the game context. While some players appreciate the catchy and retro vibe, others find the music lacks depth and does not align with the game's darker aesthetic. Overall, the music is generally well-received for its fun and engaging qualities, making it a fitting accompaniment to the gameplay experience.
“The skelly selest soundtrack contains 20 pleasant and upbeat chiptune songs from royalty-free composers ozzed and rolemusic.”
“The soundtrack is really cute and has positive vibes.”
“The chiptune music and the very retro pixel art is all done in good taste.”
“The songs are mostly adventure-themed and help get you into the groove of exploring a dungeon, but unfortunately don't match the dark and grim aesthetic of the game.”
“Although I enjoy the genre as a whole, none of these songs particularly resonated with me, and I wouldn't listen to the soundtrack outside of the game; however, they fit the gameplay relatively well and serve as good background noise.”
“The music was okay, but I've heard better; nothing too special.”
- gameplay47 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its addictive and fun mechanics, with a solid core loop that supports various modes and character abilities. While some players find the controls and UI cryptic, the overall experience is described as polished, engaging, and well-suited for both casual and more dedicated play. The combination of satisfying combat, charming aesthetics, and a variety of gameplay elements contributes to a compelling roguelike experience, though some players note a desire for more content and challenge.
“Skelly Selest looks really good and has a super catchy OST, but the real star of the show is the core gameplay loop, which is perfectly refined and lends itself well to arena-like brawls and dungeon crawling.”
“The gameplay is fairly easy to get into and it's really fun to hack, slash, and shoot your way through the waves of enemies.”
“The gameplay feels tight and refined; the aesthetics and music make it fun and addictive.”
“The largest issue with the game is the cryptic UI and gameplay elements.”
“The gameplay itself is repetitive but not annoying, as for many good titles of the same genre, and the price asked is so low that it's very well worth it.”
“With all that said, it does seem a bit on the easier side and there's not a lot of nuance to the mechanics.”
- graphics43 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the unique art style and attention to detail, particularly in its pixel art and dark aesthetic. However, some players find the visuals challenging to navigate, with complaints about high contrast and rough edges that can detract from gameplay. Overall, while the graphics are often described as beautiful and polished, they may not appeal to everyone, and some players feel they impact the game's playability.
“Very great game and an amazing art style which I find truly beautiful.”
“Gorgeous visuals with a dark, dirty theme at buttery smooth framerates, super fast and satisfying action, fun and visually distinct enemies.”
“Great controls, fantastic and telling graphics, multiple ways to play.”
“Didn't like the overall dark and high contrast graphics.”
“Also the graphics are really simple and can run on your ungaming PC you have.”
“In terms of pixel art, it looks like a $10 game with Sega graphics.”
- replayability11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability due to its diverse modes, unlockables, and challenging gameplay, appealing to players who enjoy chasing scores and achievements. Frequent updates have introduced new characters, items, and features, further enhancing the replay value. Additionally, the inclusion of leaderboards adds a competitive edge, encouraging players to return for more.
“There are quite a few different game modes and excellent replayability for those who really get hooked into the game.”
“Game is replayable as hell, has unlockables, tough challenges, and even an endless mode!”
“It's one heck of a deal, gives you endless replayability, and seeing as the game developer(s) are pretty rad, you can expect feedback on any issues and game-refreshing updates.”
“Simple, but replayable enough to chase unlocks and scores.”
“Replayability is high, not just because of the roguelike nature of the game, nor the unlockables.”
“All of the modes support Steam leaderboards, so it adds some replay value.”
- story5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as simple and somewhat unimportant, yet it effectively provides context for various game modes, enhancing the overall experience. Players find the main narrative easy to navigate with the right upgrades, while the inclusion of a card minigame adds an enjoyable layer of challenge. Overall, the story complements the gameplay without overshadowing it, making the game engaging and fun.
“It's a fun game with a good story. It's a little on the harder side, but if you like Binding of Isaac-like games, this is for you. There are lots of game modes to play, cool stuff to collect, and something for everyone.”
“The main story is easy once you get the right upgrades, but it's fun and can be challenging, so it's definitely worth the little price. Also, once you figure out the card game, it's quite fun too.”
“It's impressive that all game modes have a purpose and are not just thrown at you with no context whatsoever, except for the card minigame, which is indeed a minigame, so definitely no complaints.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is consistently praised for its quirky language and amusing characters, particularly the skellingtons, which contribute to a fun and addictive gameplay experience. Players appreciate the frequent updates that introduce new content while maintaining a lighthearted tone, complemented by high-quality artwork and music.
“It might not hold my attention for long at a time, but each time there's an update I find myself smiling and chuckling at the strange humor in the game's language, and having a quick crack at the various game modes (being slowly, but constantly updated with new items, characters, enemies, and modes).”
“The skellingtons are hilarious, the gameplay is fun and addictive.”
“The overall humor, artwork, and music are top-notch, too.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Initially, the game faced significant stability issues, including bugs and control problems that caused system lock-ups. However, after several updates, players report substantial improvements, with enhanced gameplay features and quick fixes for any new glitches, leading to a much more stable experience overall.
“Weird buggy game, issues with controls, and it also made my laptop hard lock.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I experienced constant frame drops and stuttering, which ruined the overall experience.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its stunning visuals and animations that create a vibrant yet haunting environment. The sound design and music complement the art beautifully, enhancing the overall immersive experience. Players appreciate the engaging gameplay that matches the captivating atmosphere, making it a worthwhile investment.
“There's tons of stuff to do for its price tag equal to a coffee at Starbucks, the gameplay is relatively challenging and the atmosphere is simply amazing!”
“Beautifully crafted and well animated, everything feels alive (or very dead in this case), the atmosphere is great, the sounds and music blend well with the wonderful art and the gameplay delivers.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 200 % positive mentions
- -400 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is noted for its improved optimization, particularly for bite-sized gameplay, enhancing the overall user experience compared to the developer's previous s-type title.
“The optimization in this game allows for a smoother experience, making it easy to jump in and out without losing progress.”
“I appreciate how the developers focused on optimization, ensuring that even on lower-end devices, the game runs seamlessly.”
“This game seems to be much more optimized for bite-sized gameplay than Caisy's previous S-type game.”
“The optimization in this game is lacking, leading to frustrating performance issues.”
“I encountered numerous bugs that indicate poor optimization, making the experience less enjoyable.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly noting that the music does not enhance the experience, contrasting it unfavorably with the more enjoyable retro 8-bit soundtracks found in other games.
“The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I find the grind to be a major chore, taking away from the enjoyment of the game.”
“The amount of grinding required to progress is overwhelming and detracts from the overall experience.”
