XANARTHRAXIA
- November 16, 2019
- BrainChocolate
Get on Steam"XANARTHRAXIA is a challenging, self-discovery journey focusing on personal growth and overcoming limitations. Its Match 2 Combat system requires matching shapes for attack combos and clearing tiles to restore health. The game features procedural adventures across six distinct zones, with an endless onslaught of monsters to conquer. Overcome your fears and doubts to emerge victorious."
Reviews
- The game features excellent pixel graphics and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- It's a fun and addictive gameplay loop that challenges players to maintain focus and react quickly, making it engaging for casual play.
- The game is affordably priced and offers a leaderboard for competitive players, adding to its replayability.
- The gameplay can become repetitive and may lack depth, leading to boredom after a short period.
- Some players may find the main campaign too short, with a completion time of only 1-2 hours.
- The mechanics can be frustrating, especially with the cooldown ability and the pressure of rapidly decreasing time limits.
- graphics8 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -12 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their charming retro pixel art style, which, combined with an engaging soundtrack, creates a nostalgic atmosphere. Players appreciate the vibrant artwork and overall visual appeal, although some feel that the repetitive gameplay may detract from the experience over time.
“Its a casual game that has an amazing art style and great music.”
“Nice pixel graphics and soundtrack.”
“Funny indie game with nice retro graphics and sound.”
“The graphics are quite underwhelming and lack detail.”
“The art style feels outdated and doesn't bring anything new to the table.”
“The visuals are bland and fail to capture the essence of the game.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally described as simple and addictive, with a clear main loop that is easy to understand. However, many players feel it lacks depth and variety, leading to repetitive mechanics that can become boring over time. While the art and sound design are praised, the overall gameplay experience may benefit from more options and challenge.
“The gameplay turns out to be even simpler than I thought, but it's strangely compelling and surprisingly addictive.”
“I picked up this game because I was drawn to the art, which is terrific, and the simple gameplay.”
“Rather, you are made to single-mindedly execute the main gameplay loop which the game communicates concisely and accurately by its initial words 'as above so below'.”
“The guts are there, but I just can't help but feel the game's mechanics could have been fleshed out with more depth, options, and story/character/world-building.”
“It's honestly kind of a neat concept, but the gameplay is repetitive and gets boring after a bit. All you're doing is matching the same symbols and fighting the same enemies with no increasing challenge. I don't know if this is because it's in early access or something, but that's how the game is right now.”
“It's got amazing graphics and sound design, but the mechanics of clicking the matching picture over and over again get old pretty quick.”
- music5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its retro feel, complementing the charming pixel graphics and overall art style. Reviewers appreciate how the soundtrack enhances the casual gaming experience, making it a worthwhile investment for its aesthetic appeal.
“A fun little match 3 game, enough content to last for about 30 minutes to an hour and a half depending on how good you are, but it's only 1 dollar and the art style combined with the music give a familiar retro feel that eases you into the game nicely.”
“It's a casual game that has an amazing art style and great music.”
“And the art and music really are terrific, so it's worth three bucks just to enjoy that for awhile.”
- story2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The story is generally regarded as good, with a solid foundation; however, many feel that it lacks depth in mechanics and could benefit from more extensive character and world-building.
“The story is engaging and well-crafted.”
“The narrative has strong foundations, but I feel the game mechanics could benefit from more depth, options, and character/world-building.”
“The guts are there, but I just can't help but feel the game's mechanics could have been fleshed out with more depth, options, and story/character/world-building.”
“The narrative feels disjointed and lacks the emotional impact that I was hoping for.”
“The characters are one-dimensional and fail to engage the player in any meaningful way.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect manageable, with the "grinding achievement" being achievable in just three to four runs.
“Completing the grinding achievement should be doable in three or four runs.”
“The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I spent hours grinding for resources, and it felt like I was getting nowhere.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by an almost monochrome color palette, enhanced by selective splashes of color that contribute to a darker, more immersive experience.
“The almost monochrome color palette with sparingly used splashes of color nicely supports a darker atmosphere.”
“The haunting sound design and ambient music create an immersive experience that pulls you into the game's world.”
“The detailed environments and eerie lighting contribute to a sense of unease that keeps you on edge throughout the game.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its humor, complemented by charming retro graphics and sound, making it an enjoyable indie experience.
“A hilarious indie game with charming retro graphics and delightful sound effects.”
“The humor in this game is spot-on, making every moment enjoyable.”
“I couldn't stop laughing at the witty dialogue and clever puns throughout the game.”
