The excellent Everhood has landed on (new) consoles, as has Mystic Gate. We’re checking out both, and also turn our eye back to Swordsman, which recently launched out of the AppLab into Meta’s Quest sword.
Everhood – Eternity Edition review (PS5)
Everhood – Eternity Edition, a collaborative effort by BlitWorks Games and Foreign Gnomes, takes players on a mind-bending journey into a realm where reality defies logic. Originally launched on PC and the Switch in 2021, the PlayStation 5 version introduces this indie gem to a wider audience.
At its core, Everhood seamlessly blends RPG and rhythm game elements, with many players drawing parallels to the beloved Undertale when it launched. And while it shares similarities, Everhood carves its own distinctive path. The narrative introduces us to Red, a wooden puppet embarking on a quest to retrieve a stolen arm from a mischievous blue gnome. This premise forms the bedrock for a captivating and often surreal adventure, where the unexpected becomes the norm.
Everhood’s standout feature lies not in its narrative though, but in its music-based combat system. Battles unfold on a horizontal grid, demanding players to maneuver Red strategically to evade musical notes hurled by adversaries. This rhythmic dance with danger injects an exhilarating twist into the gameplay, offering a fresh perspective on traditional RPG mechanics. The complexity escalates gradually, demanding skill and focus, especially on higher difficulty levels.
One of Everhood’s strengths lies in its diverse cast of characters, full of endearing and eccentric personalities. These encounters inject humor and charm into the narrative, drawing players deeper into its vivid and whimsical world. But while the graphics excel in combat, they may appear somewhat lacking and too minimalist in other areas. Exploring environments sometimes leads to encounters with rather spartan backdrops, and while serviceable, they don’t reach the same heights as the dynamic combat visuals.
Everhood’s soundtrack stands as a strong element of the game, showcasing an astonishing blend of musical genres that perfectly complement the battles. From techno to rock, drum’n’ bass to 16-bit, the diverse soundtrack stands as a compelling reason to dive into the experience. Additionally, the option to engage in custom battles adds a layer of personalization, enhancing replayability.
In summary, Everhood Eternity Edition distinguishes itself in the indie gaming landscape. It offers a distinct and engaging experience with its vibrant characters, mesmerizing combat, and captivating soundtrack, and it’s a journey well worth undertaking. While it didn’t achieve the same cult status as Undertale, it’s still a gem that should not be overlooked by those seeking an unconventional and memorable gaming experience.
Mystic Gate review (PS4)
Mystic Gate, developed by Zoo Corporation and published on consoles by Eastasiasoft, is a budget-friendly roguelike dungeon exploration bullet hell game that offers a blend of challenges and rewards. The premise revolves around a mysterious gate created by the gods, promising a granted wish to those who dare to face its trials. You step into the shoes of a wanderer and his robot companion, embarking on a perilous journey through procedurally generated dungeons, each playthrough promising a distinct experience.
In terms of gameplay mechanics, Mystic Gate features randomized weapons and skills, adding an element of unpredictability to every run. While this injects variety into the gameplay, the progression system may initially feel a bit unclear, impacting the overall experience. The twin-stick controls work seamlessly though, complemented by a helpful aim assist feature. In addition, the inclusion of local co-op play is great, offering players a chance to tackle the challenges together, which also helps with the game’s relatively high difficulty level. Mastering the intricacies of combat requires a bit of dedication and practice, so it’s nice to play with someone who can show you the ropes and cover you.
Audiovisually, Mystic Gate adopts a charming pixel art style, though the looping musical tracks may become monotonous over time. Despite its relatively simple look and feel, the game does have its share of technical hiccups, with occasional glitches. The level design is commendable, with fast travel points and clear mapping facilitating navigation. However, the lack of variety in room tiles can lead to a sense of repetition, and the absence of shortcut unlocks that you see in other roguelike games means you always start at square one, having to repeat the same path.
Ultimately, Mystic Gate falls into a category of roguelike titles that offer an engaging experience without necessarily breaking new ground. While it may not surpass some of its more established peers, it still provides a decent challenge for fans of the genre. The co-op feature adds value, but it’s important to approach the game with an understanding of its difficulty curve and progression mechanics. For avid roguelike enthusiasts, Mystic Gate offers a worthwhile adventure, but it may not stand out among the crowd for everyone.
Swordsman has launched into 1.0 on the Quest
Swordsman, developed by Sinn Studio, has come a long way since its initial release on PlayStation VR. Now, with its launch into the regular Quest store on Meta Quest 2, the game showcases a host of significant improvements over how it originally launched. While the visual fidelity remains consistent, the heart of the experience lies in its refined sword-based combat. The animations have been notably enhanced, offering a more realistic portrayal of medieval combat, and opponents now display a wider range of stances and movements, injecting a new level of dynamism into the battles – while an expanded amount of content certainly helps with that.
Performance-wise, the Quest 2 version maintains a steady frame rate. The journey across different ages and continents brings an exciting and varied dimension to gameplay as you play around with the different combat tactics and opponents the game offers. This translates to a more engaging and diverse set of challenges, and these improvements have catapulted Swordsman into something well beyond what the game was when we first reviewed it. With polished combat mechanics and enriched opponent behaviors, Swordsman on Quest 2 offers an immersive and captivating experience that’s bound to leave a lasting impression on VR enthusiasts, even those who tried it in one of its earlier incarnations.
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