Rivals of Aether

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Overwhelmingly Positive

Total: 25.9 ThousandPositive: 25 ThousandNegative: 913
96%
4%
Steam review score: 9

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AI Review

Rivals of Aether scored 89.34 % rating
Rivals of Aether is a thrilling indie fighting game where players harness the power of Fire, Water, Air, and Earth in intense battles. With a 88.85% AI Community Rating, this game is praised for its competitive gameplay, unique mechanics, and creative roster of characters. Whether you're diving into 1v1 or 2v2 matches, exploring the story mode, or climbing the leaderboards in ranked mode, Rivals of Aether offers something for everyone. The game’s pixel art style and fluid animations add to its charm, while the Steam Workshop integration allows for endless customization and replayability. However, the community notes a steep skill gap, which can be intimidating for newcomers, and online play sometimes suffers from laggy netcode. Despite these challenges, fans describe it as 'fun,' 'great,' and 'unique,' with many recommending it for its competitive depth and creative workshop content. If you’re looking for a platform fighter with a high skill ceiling and a passionate community, Rivals of Aether is worth a try.
Indie
Single-playerMulti-playerPvPOnline PvPShared/Split Screen PvPCo-opShared/Split Screen Co-opShared/Split ScreenSteam AchievementsFull controller supportSteam Trading CardsSteam CloudStatsSteam LeaderboardsRemote Play on PhoneRemote Play on TabletRemote Play on TVRemote Play TogetherFamily Sharing

What the community wishes

We analysed the 12 most impactful community reviews and collected 20 ideas and suggestions on how the game could be better.
High skill gap discourages new players
The skill gap in the game is too high, making it difficult for new players to compete. Ranked matches often pair beginners with experienced players, leading to frustration and a steep learning curve.
DI mechanics feel unbalanced and frustrating
DI (Directional Influence) mechanics are frustrating, as poor DI can lead to early deaths at low percentages. The game lacks balancing mechanisms to mitigate this issue, making matches feel unfair at times.
Ranked matchmaking needs better skill balancing
Ranked matchmaking often pairs players with vastly different skill levels, leading to unbalanced matches. This exacerbates the skill gap issue and discourages new or casual players from engaging with ranked play.
Online netcode issues hinder gameplay experience
Online play suffers from poor netcode, causing input delays and lag. Players on the East Coast report significant issues, making competitive play frustrating and unreliable.
Abyss mode achievements are overly grindy
The Abyss endless mode is fun but has overly grindy achievements, which can feel tedious and unrewarding. This detracts from the overall enjoyment of the mode.
Limited defensive options reduce strategic depth
The game's limited defensive options, such as the absence of shields and ledges, can make matches feel one-dimensional. Players often rely on movement and parries, which may not appeal to everyone.
Workshop dependency overshadows base game content
The game's reliance on Steam Workshop content overshadows the base game experience. While the workshop adds replayability, the base game may feel lacking for players not interested in mods.
Input buffering issues in online matches
Input buffering issues during online matches cause frustration, as inputs are delayed or ignored. This makes advanced techniques difficult to execute and disrupts the flow of gameplay.
GameMaker engine limits online functionality
The GameMaker engine's limitations negatively impact online functionality, leading to poor netcode and laggy matches. This hinders the game's potential as a competitive platform fighter.
Early deaths due to unbalanced mechanics
Players often die at very low percentages due to unbalanced mechanics like DI and combo systems. This can make matches feel unfair and reduce the enjoyment of competitive play.
Lack of casual-friendly features
The game lacks features that cater to casual players, such as more forgiving mechanics or casual modes. This makes it less accessible to those who prefer a more relaxed experience.
Zoner-heavy roster limits playstyle diversity
The roster is heavily skewed towards zoners, which can make the game feel repetitive and less enjoyable for players who prefer other playstyles.
Workshop content quality varies widely
While the Steam Workshop adds immense replayability, the quality of mods varies widely. Some characters and stages are poorly balanced or incomplete, which can detract from the experience.
Crashes and bugs in online multiplayer
Frequent crashes and bugs in online multiplayer, often caused by cursor or drawing issues, disrupt gameplay. These issues need to be addressed to improve the overall stability of the game.
Ranked system needs better progression incentives
The ranked system lacks meaningful progression incentives, making it less rewarding for players to climb the ranks. Adding rewards or milestones could improve engagement.
Tutorials need more depth for beginners
The in-game tutorials are insufficient for teaching beginners the game's advanced mechanics. More comprehensive tutorials or guides could help new players get up to speed.
Limited character diversity in base roster
The base roster lacks diversity in playstyles, with many characters feeling similar. Adding more unique mechanics or characters could enhance the game's appeal.
Workshop characters lack balance in online play
Workshop characters, while fun, are often unbalanced in online play. This can lead to unfair matches and reduce the competitive integrity of the game.
Game lacks casual multiplayer modes
The game lacks casual multiplayer modes that cater to players who prefer less competitive experiences. Adding modes like party or co-op could broaden its appeal.
Input lag in high-latency online matches
Input lag becomes a significant issue in high-latency online matches, making it difficult to execute precise moves. Improving netcode could alleviate this problem.

Reviews

Toxicity trend

N-Grams

Most relevant voices from the community
responsive hitting someonebest platform fightersTry not to get addictedhigh skill cellingobjectively better thanbest platform fighterunique mechanical identityrollback netcode workshopAlmost never the sameendless replayability workshopINSANELY creative modincredibly tight controlsfun workshop charactersEasily 10/10 gamegood quality fightingvast amount of incrediblePotato can runsuper competitively viableskill gap is far too highincredibly optimized aswell

Keywords

Top 15 keywords for sentiments
What the community loves
We collected 258 positive keywords.
fun
18
good
8
great
6
recommend
6
friends
5
workshop
5
competitive
5
unique
5
creative
4
10/10
4
characters
4
best
4
community
3
favorite
3
responsive
3
Where the community is undecided
We collected 295 neutral keywords.
workshop
17
characters
13
mods
12
platform
10
fighting
6
stages
4
maps
4
sale
4
fighter
4
Workshop
3
random
3
smash
3
game
3
steam
3
mechanics
3
What the community dislikes
We collected 131 negative keywords.
laggy
2
skill gap
2
issues
2
terrible
2
poor
2
negative
2
frustrating
2
lacks
2
inputs
2
lose
2
issue
2
ruin
2
community
1
confusing
1
cracked
1

In-depth analysis of most impactful community reviews

Positive

The mod community for this game is INSANELY creative, one of the best at that. You can find (almost) ANY character you search as a mod... From Tetris Characters to a Suit Case. On top of that, the maps are just as creative as the characters, including maps that implement ENTIRE bossfights. It doesn't even end there, this game is incredibly optimized aswell, so a Potato can run it. Edit: The game was already good enough, until I discovered you can Quickmatch online even with mods. Easily 10/10 game, I understand the overwhelmingly positive now... Playing Master Chief Vs Isaac Clark from Dead Space sells it.

  • Sentiments

    • I am amazed by the creativity of the mod community for this game, which is one of the best I've ever seen.
    • I find it incredible that almost any character, from Tetris characters to a suitcase, can be found as a mod.
    • I am impressed by the creativity of the maps, which include entire bossfights, adding depth to the game.
    • I appreciate how well-optimized the game is, as it can run even on low-end hardware like a 'potato'.
    • I am thrilled to discover that you can Quickmatch online even with mods, which enhances the gameplay experience.
    • I rate this game 10/10 and now understand why it has overwhelmingly positive reviews.
    • I find the idea of playing as Master Chief versus Isaac Clark from Dead Space incredibly appealing and fun.

Positive

---{Gameplay}--- ☑️Try not to get addicted 🔳Very good 🔳Good 🔳Nothing special 🔳Ehh 🔳Bad 🔳Just dont ---{Graphics}--- 🔳Masterpiece ☑️Beautiful 🔳Good 🔳Decent 🔳Will do 🔳Bad 🔳Awful 🔳Paint.exe ---{Audio}--- 🔳Fascinating 🔳Very good ☑️Good 🔳Decent 🔳Not too bad 🔳Bad 🔳Earrape ---{Audience}--- 🔳Kids 🔳Teens 🔳Adults ☑️Everyone ---{PC Requirements}--- 🔳Check if you can run paint ☑️Potato 🔳Decent 🔳Fast 🔳Rich boi 🔳Ask NASA if they have a spare computer ---{Story}--- 🔳Doesn't have ☑️Something isn't nothing I guess 🔳Not greatly told 🔳Average 🔳Good 🔳Lovely 🔳Will make you cry or smile a lot ---{Playstyle}--- ☑️Almost never the same in any two people 🔳Varies a little bit from person to person 🔳Weapon AND character classes 🔳Weapon OR character classes 🔳Creative AND Survival 🔳Creative OR Survival 🔳Melee AND Ranged 🔳Melee OR Ranged ---{Difficulity}--- 🔳Just press a bunch of buttons 🔳Easy 🔳Significant brain usage ☑️Easy to learn / Hard to master 🔳Not so easy 🔳Difficult 🔳Dank Souls ---{Grind}--- 🔳Nothing 🔳Only if you care about leaderboards/ranks 🔳Isnt necessary to progress 🔳A bit grindy sometimes ☑️Average grind level 🔳A bit grindy 🔳Insanity ---{Game Time}--- 🔳Long enough for a cup of tea 🔳Short 🔳Average 🔳Long 🔳Depends on you ☑️Endless ---{Price}--- ☑️Just buy it 🔳Worth the price 🔳Wait for sale 🔳Maybe if you have some spare money left 🔳Not recommended 🔳Dont throw money into a rubbish bin 🔳Free ---{Micro-Transactions}--- 🔳EA 🔳Mobile Game(Necessary if you don’t want to wait 15 weeks to construct a toaster) 🔳”Premium” Currency AND Normal Currency 🔳”Premium” Currency OR Normal Currency 🔳Quick way to advance ☑️Fortnite(Skins/Emotes/Etc) 🔳Only to show off big time 🔳Level DLC ☑️Soundtrack DLC 🔳None ---{Bugs/Glitches}--- 🔳Never had any ☑️Minor bugs/glitches 🔳Few bugs/glitches 🔳Can get annoying 🔳Ruining the game 🔳The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs/glitches ---{?/10}--- 🔳1 🔳2 🔳3 🔳4 🔳5 🔳6 🔳7 🔳8 ☑️9 🔳10

  • Sentiments

    • I find the gameplay highly addictive, which is a positive aspect as it keeps me engaged and coming back for more.
    • The graphics are beautiful, which enhances my overall experience and makes the game visually appealing.
    • The audio quality is good, contributing positively to the immersive experience of the game.
    • The game is suitable for everyone, making it accessible and enjoyable for a wide range of players.
    • The PC requirements are low, making it easy for me to run the game without needing high-end hardware.
    • The story is somewhat present but not deeply engaging, which feels neutral as it doesn't significantly impact my enjoyment.
    • The playstyle is highly variable, which I find positive as it allows for unique experiences with each playthrough.
    • The difficulty is easy to learn but hard to master, which I appreciate as it provides a good balance for both new and experienced players.
    • The grind level is average, which feels neutral as it neither detracts nor significantly enhances my experience.
    • The game time is endless, which I find positive as it offers long-term replayability and value.

Positive

rivals of aether, not even including the vast amount of incredible fan made workshop content you can play online with friends by simply both subscribing to the character / stage, is the single best platform fighter to have ever released. somehow rivals 2 coming out a little later this year seems to be even better than that but as of rn after 500 hours of smash bros brawl, a combined 400 in smash 4, 600+ in ultimate, and assorted hours in other platform fighters on the market, none have the consistent character, quality, and joy that this game does. super competitively viable, but just as fun to play with your friends. this is a game you can take as seriously as you want but still legitimately have a set between jerma985 and sonic the hedgehog and yk what that alone is worth the entry fee

  • Sentiments

    • I believe Rivals of Aether is the single best platform fighter to have ever been released, even without considering the vast amount of incredible fan-made workshop content.
    • I find the ability to play online with friends by simply subscribing to the same character or stage incredibly convenient and enjoyable.
    • I am highly optimistic about Rivals 2, as it seems to be even better than the original, which I already consider outstanding.
    • After spending hundreds of hours in various Smash Bros. games and other platform fighters, I feel none of them match the consistent character quality and joy that Rivals of Aether provides.
    • I appreciate that Rivals of Aether is super competitively viable, making it a great choice for serious players.
    • I enjoy how the game is just as fun to play casually with friends, offering a balanced experience for all types of players.
    • I think the ability to have a match between Jerma985 and Sonic the Hedgehog alone is worth the entry fee, highlighting the game's unique and fun appeal.
    • I find the consistent quality of the characters in Rivals of Aether to be a standout feature compared to other platform fighters.
    • I feel that Rivals of Aether allows players to take it as seriously as they want, catering to both competitive and casual playstyles.
    • I consider the game's workshop content to be a significant addition, enhancing the overall experience with fan-made characters and stages.

Positive

Pros: Game has incredibly tight controls Movement feels incredible and responsive Combo system is satisfying and encourages labbing Movesets are inventive Unique characters you wouldnt find anywhere else The workshop alone probably warrants a purchase alone Cons: The skill gap in the game is far too high, if a player is better it is almost suffocating DI is frusturating in this game, its incredibly easy to DI something poorly then die at incredibly early %s and the game has nothing to keep that in balance Ranked, while functional, can put you in matches with players that have much more experience then you in games, emphasizing the issue with the skill gap even more It very commonly can feel like you're getting "robbed" because of how often you die at incredibly early % Overall: The game is a strong 8/10 platform fighter and can lead to a lot of enjoyment if the sweaty lab heavy fighting game is your cup of tea

  • Sentiments

    • I feel that the game has incredibly tight controls, which makes the gameplay experience very smooth and enjoyable.
    • I find the movement in the game to be incredibly responsive, which enhances the overall feel of the gameplay.
    • I think the combo system is satisfying and encourages experimentation and practice, which adds depth to the game.
    • I appreciate the inventive movesets, which make the characters feel unique and engaging to play.
    • I believe the unique characters are a standout feature, offering something you wouldn't find in other games.
    • I feel that the workshop feature alone is so impressive that it could justify purchasing the game.
    • I find the skill gap in the game to be too high, making it feel suffocating when playing against more experienced players.
    • I think the DI (Directional Influence) mechanic is frustrating, as poor execution can lead to early deaths without much balance.
    • I feel that ranked matches can be unfair, often pairing me with much more experienced players, which exacerbates the skill gap issue.
    • I often feel like I'm getting 'robbed' in matches due to dying at very early percentages, which can be discouraging.

Positive

This is a good quality fighting game. But at least for myself I wouldn't think so highly of this game if it weren't for the steam workshop community. So if you want a fighting game with hundreds to thousands of characters and stages from around the web & world then this game is one you should definately own and if you're here for the vanilla experience it's still really good and worth your time but maybe wait for a small sale.

  • Sentiments

    • I think this is a good quality fighting game, which makes it worth considering for fans of the genre.
    • I wouldn't think so highly of this game if it weren't for the steam workshop community, which significantly enhances its value.
    • I believe the game is a must-have if you want access to hundreds to thousands of characters and stages from the steam workshop.
    • I find the vanilla experience of the game to still be really good and worth your time, even without the workshop content.
    • I suggest waiting for a small sale if you're only interested in the vanilla experience, as it might be more cost-effective.

Negative

Coming back to it, this is just not fun. Feels like they inverted the roster styles from melee and called it a day. If you don't like zoners, than this is your hell. The net code really enjoys eating your inputs if the delay is any higher than 40 ms. The game keeps putting you against higher ranks in ranked, I think this is good but not when I am bronze 3 fighting a Gold 3. Every time I pick this game up I get reminded of why I dropped it in the first place. This is not a casual game, it's a game of who can play slower. Update 1: I could not beat the zoner so I became the zoner; Now I'm the one fighting bronzes as a gold and I still don't think it's fun for both parties but hey, free combo food I guess.

  • Sentiments

    • I find the game not fun and feel like the developers simply inverted the roster styles from Melee without adding meaningful improvements.
    • I dislike the prevalence of zoners in the game, which makes it feel like a hellish experience for players who don't enjoy that playstyle.
    • I am frustrated with the net code, as it frequently eats my inputs when the delay exceeds 40 ms.
    • I feel unfairly matched in ranked mode, as I am consistently paired against higher-ranked players, such as Gold 3 while I am in Bronze 3.
    • I am reminded of why I initially dropped the game every time I try to pick it up again.
    • I believe the game is not casual-friendly and instead rewards slower, more methodical playstyles.
    • I decided to adopt the zoner playstyle to counter my frustrations, but even as a Gold-ranked player, I don't find it fun for myself or my opponents.
    • I acknowledge that playing as a zoner against lower-ranked players provides easy wins, but it feels unsatisfying and unfair.
    • I think the game's matchmaking system has potential, but it is currently unbalanced and frustrating for lower-ranked players.
    • I feel the game lacks enjoyment for both casual and competitive players due to its slow-paced and unbalanced mechanics.

Negative

Edit: GameMaker was ACTUALLY to blame. Played a bit of Rivals 2 and the connection was much better. GMS really held it back by having no good ways to do a solid Netcode. I was very salty that online opponents I played against didn't seem the slight bit inconvenienced with the lag, but that's because they were hosting the match in a bootlegged P2P server. The game is certainly functional, but at the time I first wrote my review, I was just trying to get the cool unlocks and had to engage with the terrible PvP. (Old Review) Just awful online play, whether PvP or Couch Co-op streaming. I tried the Ranked play and somehow my opponent had no issues using advanced tech while my inputs didn't go through but also somehow buffered at the same time? I live on the EAST COAST, our internet is great! Why does this game run so badly online?? Is GameMaker to blame? Is Dan Fornace just this bad at programming multiplayer? I cannot recommend a game that is this non-functional. I just want to play at the level I know I am capable of.

  • Sentiments

    • Played a bit of Rivals 2 and the connection was much better.
    • GMS really held it back by having no good ways to do a solid Netcode.
    • I just want to play at the level I know I am capable of.
    • I was very salty that online opponents I played against didn't seem the slightest bit inconvenienced with the lag, but that's because they were hosting the match in a bootlegged P2P server.
    • The game is certainly functional, but at the time I first wrote my review, I was just trying to get the cool unlocks and had to engage with the terrible PvP.
    • Just awful online play, whether PvP or Couch Co-op streaming.
    • I tried the Ranked play and somehow my opponent had no issues using advanced tech while my inputs didn't go through but also somehow buffered at the same time?
    • I live on the EAST COAST, our internet is great! Why does this game run so badly online??
    • Is GameMaker to blame? Is Dan Fornace just this bad at programming multiplayer?
    • I cannot recommend a game that is this non-functional.

Negative

Con: furries Pro: Modding community Pro: I get to beat furries to death as Vegeta Pro: Shantae Con: ___________________________________________ ############################################################################################ FATAL ERROR in action number 1 of Step Event0 for object obj_workshop_async: Memory allocation failed: Attempting to allocate 14536756 bytes ############################################################################################ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- called from - gml_Object_obj_workshop_async_Step_0 (line 354) THE GAME KEEPS CRASHING

  • Sentiments

    • I dislike the presence of furries in the game, which negatively impacts my experience.
    • I appreciate the modding community, as it enhances the game and adds value to my experience.
    • I enjoy the ability to beat furries to death as Vegeta, which adds a fun and satisfying element to the game.
    • I like the inclusion of Shantae, as it adds a positive and enjoyable aspect to the game.
    • I am frustrated by the game crashing frequently, which significantly detracts from my experience.

Negative

This game is great, fantastic even, but it has one issue that hinders gameplay so badly that it's hard to enjoy sometimes. With the game's small roster, it has a reliance on mods in the workshop to help it run, but the issue with Rivals is that it literally can't handle mods at the bare minimum. I don't have too many mods, but when I want to mix and match for a good fight, the game just hits a fatal error and I have to restart all over. It's fun, but it's too tediously annoying to have a totally positive review.

  • Sentiments

    • I think the game is great and fantastic, which shows a strong positive sentiment towards its overall quality.
    • I feel that the game has one major issue that significantly hinders gameplay, making it hard to enjoy at times.
    • I believe the game's small roster is a limitation, which negatively impacts the overall experience.
    • I find the game's reliance on mods from the workshop to be a necessary but problematic aspect.
    • I am frustrated that the game cannot handle mods at the bare minimum, leading to frequent fatal errors.
    • I experience annoyance when the game crashes and forces me to restart, which disrupts the gameplay flow.
    • I enjoy the game when it works, as it provides fun and engaging gameplay.
    • I feel that the tedious and annoying issues prevent me from giving the game a totally positive review.

Negative

Look the game isn't bad and is a lot of fun. The main problem is with the skill gap between new players and veterans of the game. So unless you have the free time to drop 1000+ hours on the game. Don't play it

  • Sentiments

    • I feel that the game is enjoyable and fun to play, which gives it a positive aspect.
    • I think the game has a significant issue with the skill gap between new players and veterans, which creates a negative experience for newcomers.
    • I believe that unless you can dedicate a substantial amount of time (1000+ hours) to the game, it may not be worth playing.
    • I acknowledge that the game is not bad overall, which provides a neutral perspective on its quality.

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