Become the scariest thing in hell and beyond, as you embark on your quest for vengeance in the intense, fast-paced campaign of Dread Templar, made by a solo developer over the course of 3 years. The game is reminiscent of classics from the 90s, but with a modern twist and gameplay depth on par with...
Become the scariest thing in hell and beyond, as you embark on your quest for vengeance in the intense, fast-paced campaign of Dread Templar, made by a solo developer over the course of 3 years. The game is reminiscent of classics from the 90s, but with a modern twist and gameplay depth on par with contemporary shooters.
Experiment with endless combinations of more than 100 different upgrades for a vast arsenal of badass weapons and powers to define your own playstyle. Scour every inch of the game’s 25+ enormous levels rife with hidden side areas, secret locations and puzzles to get all the possible unlocks.
Blast your way through hordes of diverse demonic and fiendish enemies and prevail in up to ten thrilling boss fights. Explore the many distinct, unique campaign environments: from the dark realm of hell to frozen pirate ships, all rendered in retro, but surprisingly detailed pixel-art graphics style, supercharged by a head-banging original soundtrack.
Key Features:
Use FPS staples such as dashing and bullet time to conquer the brutal, fast-paced gameplay.
Select a unique combination from 100+ skill and upgrade unlocks to create your own playstyle.
Turn a varied roster of 20+ enemy types and 9 different bosses into a bloody mist with more than 10 weapons - from katana swords to firearms and infernal weapons!
Explore 25+ vast levels and search them for 19 side areas, more than 170 secrets and solve over 20 challenging puzzles to receive epic rewards.
Enjoy the handmade retro art style - all elements of the game including weapons, enemies, and environments are created in a retro pixelated art style reminiscent of the 90s shooters. You can even select from 5 different filters to give the game a completely new look!
Not a bad game, but not a brilliant one, either. Everything about it, from the gunplay, to the enemies, to the environment, is merely "okay". Aside from the upgrade system, nothing in particular stood out about the game, and as a result, I put it down after only about 3 hours.
One major gripe I have is that the music is always blasting at 100% energy, even if all the enemies are dead, and I'm just stumbling around looking for the level exit. I wish the developers luck on their next project.
I had this game for about a year before ever really getting to it. I bought it, installed it (on Ubuntu Linux via Wine which it runs buttery smooth on) and then never got to it. Then....I actually started playing it. This is what quake 2 should have been...but way more bad ass. I don't like the save system (checkpoints) but they are prevalent so it's not that big of a deal. Controls are smooth and just work. There are enough controls to do everything needed but not overwhelm all the action. If you like the shooters, this one is excellent. These devs knew what they were doing! Just buy it.
I must admit, Dread Templar is pretty generic at the start. You wake up in a cave, only have your Akimbo Pistols and Dual Katanas and fight some Undead enemies. It builds up a little, but in my opinion, it takes up until the second half of game, before Dread Templar really becomes it's own thing.
But when it does, it really does. You get a good variety of enemies, the locations get nice (especially the desert level), you have a good variety of weapons (Akimbo Pistols, Akimbo Mac10s, two shotguns, a bow, two types of explosives and a demonic revolver) and the music gets really good.
I also like the enemy design a lot. Most of the demons really look like demons and not just like humans with wrinkled skin or black eyes. You have floating sacks of flesh, insect like bodies with human torsos sewn onto them, large ice insects or floating skull like creatures. Humanoid enemies still exist, but it is a good variant.
What is a bit weird though is, that the game seems to have copied several ideas from other games. The character already looks like a wannabe Dante, the pistols lool like Ebony and Ivory, one of the enemies looks very, very similar to the Nobodies from Devil May Cry, the exploding enemies look like the exploding aliens from Earthfall etc. It's not bad, but some inspirations seem to be a bit too on the nose.
That said, Dread Templar does some own things as well. The boss battles are nicely designed, you have an upgrade system with some runes altering the playstyle of your weapons and instead of secret levels, the game has optional side paths.
On the other hand, it also has some problems. For example, said side paths have parkour elements and environmental hazards, like moving saw blades, that are absent from regular levels, the difficulty spikes can be brutal and there is a general problem with themeing, like Ice Mages appearing in the desert or the ice insects appearing in a forest.
But overall, it's a fun game that I would recommend.
I enjoyed Dread Templar. It is one of those action games that manage to tow the delicate line between power fantasy and genuine challenge: sure, you play as a badass with great mobility and an arsenal of formidably satisfying guns, but the enemies are many and can easily chew through your health.
While DT looks out of 1997, it benefits from modern mechanics that make battles more survivable: dashes, slow-mo and weapon upgrades make the combat a fast and stylish dance where all enemy attacks can be dodged. Most levels are also fun to explore and well made. They do a good job making it clear where you need to go next, so DT can be played with your brain turned off… But the game also knows to reward committed players through the inclusion of numerous secret zones, and even bonus areas and “super secrets” that require you to solve puzzles for great rewards.
All in all, DT is pretty darn clean for something made by a solo dev, and a lot of fun for the most part… But it also has its faults. For instance, some levels overuse invisible walls, you get little feedback from being spotted or hit by enemies, and most weapons are strangely underpowered if not upgraded - the rocket launcher being the worst offender. Plus, DT’s idea of a challenge is to throw droves of increasingly tough enemies at you, so some frustration is to be expected.
While I have to praise the badass weapon and enemy designs as well as the solid work on the low-poly models and pixellated textures, I also have some issues with the presentation. Only a few of the environments really stand out among the generic castles and tombs that serve as set pieces; and despite being a Metal fan, the tunes constantly blasting in the background (whether or not you’re in combat) kinda got under my skin.
In the end, while Dread Templar may not be the best fast-paced / retro-inspired indie shooter, it’s definitely a good one. Those looking for a 90’s-inspired challenge with some modern gameplay elements will love it.
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