EMPYREAL REVIEW

I was given a PS5 code from Reanne @JustReNow on behalf of Publisher Secret Mode @WeAreSecretMode Developer Silent Games @silentgames

This is released in the UK on the 8/5/2025 and in the UK is priced at £24,99.

INTRODUCTION

Empyreal is a complex, challenging, feature-rich action RPG. In a far-flung corner of the galaxy an Expedition arrives on a hitherto unexplored planet to find a colossal Monolith built by a lost civilisation.

FEATURES

• Gameplay & Combat:
• Choose one of three weapon archetypes: The Glaive, The Mace & Shield or the Cannon. Each weapon has its own core move set giving each their own unique playstyle.
• Empyreal features a unique blend of RPG Systems and Skill-based Combat. Master the flow of combat with perfectly timed attacks, deflects, parries and even many Abilities that gain additional effects when perfectly timed.
• Find powerful new Equipment, adjust your stats via an extensive modification system and refine your build to perfection.
• Abilities System:
• Empyreal features dozens of Abilities with a huge variety of effects including dealing damage, providing defence or healing, extra movement options and other utility.
• Find new Abilities as you progress through the game, many of the most powerful are well-hidden or locked behind lengthy Quests.
• Extensive character customisations.
• Experiment with a multitude of Character Creation options or choose one of the 30 presets to jump straight into the action with.
• Choose your character’s background giving you a unique backstory and starting set of equipment. You will also occasionally have the chance to respond with special dialogue options which are specific to your background.
• NPC Character Questlines:
•  Each member of the expedition has their own personal questline. All of these questlines have multiple endings depending on your choices. It is even possible to fail them entirely…
• Paying close attention to your fellow expedition members will eventually grant powerful rewards but only if you stay the course.
• Cartograms:
• One of the most important and unique features in the game. These ancient artifacts are blueprints for aspects you encounter in each level inside the Monolith.
• What enemies you face, what loot you find, how many lives you get, what elements you need a matching resistance to (and more) are all randomly generated. There are many ways each level is different depending on the attributes of the cartogram you use to access it.
• The levels themselves are all designed by hand, and you are rewarded for exploring; so find hidden details, shortcuts and seek out the secrets within. 
• Boss Battles:
• Each Cartogram contains an end boss. The selected Cartogram defines the loot table of the boss, and the chance of a drop. Epic boss battles enable you to target items you may need for future cartograms. 
• Sharing & Trading:
• Items including Cartograms can be shared with other players via a Mail system and a Trading Post.
• Asynchronous Features:
• Although a single player game, Empyreal has a number of asynchronous features allowing you to feel the presence of other players inside the Monolith. One of these features is ‘Into the Aether’ allowing you to gift an item through a tear in the Aether to another player, where it becomes “Aether Touched” and gains a significant stat boost.

FAN ART

Enemies are impressive and all have look and own attacks to learn to avoid and enemies will chase you and group up very fast.

Skills are cool as alot of variety to them and all have own look and own feel to them from single target to aoe damage and much more.

Characters that you meet on your adventure all have own look and personality to them and even have quests giving unique rewards and more.

Cartograms, Levels are great as shows what difficulty there are aswell as bosses and all potential drops which is great for upgrading your character or farming for items and more.

Classes are cool as all have own feel and own look to them and own skills aswell to suit own playstyle.

Story is interesting and fun.

Items that you find and can use have big variety from shield regen to grenades and weapon buffs and resistances and much more and all have own look and feel to them.

Combat can be clunky as no lock on system makes it hard to focus on a single target when there groups of enemies and dodging is clunky as feels slow and not as smooth as hoped for.

Can be daunting as alot of items you need to learn new skills.

OVERALL SUMMARY

Overall story is fun and the characters that you meet all have own personality and look to them and the classes and skills are impressive as all have own feel and look to them and can make own build to suit playstyle and lots of items all have own feel and own uses and the levels all have own vibe and own drops to them. However for £24.99, the combat is clunky and can be hard to focus on a single target as no lock on system and dodging is not a smooth as hoped and can be daunting as alot of stuff you need to learn new skills.

WAIT ON A SALE.

Enemies all own look, attacks.
Skills impressive fun own feel.
Characters meet own personality, look.
Cartograms/Levels own feel, drops them.
Classes own feel, look, skills to them.
Story is interesting and fun.
Items own look, uses.

Combat can be clunky as dodging feels slow not as smooth as hoped and no lock-on can be awkward.
Can be daunting alot to learn.

Here is video footage from my videos of me playing this on my PS5 then uploading to my YouTube channel link below.

https://www.youtube.com/c/GRIMREAPERSAGE

VIDEO REVIEW

https://youtu.be/zPOEmkYbGUU?si=UWd2s0THQSryps_a

PLAYLIST

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL3AM1kazFPwKGOLeYv7FIUn3AUsqMiL-&si=tGgNyI4Y2gt6Ddav