Rogue Legacy combines frantic Ghost n' Goblins style combat and platforming with solid random dungeon generation. The main hook of each run through the dungeon being done with a randomized descendant keeps things fresh, encouraging you to try the full variety of classes and see how the many different combinations of traits might advantage or disadvantage you. Unlike many games that carry the Rogue banner, here there are clever progression and loot systems to ensure that even failed runs advance your character, if only a little bit. Difficulty is right in the sweet spot, providing a suitable challenge from the beginning to end and through as many new game plus runs as your heart desires. This is an immensely enjoyable game. Easy to pick up and play for just 20 minutes, just as easy to lose yourself in for hours if you have the time. Highly recommended.
Retro City Rampage takes the gameplay of the early bird's-eye view GTA games and beautifully transports it to an 8-bit world. Everything about this game bleeds authenticity. The graphics feel as though they'd be right at home on an NES. Environments are vibrant, colorful, and fun, with little touches like jackhammering construction crews, breakdancing street performers, and amusing signage filling virtually every screen. The music is held to the same four channel limitation composers faced on an NES, with wonderfully creative, classic-sounding results. The only liberty taken is the amount of stuff occurring on screen is well beyond what any NES could handle without incredible stuttering, but that is one area where being untrue to the era is desirable. So many indie titles going for an 8-bit style have mismatched sprite sizes and lazily composed/stolen music, so RCR's efforts to get it right stand out as being especially laudable. The game is clearly designed for people who grew up in the late '80s/early '90s, and it relies heavily on nostalgia for that era. References are dropped to virtually every major game title of the time as well as pop culture phenomena like Saved by the Bell and Ghostbusters. Like so much reference-based humor, it is hit and miss, but the throwback gameplay sequences that come hand in hand with the jokes are faithful and enjoyable. Bottom line: Highly recommended for people looking for a good throwback gaming experience.
Unepic follows the classic formula of a lone adventurer hacking his way through a giant castle. It has everything you'd expect from this sort of game, and it is all executed quite well: *A simple but good RPG leveling system. New levels always feels meaningful, and there are good strategic choices to make about which stats to improve. *Huge inventory that gives plenty of options for which type of weapon to use, with upgrades coming regularly as you reach new areas. *Good, varied environments to explore. *A good map system, complete with note-taking options. A novel torch lighting exploration mechanic is surprisingly rewarding. *Good combat with appropriate difficulty. Smart play and skill are rewarded, while sloppiness is punished. *Gamepad support for this game is good in the current GOG version (and I do recommend using one). Story-wise, there's nothing special. The game's hook about being an ordinary slacker transported to a magic castle is utilized mainly to pepper nerd culture references throughout the game. The humor is hit and miss---mostly miss, with a few jokes going beyond falling flat to inducing outright groans. Still, the writing is a very minor piece of the game, and I never found it to detract from the experience. All things considered, I loved the time I spent with Unepic. If the gameplay footage in the trailer appeals to you at all, you should love this game too.
