Emberbane Review Summary

Fluid combat and smooth, rewarding gameplay are undermined by game-breaking crashes, misaligned map markers, and missing icons, so it's not recommended in its current state.

Fluid combat mechanics: Combat is described as fluid, satisfying, and versatile. The fighting mechanics feel clean and rewarding to use.

Overall positive reception: Many reviewers simply call it a good game and express hopes for continued improvement. The general sentiment is positive and encouraging.

Smooth and fluid gameplay: The game is noted for being very smooth and fluid, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. This smoothness makes actions feel responsive and pleasant.

Fun and rewarding gameplay: Players frequently describe the game as fun, rewarding, and varied. The gameplay loop is engaging and provides satisfaction across different activities.

Fun platforming and parkour: Platforming and parkour sections are consistently called fun and great. These traversal mechanics provide enjoyable challenges.

Game-breaking bugs crash game: Players report severe bugs that crash the game, make it unplayable, and prevent finishing. This is a widespread and critical issue that significantly impacts the experience.

Map marker misalignment and missing icons: The map suffers from misaligned markers, missing icons for merchants and points of interest, and blank areas. This causes disorientation and incomplete map information.

Minor bugs and launch issues: Several clusters mention minor bugs or bugs present at launch that were annoying but not game-breaking. These issues are common but less severe.

Clunky and bad controls: Players find the controls extremely clunky and combat mechanics unrewarding. This affects gameplay feel and enjoyment.

Lack of polish and bugs: Feedback indicates the game lacks polish and has various bugs, though some are minor. This suggests an overall unrefined state.

Elemental combat system: Combat revolves around using four distinct elements (fire, earth, water, lightning) against enemies, with switching between them during fights. Each element has unique properties and movesets.

Platforming and movement focus: The game heavily features platforming sections, with long traversal segments often followed by arena-style combat challenges. Movement and precise jumping are central to the experience.

Air dash ability: An air-dash or sky dash ability is obtained early in the game, enhancing both combat and platforming mobility. This ability is frequently cited as a key mechanic.

Metroidvania structure and exploration: Multiple reviewers describe the game as a Metroidvania with interconnected exploration and ability-gated progression. The structure encourages backtracking and discovery across a large map.

Parkour and elemental traversal: The game combines parkour with elemental powers for movement, creating a dynamic mix of platforming and combat. Reviewers highlight the fluidity of these traversal mechanics.

Bug fixes improved stability: Many players report that bugs were mostly fixed with patches, especially after the first month. Some mention quick fixes for launch errors and reduced crashes.

Crashes and freezes remain: Several players experienced crashes and freezes, including crashes after 10 minutes or after hitting a crystal, and the game closing before opening. Some note the game no longer freezes randomly, but issues persist for others.

Performance and optimization problems: Players experience noticeable FPS drops during non-button dialogue and describe optimization as a mess. Changing resolution does not work, and errors occur at launch.

Rendering issues cause black screens: Players report grey screen and black screen rendering issues where gameplay continues but the screen is unviewable. Black screens occurred multiple times within short play sessions.

Not recommended in current state: A significant portion of feedback cannot recommend the game as it currently stands, citing bugs and an unpolished experience. Some strongly advise avoiding it until it is fixed.

Worth playing despite issues: Despite bugs, many still find the game worth playing and recommend it. Some suggest giving it a chance, especially if you enjoy the genre.

Wait for patches before buying: Many reviewers advise waiting for one or more patches to address bugs and issues before purchasing. Some plan to wait six months or until the game is more polished.

Recommended for Metroidvania fans: Players highlight this game as a strong fit for those who enjoy Metroidvania, precision platformer, or puzzle platformer titles. It is also suggested for fans of fluid combat and challenging platforming.

Fix bugs to improve recommendation: Reviewers indicate they would recommend the game if bugs are fixed and mechanics are better explained. Some would rebuy or change their review after patches.

Game completion: 19.0h.

Story completion: 9.0h.

Session length: 1.0h.

One report describes the first hour as enjoyable before combat appears to rely on Fireball, while other reports cite game-breaking progression bugs or boredom. The profile is conflicted, with initial fun followed by a drop for one player and never clicking for others.

Friction: Progression-blocking bugs; Missing items and bugged bosses; Patches that fix only new saves; Tutorial area feels like a slog for speedrunners; Early areas appear to lack purpose.

Bug-Wary Patch Waiter: Waits for patches, checks update notes, avoids launch builds, and may refund or wishlist until the game is polished. Motivation: To play a stable, bug-free Metroidvania after developers fix progression and crash issues. Stance: no buy.

Atmosphere and Exploration-Focused Metroidvania Fan: Explores interconnected rooms, seeks story and vibe, and enjoys precision or puzzle platforming. Motivation: Immersive exploration, story, and atmospheric Metroidvania platforming. Stance: buy.

Combat Mechanics Tinkerer: Uses ranged or elemental builds, analyzes hitboxes and i-frames, and exploits life leech. Motivation: Mastering combat builds and testing mechanics like life leech, elemental abilities, and hitbox interactions. Stance: sale.

Developers actively patch and listen: Developers are attentive to player feedback, actively patch the game, and have shown dedication. They quickly address issues and release updates.

Early access and price point: The game is in early access and sold as a $15 action platformer (60 PLN). It has low system requirements and a small file size.

Mixed feelings and refunds: Some reviewers refunded the game, feeling it is a joyless cashgrab, while others are still interested and hope it improves. The game feels like a mix of ALTA and DMC, but compared to Avatar the arcade game.

Post-launch bugs have been fixed: Many past bugs have been patched since launch, including via the 1.1 update. The game becomes more stable with each update.

Collectibles, endings, and features: The game has six types of collectibles, multiple endings, a map feature, and auto-save. It has platinum trophy/achievements and supports Linux.