Dark Devotion

Completely unplayable with a gamepad currently. Hard to say much more on the game since I can't get to it due to this.

Unlike other reviews here with gamepad complaints, I thought the controls function great using an Xbox controller. I had no performance issues at all, and love how the game plays. My 'unable to complete' remark has more to do with game design, and the sad hard-limit to character growth. (which wasn't noticed and wasn't a problem, until very late game) I very much enjoyed exploring areas and fighting early, mid and some late game bosses, but once I'd 100% an area finding ALL the tablets (which increase damage, critical, stamina and faith/mana) and finding ALL the forgeable equipment, and killing enough enemies to purchase ALL the skills, that's ALL there is to character growth. (the character literally cannot become any stronger) So being very late game, and 10 attempts to a later game boss I still can't beat, and the character being as maxed as they can be, there's not enough incentive for me to continue trying or playing. I concede, its a skill issue on my part, but in other similar games where there's a difficulty/skill wall, an area can be replayed to purchase increases to stats/levels, and that can be enough to beat the boss. In Dark Devotion, the character is effectively lvl1 the entire game, and only has minor character improvements from discovered tablets, forged/found equipment and skills.

I really like the core gameplay, art, the option to switch weapons, use equipment and distribute skillpoints. It's dark, harsh and mysterious. Problem are the options and a few bugs. For example: there is not even an option to turn down the volume, and a critical bug where you get stuck praying only 5-10 minutes into the game... as Gatkowski put it in his review: "needs a bit more devotion" but is still a good game

It's hard, really hard, but rewarding. You'll die a lot, but as you keep exploring, learnig about enemys moves, watching over for traps and so, you'll be able to enjoy this gem. Amazing pixel art and some similitudes with blasphemous although this one was launched earlier... If you like hard but fair games, boss fights and some kind of soulvania, this is your game, if you have not patience, don't buy it

Games like this are the reason I even bother to keep playing video-games these days. I consider this a hidden gem, as well as criminally underated judging from the hate some reviews give it. But it is because of these reviews that I started the game with tempered expectations and was then absolutely blown away, so no hard feelings. Instead of trying to be souls clone #3687, Dark Devotion gives its own twist to things. It effectively manages to incorporate roguelike elements into its core gameplay without ever turning to procedural generation of levels (and we all know how this turns out). The dungeons are hand-crafted, but traversing them is not reversible, which means that if you missed something you have to do it all over, although this isn't anoyingly repetitive. There are checkpoints too, which means that if you die before a boss and all you want is to defeat that boss, you aren't forced to redo things all over (allthough gathering the equipment along the way might make your life a whole lot easier, anyway the choice is yours). As you might have guessed, it's a game where you die a lot. The combat is deep and button mashing won't get you anywhere. Enemies have interesting and not always predictable attack patterns, even the most basic mobs, which you will need to learn if you are to make any progress. The pixel artstyle is beautifull and intruiging. The soundtrack is pretty sweet too, it maches the atmosphere very well. Sprites and animations are very well done too. The world and plot is a mystery and you're gonna have to piece together the lore you find scattered around if things are to make any sense. Things I didn't like? Hmmm, some non-pixel elements don't blend well with pixel ones, such as in the death animation. The map does't always make it clear which portal leads where. As you can see I have to be very nitpicking. Overall, I'd say this definitely belongs to your collections if you're into the genre.