My review of this game is based on two experiences, I played this game co-op the whole way through, and I only used The Witch.
First off, I gotta say I love Inti Creates and their art style of keeping games with 2-D sprites and them looking beautiful and retro, I love the art style as someone who has played the Mega Man Zero series and Gunvolt.
I honestly really wish I could speak on the music, but as I said, I played co-op with a few friends so I never really got to sit and enjoy the sound track, nothing jumped out as awful except the annoying fanfare that pops up when you have the game selected on PS4.
The gameplay is that of your normal 2-D platformer or a sort of Metroidvania if you will, jump from one place to another, you can go at it vertically and horizontally, it's always a pretty big map, because this game has an RPG element to it, and you're meant to explore and fit treasure to gear your character up as well as kill enemies to level up. Nothing super special if you're familiar with Metroidvania games. Every character has a sort of playstyle that can be adjusted to your liking via stats, equipment, leveling up, or changing Contracts which changes your characters element and behavior of certain skills. The game is very mission heavy, so it's always go do this and fight this boss most of the time or go find this. I'm honestly trying to be a bit vague as somethings are just fun to discover and do on your own as you play, if this sounds interesting, then have at it.
It's very fun to go around and search the map and get new gear and build your character the way you like, as well as with a party if you go at it co-op.
This game isn't without it's flaws...
The story really takes a backseat it feels like, it's not badly written, but the game's story isn't based around the character you chose, so it's all written as a blanket dialogue meant to fit all the characters, so you'll never learn much about who you choose.
The gameplay while fun, the game does a poor job explaining things, I mean even basic things aren't told and the tips menu is filled to the brim with info that you NEED to know but are expected to search there as the game tell you little or teaches you little.
I honestly feel like the game feels very weak if you play it solo, it gets very repetitive and you can tell it wasn't built exactly for solo play and it was meant for multiplayer character synergy, and I think the characters suffer from this as well, some of their roles in a group, shoehorns some awkward styles of playing to make sure they can't be a one-man army of any kind, which is fine with me in multiplayer, but it just shows solo isn't ideal.
I can't speak on all characters as I've only played The witch and as of this review the Bandit, but the Witch requires button combos for every spell she casts, (example: B, Y, B, X, B, A to level up a spell for homing then you have to press B, X, B, X, B, X, B, X to level up the spell to it's next power, then B, B, B, B to turn it into a thunder spell.) this goes on for every spell and you pretty much have to learn to use these spells because it's pretty much most of her playstyle and she's a healer and support as well, so yeah that gets tiring. I'm sure other characters have their quirks, but that's just an example.
Also it's one of those games that has loadouts before missions, so you have to go to one place to change this and another to change that, it's not a super big deal, but it does lead to some annoying moments, this even happens offline as well.
All-in-all I hope it didn't come off as a negative review, I loved this game and had a lot of fun, it just had quite a few snags that could be improved with a second game. I can easily recommend this as a co-op game with friends, but I can't say the same for solo, it's doable but I can't see someone enjoying it unless it's in small bursts. This game really deserves more coverage than it got and really could use a sequel.
First off, I gotta say I love Inti Creates and their art style of keeping games with 2-D sprites and them looking beautiful and retro, I love the art style as someone who has played the Mega Man Zero series and Gunvolt.
I honestly really wish I could speak on the music, but as I said, I played co-op with a few friends so I never really got to sit and enjoy the sound track, nothing jumped out as awful except the annoying fanfare that pops up when you have the game selected on PS4.
The gameplay is that of your normal 2-D platformer or a sort of Metroidvania if you will, jump from one place to another, you can go at it vertically and horizontally, it's always a pretty big map, because this game has an RPG element to it, and you're meant to explore and fit treasure to gear your character up as well as kill enemies to level up. Nothing super special if you're familiar with Metroidvania games. Every character has a sort of playstyle that can be adjusted to your liking via stats, equipment, leveling up, or changing Contracts which changes your characters element and behavior of certain skills. The game is very mission heavy, so it's always go do this and fight this boss most of the time or go find this. I'm honestly trying to be a bit vague as somethings are just fun to discover and do on your own as you play, if this sounds interesting, then have at it.
It's very fun to go around and search the map and get new gear and build your character the way you like, as well as with a party if you go at it co-op.
This game isn't without it's flaws...
The story really takes a backseat it feels like, it's not badly written, but the game's story isn't based around the character you chose, so it's all written as a blanket dialogue meant to fit all the characters, so you'll never learn much about who you choose.
The gameplay while fun, the game does a poor job explaining things, I mean even basic things aren't told and the tips menu is filled to the brim with info that you NEED to know but are expected to search there as the game tell you little or teaches you little.
I honestly feel like the game feels very weak if you play it solo, it gets very repetitive and you can tell it wasn't built exactly for solo play and it was meant for multiplayer character synergy, and I think the characters suffer from this as well, some of their roles in a group, shoehorns some awkward styles of playing to make sure they can't be a one-man army of any kind, which is fine with me in multiplayer, but it just shows solo isn't ideal.
I can't speak on all characters as I've only played The witch and as of this review the Bandit, but the Witch requires button combos for every spell she casts, (example: B, Y, B, X, B, A to level up a spell for homing then you have to press B, X, B, X, B, X, B, X to level up the spell to it's next power, then B, B, B, B to turn it into a thunder spell.) this goes on for every spell and you pretty much have to learn to use these spells because it's pretty much most of her playstyle and she's a healer and support as well, so yeah that gets tiring. I'm sure other characters have their quirks, but that's just an example.
Also it's one of those games that has loadouts before missions, so you have to go to one place to change this and another to change that, it's not a super big deal, but it does lead to some annoying moments, this even happens offline as well.
All-in-all I hope it didn't come off as a negative review, I loved this game and had a lot of fun, it just had quite a few snags that could be improved with a second game. I can easily recommend this as a co-op game with friends, but I can't say the same for solo, it's doable but I can't see someone enjoying it unless it's in small bursts. This game really deserves more coverage than it got and really could use a sequel.