Elex

The story of Elex receives praise for its rich world-building, unique setting, and engaging faction dynamics. Critics like Destructoid highlight the game’s intriguing post-apocalyptic world of Magalan, where a blend of sci-fi and fantasy elements creates a distinct atmosphere. Eurogamer Italy and GamePro Germany commend the detailed lore surrounding factions such as the Albs, Berserkers, and Clerics, noting how these groups drive the narrative through political intrigue and moral dilemmas. New Game Network and RPG Site emphasize the complexity of player choices, with branching dialogues and consequences shaping the story’s outcome. Even BaziCenter, despite its somewhat cryptic praise in Persian, acknowledges the game’s narrative depth, suggesting that the story offers a compelling framework for exploration and decision-making. However, the narrative faces significant criticism for its execution flaws. Many reviewers, including Digitally Downloaded and Everyeye.it, describe the main plot as clichéd, with a revenge-driven storyline that feels unoriginal and underdeveloped. GameSpot and IGN Spain point to disjointed storytelling, poor character backstories, and technical issues in cutscenes that undermine immersion. Push Square and 3DJuegos criticize the writing as dull, exposition-heavy, and plagued by awkward dialogue, while TheXboxHub and Windows Central note that the protagonist, Jax, lacks depth and emotional engagement. The repetitive quest design and generic NPCs, highlighted by The Games Machine and RPG Site, further detract from the experience, making the narrative feel formulaic despite its ambitious premise. Overall, critics agree that Elex’s story is a mixed bag, with its strengths in world-building and player agency overshadowed by narrative shortcomings. While Destructoid and GamePro Germany acknowledge that the plot improves over time, many others, like IGN Spain and Everyeye.it, feel it fails to live up to its potential. The game’s focus on faction dynamics and moral choices is praised as a unique feature, but issues with pacing, character development, and writing create a disconnect between the setting’s promise and the actual storytelling. Despite these flaws, the consensus leans toward appreciation for the game’s ambition, with New Game Network and RPG Site noting that the narrative’s complexity and player-driven consequences offer a rewarding experience for those willing to navigate its imperfections.

The gameplay of Elex is praised for its open-world freedom, player choice, and creative exploration mechanics. Critics highlight the game’s emphasis on non-linear quests, faction alignment, and vertical traversal via the jetpack, which adds unique depth to movement and combat. Destructoid notes the lack of strict quest constraints, allowing players to explore without rigid guidance, while Eurogamer Italy and GamePro Germany commend the skill tree and progression systems for their depth, even if they require time to master. The jetpack, in particular, is celebrated as a standout feature by multiple reviewers, including GameSpot and Push Square, who appreciate its role in enabling creative exploration and dynamic combat scenarios. Additionally, the game’s blend of fantasy and sci-fi elements, along with its emphasis on player agency, earns praise from outlets like GamePro Germany and PlayStation LifeStyle, which acknowledge the ambition behind its design. However, the gameplay is heavily criticized for its clunky combat mechanics, unbalanced systems, and technical flaws. Multiple reviewers, including Digitally Downloaded and GameSpot, describe the combat as awkward, with poor hit detection, frustrating stamina management, and a steep difficulty curve that alienates newer players. The lack of level-scaling and inconsistent enemy AI—noted by Eurogamer Italy and The Digital Fix—further exacerbate these issues, leading to repetitive and unengaging fights. Critics like Push Square and IGN Spain highlight the game’s "dry combat" and "unpolished" mechanics, while GameGrin and New Game Network criticize the rhythm-based combat as dull and unresponsive. Additionally, bugs, poor UI design, and mission formulaicity (e.g., "formulaic quests" per Everyeye.it) undermine the experience, creating a sense of frustration despite the game’s ambitious scope. Overall, critics agree that Elex has significant potential but is hindered by its flawed combat systems and technical shortcomings. While outlets like GamePro Germany and GameSpace acknowledge the game’s depth and rewarding exploration once players adapt to its mechanics, many others, including The Digital Fix and XboxAddict, argue that these positives are overshadowed by repetitive gameplay and unbalanced design. The consensus leans toward a mixed reception: Elex is seen as an ambitious open-world RPG with strong creative elements but one that struggles to deliver a cohesive or enjoyable core experience due to its persistent combat issues and accessibility challenges. As GameGrin puts it, the game’s "addicting" exploration and progression systems are marred by "frustrating" mechanics, leaving players divided between admiration for its ambition and frustration with its execution.

The reviews of Elex’s graphics and visual design highlight several positive aspects, particularly its unique world-building and environmental diversity. Critics like Digitally Downloaded praised the game’s post-apocalyptic aesthetic, which blends fantasy and sci-fi elements, drawing comparisons to Horizon: Zero Dawn for its evocative use of nature reclaiming ruins. GameSpot noted the distinct regions such as Edan, Tavar, and Ignadon, while Push Square highlighted the intriguing sci-fi setting with post-apocalyptic landscapes and unique plant life. The PC Games review commended the handcrafted design of Magalan, emphasizing seamless transitions between biomes and attention to detail in depicting a post-apocalyptic world. Additionally, Windows Central described the environments as "gorgeous and diverse," with photorealistic aesthetics ranging from lush forests to wastelands, showcasing the game’s ambitious artistic direction. However, the negatives consistently revolve around technical shortcomings and outdated visuals. Everyeye.it and GamePro Germany criticized the game for its "outdated" textures, polygonal models, and animations, with combat feeling sluggish. Hardcore Gamer pointed to clashing faction aesthetics and derivative character designs, while The Digital Fix noted significant technical flaws on console versions, such as pop-in, texture clipping, and inconsistent lighting. Areajugones and Vandal lamented that the graphics felt like a "decade-old title," undermining its potential. Issues like frame rate drops during crowded scenes (GameSpot), stiff animations (Multiplayer.it), and repetitive assets (GameGrin) further detracted from the experience, with many critics noting that the visual polish fell short of modern AAA standards. Overall, while Elex’s visual design is lauded for its creative world-building and environmental variety, the consensus leans toward disappointment due to technical limitations and a lack of polish. Critics like Destructoid and Game Revolution acknowledged the game’s potential but emphasized that its "clashing aesthetics" and "outdated" character models hindered immersion. The divide between platform-specific issues—such as The Digital Fix’s critique of console graphics versus PC Games’ praise for PC optimization—reflects broader challenges in execution. Despite some standout moments, the game’s visuals failed to fully realize its ambitious blend of fantasy and sci-fi, leaving many reviewers conflicted between admiration for its artistic vision and frustration with its technical shortcomings.

The initial reception of Elex’s sound design and music highlights some commendable aspects, particularly its functional and atmospheric qualities. Critics like Ragequit.gr noted that the soundtrack effectively enhances exploration with a nostalgic 90s/00s vibe, suggesting it aligns well with the game’s adventurous tone. The Overpowered Noobs acknowledged the music as “reasonable” despite issues with balance, while New Game Network praised the original score as “reasonable,” even if it fell short of the quality seen in Piranha Bytes’ earlier titles like Risen. Additionally, Multiplayer.it and Hardcore Gamer observed that the ambient sounds and voice acting, though unremarkable, were at least functional, with the latter noting that the music “fit[s] the scenes without standing out.” These positives indicate that while the audio elements weren’t groundbreaking, they served their purpose in supporting gameplay and immersion. However, the negatives dominate the critique, particularly regarding inconsistency and technical flaws. The Digital Fix criticized the sound design as “inconsistent,” citing unpredictable volume fluctuations and missing audio files, which disrupted the immersive experience. New Game Network also pointed to “inconsistent audio quality” and overly loud environmental sounds, while The Overpowered Noobs highlighted poor balance between music and voice acting, forcing players to choose between subtitles or muted audio. Hardcore Gamer and Multiplayer.it both noted that the music lacked memorability, with the former calling it “unremarkable” and the latter describing it as “sufficient but unmemorable.” Additionally, New Game Network criticized the stilted voice acting, further undermining immersion. These issues collectively suggest a lack of polish in the audio design, which detracted from the overall experience. The overall consensus among critics is that Elex’s sound design and music are average at best, with functional but unimpressive execution. While some elements—like the nostalgic soundtrack or ambient sounds—were appreciated, the technical inconsistencies and lack of cohesion overshadowed these positives. The Digital Fix and New Game Network emphasized the flaws in audio balance and quality, while Hardcore Gamer and Multiplayer.it underscored the music’s failure to stand out. Despite a few redeeming qualities, the majority of reviewers felt that the audio aspects did not meet expectations, particularly when compared to Piranha Bytes’ previous work. This mixed reception reflects a game that prioritized gameplay over polish in its auditory elements, leaving room for improvement in future projects.

The voice acting in Elex received some positive remarks from critics, particularly highlighting its completeness and occasional moments of quality. GameGrin praised the game for featuring a "fully voiced cast," which they noted as a redeeming quality despite other flaws. COGconnected acknowledged that while the voice acting was initially unimpressive, it "grew on the player over time," suggesting some adaptability to its style. New Game Network also pointed out that the voice work, though stilted, was of "decent quality for a small studio," with Jax’s monotone delivery aligning with the story’s context and other characters offering more varied performances. These comments indicate that while not exceptional, the voice acting had moments of competence and potential for engagement. However, the majority of critics strongly criticized the voice acting as a significant weakness. Game Revolution condemned it as "poor," citing "stiff animations, no lip syncing, and awkward dialogue delivery" that undermined immersion. Push Square described it as "awkward and mediocre," failing to elevate "overly expository" dialogue, while The Digital Fix noted characters often lacked animation during conversations, with female characters’ movements being "unrealistic." GameSpace called the voice acting "painful," criticizing stilted writing and repetitive dialogue that led reviewers to skip interactions. Other critiques included monotone performances (e.g., Jax’s "wooden" delivery per Windows Central), inconsistent pronunciation of faction names (Hardcore Gamer), and robotic, hard-to-hear lines due to overpowering music (The Overpowered Noobs). These issues collectively created a disconnect between players and the narrative. Overall, the consensus among critics was that Elex’s voice acting was a major drawback, with only a few acknowledging its limited strengths. While some reviewers found it serviceable or even improved over time, the overwhelming sentiment was one of disappointment. The lack of emotional depth, poor synchronization, and repetitive dialogue overshadowed any positive aspects, contributing to a frustrating experience for many players. Critics like Game Revolution, GameSpace, and XboxAddict emphasized that the voice acting significantly detracted from immersion, while others like New Game Network and COGconnected offered more nuanced perspectives. Despite these varied opinions, the majority agreed that Elex’s voice work was a critical flaw, undermining its potential as a narrative-driven experience.

The technical performance of Elex across platforms shows a mixed reception, with some positives noted despite widespread criticism. On PC, several critics highlighted relative stability and optimization compared to console versions. For instance, PC Games explicitly stated there were no major bugs or technical issues, contrasting it with past titles from Piranha Bytes, while Wccftech praised the game’s fast loading times and good optimization, though noting minor balance and AI flaws. On PS4, while most reviews were negative, The Digital Fix acknowledged that PC versions fared slightly better, citing issues like pop-in textures and unstable physics on consoles. For Xbox One, TheXboxHub and Windows Central noted that the day one patch improved some frame rate inconsistencies, though persistent stuttering and texture pop-ins remained problematic. These positives suggest that while technical flaws were prevalent, PC’s performance was relatively more polished, and post-launch patches offered some relief on consoles. However, the negatives for Elex’s technical performance were widespread and severe across all platforms. On PS4, critics like Eurogamer Italy and GameSpot described frame rate issues (often below 30 FPS), crashes, and unresolvable bugs that significantly impacted immersion. Push Square called the game a “relative mess of a release,” citing broken abilities and clunky combat. For Xbox One, Windows Central criticized inconsistent 30 FPS and stuttering during combat, while XboxAddict highlighted poor controls and camera issues. On PC, despite some stability, GameGrin and RPG Site noted frequent bugs like NPCs walking into walls and enemy freezes, while The Games Machine called the combat system “abominable” and criticized the aging engine. These issues collectively painted a picture of a technically flawed game that struggled to meet expectations, with console versions facing more pronounced problems than PC. Overall, critics across all platforms agreed that Elex suffered from significant technical shortcomings that detracted from its ambitious design. While PC Games and Wccftech offered cautious praise for PC’s stability, the consensus was that the game required substantial post-launch fixes to address bugs, performance hiccups, and optimization issues. Console versions, particularly on PS4 and Xbox One, faced more severe problems like frame rate drops, AI glitches, and mission crashes, as highlighted by Eurogamer Italy, GameSpot, and TheXboxHub. Despite some improvements via patches, the technical flaws were seen as a major barrier to enjoyment, with many reviewers emphasizing that the game’s potential was undermined by its unstable foundation. The mixed reception underscores a disconnect between Elex’s creative vision and its execution, leaving players frustrated by persistent technical hurdles.

The positive aspects of Elex’s replay value are highlighted by several critics who emphasize its expansive open world, branching narratives, and diverse gameplay mechanics. GamePro Germany notes that the game’s “large open world, diverse quests, and multiple faction alignments” encourage repeated playthroughs, while 3DJuegos and Areajugones praise the “branching story,” “player choices,” and “numerous side quests” that allow for different experiences across multiple sessions. New Game Network also highlights the “branching questlines, faction choices, and moral dilemmas” as key drivers of replayability, enabling players to explore varied outcomes based on their decisions. Additionally, BaziCenter and Vandal commend the game’s “extensive content” and “hundreds of hours of gameplay,” suggesting that its open-world design and exploration opportunities provide enough incentive for players to return. These reviews collectively frame Elex as a title with strong potential for replayability, particularly for fans of RPGs who value choice-driven storytelling and exploration. However, several critics point out significant flaws that undermine the game’s replayability. GameGrin outright states the game is “unenjoyable and not worth revisiting,” while The Games Machine criticizes repetitive quests and an “unengaging story” that diminishes long-term appeal. The Overpowered Noobs and The Games Machine also note that flawed mechanics, such as repetitive combat and unbalanced progression systems, create barriers to repeated playthroughs. Additionally, PlayStation LifeStyle and SomosXbox highlight the game’s “steep learning curve” and “technical flaws,” which may deter players from returning despite its ambitious scope. Critics like Game Revolution and Multiplayer.it further argue that while the main story offers 50+ hours of content, the lack of meaningful post-game incentives or multiple endings limits its replayability. These negative assessments suggest that Elex’s design issues and uneven execution hinder its ability to sustain player interest over time. Overall, the consensus among critics is mixed but leans toward acknowledging Elex’s potential for replayability despite its flaws. While many praise its open-world design, branching narratives, and faction-based choices as strong positives (as noted by GamePro Germany, 3DJuegos, and Vandal), others argue that technical issues, repetitive gameplay, and a lack of post-game content significantly reduce its long-term appeal. The divide reflects the game’s ambitious scope versus its execution—some players may find value in its depth and variety, while others are deterred by its shortcomings. Critics like New Game Network and SomosXbox suggest that Elex could be rewarding for dedicated RPG fans, but its accessibility and polish remain contentious. Ultimately, the replayability of Elex seems to depend heavily on individual tolerance for its flaws and appreciation for its core design elements.