To Light: Ex Umbra
- February 28, 2019
- Branch Games
Get on Steam"To Light: Ex Umbra" is a story-driven classic JRPG with about 20 hours of gameplay. The game features a beautifully illustrated cast of characters, over 50 custom enemies, and optional side quests. The player embarks on a journey to help a princess afflicted by darkness, with the ultimate goal of bringing peace back to the kingdom. The game carries a positive allegorical message about overcoming darkness.
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Reviews
- The game features a captivating and emotionally uplifting story with complex character arcs, reminiscent of Francine Rivers' writing.
- The music is exceptional, enhancing the game's atmosphere with a mix of fun, lighthearted, and emotional themes.
- The artwork is visually appealing and varied, contributing to an immersive game world with unique character designs and environments.
- The tutorial section is overly lengthy, which can detract from the initial gameplay experience.
- Random enemy encounters are frequent and can become tedious, interrupting the flow of exploration and story progression.
- Some cutscenes are unskippable, which can be frustrating for players wanting to progress quickly.
- story80 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely praised for its captivating narrative and strong character development, often compared to the works of Francine Rivers. While many players appreciate the emotional depth and well-written dialogue, some find the pacing slow and the side quests cumbersome due to extensive travel requirements. Overall, the story is considered a highlight, with a few critiques regarding its execution in the later stages.
“The writing itself is excellent, the characterization phenomenal, and the actual storyline that you're involved in is very well-done.”
“This is one of those rare games where the story had me hooked from the get-go.”
“I was enjoying the story so much throughout 98% of the game that I just made a mental note of it and continued on regardless, because the writing/story is absolutely beautiful.”
“From the very beginning, fighting is incredibly tedious, and the story moves very, very slowly.”
“Story does have a message at the end, but doesn't really do a good job at explaining things in the beginning and middle.”
“It takes quite a while to actually start playing the game, as you watch a fairly long opening for the credits and an intro for the story.”
- graphics35 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received high praise for their stunning artwork, cool enemy designs, and well-executed mapping that combines original art with RPG Maker assets. While many appreciate the unique style and visuals, some critiques mention the static nature of character artwork and a sense of sameness in design. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's appeal, with many reviewers rating them positively.
“The graphics are particularly good.”
“Oh and the graphics are stunning!!!!!!”
“The original artwork in the game gives it a lot of style.”
“As much as I appreciate the original artwork for the characters, they’re also static.”
“However, I am not a fan of flashing lights in graphics, long involved dramatic pauses in dialogue, or dark screens that are hard to see.”
“If you don’t mind the retro-type graphics of RPG Maker or taking a little time to get into the story, I encourage you to give it a try.”
- music29 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its emotional depth, ranging from fun and lighthearted to melancholic, effectively setting the mood and enhancing the storytelling. However, there are criticisms regarding the lack of variety in battle themes and some piercing sound effects. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, with many reviewers noting its custom composition and similarities to "I Am Setsuna."
“The original music is fantastic for setting the mood of the game, and the story is very well-written with natural dialogue and ample characterization.”
“Amazing music that can be fun and lighthearted at times, but also melancholy and emotional.”
“Music: 9 / 10”
“There is very little variety in the battle theme music, and the sound effects during battles are not the best.”
“The soundtrack seems completely custom, but it lacks the depth and variety expected in a game of this caliber.”
“If you've played 'I Am Setsuna', then the soundtrack will feel a bit familiar, but it doesn't bring anything new to the table.”
- gameplay14 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising the solid mechanics and interesting battles that encourage grinding, while others find it lacking in fun. Despite the simplistic mechanics reminiscent of older gaming eras, the overall experience is bolstered by an excellent story and immersive game world. Ratings vary, but many agree that while the gameplay is competent, it may not be engaging for all players.
“The gameplay is rock-solid.”
“The game mechanics are good, the fights are interesting, and the rewards are attractive enough for me to continue grinding my team from level 1 to level 99 (maxed).”
“Gameplay 5/5”
“However, the actual gameplay is no fun at all.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some appreciate the compelling story and engaging mechanics that motivate them to level up their characters, others criticize the tediousness of battles and the slow progression of the narrative. Additionally, the need to grind for substantial amounts of in-game currency can feel burdensome, particularly for essential upgrades. Overall, grinding is seen as a necessary but sometimes frustrating part of the gameplay.
“From the very beginning, fighting is incredibly tedious, and the story moves very, very slowly.”
“Money is tight and one of the quests requires grinding for 500,000 gold pieces to buy an essential equipment part.”
“The game mechanics are good, but the grinding feels excessive and detracts from the overall experience.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a powerful and uplifting story that is presented with honesty, avoiding any sugarcoating. Complemented by a diverse soundtrack, the music enhances the emotional experience, balancing fun and lighthearted moments with deeper, more melancholic themes.
“A great emotional and ultimately uplifting story that doesn't sugarcoat.”
“Amazing music that can be fun and lighthearted at times, but also melancholy and emotional.”
“A great emotional and ultimately uplifting story that doesn't sugarcoat.”
