Lemnis Gate

Lemnis Gate gets a lot right when all the stars align and you're able to get into the game without a hitch. However, at least on PS5, the game has quite a few hiccups that prevent the player from ever reaching the fun twist on your run of the mill shooter.

Lemnis Gate is a clever and damn well-designed game. Emphasizing tactical choices over pure skill, this original turn-based shooter impresses. Its successful concept mixing FPS and time loops gives rise to refreshing clashes. Too bad some of its content neglects strategy in favor of less interesting direct confrontations. Hopefully his already sparse player base doesn't dwindle too quickly, as Lemnis Gate follows through on his excellent concept.

The effect is like trying to play chess after a double espresso, and if we fumble as often as we triumph, that's just more reason to keep coming back. [Issue#365, p.110]

Lemnis Gate is perhaps one of the most interesting independent games of recent times and is the only one to have been able to propose a truly innovative concept in the field of first-person shooters. Unfortunately, the genius of the idea on which it was built is not adequately supported by an up-to-date technical and artistic sector and this makes the product only half successful. In any case, it is impossible not to turn a blind eye to some technical issues, also because the title is not only included in the Xbox Game Pass catalog for PC and consoles, but is also sold at a negligible price, since it can be added to your digital library for just over 16 euros.

Lemnis Gate is a game at odds with itself. Its well-executed time loop mechanics could potentially appeal beyond the usual hardcore shooter crowd, but the game’s matchmaking shortcomings and lack of single-player content will keep that wider audience at arm’s length. Lemnis Gate is fun, but it feels like a concept that needed more resources to fully realize its promise. That said, if you are a dedicated shooter fan looking for something a little different, you may find yourself doing the time warp again (and again and again).