Sword of Xolan

About

Sword of Xolan is a single player casual hack and slash game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Alper Sarıkaya and was released on May 21, 2015. It received very positive reviews from players.

Sword of Xolan is a single-player fantasy hack and slash pixel art action platformer with an outstanding story, awesome game mechanics, and amazing graphics. The game features good music and a hilarious tone but is marred by too many ads and some bugs. Overall, it offers an engaging yet occasionally frustrating experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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91%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,867 reviews

gameplay187 positive mentions

monetization171 negative mentions

The game features tight controls and responsive gameplay, making it enjoyable to play.
It has a nostalgic retro art style and engaging music that enhances the overall experience.
The game offers a good balance of challenge and fun, with well-designed levels and unique enemies.

There are no checkpoints in levels, which can be frustrating as players must restart from the beginning upon dying.
Some achievements do not register properly, especially when playing offline, leading to incomplete progress.
The difficulty spikes in boss battles can be excessive, making them feel unbalanced compared to regular gameplay.

gameplay
253 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
74%
21%
5%
The gameplay is widely praised for its smoothness, responsive controls, and engaging mechanics, making it enjoyable for both casual and hardcore players. Many reviewers appreciate the retro aesthetic and level design, noting a good balance of challenge without being overly difficult. However, some players find the gameplay repetitive over time and suggest the addition of more mechanics or upgrades to enhance variety.
- “The gameplay is balanced well and every time I finished a level I felt as if I had accomplished a great feat.”
- “The gameplay is smooth, challenging as well.”
- “Amazing game; awesome visuals, tight controls and unforgettable gameplay.”
- “And rescuing 3 NPCs over and over again kind of becomes boring after a certain amount of gameplay.”
- “Nice graphics and sound, but the gameplay is very repetitive and lacks variety.”
- “Gameplay is repetitive and only broken up by boss fights, which are at least mildly challenging.”
graphics
239 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
72%
26%
2%
The graphics of the game have received a mixed response, with many praising the nostalgic pixel art style and retro aesthetic that evokes classic arcade games. Players appreciate the vibrant visuals and smooth animations, noting that the graphics complement the gameplay well. However, some users feel that the graphics could be improved, citing low quality and excessive pixelation as drawbacks. Overall, the game's visuals are generally well-received, especially among fans of retro gaming.
- “Great graphics, especially the art style.”
- “The graphics are fantastic, so is the soundtrack.”
- “The pixel graphics are spot-on and the levels are very, very well designed.”
- “The graphics are low quality and feel like a 90s game.”
- “The pixelated graphics are ugly, and this game is only half as fun.”
- “The graphics are too pixelated that they spoil the appeal somehow, and the game experience was monotonic for me.”
monetization
186 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
2%
92%
The monetization strategy of the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating the low cost of $0.99 to remove ads, which are described as short, non-intrusive, and only appearing between levels or after deaths. While some users express frustration over the frequency of ads, the majority find them manageable and commend the absence of microtransactions or pay-to-win mechanics, viewing the ad removal fee as a fair way to support the developers. Overall, the game is praised for its ethical pricing and minimal ad interference, making it a refreshing experience in the mobile gaming landscape.
- “It's very refreshing to see such a polished platformer that doesn't rely on microtransactions to keep players interested.”
- “$1 no ads was an instant buy for me as I'm supporting ethical pricing.”
- “Great experience, controls well, ad monetization isn't over the top and the amount to pay to remove ads is very reasonable.”
- “Everything else about the game is good, but the ads make this experience completely unbearable.”
- “Was fun, but is quickly destroyed by crazy amount of ads...another sad reminder of the majority of the Google Play ecosystem.”
- “The only thing that prevents me from giving 5 stars was that the ads are kind of intrusive where you need to view them every time your character is killed (which is pretty often).”
music
142 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
73%
25%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its catchy and engaging quality, often enhancing the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. Many players appreciate the retro-inspired soundtracks, which evoke nostalgia while fitting well with the game's design. However, some reviews note that the music can become repetitive over time, suggesting a desire for more variety in the tracks. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “I love the music and the narration is funny.”
- “The art is attractive, music fits the environments and doesn't become distracting.”
- “The music is awesome and really adds to the mood of the game.”
- “The music could have been more diverse during boss fights too.”
- “It has a bug: even with mute, the music still plays at the end of a level.”
- “If any of the hit boxes worked, and there were more than four enemies, and the soundtrack wasn't a twenty-second loop, this could be real fun.”
story
136 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
46%
5%
The game's story is generally described as simple and straightforward, often serving as a backdrop to the gameplay rather than a central focus. While some players appreciate its charm and humor, many feel it lacks depth and could benefit from further development or additional content. Overall, the narrative is seen as a pleasant addition, but not a standout feature of the game.
- “The story is short, would love a sequel .”
- “Great game, inviting backstory, always keeps you on your toes with exciting challenges.”
- “Amazing story, one-liner, gameplay.”
- “The story is minimal but gets the job done, and the ability cards are an interesting idea.”
- “Overall it's a great time waster with a mild/nonexistent storyline.”
- “The storyline was rather bad and unrewarding.”
humor
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players enjoying the funny voice acting, character quips, and humorous narration that add personality to the experience. Many reviews highlight the light-hearted tone and amusing glitches, contributing to an overall fun atmosphere. The combination of engaging gameplay and comedic elements makes it a standout title for those seeking both challenge and laughter.
- “Xolan's quips when he slays monsters are quite funny, and the stylized graphics are a treat!”
- “Great game, love the soundtrack, the narrator/voice work is hilarious and it looks great!”
- “The art is wonderful, really beautiful backgrounds, the voice of the main character is hilarious and cool.”
stability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
11%
72%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting significant glitches, particularly with controls and level resets, leading to frustration. However, others have praised the game for its lack of major bugs and smooth performance, especially on mobile devices. Overall, while some users experience issues, many find the game enjoyable and stable, highlighting the need for improvements in certain areas.
- “Just a perfect game for mobile phone. Controls can be customized very well and no glitches at all. The right level of difficulty makes it a great game. Lots of good wishes and love to the developer. Must play.”
- “This game takes you back to your childhood. Amazing platformer with no glitches. Pure bliss. Thumbs up for the developers.”
- “Challenging, no glitches, good controls, cool pixel art graphics, and great music.”
- “A few glitches I have encountered are that, sometimes on level startup, the caged people will be free, and replaced by the caged people from previous levels, and on level completion, they will be reached and the level will reset.”
- “It ticks all the right boxes, I mean it even has silly voice acting like all good games should, however the controls are extremely buggy - therein lie great perils of frustration, and frantic face-palms!”
- “Downloaded last night, played for a while and really enjoyed it.. then tried to play today and can't get past the loading screen before it freezes and dies.”
replayability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
22%
21%
Overall, players find the game to have high replayability due to its engaging level design, challenging achievements, and hidden items. While some mention that the game is short, many appreciate the fun and addictive gameplay that encourages multiple playthroughs. The combination of nostalgic graphics and solid mechanics contributes to its lasting appeal.
- “I was able to unlock every achievement the game provides; a couple were fairly challenging to get, which added to the replayability.”
- “A great platformer with lots of replay value.”
- “Awesome platformer! Levels are well designed and the game has got replay value.”
- “There's not much replayability, but it's fun while it lasts.”
- “Short game, but definite replay value.”
- “The levels are replayable and challenging.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
Overall, the game is praised for its smooth performance and effective optimization, particularly on devices like the Galaxy S5. However, some users criticize it for being poorly optimized in certain aspects, suggesting that improvements could enhance the overall experience.
- “Simple little 2D platformer that runs smoothly.”
- “The gameplay is gorgeous, very smooth, and the optimized buttons make it even better!”
- “Great performance on Galaxy S5.”
- “Not very inspired, terribly optimized; it would be better off without the voice acting.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game to be a deeply emotional experience, evoking feelings of nostalgia and warmth throughout. The storyline is praised for its impactful beginning and touching conclusion, leaving a lasting impression that resonates with players. Overall, it is described as a wholesome journey that captures the essence of childhood joy.
- “A wholesome experience from start to finish.”
- “This game is so good; the starting story is engaging and the ending is emotional.”
- “I was tilting, touching, trying to move, but nothing happened.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate a desire for more appealing character designs, specifically leaning towards chibi or kawaii styles, suggesting that while character development may be present, the aesthetic choices do not resonate with all players. Additionally, some feedback highlights that changes in character and item designs feel superficial rather than impactful.
- “I just wish the character design was a bit more chibi or kawaii, but that's a matter of personal taste.”
- “Your character design and even your people in cages.”
- “All they did was change the character designs and the chests/gold designs.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express mixed feelings about grinding in the game; while some find it excessive and wish for a more engaging story to accompany the grind, others appreciate that the game can be completed fully without unnecessary grinding or microtransactions. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a significant but manageable part of the experience.
- “Huge grinding needed to buy upgrades.”
- “Wish the story was a little more in-depth as you progressed through each chapter instead of feeling like just grinding, but otherwise, it's the best retro RPG I've played thus far. Hope to see more from you all.”
- “It can be completed 100% without needless grinding or spending money.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game's atmosphere is generally well-received, featuring a charming ambiance enhanced by pleasant music and humorous voice acting. While some players find the level structure slightly generic, the unique personality of the enemies contributes positively to the overall experience. Additionally, the presence of non-intrusive ads does not detract from the game's atmosphere.
- “Was initially disappointed that it was split into individual levels and feels slightly generic, but it has a nice atmosphere and enemies with lots of personality.”
- “The music is nice and adds to the atmosphere, and it even features some funny voice acting.”
- “The game does have some ads, but they are non-intrusive and do not ruin the game's atmosphere.”