Elsie
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Critics Recommend
Critic Reviews for Elsie
Elsie has few original ideas to call its own, instead relying on tried-and-tested roguelike mechanics as a foundation for its excellent Mega Man X-inspired gameplay. This is a fast and fluid experience bolstered by wonderful visuals and a killer soundtrack. A few minor performance issues do dampen the experience slightly, while we found the parry mechanic to be a bit, well, off, but these issues aside, Elsie is a remarkable achievement that will get its claws into you quickly and won't let go.
Elsie doesn't do a great deal new, but it is a great way to blast away a few hours in a world that looks and sounds beautiful.
Despite its steep learning curve and occasional forced endings, Elsie is a fast, frenetic and fun roguelike with plenty of ways to change up your runs. It'll have you running and gunning for hours on end, leaving you eager to jump in for yet another run. If roguelikes are your thing, Elsie is well worth its bargain price.
Elsie is an interesting homage to the classic action and platform games of the 90s. However, the lack of balance in some of its mechanics and challenges to keep the player motivated after the conclusion of the campaign make it just another roguelite in a market already full of options.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
I had a solid time with Elsie and would love to see a sequel that irons out its more confusing aspects and pacing issues. As it is, its gameplay and pixel-perfect graphics are certainly the stars of the show so check it out if you dig 2D action games. 🔫
Roguelike diehards will feel right at home in the cyberpunk world of Elsie. Gamers seeking a straightforward platforming experience might find the roguelike mechanics convoluted and confusing with its messy UI. When you have the right upgrades at your disposal and the action is firing on all cylinders, Elsie is hard to put down. However, it feels like a chore to reach that point within every new run.
Elsie is by far the best rougelite I’ve played this year and a great way to kill time until the next Hades II major update. Being Hispanic and seeing the small nods of representation was comforting to me. Honestly this game shows even small things can make all the difference with inclusivity and representation. Such as the Forge being called the Candero (which means candlestick in Spanish), this had me laughing because of the difference in fire power between the two. I really hope Knight Shift Games creates a sequel or bring their experience from Elsie into their next title.
Elsie is an excellent action roguelike that deserves the attention of any fan of the genre. Its tight controls, flexible gameplay mechanics, and addictive progression system make for a highly enjoyable experience. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it executes its familiar formula with enough polish and flair to keep players engaged. The game’s only real drawback is its adherence to the well-trodden path of the action roguelike genre. If you’ve already played your fair share of these games, Elsie might not offer anything new enough to rekindle your enthusiasm. However, if you’re still hungry for more roguelike action, or if this is your first time exploring the genre, Elsie is well worth your time.
