I had never heard of this game prior to it's re-release earlier this month. It has been labeled as 'Soulslike' and the first Dark Souls game. There is some merit to this comparison, but there isn't any evidence of it's influence on the development of Demon's Souls. This game performed poorly commercially, but received critical acclaim for good reason. It was developed by an independent Spanish company called Rebel Act Studios and this was their first and sadly only game.

What makes this game special is it's brilliant level design and weighty combat. I would argue 70-75% of the levels have some of the best level design even by Soulsborne standards. There is a clever interlocking design with ample shortcuts that feel natural, meaning they serve a utility to the enemies that inhabit the level rather than serve as a convenience for the player. Why is this door locked? The lock mechanism is on the other side and the key is held by a guard. It makes sense as a defensive barrier, making the levels feel lived in rather than a contrivance for a game play. Traps feel clever and serve a defensive purpose for the enemy. There are usually 'hints' planted for the player: O hey, that bridge looks crumbly and that orc is taunting me while refusing to cross it... hmmmmm...

The last quarter of the game, in particular after " Temple of Al Farum," is significantly weaker and did feel like a slog for me. It's more combat heavy and the traps feel more annoying rather than clever. They add in platforming which this game was clearly not designed around. This can lead to frustration and it feels like the studio ran out of money around this time, but wanted to push through to the end. The last level, while atmospherically oppressive, ends up being a long combat gauntlet with tons of boss fights. It will be tough to fight your way through, but I thought the final boss of the game (in the Abyss, which is a secret last level) had a cool design to him. I had no idea who the fuck he was, like with Dal Gurak, but fuck it. He's bad, we're good. Let's kill em.

There are puzzles in the game, but they rarely get more complicated than push or shoot this trigger. It's more about exploration and combat. There are tons of secrets in each level, so you are rewarded amply for turning over every stone. My only issue here is how poorly communicated finding the "Runes" are. You will need to collect 6 to unlock the true final level. You will probably need a guide (I did) at least for the first one, just so you know what you are looking for. There is a semi-comedic moment where you rescue a guy. He's about to explain how to find Runes when he is unceremoniously killed by a troll.

Onto the combat. Fighting is slow paced and tactical. It's a bit clunky at first, but after 2-3 levels I got the hang of it and was able to pull off combos. It's about spacing and timing. What makes the combat special is the inclusion of combos like a fighting games. As much as I like the Soulsborne games, combat is objectively the weakest element to them. It's bare bones. You dodge roll and you stab the enemy in the butt. Rinse and repeat for the whole game. Unless you're a mage, then you keep your distance and laugh manically as you explode or incinerate your enemies with the Arcana.

Besides combos, you have defensive options. You can dodge in all directions and you can block. Dodging as anyone but the Amazon is more of a side step. The Amazon does more of a Soulsborne roll. Blocking is only viable if you are the Knight or Dwarf. Shields have HP so you need to be mindful of it, otherwise your shield will break leaving you open to attack. it seems like the Knight or Amazon are the best first characters, with the Knight having the most work put into him and being the most balanced. He has by far the most items and armor in the game and it's no coincidence that the character selection screen starts on him. I played a Barbarian. I'm a simple man. I like to hit things with a big stick. He had the biggest stick.

The big gimmick to this game and why it is still awesome to this day is the gore. You can dismember enemies in all kinds of ways. You can cut off their head, part of their torso, or any limb. It looks awesome and there is a satisfying blood splatter to follow. In addition, if you want to style on your enemies, you can pick up their friend's arm and beat them to death with it. This later option isn't viable past the early levels unless you are very committed.

There are four classes and each has their strengths and weaknesses. As mentioned earlier, the Knight is the most balanced, the Amazon is the fastest but weakest, the barbarian is pure offense and the dwarf is middle of the road leaning towards defense. I've only played through as a Barbarian. At some point I will play through other classes.

The story is as trite as it gets. It boils down to good vs evil. Kill evil. Nothing more to say there.

While there is a lot to love about this game, it has it's baggage. The game is very challenging and you will be forced to save scrub for at least your first play through. Saving is a pain in the ass since there isn't a quick save button. The game also seems to be balanced around save scrubbing which you can argue is a flaw. In this regard, while the combat can be fair, it's balance is no where on the level of Soulsborne. While I appreciate the ability to save a game anywhere, it removes a sense of balance and pacing to game play. The bonfire system in the Soulsborne games is genius in comparison and one of the best ways to implement saving/checkpoints.

I encountered a near game ruining bug in the Temple of Ianna. Any save made past the introduction of the level resulted in the file not loading... Fortunately I had a backup save from the previous level. Be sure to do this during either Temple of Al Farum or Forge of Xshathra (you can choose which of these two you do first. Be sure to have your backup towards the end of whichever you play second). The devs of the re-release are aware and their latest update was an attempt to fix this bug. So this may not be a problem for your playthrough. Finally, as mentioned earlier, the end game doesn't feel as polished as the first 70-75% of the game.

Still, as a first entry for an independent developer, it's an impressive and fun way to spend your time. Though on subsequent playthroughs I will probably stop after the Temple of Al Farum.