First of all, the Gothic games were the dark souls of their time, very difficult and not for everyone. Now, as for ELEX, it is a game that at the beginning was buried like no other, and here we are in 2021 and in the forums of the outside world it is considered one of the most hardcore RPGs of all time. by Spyros Bliagos ELEX (ENGLISH REVIEW), ELEX unfolds on the planet Magalan. In the relatively recent past, this planet was similar to our Earth and our level of civilization, with billions of people living on its surface. This progress was interrupted by the collision of a comet, which caused a catastrophic disaster, changed the planet's surface, and almost wiped out humanity. So far, it will be obvious to Gothic fans that the traditional motifs of the series are present. Beyond that, the story provides a good reason for the post-apocalyptic mix of Fantasy Sci-Fi and sets the foundation for spectacle and variety in our adventures. Apart from the similarities with the factions and the hero, ELEX also inherits the combat system of its predecessors. In short, I would describe it as "an acquired taste", as it initially seems hostile and repulsive, especially for players who are new to Piranha Bytes' legacy and the wider European RPG School. The somewhat slow and erratic combat animations are combined with the need to observe enemy movements in order to identify characteristic patterns. By using the stamina bar correctly, our character is able to perform a combo or execute a sidestep, avoiding the attacks of his opponents. In the early game, this is extremely difficult to execute, so the first two hours of the game consist mainly of watching a "The End" screen with a mutated chicken or a rat infecting our corpse. But when the evasion and attack system is understood correctly and combined with the Jetpack as a combat mechanism, then personally, I can assure you that I had an amazing battle once I overcame and got used to the unusual animations. The Jetpack is perfectly implemented both in combat and exploration. The feeling of hovering above a predator, shooting arrows, then landing next to it, avoiding its attack, and delivering the final blow with an axe is simply unique. Also note the great importance of properly developing our character. The special magic of ELEX, of course, lies in the world and exploration that happens organically and delivers satisfaction on its own due to the sense of accomplishment it offers. ELEX may not be as polished as a Bioware flagship, but the NPCs won't welcome us right at the entrance of a city we just entered, ready to confess everything about the beating their uncle received with a belt in some basement, just for the sake of integration. ELEX follows a more subtle approach that personally made me think about the point where the end justifies the means, or contradictions like ecology versus technology or the struggle between the extremes of absolute rationality versus spirituality, issues like being a refugee, xenophobia, etc. If this is the price you have to pay. ELEX is a unique and captivating game that managed to bring the experience of old-school exploration while being covered by a modern shell. Fans of Old Piranha Bytes will definitely spot all the aspects they loved in the company's historic series, with a more modern touch. For the rest of the RPG fans who may have been "trained" to expect a more standardized gaming experience, it may seem a bit alien, hostile even, especially in the first few hours where the "Game Over" screen doesn't seem to stop appearing. However, ELEX's refusal to submit to the "Modern RPG Gamemaking Guide 101" conventions makes it unpredictable and difficult to pinpoint what makes it stand out behind the scenes. In this way, it is able to deliver a mystical experience that was common in RPGs before the era of TES IV Oblivion. In conclusion, it may seem like a lost title from 2010, but for those who want a pure exploration experience, a true role-playing game, even with some unintentional aspects according to our advanced age standards, this is the right place. I couldn't wait to come home from work to lose myself in Magalan. Just like when I was young, playing Morrowind.

Advantages:
- Unique sense of exploration in a huge, handcrafted world.
- Flawless use of Jetpack in both combat and exploration.
- The combat system will be enjoyed by those seeking a more strategic approach.
- Multiple solutions to quests.
- The graphics are not cutting-edge but still beautiful, although some elements are reused and some textures are of low quality.
- Varying class gameplay, pure role-playing game.
- Freedom of movement throughout the entire map.

Disadvantages:
- Clipping, floating weapons, and other old graphical "glitches."
- The game's combat system will not impress those seeking fast-paced action and flow that exist in most modern RPGs.

It has been created by a legendary company in the field. I have dedicated at least 150 hours to each of its games and enjoyed every second (except for Risen 2, which was mediocre), completing them in every possible way and with different types of characters.

Elex has some nice elements, which, however, are not combined in the best way, while the game also shows that it needed more work to become perfect. It has quite beautiful graphics and very good lighting, very nice sound, and an original combination of different elements that create a unique identity, which is expected from a company of this caliber.

On the other hand, the animation is average, the storyline lacks originality, and at some points, it feels unfinished. Specifically, it has a large part of its world that is empty (locations without any missions or reason to explore them), while the variety of different enemies is very limited. Additionally, it has some minor flaws in its menus, and many skills do not work at all or do not function as described. I believe this will be fixed with patches, and I do not consider it a negative aspect, although it does affect the experience and has not been addressed yet (after 1.5 months of release).

The battles are not very satisfying, despite the addition of the jetpack. The animation of the movements is quite limited, and the difficulty decreases disproportionately with the levels of the main character. The enemies have specific levels, so at some point, they all become very easy, while in the beginning, they are extremely difficult.

I have dedicated almost 300 hours to it, and I cannot say that I enjoyed it as much as I would have liked. The unique atmosphere initially created in the player is very promising but gets lost along the way behind the mediocrity of the other elements.

Unfortunately, I only recommend it to hardcore RPG players, nostalgic for the past, and supporters of the company, like myself. For others, there are better options.

In summary, it is not a bad game, but it fails to stand out in any area and suffers in the technical aspect. It needs patches and a way to fill its world, which is really big but about 60% of it is empty, meaning there is no reason for the player to explore it. It is sad to write such a review for a company that has given us truly beautiful games in the past. Hopefully, in the future, they will release something better and regain their lost glory.

Amazing game. In Greece, piranha bytes, who made it, is relatively unknown. They also have the gothic games, which were unknown in Greece, as well as the risen games, which may be more well-known. Only for hardcore RPG gamers!!! You will be thrown every 5 minutes if you don't pay attention at the beginning until your character gains a level. Complete freedom with significant decisions that affect the game. From which Clan you choose to follow to many others!!! 5 stars from me.