Trulon: The Shadow Engine

Potential for a great, genre-defying game cut short just as this Steampunk adventure truly picks up any steam. Feels more like a demo of a game than the entirety of one, making the $20 price tag for the PC version a hard sell.

58%Game Brain Score

story, graphics

stability, character development

63% User Score Based on 57 reviews

Critic Score 49%Based on 9 reviews

Platforms

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About

"Trulon: The Shadow Engine" is a steampunk-magic adventure RPG with a unique card combat system. Play as four characters with different abilities, unraveling an insidious plot and battling magic-mutated enemies in the kingdoms of Tripudia and Maelon. The game features a captivating original soundtrack and is based on a novel from award-winning author Jak Koke.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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63%

Audience ScoreBased on 57 reviews

story18 positive mentions

character development2 negative mentions

The game features a unique card-based combat system that allows for strategic gameplay and experimentation with different tactics.
The art style is vibrant and appealing, contributing to an enjoyable visual experience.
The storyline, while simple, is engaging enough to keep players entertained throughout the game.

The game suffers from numerous bugs, including game-breaking issues that can lead to lost progress.
Gameplay can feel shallow and repetitive, with limited enemy variety and a lack of depth in character development.
The game is relatively short and linear, which may leave players feeling unsatisfied, especially given its price point.

story
71 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
71%
4%
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it entertaining and engaging, while others criticize it for being shallow, predictable, and linear. Many noted that character development is lacking and that the narrative often feels like a mere vehicle for gameplay progression rather than a compelling tale. Despite its flaws, a few players appreciated the unique steampunk setting and the fun combat mechanics, suggesting that the story, while not deep, can still provide an enjoyable experience.
- “The story kept me entertained from start to finish.”
- “Though short, this game has an interesting storyline and very different gameplay from most RPGs.”
- “Trulon: The Shadow Engine is a well-structured RPG/TCG game with a good storyline in a steampunk world.”
- “The storyline was abysmal.”
- “The story is painfully linear, only opening up a single area each time the story progresses. There is no real exploration, and you need to be very careful only to go where the story expects you to.”
- “The story is paper thin, and the characters aren’t given any real development.”
graphics
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
44%
8%
The graphics of "Trulon: The Shadow Engine" receive mixed reviews, with many praising its vibrant art style and appealing visuals that evoke a retro feel. However, some players criticize the low-detail character sprites, limited animations, and occasional graphical bugs that detract from the overall experience. While the game features charming artwork and colorful environments, it also shows signs of its mobile origins, leading to a somewhat inconsistent visual presentation.
- “Trulon is a nice little card battler with endearing low-poly visuals.”
- “The graphics for each of the characters are well done, and seem to be polished to be the finest that it could possibly be.”
- “From the day towns to the night cities, the art style really shines throughout the game as you play through it.”
- “The poor visuals and balance aren't worth the full price; if you get it on some sale, it might be worth the adventure though.”
- “In what seems to be an act of pure unadulterated laziness, the sprite for the main character was left with very minimal facings and movement.”
- “Some (de-)buffs don't show as graphical effects, multiple enemy types reuse the same sprite in the same color, and the same animations are reused for most attacks and skills.”
gameplay
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
53%
11%
The gameplay of "Trulon: The Shadow Engine" features a basic card-based battling system combined with turn-based mechanics and RPG elements, offering a unique blend of styles. While some players appreciate the interesting mechanics and visuals, many criticize the gameplay for being shallow, repetitive, and occasionally buggy, with a lack of depth and a forgettable story. Overall, it provides a simple and accessible experience, though it may not satisfy those seeking more complex gameplay.
- “The game has interesting mechanics and the gameplay with cards can create fun experimentation.”
- “Trulon: the Shadow Engine is a mix of traditional JRPG gameplay with card battling and deck building.”
- “So yeah, the game is great and totally worth buying; it's entertaining, the story is interesting, and gameplay is a pleasure to play.”
- “Not sure if it gets better, but the gameplay is very shallow, enemies are repetitive, and the cards are boring.”
- “The gameplay is pretty simple and not particularly hard to follow.”
- “Most of the time, the luck of the draw will screw you over more than anything, and there's no mechanic to draw more cards or redraw your hand if you get a bunch of duds.”
music
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
37%
19%
The music in the game is generally described as decent and fitting, with enjoyable atmospheric tracks for exploration and more intense compositions for battles. However, many reviewers note that the soundtrack becomes repetitive over time, lacking sufficient variety to maintain engagement. While there are standout songs, the overall experience could benefit from a broader range of musical themes to enhance the gameplay.
- “The game has some really nice joyful atmospheric music when you are in the cities, and then when you are in battle, the music shifts to a more serious and sometimes intense tone.”
- “Battle music sounds like it came straight from the Naruto anime, especially with koto and electric guitar riffs mixed with studio drumset beats.”
- “The soundtrack fits perfectly; whether you're walking around casually or fighting a group of enemies, there's always a great song in the background.”
- “The music for the game is pretty par-for-course, though there are a couple of really good songs in there that stand out from the rest.”
- “Although this is nice and all, sometimes this can get a little repetitive and therefore you end up not wanting to listen to the music at all whilst you play the game.”
- “The lack of variety in the background music really makes it repetitive.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with users reporting various bugs, including game-breaking glitches that can disrupt progress and require players to redo substantial portions of the storyline. While some reviews downplay the severity, many players have experienced frustrating issues that detract from the overall experience.
- “The game runs smoothly with minimal bugs, providing a stable experience overall.”
- “I appreciate how stable the game feels; I rarely encounter any issues that disrupt my gameplay.”
- “The developers have done a great job ensuring stability, making it easy to enjoy the game without constant interruptions.”
- “While the game isn't as bug-ridden as some reviews make it seem, I encountered one game-breaking bug myself.”
- “The game looks okay and has half-decent (if not well-balanced) game mechanics, but it's buggy - and some bugs are game-breaking.”
- “There are a couple of glitches that almost ruined my playthrough, forcing me to redo most of the storyline quests just so I can continue playing on my save file.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by vibrant colors and joyful music in city areas, transitioning to more intense themes during battles. This combination of engaging visuals and a dynamic soundtrack creates an immersive and enjoyable experience for players.
- “The game has some really nice joyful atmospheric music when you are in the cities, and then when you are in battle, the music shifts to a more serious and sometimes intense tone.”
- “All of the areas you explore are vibrant in color and evoke the atmospheric sense you would imagine.”
- “The interesting card system combined with the pleasant setting and atmosphere creates an enjoyable experience.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is largely criticized for being shallow and one-dimensional, with reviewers noting a lack of depth in both the characters and the storyline. The overall experience is described as quick and unsatisfying, leaving players wanting more substance.
- “Character development is a bit bland.”
- “In short, the character development was shallow, the characters themselves one-dimensional, the storyline was ludicrous with absolutely no depth.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Trulon is criticized for its linear gameplay and brevity, resulting in minimal to no replay value, making it unlikely for players to return after completing the game.
- “Trulon is both linear and short with no replay value.”
- “This game is short with little to no replay value.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
Players find that well-optimized decks significantly enhance gameplay, transforming challenging battles into easier victories. Experimenting with various deck optimizations to achieve powerful damage combos and status effects adds to the overall satisfaction of the game.
- “It is very satisfying to test out differently optimized decks to inflict multiple status effects with high damage combos.”
- “An optimized deck will turn a tough fight into a walk in the park.”
- “The game suffers from severe performance issues, making it frustrating to play.”
- “I often experience lag and stuttering, which ruins the immersion and flow of gameplay.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is appreciated by users, with some finding it helpful and entertaining enough to encourage others to follow related content. Overall, it seems to resonate well with players, adding to their enjoyment of the game.
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization aspect of the game is positively received, with players appreciating the unique battle card system that adds strategic depth to gameplay. This feature encourages players to adapt their strategies, enhancing the overall experience without feeling overly commercialized.
- “The monetization system feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
- “I feel like I'm constantly being pushed to buy in-game currency just to keep up with the competition.”
- “The prices for in-game items are outrageous, and it feels like the game is designed to squeeze money out of players.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and slow, with battles heavily reliant on luck, leading to a monotonous experience. Many reviewers also note that the quests feel uninspired and indicative of a rushed port, further detracting from the enjoyment of grinding.
- “Rudimentary battles rely too much on luck, and the overall slow pace combined with tedious quests will likely put you to sleep.”
- “There are too many indications of this being a rushed port, which makes the grinding feel even more frustrating.”
- “The grinding mechanics are overly repetitive and lack any meaningful progression, making it a chore to play.”

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49%Critics’ scoreBased on 9 critic reviews

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