XEL

XEL is a vibrant 2D action-adventure game with puzzle elements, set in a blend of fantasy and sci-fi worlds. Players navigate a diagonal-down perspective, solving challenges and uncovering mysteries in a visually striking environment. Developed by Tiny Roar UG and published by Assemble Entertainment, the game offers a mix of exploration, combat, and intricate level design, delivering a unique experience across Windows and Nintendo Switch platforms.

XEL: A Flawed but Ambitious Homage to Zelda’s Legacy

Introduction

XEL is a game that dares to dream big. Developed by Tiny Roar and published by Assemble Entertainment, it is an ambitious attempt to blend the timeless appeal of The Legend of Zelda with a fresh sci-fi narrative and modern gameplay mechanics. Released in 2022, XEL positions itself as a love letter to classic top-down action-adventures, infused with a vibrant aesthetic and a time-bending twist. However, beneath its colorful exterior lies a game plagued by technical shortcomings, leaving players torn between admiration for its ambition and frustration at its execution.

This review will dissect XEL in exhaustive detail, exploring its development history, narrative depth, gameplay mechanics, artistic direction, and the critical reception that has shaped its legacy. By the end, we will determine whether XEL is a hidden gem buried under bugs or a cautionary tale of overreach.

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Development History & Context

The Studio and Vision

Tiny Roar, a Hamburg-based indie studio founded in 2015, emerged from the shared passion of two childhood friends who dreamed of creating their own games. Their mission was clear: to craft fun, polished, and accessible experiences for players across all platforms. XEL represents their most ambitious project to date, a labor of love that sought to merge the nostalgia of Zelda-like adventures with contemporary storytelling and mechanics.

The game’s development was driven by a desire to innovate within a familiar framework. The team at Tiny Roar aimed to create a world that felt both nostalgic and fresh, blending the exploration and puzzle-solving of classic Zelda titles with a sci-fi twist. The inclusion of time manipulation mechanics was a deliberate attempt to differentiate XEL from its inspirations, offering players a unique tool to interact with the environment and solve puzzles.

Technological Constraints and Challenges

XEL was built using the Unity engine, a popular choice for indie developers due to its accessibility and flexibility. However, the game’s technical execution became one of its most significant stumbling blocks. Despite the team’s best efforts, XEL launched with a litany of bugs, performance issues, and glitches that marred the player experience. From Reid getting stuck in geometry to framerate drops and unresponsive controls, the game’s technical state at launch was far from ideal.

The development cycle also faced the challenge of balancing ambition with feasibility. The team’s vision for XEL was expansive, featuring a richly detailed world, a deep narrative, and a variety of gameplay mechanics. However, the scope of the project may have outpaced the studio’s resources, leading to a final product that felt unfinished in many respects.

The Gaming Landscape at Launch

XEL entered a crowded market dominated by indie titles that drew inspiration from The Legend of Zelda. Games like Death’s Door, Blossom Tales, and CrossCode had already set a high bar for what players expected from a modern Zelda-like experience. Additionally, the action-adventure genre was experiencing a renaissance, with titles like Hollow Knight and Tunic redefining player expectations for exploration, combat, and world-building.

In this context, XEL had to carve out its own niche. Its sci-fi setting and time-bending mechanics were its most distinctive features, offering a fresh take on a familiar formula. However, the game’s technical issues at launch made it difficult for XEL to stand out in a sea of polished competitors.

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Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Plot Overview

XEL begins with a dramatic crash landing. Reid, the protagonist, awakens on an alien planet with no memory of her past. The only clue to her identity is a mysterious stone embedded in her forehead. Accompanied by a quirky robotic companion named Chap, Reid sets out to explore the world of XEL, uncovering its secrets and her own forgotten history.

The narrative unfolds as Reid encounters various characters, each with their own motivations and connections to the planet’s dark past. The story is driven by themes of identity, memory, and the cyclical nature of time. As Reid delves deeper into the mysteries of XEL, she discovers that the planet is not just a random location but a sentient entity with a tragic history. The game’s central conflict revolves around Reid’s struggle to break free from an endless cycle of destruction that threatens both her and the world she inhabits.

Characters and Dialogue

Reid is a compelling protagonist, defined by her amnesia and her determination to uncover the truth. Her journey is one of self-discovery, as she pieces together fragments of her past while navigating the challenges of the present. Chap, her robotic companion, serves as both a guide and a source of comic relief, providing a counterbalance to Reid’s more serious demeanor.

The supporting cast includes a mix of allies and adversaries, each contributing to the game’s overarching narrative. Desmond, a key ally, helps Reid understand the nature of XEL and the dangers it faces. However, the game’s dialogue and voice acting are inconsistent. While some interactions are well-written and engaging, others fall flat, with awkward delivery and stilted exchanges that detract from the overall experience.

Themes and Symbolism

XEL explores several profound themes, chief among them the nature of time and memory. The game’s time-bending mechanics are not just a gameplay gimmick but a narrative device that underscores the cyclical nature of Reid’s journey. The planet XEL itself is a symbol of this cycle, trapped in a loop of destruction that Reid must break to achieve her goals.

The theme of identity is also central to the story. Reid’s amnesia forces her to question who she is and what her purpose might be. As she uncovers fragments of her past, she must reconcile her former self with the person she has become. This struggle is mirrored in the game’s exploration of the planet’s history, where the past and present are intertwined in complex ways.

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Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Core Gameplay Loop

At its heart, XEL is an action-adventure game with a strong emphasis on exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving. The core gameplay loop involves traversing the world of XEL, uncovering new areas, and using Reid’s abilities to overcome obstacles. The game’s structure is reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda, with a central overworld that branches out into various dungeons and side areas.

The exploration is driven by Reid’s ability to manipulate time, allowing her to switch between the past and present to solve puzzles and access new areas. This mechanic is one of the game’s most innovative features, offering a fresh twist on the traditional Zelda formula. However, the execution of this mechanic is not always smooth, with some puzzles feeling overly simplistic or frustrating due to technical issues.

Combat and Progression

Combat in XEL is a mix of hack-and-slash action and strategic use of gadgets. Reid starts with a basic sword and shield, but as she progresses, she gains access to a variety of tools, including a shock trap, web shooter, flamethrower, and hammer. Each gadget has unique applications, both in combat and puzzle-solving.

The combat system is functional but lacks depth. While the variety of gadgets offers some tactical options, most encounters devolve into button-mashing, with little incentive to experiment with different strategies. The game’s upgrade system allows players to enhance Reid’s weapons and abilities, but the progression feels uneven, with some upgrades offering significant advantages while others feel underwhelming.

Puzzles and Exploration

Puzzles in XEL are designed to challenge the player’s problem-solving skills while integrating the game’s time-bending mechanics. Many puzzles require switching between the past and present to manipulate the environment, such as moving objects or activating mechanisms that are only accessible in one timeline. While this concept is innovative, the execution is inconsistent. Some puzzles are clever and rewarding, while others feel repetitive or overly simplistic.

Exploration is a key component of XEL, with the game’s world divided into distinct biomes, each with its own challenges and secrets. The map system is functional but lacks the polish of similar games, with some areas feeling underdeveloped or confusing to navigate. The game’s emphasis on backtracking can also be frustrating, particularly when technical issues interfere with progression.

User Interface and Controls

The user interface in XEL is straightforward but suffers from a lack of polish. The map system, while functional, can be confusing, particularly when tracking objectives or hidden collectibles. The controls are responsive for the most part, but the game’s technical issues often interfere with basic interactions, such as opening doors or interacting with objects.

The camera system is another area where XEL struggles. The game’s isometric perspective can make it difficult to judge depth and distance, leading to frustrating moments where Reid gets stuck on geometry or falls through the world. The lack of a character outline or other visual aids exacerbates this issue, making it difficult to track Reid’s position in complex environments.

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World-Building, Art & Sound

Setting and Atmosphere

XEL takes place on a vibrant and diverse alien planet, divided into distinct biomes that range from lush forests to desolate wastelands. The game’s world is richly detailed, with each area offering its own unique challenges and secrets. The sci-fi setting is a refreshing change from the fantasy worlds of traditional Zelda-like games, providing a distinct visual and thematic identity.

The atmosphere of XEL is one of mystery and discovery. The planet’s history is shrouded in secrecy, with Reid uncovering fragments of its past as she explores. The game’s time-bending mechanics reinforce this sense of mystery, allowing players to glimpse the planet’s history and the events that led to its current state.

Visual Direction

XEL’s art style is one of its strongest assets. The game features a vibrant, colorful aesthetic that is both eye-catching and immersive. The environments are richly detailed, with a mix of natural and technological elements that reflect the planet’s dual nature. The character designs are equally impressive, with Reid and her companions standing out as memorable and expressive figures.

However, the game’s visual presentation is not without its flaws. Some areas suffer from a lack of detail, particularly in close-up views, and the game’s cutscenes are notably lower in quality than the in-game graphics. These inconsistencies detract from the overall experience, particularly when compared to the polished visuals of similar titles.

Sound Design and Music

The sound design in XEL is a mixed bag. The game features a variety of sound effects that enhance the immersive experience, from the clashing of swords in combat to the ambient noises of the alien planet. The voice acting is generally well-done, although some performances feel stiff or unnatural.

The soundtrack, composed by Gidon Wolff, is one of the game’s standout features. The music is atmospheric and evocative, with each biome featuring its own unique themes that reflect its mood and setting. The boss battle tracks are particularly impressive, with dynamic compositions that heighten the tension and excitement of these encounters.

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Reception & Legacy

Critical Reception

XEL received a lukewarm reception from critics, with many praising its ambition and visual style while criticizing its technical issues and lack of polish. The game’s Metacritic score of 45% reflects this mixed response, with reviewers highlighting the potential of XEL while acknowledging its significant flaws.

Critics praised the game’s vibrant art style, innovative time-bending mechanics, and engaging soundtrack. However, the technical issues at launch were a major point of contention, with many reviewers noting that the game’s bugs and performance problems detracted from the overall experience. The dialogue and voice acting were also criticized for their inconsistency, with some interactions feeling awkward or unnatural.

Commercial Performance

XEL’s commercial performance was modest, with the game failing to make a significant impact in a crowded market. The game’s technical issues at launch likely contributed to its underwhelming sales, as players were hesitant to invest in a product that felt unfinished. However, the game’s subsequent patches and updates have improved its stability, leading to a gradual increase in player interest.

Influence and Legacy

Despite its flaws, XEL has left a mark on the indie gaming landscape. The game’s ambitious blend of Zelda-like gameplay and sci-fi storytelling has inspired other developers to explore similar concepts, particularly in the realm of time manipulation and narrative-driven exploration. While XEL may not be remembered as a classic, its innovative mechanics and distinctive visual style have earned it a place in the annals of indie gaming history.

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Conclusion

XEL is a game of contradictions. It is ambitious yet flawed, innovative yet inconsistent, and visually stunning yet technically troubled. At its core, XEL is a love letter to the Zelda series, infused with a fresh sci-fi narrative and modern gameplay mechanics. However, its technical issues and lack of polish prevent it from reaching the heights of its inspirations.

For players willing to overlook its flaws, XEL offers a unique and engaging experience. The game’s time-bending mechanics, vibrant art style, and atmospheric soundtrack are all standout features that make it worth exploring. However, the technical issues and inconsistent execution make it difficult to recommend without reservation.

In the end, XEL is a game that could have been great. With more time in development and a greater focus on polish, it might have stood alongside the best of the Zelda-like indie titles. As it stands, XEL is a flawed but ambitious homage to a beloved genre, offering glimpses of brilliance amid a sea of frustration.

Final Verdict: 6.5/10 – A promising but flawed adventure that struggles to live up to its potential.