ELEX

It's a case when all critics are wrong. Yes, this game is very clunky, unfriendly and unforgiving. You can't predict a fight result even on highest levels - and run like a rabbit on lower levels. But still it's the closest game to legendary Gothic 1 and 2 - spirit, lot of quests and exploration, huge world to discover and interesting story. First I was thinking that mix of sci-fi and fantasy will ruin this game, but I was completely wrong. Everything fits nice in this world - magic and technology just works like in Arcanum, so I don't have to say anything opposed to it. Yeah, yeah, yeah, controls and learning curve are open questions to discuss, but if you find strength to overcome it, you'll find that Elex is a great title with roughly 90-100 hours of gameplay. I'm happy that I bought it, it was really fun.

...so far it is a 4 star game. Not solid 4 stars, but it's pretty good. I really like the setting and world. I enjoy the look and the mood. Characters are OK, somewhat fleshed out (some much more than others of course) and missions etc seem good and logic. Graphics and sounds are really good, IMHO, and I enjoy both what it looks like and what it sounds like. Character voice overs are better than most similar games, really good at some places. Gameplay is interesting. Interesting places/locations, and, since I haven't played so much, it is exciting and there are lots of "new" things/places to see most all the time. But, the negative parts - and this might become better or worse after playing more: 1. There is no First Person View. Only Third Person. I didn't really expect that. It becomes really clunky at times, especially in small rooms. In battle it doesn't really matter, but running around and picking stuff up is a hit-and-miss. Someone at another forum said a First Person View would mean much more graphics - but then again: I'd rather take lower quality graphics JUST to have that view. Playability is worth much more than cool looks. 2. A bit too much menus. One-hand weapons, two-hand weapons, long-range... why not just lesser amount of weapons and one menu? Do I really need to horde all this stuff? 3. WAY too long dialogues and movies... in the beginning I thought I'd bought an animated movie and not a game... 2 and 3 doesn't matter. I'll get used to it, and you can click away... (though ESC doesn't work, you need to use enter and/or backspace, which is, again, clunky). However, the view makes it super difficult to play sometime... I REALLY HOPE I will get used to this - and if it keeps being fun, and I get used to it, then it might become a five star game (if it impresses me more, though...) But now, it has a tendency to move towards a 3 star... If you want Fallout 3 or Skyrim action, you'll get a similar world - but NOT similar controls.

This really feels like a game made by the creators of Gothic. At beginning you are very weak, you can barely survive a combat with Mass Rat. So you just keep running away while collecting experience from easy quests. You definitely must focus on getting better weapon so you need to level required attributes. Later on (for me as cleric as I got plasma/laser rifle; ca after 20 hours of gameplay) you become very strong. It feels so rewarding. So that is it. Good story. Painful at start rewarding later.

I bought this game at a discount assuming it would be a relatively vapid "open world" game, but I was completely wrong. Many decisions you make in the game have far reaching consequences, and playing on the higher difficulties is reminiscent of Survival Mode on Fallout and Elden Ring in terms of battle strategy, which makes exploring the world a necessity to scavenge for goods to sell or use. 1. Combat is a little jenky but you get use to it once you rebind the dodge & lock on key bindings to your mouse, and then it becomes easier. 2. The characters are actually interesting, from the Berserkers who shun technology, to the Outlaws who embrace "profit", it is as if the characters of LOTR, Mad Max, and Mass Effect collectively combined to form and build a world that somehow makes sense, once you begin to unravel the mystery of Elex deposits. 3. Attributes and Skills actually matter, you have to choose what type of character you want early on and choose wisely. I've already played the game for over thirty hours, and I haven't done that since playing Oblivion and before that Morrowind, which is quite pleasing. There is such depth to every part of the map, and I find myself actually wanting to scavenge loot as compared to my playthrough of Fallout 4, where the story was too boring to care about the world. Overall it's well worth whatever price it's being sold at, and atleast in my opinion has more interesting places to explore than Fallout 3 or Morrowind, which is saying a lot.

Elex is a game with a lot of potential. Nice graphics, good sound, the idea to clash factions with weapons and equipment from different time areas, a really large, basically seamless world… so why give only 2/5 stars? Well, this game is not finished and need at least 2-3 more month development. Intro: You get shot down and crash over enemy territory, climb out of your burning fighter and.. walk slowly to the next sightseeing spot, throwing away your helmet. Just got attacked? Nah, I'm cool. Keyboard layout: Impossible. Half of all keys are locked and with that important keys can't be reassigned. Animation and movement: In the Intro, it was just ugly, in game it's implemented like the first attempt in animation class, seasickness included. No idea how anything works! I feel like a pirate in the 80's. No Handbook. Everything is like a puzzle. Game engine: Targeting (just looking, not shooting), larger steps over a rock, basically breathing breaks sneak. Ever seen “homing rocks”? That's the trolls equivalent of homing missiles. Basically every enemy projectile, rocks, fire and toxic breath and spit is freely changing direction in midair. This, in combination with the very creative interpretation of collision detection (with attacks) makes many encounters extremely frustrating. Creatures: Almost any creature, even that tiny lizard on the rock can spit insta-gib fire-, toxic- acid fumes further then my mom - or any plasma rifles. Because progress is chapter based (no armor for you until you join a faction), almost anything is to strong. A companion could help: Unfortunately, brain was unavailable. Self initiative? Behavior control? Task assignment? NOTHING! Absolutely no AI. If one attacks a creature, the companions shoots about 3 times and then let loose, even if you still run for your life, he's just enjoying the show or worse, constantly gets in your way. Finally killed that guy in body armor and plasma rifle, thanks to chapter progress, all you loot is a candy bar.