EARTHS DAWN

I got this game on sale-- I think I paid about a dollar for it, give or take. With the understanding that it used to be sold for a LOT more when it came out, I think it's current price is more appropriate. I might have even been inclined to pay a few dollars more, because it was way better than I ever expected it to be.

The best features of Earth's Dawn are its art and its combat. The art speaks for itself-- the characters and environments are beautifully illustrated in full animated 2d. Characters look good in motion (aside from some NPC talk portraits, which are questionable), and the enemy designs are fantastic, beautifully blending the sci-fi and horror setting. The final boss is particularly well designed (visually). The combat is responsive and dynamic, while not being over-complicated. There are dozens of skills to unlock and connect together, and several different types of weapons to explore. I really liked the way every item/weapon had unique art as well, and how that art appeared on your character in gameplay.

The levels can be repetitive (since free missions are essentially mandatory during some parts of the game), but the main quest levels are overall designed well. Each area comes with a unique challenge or mechanic, and it felt rewarding to explore and figure it all out.

There aren't many music tracks, but the ones that do exist are pretty good and lend themselves to the action well. Sometimes, the music would just stop, leaving the game as silent, but it was usually during free missions. This is a good game to play while enjoying a movie or voice call anyways-- it doesn't require most of your attention 90% of the time.

My largest complaint is the status effects. There are several status effects that are... very annoying. You can negate most of them with items, but you can only have one active at once. Freeze lasts entirely too long (around 5 whole seconds), and putting confuse on the final boss is downright diabolical, especially since it's an area with lots of places to fall to your death, and to my knowledge, it CAN'T be negated.

I wish the plot was deeper, since the world lore is interesting, but the team was clearly more focused on other aspects of the game. As a surface-level narrative, it's Just Okay. I also wish the female character could wear pants instead of battle-panties, but as we know, this game came out in 2015 and women's pants were not invented until around 2018.

Played this on the nintendo switch a few years back and decided to purchase it to replay it.

I absolutely love this game. The art is fantastic and the combat is fluid with the ability to chain attacks which is very satisfying. The skill assignment is dynamic and allows you to optimize for many different playstyles and enemy types (Allowing you to assign more damage to a specific attack in a combo for example)

The animations are ok, it is clearly not their greatest skill. While the combat may look rigid, that rigidity helps to line up combos with ease. Not only that, the enemies also follow that same rigidity with only a few attacks, so you can easily master each enemy type.

My biggest complaint is the bosses. You often have to complete a 10 minute mission just to attempt a boss again (If you even live through the mission). This is fixed with difficulty options but i'm hard-headed and always play on hard.

Many people complain about the control scheme. I absolutely agree, the keyboard controls are atrocious. I 100% recommend using a controller. While there is controller support ingame, it is very buggy, so i recommend choosing one of the community controller schemes through steam's input service.

Overall: 8/10

EARTH’S DAWN, developed by One or Eight and Team EARTHWARS and published by One or Eight, is a side-scrolling action RPG that merges hack-and-slash combat with layered character progression and a sci-fi alien invasion narrative. Set in a near-future Earth overrun by extraterrestrial forces, the game places you in the role of a genetically enhanced soldier fighting to reclaim the planet. While the premise is familiar within science fiction, the execution focuses heavily on fluid combat systems and customization, positioning the experience somewhere between a classic beat ’em up and a loot-driven action RPG.
Combat is unquestionably the centerpiece. Battles unfold in fast-paced, side-scrolling arenas where players chain together melee strikes, aerial juggles, dashes, and ranged attacks into stylish combos. The responsiveness of movement allows for aggressive playstyles, encouraging players to stay mobile while juggling enemies in mid-air. As you grow more comfortable with the system, encounters shift from simple skirmishes to technical showcases of timing and positioning. Boss fights, in particular, demand mastery of both offense and defense, introducing multi-phase patterns that test reflexes and strategic preparation.
Progression systems deepen the experience beyond pure action. Defeated enemies drop materials that can be used to craft and upgrade equipment, adding a layer of resource management and customization. The crafting system allows players to tailor weapons and armor to suit their preferred approach, whether prioritizing raw damage output, survivability, or specialized attributes. Alongside gear progression, a skill tree enables further personalization, unlocking new abilities and enhancing combat techniques. This combination of loot collection and skill customization ensures that character growth feels tangible over time.
Structurally, the game follows a mission-based format rather than an open-world design. Each operation sends you into contained levels to eliminate alien threats or confront powerful bosses. While this structure keeps gameplay focused and digestible, it can also lead to some repetition, as environments and objectives occasionally follow similar patterns. Nevertheless, the consistent action and steady stream of upgrades help maintain engagement, especially for players motivated by incremental improvement and optimizing their build.
Visually, EARTH’S DAWN leans into anime-inspired character designs paired with industrial sci-fi backdrops. The art style, while not cutting-edge in technical fidelity, carries a distinct personality. Character animations during combat are dynamic and expressive, reinforcing the high-speed feel of encounters. Enemy designs vary from smaller alien creatures to imposing biomechanical bosses, giving visual variety to each mission. The soundtrack complements the action with energetic tracks that maintain intensity during prolonged battles.
Narratively, the story serves primarily as a framework for combat rather than a deeply explored plot. Themes of humanity’s survival and technological adaptation are present, but character development and world-building remain relatively straightforward. The focus remains on gameplay systems rather than cinematic storytelling. For some players, this simplicity keeps the experience streamlined; for others, it may feel like a missed opportunity to elevate the narrative stakes.
Despite its strengths, the game is not without flaws. Mission repetition and menu navigation can occasionally slow momentum, and the learning curve for fully mastering combo systems may feel steep at first. However, for players who appreciate side-scrolling action titles with layered progression mechanics, these drawbacks may be outweighed by the satisfaction of refining combat techniques and experimenting with builds.
Ultimately, EARTH’S DAWN delivers a focused and mechanically driven action RPG experience. It does not radically reinvent the genre, but it successfully combines fluid combat, meaningful customization, and challenging encounters into a cohesive package. For fans of hack-and-slash gameplay with RPG elements and anime-inspired aesthetics, it offers a solid and engaging adventure that rewards dedication and skill development over time.
Rating: 7/10

just like Muramasa and Odin Sphere but this one was sci fi version
SONY/ATLUS please release Odin Sphere Leifthrasir and Dragon's Crown Pro on pc

Menonton ulang Squid Game musim pertama, rasanya lebih menyesakkan dari sebelumnya. Karena udah tau bagaimana akhirnya…
Mungkin memang begitulah hikmahnya, mengetahui akhir cerita justru bisa lebih menyakitkan daripada menjalaninya dalam ketidaktahuan. Mungkin itu sebabnya takdir dirahasiakan. Agar kita tetap bangun setiap pagi dengan harapan baru, mimpi baru, dan keyakinan bahwa segalanya masih mungkin berubah.
Meski.. bisa jadi akhirnya tidak seperti yang kita inginkan.