Ellipsis
by Aethyna
Feb 26, 2016 |
1
Votes |
1
Played |
0
Reviews
10
rate
Platforms:
Genres:
Casual , PuzzlePublishers:
Salmi GmbHGraphics:
2DLabels:
Swipe Game , Futuristic Setting Move your blue circle around to collect all the numbered circles and escape the level unscathed in this exciting reflex-based game, Ellipsis. However, each subsequent level comes with new dangerous elements that will surely keep you on your toes. Sounds just like the challenge you’ve been looking for? Check it out! Play Now Similar Games Played
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Summary
If you love games that challenge your reflexes, well then, you’re in for a treat! Ellipsis may look like a simple game with brilliant neon colors, but once you get into the game proper, you’ll definitely be hooked. In this game, you’ll need to move your blue circle around the screen to collect all the numbered circles and escape unscathed. However, each subsequent level comes with new dangerous elements that will surely keep you on your toes. If you laugh in the face of danger, you might want to try beating the previous levels with a timer on, in an attempt to earn that final star. Sounds just like the challenge you’ve been looking for? Well, get your finger muscles ready - It’s time to play Ellipsis!
Gameplay
The game starts off with its simplest level yet – a level that is designed as a tutorial. There are no texts of any sort to guide you, but honestly, the tutorial game is simple enough to figure out after 1 or 2 tries.
The controls in Ellipsis are really simple. All you need to do is to tap and hold on your blue neon circle to start the game and to move it around. One of the most interesting parts about the controls in Ellipsis is that it’s not only intuitive, but it is also very convenient. Say, you’re playing the game on the subway and your stop arrived. All you need to do is to release your hold on your circle and the game will be automatically paused. There is absolutely no need to fumble around to find the pause button.
Of course, things can get complicated fairly quickly when various obstacles and enemies are added into the mix. By then, you’ll need to rely on your reflexes and quick reaction to weave your circle in between spinning “wheels of death”, avoid moving walls and any harmful projectiles, as well as dodge arrows that seem to follow your circle around... while collecting all the numbered blue circles as they appear on the screen. In fact, the variety of obstacles and enemies in the game is simply astounding! The game seems to be determined to introduce at least 1 new element to its gameplay with every subsequent level and this is something that is hardly seen in any other games out there on the mobile platform or on the internet.
There’s another intriguing part of the gameplay that is likely not apparent to you when you played the first few levels. With time though, you may noticed that you can actually earn more than the usual “3 stars” per level, so perhaps... you’re missing something crucial then? Well, for each of the numbered circles you collect, the larger circle will then release its contents - a number of tiny blue circles – into the in-game environment. You will then need to collect all these tiny circles as well in order to earn the 4 stars that you can get in your first run through of the level.
These tiny circles can sometimes be trapped behind certain porous barriers that only they can move through. Due to this, the game is designed in such a way that the tiny circles are attracted to your neon circle. So, all you need to do is to keep your circle right outside the barrier and it will somehow “suck” out the tiny circles.
4 stars is a fairly odd way to design a level, you may think... and I’d say you’re right! Each level actually has up to 5 stars for you to earn and the final star can only be obtained once you’ve successfully completed a level for the very first time. You will be able to replay the level in a timed mode where a rapidly moving green-colored timer will appear at the top of the screen.
In this mode, you not only need to survive the level once again, you’ll need to do so as quickly as you can. The timed mode definitely adds another layer or two of difficulty to the game. There are also notches on the timer bar and each notch will contribute one fifth of a star. This means that you’ll need to complete the level with all 5 notches still intact. Of course, this is entirely an optional aspect of the game and players who dislike the urgency that comes with timed levels will be able to forgo this form of the gameplay without any penalty.
In addition to timed levels, the game itself has over 100 levels to offer with plenty more levels planned for the future. Interestingly, with each subsequent level you’ve unlocked, you’ll notice that you’ll uncover part of the level selection map. This map discovery aspect of the game may seem like nothing at first, but trust me, you’ll reveal some really impressive stuff. It would be nice if you could interact with some of the elements on the map though. It will surely add to the sense of discovery when, for example, a trail of arrows patrolling the map react to your tap - something like the various stuff you can tap on in Hearthstone.
Furthermore, unlike most games which seek to restrict your gameplay via a health or energy system, Ellipsis avoided all those hassle by being a buy-to-play game. Not to mention, deaths in this game is actually part of the learning process of knowing how to dodge obstacles and how to play the game, so having a system to restrict the gameplay would be against the concept of Ellipsis. There aren’t any in-app purchases as well, so you’ll need to rely solely on your skills to beat this game.
The only downside that I’ve noticed in the game is that sometimes, your finger can pretty much get in the way. This little problem is inherent to any reflex-based game that utilizes the same game mechanics as Ellipsis. However, it is interesting that the developers behind this game are looking towards converting their game to make use of the head tracking feature in virtual reality devices like GearVR. With head tracking, the game plays out a more fluid manner and the finger-in-the-way problem will cease to exist. It’s a truly amazing experience!
Update:
The game is now available on PC via Steam and it has only gotten even better. The challenge of the game and smoothness of its controls that are prominent in its mobile version are excellently converted into its PC version. Note that playing the game with a mouse doesn't make the game any easier to play. They get a thumbs up for that!
However, the most interesting aspect of its PC release is the addition of a level editor. This allows any player to do their hardest to come up with the ultimate "devil mode" level that will be the chatter among Ellipsis players for years to come. Of course, what's the point of creating devilish levels if you can't share them, right? In Ellipsis, you can do just that! Let other players take up your challenge and get some feedback or tears of frustration in return.
Community
Since its release on the App Store, the game has received rave reviews from both game critics and the players themselves. Thus, naturally, the game’s community is growing at a pretty healthy rate. With its upcoming release on Google Play and on Oculus Store, its player population will definitely balloon even further.
Graphics/ Sound
The neon-styled futuristic-themed graphics fit perfectly to the game, giving players the feeling of being immersed in a brilliantly colored digital world. The soothing techno-like music that Ellipsis provides also takes some of the edge off the challenging gameplay. In fact, the sounds in the game play a pretty important role. For instance, in one of the levels, the boss-like structure will blare out a warning before opening up, increasing its shooting coverage and naturally, making the game a lot more challenging.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, Ellipsis is definitely a game that gamers around the world should watch out for. It may seem simplistic, but the gameplay is uniquely fun, the controls are very intuitive, and the challenge (in the form of obstacles and enemies) is exhilarating. Not to mention, the inclusion of the timed levels also bumps up the replay value of Ellipsis and prolong the entertainment that you can gain from the game. If you’re looking for a game that truly engages you, Ellipsis is one game you wouldn’t want to miss. For a mere $3.99, you can get this amazing game from the App Store, and for Android or GearVR users, the game will be launched on Google Play and Oculus Store really soon!
Ellipsis Blog
View allEllipsis is Now on Steam!
by Aethyna
Jan 26, 2017
Can't get enough of Ellipsis on your mobile? Well, you'll love it even more now that you can play it on your PC!
Read More
Ellipsis Won Intel's Game of the Year Award
by Aethyna
Sep 5, 2016
It's not every day a game produced by an indie games company comprising of 2 hardworking developers wins a prestigious award... and from Intel nonetheless! Congrats!
Read More
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