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.

39%Game Brain Score

graphics, gameplay

story, stability

35% User Score Based on 17 reviews

Critic Score 49%Based on 10 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $1.64

Buy NowGet on Steam$1.99

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 Play through the game's story or campaign solo

35%

Audience ScoreBased on 27 reviews

graphics9 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The game features an interesting card-based combat system that adds a unique twist to traditional RPG mechanics.
The graphics and art style are charming, providing a visually appealing experience.
The game has a decent storyline and some entertaining quests, making it enjoyable for players new to the genre.

The game is plagued by numerous bugs, including game-breaking issues that can lock players out of progress.
The overall experience feels rushed and unfinished, with many elements lacking depth and polish.
The storyline and character development are shallow, leading to a generic and predictable gameplay experience.

story
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
73%
14%
The story has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing it for being linear, shallow, and lacking depth, often leading to frustrating glitches that hinder progress. While some found the narrative entertaining and enjoyable, others described it as clichéd and abysmal, with one-dimensional characters and a lack of meaningful exploration. Overall, the storyline seems to be a significant drawback for many, overshadowing the game's positive aspects like combat and graphics.
- “I love the combat in this game and the story is decent, although I did predict its ending midway, but it doesn't bother me.”
- “Good soundtrack, good writing, turn-based combat mechanics are fun (despite being a little random about the tactics cards you will get), the story is a bit cliché but definitely entertaining.”
- “Storyline is fun and entertaining, has kept me moving forward and entertained even though it isn't very complex.”
- “The storyline was abysmal.”
- “In short, the character development was shallow, the characters themselves one-dimensional, the storyline was ludicrous with absolutely no depth and it was over so quick I thought I'd lost my virginity for a second time...”
- “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.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The graphics in the game are generally described as nice and charming, featuring a unique art style that is smooth and visually appealing, though some players note a lack of detail and variety in character animations and sprites. While the world map graphics are more engaging, character representations are criticized for their minimal directional facings and reuse of animations. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's atmosphere, despite some technical issues and inconsistencies.
- “Plus: stunning artwork”
- “This game has been very entertaining so far, the artwork and graphic style of the game is smooth and pleasing but not over the top as far as graphics go.”
- “Trulon: the Shadow Engine truly displays an interesting combat system and artwork that has some charm to it.”
- “On the other hand, there are game-breaking bugs with backtracking, the UI is a little annoying, and some content seems to be outright missing -- 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.”
- “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.”
- “The same cannot be said for the world map; however, they have resorted to 8-bit graphics for the character sprite.”
gameplay
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
86%
14%
The gameplay features a unique art style and an interesting deck/card combat mechanic, though it suffers from bugs that can be game-breaking. While the mechanics are generally balanced and enjoyable, the reliance on luck can lead to frustrating moments, particularly for players who draw poor hands. Overall, the game offers a fun experience with entertaining lore, but it may not appeal to those who dislike deckbuilders.
- “So far so good, a unique art style and an interesting deck/card combat mechanic with a story that's fun so far.”
- “Good soundtrack, good writing, turn-based combat mechanics are fun (despite a little randomness about the tactics cards you will get), story is a bit cliché but definitely entertaining.”
- “For those new to the genre as well as those with loads of experience, this is a game that has interesting lore and simple game mechanics.”
- “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
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is generally described as pleasant and fitting, though some reviewers find it mediocre or somewhat bland. While the soundtrack enhances the overall experience, it does not stand out significantly, with the game's unique art and engaging mechanics providing a more memorable backdrop. Overall, the music contributes positively without being a highlight.
- “Good soundtrack, good writing, and fun turn-based combat mechanics (despite a little randomness with the tactics cards you will get). The story is a bit clichéd but definitely entertaining.”
- “The somewhat bland characters and storyline are balanced out by quaint graphics and pleasant music.”
- “Unique art and a lovely soundtrack; optimizing equipped cards and mechanisms can be a rewarding endeavor.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with numerous bugs reported by players, some of which are game-breaking and require redoing substantial portions of the storyline. Overall, the instability detracts from the experience, overshadowing the otherwise decent mechanics and visuals.
- “Apparently other people are having similar issues to me, but in other parts of the game, so it looks like it's just an overall buggy game.”
- “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, making me redo most of the storyline quests just so I can continue playing on my save file.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Character development in the game is criticized for being shallow and one-dimensional, with a ludicrous storyline that lacks depth and fails to engage players meaningfully. The overall experience is described as disappointingly brief, leaving little room for character growth or emotional investment.
- “In short, the character development was shallow, the characters themselves one-dimensional, the storyline was ludicrous with absolutely no depth.”
- “The characters felt underdeveloped and lacked any real growth throughout the game.”
- “I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful choices that could influence character development.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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 engage with the game's mechanics, enhancing their overall experience.
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 feel that the quests are uninspired and contribute to a sense of being a rushed port, detracting from overall enjoyment.
- “The 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 that this game is a rushed port, making the grinding experience feel even more frustrating.”
- “The grinding mechanics are painfully repetitive, leading to a lack of engagement and enjoyment.”