Smelter

[h1]Smelter[/h1] [i]Forging frustration instead of fun[/i] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Metacritic:- [b]75%[/b] Steam Reviews:- [b]65% "Mixed"[/b] My Ranking:- [b]45%[/b] Difficulty Scale:- [b]6/10[/b] My Playtime:- [b]11hrs[/b] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Smelter[/b] is a game that tries to blend action-platforming with strategy elements, but the execution just feels completely off to me. The combat is clunky and unresponsive, with enemy encounters often more frustrating than fun, while the platforming sections suffer from some uneven difficulty spikes and uninspired level design. The strategy layer, meant to add depth, feels shallow and repetitive, quickly becoming a chore for the player rather than a complement to the core gameplay. What I despise the most is that weapon upgrades are hidden behind silly trials unlocked during stages which can then be turned in at forges to upgrade your weapons instead of a more natural upgrade route found in other games. For the most part I ignored these (thinking they were little extra challenges …

Ignore those negative reviews - Smelter may have been bugged in the beginning and had some issues, but they are no more in 2025. Perfect game from start to finish. There's no way you will not like this if you like Mega Man or Sidescrollers in general. You can choose how and where to proceed, mobs and bosses are unique and fun to smelt. Admittedly, when you arrive on the world map and fly Smelter for the very first time, it will get confusing and seems a bit tiresome at first but you will grow to like it. Those Trials are a nerve-wrecking and painful challenge, but I mastered them all (it's optional). Those elemental abilities are really really fun and versatile. Level design is super cool, soundtrack as well. How can you not love Eve? lol Very engaging, charming, humorous, unique and endearing game, full of surprises - great work, devs, loving it

Beware: Gamebreaking bugs are preventing players from finishing the game! If you play the classic mode with the map and buildings and all that stuff, there is a bug that happens quite often! You send a unit into a building, but the unit never arrives. The button to send a unit will still show up, but you can't click it anymore, it won't even make a sound when clicking it. With all your normal buildings, you can get rid of the bug by getting rid of the faulty building and rebuilding it and trying again. HOWEVER, there are quest buildings, you can't demolish. If it happens in one of those buildings that you need to take over to push the story forward, you're permanently stuck. I only had one savefile, I played 6 hours. I can't go on. You can't switch your savefiles from one mode to another. It does give you the option to only play the platforming levels. Had I known that a bug like that exists, I would have refrained from playing a buggy mode and just went with the levels. Now I don't feel like redoing them all. Its a real shame, I really liked the music, style and gameplay. It was a bit clunky, but I can get used to these things. It was nostalgic, somewhat feeling like megaman co…

Smelter is a 2D Action Platformer where you play as Eve and attempt to save Adam after eating the forbidden apples. You venture along with your companion Smelter to take down the guardians of the Doma runes in order to upgrade your abilities and spells. The game offers 3 different biomes with 4 main stages. Each of the stages contain 3 different challenging trials that will test your quick reactions and patience skills. There are also secrets hidden in each stage to be discovered. The gameplay with super fluid and I didn't have any issues at all. Your character learns 3 different elements as you progress through stages and the map. Each of those abilities will give you certain mechanics you will be using to overcome stages with their challenging platforming sections. The music and soundtracks were amazing and I really enjoyed them. The boss fights were well structured and each required certain strategies to beat which adds to the challenge and fun. This is a really recommended 2D Action Platformer to the fans of the genre. Overall Rating 10/10

Smelter is an ambitious action-platformer that combines retro-inspired side-scrolling gameplay with territory management mechanics, resulting in an experience that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly unique. Developed by X PLUS and published by DANGEN Entertainment and Gamera Games, the title draws clear inspiration from classic 16-bit adventures while introducing a blend of genres that helps it stand apart from many modern indie releases. Rather than focusing solely on platforming or combat, Smelter constantly encourages players to balance action, exploration, and strategic expansion throughout its lengthy campaign. The story follows Eve, who finds herself separated from Adam after a catastrophic event leaves her stranded in an unfamiliar world. Her journey leads her to an unusual being named Smelter, a powerful and outspoken ally who becomes central to both the narrative and gameplay systems. Together they embark on a quest across diverse lands filled with dangers, mysteries, and strange inhabitants. While the plot is relatively straightforward, it succeeds thanks to its colorful cast of characters, humorous dialogue, and a steady flow of new locations that keep the adventure …

I like the game. However it has frustrating level design at the end and most of the powers are useless unless it's forced in the level. The art is awesome and the music is good. Movement is good and combat is fun. I recommend the game, but not to people everyone.