Rivals of Aether
Last updated: 2026-02-15
- Workshop enhances gameplay significantly
- Unique characters with varied abilities
- Smooth and satisfying gameplay experience
- Extensive mod support available
- Online mode suffers from issues
- Base game lacks value without Workshop
Emotions
Players are thrilled by the game's depth, creative potential, and community-driven content. The workshop support, unique character mechanics, and the ability to play with friends in local multiplayer generate a high level of excitement and engagement.
The game's solid mechanics, fluid combos, and high-quality workshop content contribute to a satisfying experience. Players appreciate the precision, control, and overall quality, making it a worthwhile purchase.
The fun gameplay, unique characters, and smooth mechanics provide an enjoyable experience. Access to mods and the ability to play with friends enhance the overall entertainment value.
Players are enthusiastic about the game's depth, balance, and the vast array of community creations. The enjoyment of mods and gameplay with friends fuels their passion for the game.
Issues such as unbalanced mechanics, poor online experience, and bugs lead to frustration. Controller problems, memory leaks, and intense competition also contribute to a negative experience.
Verdict
Mostly positive
Summary
Positive 94% · Negative 6%. Score: 6 / 100
Verdict
Aggressive Monetization
Summary
The game has received mixed reviews regarding its monetization practices. While some users appreciate the modding capabilities and find the game fun, others criticize the presence of Day-1 DLC and the perception that the game is overpriced for the content provided. The need to purchase additional characters and stages separately has been a point of contention among players. Score: 60 / 100
Top points
- Day-1 DLC - High
- Overpriced Content - Medium
- Positive Aspects - Positive
Verdict
Tinkering Required
Summary
The analysis of user feedback reveals significant issues with the game's controls, which are described as non-intuitive and difficult to use. However, the gameplay itself is highly praised for being fun and engaging. The game is compatible with various controllers, which can help alleviate some control issues. Overall, while the control problems are a major drawback, the positive aspects of gameplay and controller compatibility provide a balanced experience. Score: 50 / 100
Top points
- Control Issues - High
- Positive Feedback on Gameplay - Positive
- Controller Compatibility - Medium
Positives:
- The workshop is highly praised for adding a significant amount of diverse and high-quality content to the game, making it more enjoyable and replayable.
- The game features a wide range of unique characters, each with distinct play styles and gimmicks, making the character roster memorable and enjoyable.
- The gameplay is described as satisfying, smooth, and addictive, contributing to the overall enjoyment of the game.
- Many players find the game to be very fun and entertaining, both on its own and with friends. It is described as a good and unique fighting game.
- The game has a large amount of mods available, supported by a massive modding community, enhancing the game's variety and replayability.
Negatives:
- The online mode is criticized for being almost unplayable due to lag and other issues.
- The game is seen as heavily reliant on the workshop for enjoyment, with the base game considered lackluster without it.
- The base game is often criticized for not being worth the price, with players finding it unsatisfactory without additional content.
- Players consistently express disappointment with the story mode, describing it as lacking, unremarkable, and poorly executed with bad art.
- Some workshop content is criticized for not being of high quality, affecting the overall experience.
Gameplay:
- The game features robust workshop support, allowing players to create, share, and install custom characters and stages. This enhances the game's content and replayability through community contributions.
- The game is frequently compared to Super Smash Bros., offering a similar fighting experience but with additional content and unique features.
- The game is a competitive platform fighter with various game modes, catering to both casual and competitive players.
- The game offers characters with unique abilities and playstyles, providing a diverse roster that caters to different player preferences and strategies.
- Players appreciate the ability to customize controls, which enhances the gaming experience by allowing for personalized key bindings and control schemes.
Performance:
- The game runs smoothly even on older or low-end computers, often referred to as 'potatoes.' This indicates good optimization for a wide range of hardware.
- The game experiences crashes, which can be caused by mod incompatibilities or memory leaks. These issues can disrupt gameplay and require restarts.
- There are lag issues reported in online matches, which can affect the gameplay experience. This includes problems with remote play and performance issues with multiple players.
- The Definitive Edition of the game features better netcode, including rollback netcode, which improves the stability of online matches across different regions.
- Players suggest checking if basic programs like Paint can run to ensure the game will work. This indicates potential compatibility issues with certain systems.
Recommendations:
- The game is highly recommended for fans of fighting games, particularly those who enjoy platform fighters and competitive gameplay. It is often compared to Super Smash Bros. and is suggested for a wide range of players from casual to competitive.
- Many reviewers suggest purchasing and trying the game, emphasizing its value and enjoyment. It is seen as a worthwhile experience for those interested in the genre.
- The game is recommended for playing with friends, especially in local multiplayer mode. It is suggested for weekend play with friends.
- The game is recommended for those who enjoy mods and custom characters. The workshop support is highlighted as a significant feature that adds value.
- The game is praised as a very good platform fighter and is highly recommended for those interested in competitive platform fighting. It is considered one of the greatest in its genre.
Miscellaneous:
- The game offers a Chinese language patch, which can be beneficial for Chinese-speaking players.
- There is a playlist available that features some of the best Workshop characters, providing players with a curated selection.
