My all-time favorite game, every system here works perfectly together and the devs are constantly working to improve it even further. Dungeon exploration feels tense and exciting and provides very worthwhile rewards, the arena mode is a great way to get your fill of the combat, and the practice mode allows new players to get the hang of the very unique control scheme.
Then there's the combat itself. You may see people say it feels clunky and unpredictable, and it probably does for them, just as much as it would if you put a weapon in their untrained hands. BUT, with practice and time, the amount of control you have over your character in this game is unsurpassed. You can precisely strike ANY part of the enemy that you set your mind to, bypassing armor by stabbing at holes and slits, or trying to knock your opponent off their feet with a well-timed strike to the ankle. The versatility of the four possible attacks in this game is limitless.
THEN, you can now add in the thaumaturgy system (magic). Currently two schools exist, Force and Mind. Force is like you expect, push people around, throw rocks and random items, but it also has a couple more interesting abilities, like creating a bubble around yourself or a wall of energy to block off your foes. Additionally, you can amplify the impact of your weapon with magic to increase the oomph factor. Hitting hard feels so satisfying in this game anyway, adding even more to that is glorious.
Mind thaumaturgy has a wide range of utilities from sense minds, astral projection, to straight up necromancy, all of which are fun to play with in the intricate world Bare Mettle set up.
Speaking of the world, the little lore that is provided by books and scrolls that you can find scattered throughout the dungeons makes the world feel very lived in. The sheer amount of useless items (spoons, cups, pens, tools) makes it actually feel like you are exploring an abandoned society and makes finding useful items so much more thrilling.
This game is one of the most unique concepts I've ever played and never feels dull for a moment, even on replays. I've played through this game more times than I can count but every run is a little different due to certain randomized elements. Definitely give it a try, I doubt we will ever get a better game than this until Sui Generis
Then there's the combat itself. You may see people say it feels clunky and unpredictable, and it probably does for them, just as much as it would if you put a weapon in their untrained hands. BUT, with practice and time, the amount of control you have over your character in this game is unsurpassed. You can precisely strike ANY part of the enemy that you set your mind to, bypassing armor by stabbing at holes and slits, or trying to knock your opponent off their feet with a well-timed strike to the ankle. The versatility of the four possible attacks in this game is limitless.
THEN, you can now add in the thaumaturgy system (magic). Currently two schools exist, Force and Mind. Force is like you expect, push people around, throw rocks and random items, but it also has a couple more interesting abilities, like creating a bubble around yourself or a wall of energy to block off your foes. Additionally, you can amplify the impact of your weapon with magic to increase the oomph factor. Hitting hard feels so satisfying in this game anyway, adding even more to that is glorious.
Mind thaumaturgy has a wide range of utilities from sense minds, astral projection, to straight up necromancy, all of which are fun to play with in the intricate world Bare Mettle set up.
Speaking of the world, the little lore that is provided by books and scrolls that you can find scattered throughout the dungeons makes the world feel very lived in. The sheer amount of useless items (spoons, cups, pens, tools) makes it actually feel like you are exploring an abandoned society and makes finding useful items so much more thrilling.
This game is one of the most unique concepts I've ever played and never feels dull for a moment, even on replays. I've played through this game more times than I can count but every run is a little different due to certain randomized elements. Definitely give it a try, I doubt we will ever get a better game than this until Sui Generis