The Adventures of Elena Temple

Embark on a journey through decades of fake gaming history.

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"The Adventures of Elena Temple" is a nostalgic, retro-inspired platformer game with pixel art graphics and a unique, changing game environment. Play as Elena, an archaeologist exploring a mysterious ancient temple, solving puzzles, and overcoming obstacles across multiple levels. The game offers a definitive edition with various updates, providing an engaging and challenging experience for fans of classic platformers.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 32 reviews

story3 positive mentions

The game has a clever and funny narrative that adds charm to the experience.
It successfully captures the retro vibe of classic 8-bit games, complete with enjoyable music and visuals.
The gameplay is engaging, with a good balance of challenge and exploration, making it rewarding for completionists.

The controls can feel frustrating and imprecise, reminiscent of older platformers, which may deter some players.
Some players found the level design to be too large and lacking a sense of progress, leading to frustration.
There are several bugs and issues, such as character movement problems and completion tracking not functioning properly.

story
10 mentions
30 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The story of the game features a humorous meta-narrative about a failed game developer and his attempts to create an authentic retro experience, which serves as a backdrop for the main plot involving a tomb raider-esque character. While the framework and actual plots are seen as somewhat superficial, the charm and humor of the storytelling contribute positively to the overall enjoyment of the game. Players appreciate that the focus on gameplay outweighs the need for a deep narrative, making it a fun experience despite its simplistic story.
- “This is a cool idea and a funny story.”
- “It's got a funny meta story.”
- “The meta-story is told in text that describes the release of each version of the game, and why it failed.”
- “On top of it all, the beginning is slapped with a story of a failed game developer - ouch.”
- “There's a sort of framework story about how this is an authentic retro game, playable on seven different systems, but it's only there to prop up the idea that this game feels old.”
- “The meta-story is told in text that describes the release of each version of the game, and why it failed.”
graphics
9 mentions
56 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics of the game are well-received, with many praising their quality and nostalgic appeal, reminiscent of classic gaming styles. While some users noted that certain color schemes felt unnecessary and not historically accurate, the visuals are generally described as lovely and fitting for the gameplay experience. The inclusion of various graphics options adds to the enjoyment, allowing players to appreciate the retro aesthetic without sacrificing fun.
- “The visuals are so great.”
- “Awesome and fun gameplay and platforming with good collectibles and lovely visuals.”
- “It's got cool graphics options.”
- “My only criticism is that the different color schemes are superfluous, and worse, they don't really correspond to any graphical constraints of the time.”
- “The Amstrad-esque graphics mode.”
- “Totally solid 'old but gold' style game... beyond the graphics, the gameplay really has the retro feel of a hidden gem for Game Boy, Apple II, etc.”
gameplay
8 mentions
13 % positive mentions
88 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its fun and engaging platforming mechanics, reminiscent of classic retro games, with a charming aesthetic and a solid collection of collectibles. While the controls can be frustrating at times, the fast-paced nature of the gameplay compensates for any slip-ups, making it an enjoyable experience overall. Players appreciate the nostalgic feel and look forward to future installments, highlighting the game's value for its price.
- “Awesome and fun gameplay and platforming with good collectibles and lovely visuals.”
- “The core gameplay and the dungeons you complete are done so well!”
- “Totally solid 'old but gold' style game... beyond the graphics, the gameplay really has the retro feel of a hidden gem for Game Boy, Apple II, etc. Had a lot of fun with this.”
- “The controls are still familiar and frustrating, but the speed of gameplay (think roguelike 'deaths') makes up for the numerous slip-ups and failures you'll encounter.”
- “The controls and jump mechanics remind me of classic Pitfall, and the platforming elements kind of remind me of classic Donkey Kong - not Country, the one on the Atari 2600 - but you do have a gun that holds a whopping *checks notes* two bullets.”
- “Easy on the story, big on the gameplay?”
music
7 mentions
71 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised, with many users finding it enjoyable and reminiscent of old-school video game tunes. It enhances the overall experience, making repetitive gameplay more bearable and engaging. The soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere.
- “The old-school video game music is fun to listen to.”
- “I never got tired of the music, so that made it good in my mind.”
- “Music is really fun to listen to as you die to the same spikes over and over.”
- “The music is disappointing.”
- “Oh man, the music is really lacking.”
- “The soundtrack fails to engage.”
humor
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding the narrative and meta elements particularly funny. The initial gameplay is described as hilarious, despite some amusing bugs that add to the overall comedic experience.
- “The first 20-30 minutes of soaking in the game is hilarious.”
- “The narrative is hilarious.”
- “It's got a funny meta story.”
replayability
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
100 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Reviewers suggest that the game could benefit from gameplay adjustments across different platforms to improve its replayability and challenge, indicating that the current experience may lack sufficient variety to encourage multiple playthroughs.
- “I feel like there could have been some gameplay tweaks from port to port to enhance the replayability and/or challenge.”
- “I feel like there could have been some gameplay tweaks from port to port to enhance the replayability and/or challenge.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices makes it hard to justify multiple playthroughs.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to return, as the experience feels largely the same.”
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be intense, as the high stakes of instant death from touching spikes create a sense of tension and urgency that heightens the overall experience.