Elementallis gave me early The Legend of Zelda vibes. This was a nostalgia-infused romp that took me back to my childhood. However, nothing beats the classic experience, so this was always on a bit of an uphill battle. Yet, I think the developer did a great job with its charming atmosphere and deep and interesting puzzles.
This top-down action-adventure was developed by AnKae Games and published by Top Hat Studios. It is a single-player title that tells a story of redemption and personal discovery. Accordingly, it has some minor moralistic elements, but I didn’t mind this at all. Furthermore, it screams retro, and that was a huge plus point.
Elementallis tells an interesting but familiar tale.
When one man brings the world to its knees, it is understandable that they’ll feel an ounce of guilt. This is exactly what happens in Elementallis. The hero is driven by the guilt of what they have done. Consequently, they embark on a dangerous adventure as they explore a handful of temples while confronting the fractured elements. It is dangerous, familiar, but exciting.
The world is broken down into 8 unique biomes. As tradition states, there are 8 different dungeons to support each area. Unlike traditional games in this genre, you do not unlock new items in each dungeon. Instead, you gain elemental abilities to open otherwise blocked pathways. These abilities form your primary magical system while also acting as a key to progress. It was an interesting twist on traditional mechanics and something that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Plenty of puzzles.
The elements act as a method of enemy exploitation. You must understand how each power defeats another and the benefits of combining one or more elements. This requires a little trial and error, and mistakes are par for the course. However, this was part of its charm and maximising your opportunities in each fight was a test of your memory and tactical approach.
The puzzles were where Elementallis shines. You must use your elemental abilities to create new pathways and solve the problems you face. First, this isn’t an issue, but as you expand your arsenal of skills, things become exceptionally complex. Subsequently, it requires a fair bit of skill to overcome every obstacle and problem you face.
Where this falls short is its difficulty spikes. I found some of the boss encounters to be ruthless and unfair. This added a sense challenge that some may enjoy, but the balance of normal encounters and boss fights was too far apart for my liking.
Elementallis delivers old-school charm.
The second this loaded in, I fell for its dated charm. There was an immediate sense of early console gaming, and I adored the aesthetic. It doesn’t push modern consoles in the slightest, but that doesn’t matter. The pixelated sprites, interesting stage design, varied backdrops, and vivid colour palette retain a wholesome charm that older gamers will love.
The audio has that heroic and upbeat edge that makes your skin tingle. Each successful fight and boss battle delivers that wow factor. Furthermore, there is excitement, drama, and energy while you are traversing the world. Although it is quite OTT, I loved the constant noise, the exceptional soundtrack, and how easy it was to listen to.
Excellent controls.
The UI and control system are remarkably simple to understand. Once you get through the first dungeon, you’ll know exactly what to expect. The excellent tutorial gets you underway, and a little bit of trial and error helps you to fill in the gaps. I’d say inexperienced gamers may struggle a little, but some patience goes a long way.
I ploughed around 20 hours into the story and most of the collectables. If I wanted to complete Elementallis, I’d have to invest another 3-5 hours. I’m not a completionist, so I wasn’t too bothered about every achievement, but there was no sense of grind, so completing it would not have felt like a chore.
Elementallis is a decent indie experience.
Getting even marginally close to a Zelda title is a massive achievement. Elementallis delivers on many fronts, even though it doesn’t quite hit the heights of that much-loved franchise. I adore the interesting mechanics, the plot, and the unique biomes. Furthermore, although the spike in difficulty was unwanted, it added a layer of challenge that pushed me out of my comfort zone. Accordingly, I enjoyed it, and I recommend buying it here! Can you rebuild a fractured world? Explore the temples, gather the elements, and unlock every pathway.
