Year 500

About

Year 500 is a third-person, hack-n-slash adventure game featuring swordplay, magic casting, and an engaging story set in a fantasy world. Reclaim your memory, oppose and defeat evil, and save the kingdom by any means necessary.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 13 reviews

story3 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features impressive 2D art and character designs, particularly for the bosses, which many players found charming and visually appealing.
Voice acting is highly praised, with players noting that the performances are exceptional for a small team project.
The story is engaging and unique, keeping players interested throughout the gameplay experience.

Gameplay mechanics, particularly the sword combat, are criticized for being unrefined, with some players finding the combat system lacking depth and challenge.
The camera controls are described as jarring and inconsistent, making navigation and combat difficult at times.
Several players reported bugs and glitches, including issues with hit detection and the functionality of certain gameplay elements.

gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
38%
38%
Gameplay is generally considered decent, with some players enjoying the magic long-range attacks over sword combat, though there are criticisms regarding the mechanics and challenge level of certain bosses. Issues such as disappearing mouse controls and the need for clearer live instructions have been noted, alongside a desire for longer gameplay and more engaging enemy encounters. Overall, while the game has enjoyable elements, it could benefit from improved mechanics and increased difficulty.
- “The desert was well designed, and the mechanic took me a while to actually figure out.”
- “This fight is interesting, with the mechanic being thrown in as an addition.”
- “The main piece of criticism I have is that the functionality of the gameplay mechanics could use some work. Dark Oden and Weiss could have been more challenging to fight against. I wish we got to see more of Oden's pals at the camp, and gahhh, I just wish the game could have been longer!”
- “I feel pausing to explain mechanics might be a tad unnecessary, and that a more live instruction would be better.”
- “A few nitpicking things: the bosses don't have any mechanics that are a must dodge, which makes them have almost no threat once you start getting higher in your upgrades. You can just stand and trade blows.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The story is praised for its uniqueness and charm, with engaging characters and good voice acting, although it is noted to be relatively short. Players found the narrative compelling enough to maintain their interest throughout the game, despite spending much of their time on gameplay mechanics. Overall, the story contributes positively to the experience, especially for a free-to-play title developed by a small team.
- “The story is unique, the characters are charming, and I was interested in the story throughout my entire time of playing.”
- “The voice acting is good, the story is cool, and the character designs are dope, especially the bosses.”
- “This game is really good for a free-to-play title, and it seems like it was made by a small team. I really enjoyed the story, even though it was short, and a lot of the game has really good voice acting.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and appeal, with a standout soundtrack that enhances the experience. However, some players feel that a more relaxed musical theme would be beneficial when entering the camp, as the ongoing hype music detracts from the intended sense of safety and calm.
- “The soundtrack is also just as wonderful!”
- “The music is pretty dope too.”
- “When entering the camp, new music that's a bit more relaxed would be appreciated, as the constant hype music can pull away from the feeling I get when I'm in the camp of safety.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is highlighted by strong voice acting and engaging storylines, complemented by impressive character designs, particularly for the bosses. The visual elements, including loading screens and cut scenes, enhance the overall appeal and immersion of the characters.
- “The voice acting is excellent, the story is engaging, and the character designs are impressive, especially the bosses.”
- “The loading screens, character talk sprites, cut scenes, and character designs—all of the 2D art captivated me from the very first moment.”