Pros
+ incredibly detailed pixel art
+ NPCs and the main character are cute and lovingly designed
+ bosses are unique and require specific combat approaches
+ a large number of individually created rooms to explore
+ stages are rarely too long even though backtracking is necessary
+ common enemies are tough but predictable
+ health can be replenished in different ways
+ the hookshot mechanic is implemented well
+ meta-upgrades are a constant motivation to keep going
+ perks allow for a highly personalized playstyle
+ the lore section is entirely optional
+ optional hidden stages and secrets can be discovered
+ a lot of stage and room variants that offer varied challenges...
Cons:
- ...with symbols that are never explained ingame for no discernable reason
- high degree of frustration tolerance is necessary for enjoyment
- bosses are brick walls that necessitate luck and memorization
- controls are not tight and hookshot mechanic is often iffy
- removing enemy shields before attacking is imprecise and frustrating
- no option to use the second stick for aiming
- no aerial aim lock on consoles (but apparently on PC?)
- slow-down mechanic is far too quick and often frustrating
- some enemies can shoot through walls
- room generation algorithm frequently leads to unfair trap placement...
- ... thus actively discouraging backtracking, even when necessary
- entering a room can lead to instant, unavoidable damage
- spike traps are almost unidentifiable
- number of perks hugely outsizes the number of available slots
- the cost of perks is generally too high and not balanced well
- the dash perk should have been a standard action
- combat builds cannot be kept from one finished stage to another
- receiving loot at the end of levels is tedious and time-consuming
- the music is immaterial and the main track gets annoying quickly
Blagic Moment: Entering a hidden stage for the first time but dying instantly from fog effects that make save traversal impossible, enemies shooting you through walls, and new killer traps.
Playtime: Finished it once but I didn't keep track for some reason, but the roguelike structure makes it difficult to say how much time it would take for a complete run. You can except a playtime of over 15 hours at least would be my guesstimate.
Verdict:
Flinthook is a tough game. It's one of those roguelikes where not only getting to the boss of any given stage is difficult and time-consuming, but beating them is equally difficult and requires not just skill, but also a great amount of pattern memorization and just a bit of luck. This high degree of difficulty is obviously a conscious design decision but also a steep barrier to deriving any enjoyment from Flinthook. At the same time, the meta-upgrades are engaging, the number of perks and perk combinations that directly affect the gameplay is high, and unlocking them is quick and easy enough to give rise to the magical incantation of "just one more run!"
However, in a packed genre that produces new prime examples in regular intervals, it is hard to recommend Flinthook to anyone but the most hardcore fans of pixel art 2D action games. Anyone else should stay away from this and save themselves the frustration.
+ incredibly detailed pixel art
+ NPCs and the main character are cute and lovingly designed
+ bosses are unique and require specific combat approaches
+ a large number of individually created rooms to explore
+ stages are rarely too long even though backtracking is necessary
+ common enemies are tough but predictable
+ health can be replenished in different ways
+ the hookshot mechanic is implemented well
+ meta-upgrades are a constant motivation to keep going
+ perks allow for a highly personalized playstyle
+ the lore section is entirely optional
+ optional hidden stages and secrets can be discovered
+ a lot of stage and room variants that offer varied challenges...
Cons:
- ...with symbols that are never explained ingame for no discernable reason
- high degree of frustration tolerance is necessary for enjoyment
- bosses are brick walls that necessitate luck and memorization
- controls are not tight and hookshot mechanic is often iffy
- removing enemy shields before attacking is imprecise and frustrating
- no option to use the second stick for aiming
- no aerial aim lock on consoles (but apparently on PC?)
- slow-down mechanic is far too quick and often frustrating
- some enemies can shoot through walls
- room generation algorithm frequently leads to unfair trap placement...
- ... thus actively discouraging backtracking, even when necessary
- entering a room can lead to instant, unavoidable damage
- spike traps are almost unidentifiable
- number of perks hugely outsizes the number of available slots
- the cost of perks is generally too high and not balanced well
- the dash perk should have been a standard action
- combat builds cannot be kept from one finished stage to another
- receiving loot at the end of levels is tedious and time-consuming
- the music is immaterial and the main track gets annoying quickly
Blagic Moment: Entering a hidden stage for the first time but dying instantly from fog effects that make save traversal impossible, enemies shooting you through walls, and new killer traps.
Playtime: Finished it once but I didn't keep track for some reason, but the roguelike structure makes it difficult to say how much time it would take for a complete run. You can except a playtime of over 15 hours at least would be my guesstimate.
Verdict:
Flinthook is a tough game. It's one of those roguelikes where not only getting to the boss of any given stage is difficult and time-consuming, but beating them is equally difficult and requires not just skill, but also a great amount of pattern memorization and just a bit of luck. This high degree of difficulty is obviously a conscious design decision but also a steep barrier to deriving any enjoyment from Flinthook. At the same time, the meta-upgrades are engaging, the number of perks and perk combinations that directly affect the gameplay is high, and unlocking them is quick and easy enough to give rise to the magical incantation of "just one more run!"
However, in a packed genre that produces new prime examples in regular intervals, it is hard to recommend Flinthook to anyone but the most hardcore fans of pixel art 2D action games. Anyone else should stay away from this and save themselves the frustration.