The Eternal Castle Remastered

66%
Game Brain Score Based on 384 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • music
The Eternal Castle Remastered Game Cover
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In "The Eternal Castle: Remastered," players experience a challenging action-adventure game set in a post-apocalyptic world where extra-terrestrial human colonization units attempt to construct survival facilities. After numerous terrorist attacks and global wars, systems shut down, leading to the extinction of most humans. The remaining colonization units in space survived for several years before vanishing. This game is an ambitious attempt to modernize a classic while maintaining its original essence.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

66%
Audience ScoreBased on 384 reviews
graphics80 positive mentions
stability9 negative mentions
  • The game features stunning visuals and a unique art style that effectively captures the essence of retro gaming.
  • The soundtrack is excellent, enhancing the overall atmosphere and experience of the game.
  • Gameplay is engaging and reminiscent of classic cinematic platformers, providing a nostalgic experience for fans of the genre.
  • Controls can feel clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustrating moments during gameplay.
  • The game is relatively short, with a playtime of around 2-3 hours, which may leave some players wanting more content.
  • Some players may find the limited color palette and busy visuals make it difficult to discern important gameplay elements.
  • graphics192 mentions

    The graphics of the game have garnered mixed reviews, with many praising the unique 2-bit CGA aesthetic and fluid animations that evoke nostalgia for classic titles. However, some players find the visuals can be confusing and difficult to interpret, leading to gameplay challenges due to low clarity and limited color palettes. Overall, while the art style is celebrated for its creativity and charm, it may hinder accessibility and gameplay experience for some players.

    • “The artwork in this is magnificent; it's 1987 turned up to 11 and along with the animation, are probably its biggest drawpoints.”
    • “The graphics are spectacular.”
    • “The art style and graphics are beautiful, and the gameplay is engaging and fun.”
    • “The problem here is that, while the aesthetic of these really early games is somewhat referenced, and for the most part, I'm able to tolerate some of the clumsiness of the mechanics, the gameplay isn't quite tight enough or intuitive enough to win me over.”
    • “Unfortunately, the art style can also be one of its main weaknesses: Eternal Castle has a shockingly limited color palette (you will not see more than 4 colors on the screen at once), which severely cripples the readability of the environment, worsened by frequent dark scenes, high contrast and harsh lighting.”
    • “The graphics make it hard to distinguish yourself from the enemies at times, especially if there are many on screen, which leads to button mashing the attack button to survive, completely throwing away the combat element which are intended to be used.”
  • gameplay142 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its homage to classic cinematic platformers like "Prince of Persia" and "Another World." While some appreciate the retro-inspired mechanics and artistic style, others criticize the clunky controls, lack of clarity in gameplay elements, and frustrating trial-and-error moments. Overall, the experience can be enjoyable for fans of the genre, but it may deter those seeking more polished and intuitive gameplay.

    • “Surprisingly varied gameplay; I actually liked the stealth section, it was spooky in a way modern games aren't able to capture due to the way the pixels and lighting have you fill in with your imagination.”
    • “Gameplay flows from relaxed platforming segments to quick and visceral action, with very intuitive controls and well-crafted levels.”
    • “The gameplay draws inspiration from classics like 'Prince of Persia' and 'Another World', and the mechanics work amazingly well; the blend of animation, action, and puzzles is nearly perfect.”
    • “The gameplay controls exhibit an incredibly cumbersome nature, and despite my appreciation for the art style, it fails to deliver satisfactory visual clarity.”
    • “Game mechanics go unexplained, and certain boss fights will suddenly throw new mechanics at you with no time to figure out what's happening, leaving players completely blindsided.”
    • “The gameplay tries to be like old computer platformers of the late 80s/early 90s era but it comes with all of the faults of those games, such as really heavy controls with uninterruptible animations and jumps with wind-up time.”
  • music77 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its immersive synthwave soundtrack that complements the retro aesthetic and enhances the overall atmosphere. While some players noted that the soundtrack may not be prominent during gameplay, it is often described as fantastic and a key highlight of the experience. Overall, the combination of great music and stylish visuals creates a captivating environment that resonates with players, despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics.

    • “Aesthetics and soundtrack are stylish as hell.”
    • “The music is very fitting for the 80's like theme and the sound design is immaculate.”
    • “The beautiful animation combined with an absolutely stellar soundtrack makes this one of the only platformers I have actually enjoyed.”
    • “The combat mechanics in the game are rather average, accompanied by an absence of a noteworthy soundtrack, at least from what I have experienced thus far.”
    • “The trailer has a pulse-pounding synthwave style soundtrack, but you don't really hear this (at least I didn't, with default settings) within the first 45 minutes of play.”
    • “Too many bleak and empty maps, without music.”
  • story62 mentions

    The game's story is characterized by its minimalism and cryptic nature, encouraging players to piece together lore through environmental details and subtle clues rather than explicit narration. While some players appreciate the atmospheric storytelling and the challenge of uncovering deeper meanings, others find the plot disjointed and difficult to follow, particularly due to an initial wall of text that is hard to read. Overall, the narrative is brief, lasting around three hours, but offers replayability through new game modes that reveal additional story elements.

    • “The story is not explicitly drawn out for the player, but one can piece together all sorts of intimate details about the various environments that make up this odd world.”
    • “The story of the Eternal Castle is expertly told through notes and environments that you really start to piece together and see the beauty in this chaotic world.”
    • “The game tells its story by encouraging the player to keep exploring and having the player think on their own for what happens next, and you know, that just feels great to experience.”
    • “The game's main story only lasts about 2.5 hours, which means I've seen a third of it already.”
    • “The story - if you can call it that - is so obscure and disjointed, it might as well be nonexistent.”
    • “There is little to no story to the game, so do not look for that here.”
  • atmosphere42 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique blend of retro art style, immersive sound design, and intense, often dystopian settings. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a captivating and eerie environment that enhances the overall experience, despite some criticisms regarding controls and gameplay mechanics. Overall, the atmosphere stands out as a defining feature, making it a memorable and engaging title for players.

    • “The atmosphere is very intense, vague and dreadful, a post-apocalypse done right. This instead goes full crazy and really feels like a mishmash of old and new, reinforced by a retro art style with really impressive bouts of graphical elements.”
    • “Fantastic game, the atmosphere is really what makes it stand apart from the rest. Everything about the art direction is spot on and complements itself, including the animation, art style, color palettes, and soundtrack.”
    • “The eternal castle has a fantastic atmosphere, something that I have not experienced in a long time.”
    • “The atmosphere is very intense, vague and dreadful, a post-apocalypse done right. If you think post-apocalypse, the first thing that probably comes to mind is some generic people in a city and occasionally in a wasteland fighting for resources. This instead goes full crazy and really feels like a mishmash of old and new, reinforced by a retro art style with really impressive bouts of graphical elements.”
    • “Clunky controls with no feeling of inertia, cheap animation compared to its role models, very frantic pacing, and eye-tearing screen scrolling effect eats away the atmosphere.”
    • “Several of the game's environments, especially the old lab, generate a weighty atmosphere that really draws you in.”
  • replayability13 mentions

    Overall, the game offers a mix of replayability, with features like multiple playable characters, hidden upgrades, and different endings that encourage players to revisit it. However, some reviewers noted that its short length and certain gameplay issues may limit the incentive to replay, particularly for those who may not find the experience compelling enough to warrant multiple playthroughs. While many enjoyed the adventure and found replay value in exploring different story elements and challenges, others felt the game lacked sufficient depth for sustained engagement.

    • “The game is an amazing adventure, replayable and immersive.”
    • “The three main environments are well done and you can do them in any order, which helps with the replayability, since each area has some upgrades that boost your character's stats.”
    • “Modern features are mostly there for replayability; they're non-intrusive and do not compromise core gameplay: new game plus, two playable characters, hidden upgrades, speedrunning-conscious shortcuts, and multiple endings.”
    • “There's definitely some replayability here as well, with post-game modes that I think are trying to tell the story from another perspective, but I haven't come back to it to know for sure.”
    • “A short game, my first playthrough was 2.5 hours, but some replayability when 'awake' for those who want a challenge.”
    • “This isn't so much an issue with the gameplay so much as it is with the investment—$10 for a 2-hour game is unfortunately too much, especially when the game has limited to no replay value save for speedrun bragging rights.”
  • stability9 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, including numerous bugs, screen glitches, and inconsistent controls, which detract from the overall experience. Players report frequent crashes and a feeling that the game is unfinished, leading to frustration despite its enjoyable aspects. Overall, while the game has potential, its stability problems hinder its enjoyment and playability.

    • “There are tons of bugs and screen glitches; literally half of my screen was covered in black until I realized I needed to restart the game.”
    • “It's a fun game and an aesthetic achievement marred by glitches and bugs, as well as inconsistent difficulty.”
    • “With that said, it's an okay game, but its clunky combat, movement, and frequent minor glitches hold it back.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is derived from its self-aware parody of the remastering process, cleverly subverting expectations by presenting itself as a "fake remaster." The narrative, which includes amusing discussions about a 1987 game's remake and mysterious game files, adds to its charm, making it both unique and entertaining. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with creativity, offering a variety of funny moments throughout.

    • “It's funny that this game bills itself as 'remastered'—not because it's an original game masquerading as a remaster, which is true—but because it inverts what a remaster is supposed to do.”
    • “Besides: the story about a 'remake' of a game from 1987, discussions about mysterious game files are clever and funny ways to make this game interesting.”
    • “Unique, packed with some good variety and even humorous in some ways.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    The game suffers from significant lag in large open areas, indicating poor optimization, as users feel it requires more than the stated 1GB of RAM for smooth performance. With some simple optimizations, it has the potential to become a standout indie title.

    • “The game seems to lag extremely bad in large open areas, due to poor optimization.”
    • “This game could easily become one of the best indie games out there with a few simple optimizations.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding in the game to be tedious and clunky, with unappealing visuals that detract from the experience. However, some new gameplay features help alleviate certain monotonous elements from the original version.

    • “Tedious, clunky gameplay, and the sprites and general art are hard to look at.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is described as unsettling, with some players finding it overwhelming to the point of discomfort. While the animation and art design are praised for their beauty, the overall experience can evoke negative feelings, leading some to refund the game shortly after starting.

    • “Some beautiful animation and art design at work here, really impressive, but unfortunately I had to refund after 20 minutes as it made me feel a bit ill.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the monetization strategy is misleading, as players feel the game is falsely advertised as a remaster or remake when it is, in fact, a first-time release. This has led to dissatisfaction regarding the perceived value for money.

    • “False advertising: it's not a remaster, it's not even a remake; this is the only time this game has ever been released.”
    • “The monetization model is overly aggressive, making it feel like the game is designed to squeeze money out of players rather than provide a fun experience.”
    • “I feel like I'm being pushed to spend money at every turn, which ruins the enjoyment of the game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

65% average critic score

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