XEL

Really fun story and exploration. I got stuck at the gate of the ice world. I am wanting to go back and try again, I will use a guide if I have to, even though it’s a last resort. Maybe I needed time away to get a fresh start, or learn what to look for from other games that spell it out instead of assuming you already know. In Xel you only have a “what’s close by” map and not much else to tell you how far you’ve gotten or how many upcoming main events there are. It’s kind of lonely, feels like it’s preparing you to be there for a while, so be ready to commit to completing the laborious trek. Mixed reviews probably because the age of Reid, is obviously for a teen or young adult crowd, and it might be more ambitious than the delivered product. The mechanics are dense… weapons, crafting, puzzles, keys, abilities, enemies are everywhere, boss fights, and a home base of to-do’s.

A cute sci-fi indie action-adventure that clearly wears its Zelda inspirations on its sleeve. Exploring the colorful world and messing with time-shift mechanics can be genuinely fun when it clicks. Sadly, it's dragged down by clunky combat hitboxes, platforming jank, and annoying performance stutter.

This is one of the games you pick up for very cheap and then forget about. I've tried to get into it before but turned it down because i didn't like the main character: Big Mistake. Once you get used to her "gen-z" speech and snappy responses the story is actually quite enjoyable. Especially about XEL itself. At times I was quite surprised by the weight of the audio logs. The combat is mediocre, after many hours you remember the shield and its useless parry mechanic... Boss fights get recycled and don't require you to use the gadgets you've collected (except one). Exploration rewards hearts, stamina, recipes and crafting materials. You're more likely to stumble upon a chest/area than actively trying to get there. The end is very satisfying and fits the game right. [hr][/hr] Notes Controls feel great Companion who talks to the protagonist, but the audience doesnt understand him I would like to zoom into the game at times And more cutscenes, at times it feels like reading a visual novel The main character is annoying with her snappy responses and childish speech Why can I not destroy the broken secure glass with my sword? Over time i got used to it and was rooting f…

XEL Review – 8.5/10 Going into XEL, I knew exactly what I was getting into. Mixed reviews, bugs, no autosave, and combat that many people described as clunky. Normally, those are the kinds of things that would make me walk away from a game. Instead, I finished it in two sittings over roughly nine hours and came away genuinely impressed. The biggest compliment I can give XEL is that it reminded me of Hob. If you enjoy Zelda-inspired action adventures where exploration is the driving force, XEL understands that feeling. I always wanted to see what was behind the next door, around the next corner, or in the next biome. Even after a couple of crashes—including a blue screen—I rebooted the game because I still wanted to keep exploring. That’s not something I do for games that aren’t holding my attention. Exploration is where XEL shines. New abilities gradually open previously inaccessible paths, and discovering shortcuts and hidden upgrades made the world feel rewarding to traverse. The game never overwhelmed me with massive checklists or complicated systems. Instead, it focused on a satisfying sense of progression through its environments. That said, XEL isn’t polished. The combat…

The game itself is ok, I want to like it, but it's full of bugs and glitches. I cannot finish the game because there are some rare items that I cannot find (I opened every chest in the game that I could), I cannnot upgrade and open the gate (science station). The game developer abandoned the game, there is no future update. Sorry, but It's hard to recomemend it to anyone.

Twice at the same area, I encountered a game breaking bug that froze my game and disabled any input. After trying to start from my last check point I was spawned under the map with no escape, but the endless void below causing a game over. The game also hitched and lagged occasionally throughout my short playthrough.