So, I purchased this game on sale, but have asked for a refund. Let me explain: First, though I will admit the graphics are fantastic, the game description should have more clearly proclaimed that it was a hardcore rogue-lite game. Now that I go back and look at the things the game is tagged for I see that it mentions both rogue-like and rogue-lite, but that is nowhere in the game description. it does mention that death is not the end and that you can return with lost powers, but that could be played out in multiple ways and doesn't guarantee a rogue-like experience. The game is built around a timeline that can be manually reset to save resources, or your army dies and it's all over. Now, it is true that you can reserve some powers via "remembrances" which is neat. And any of your characters that die can be resurrected, provide you have the proper token. But all in all I was expecting more of a "deep complex narrative stretching back eons" as the page description proclaims, not a repetition of the same eons over and over and over until my characters are strong enough to finally win. Now, I like rogue-likes for the most part, don't get me wrong. The game just didn't promote itself as one. I wanted to invest in a story and unfortunately this didn't deliver. So... Hoping for that refund. Overall the game is well made and seems like it would be fun for what it is, so if you are looking for a cool rogue-lite experience then this may be your next obsession. It presents itself in a very lovecraftian manner, which is actually really cool. So, buyer beware: This game is a rogue-lite game, not a normal story-line progression game, though there are definitely good story elements thrown in, similar to Everspace in that regard.
First off, the previous reviewer seems to be under the impression that "Trilogy" is a collection of 3 games. I can understand the confusion, but anyone who grew up playing these games knows better. Trilogy is a separate game all-together, comprised of all the characters from the first 3 games. That's why it's called Trilogy. Nowhere on the game page does it give the impression that there are 3 separate games. That should be a tip-off for everyone. Now, the fact that all the characters are there makes this an obvious choice if looking into which game to buy! Not to mention you've got the "boss" characters available right off the bat! This game has the most playable characters, and the most level selections, than the other classic Mortal Kombat games. If you love gratuitous violence in fighting games, play the series that started it all. This game is a no-brainier purchase for any fan. And if you haven't played any Mortal Kombat games... This game is your best option. It's NOT 3 SEPARATE GAMES. Don't be mislead into thinking so. Also, I play the game with a controller... so I don't know why some say there's no controller support. Just saying.
So, there's no reason not to get this if you like sea shanties. The only reason I docked a star is because there's 10 songs listed and I don't think that they cycle through properly enough. I feel like I keep hearing the Donkey Riding song much more than the others... There's none that I can spot that I haven't heard, but still I feel like the cycle is somehow off. Donkey Riding isn't the only one that should get stuck in my head on occasion! Seriously, though, it's a great addition to the game. I like feeling the spontaneity of the crew bursting out into song. Makes the immersion more intense as your sailing out on the open sea. Maybe rework how often each song plays and it'd be a 5 star addition for sure.
Ok, so I went into this game not expecting much. I think that's the best way to approach anything that looks obscure. This game is definitely obscure! But that's what drew me to it in the first place... and I wasn't disappointed! My main complaint would be that, at present, the keybindings are not re-mappable, and I wasn't a fan of the way the controls were stuck. (That's really the only reason I docked a star... I feel it should have been easier to control.) But, hey, the game is only $5 NOT on sale! That's not bad! It's a short game... Even with the additional content that has been added it's only 4 levels to choose from, and most of them can be completed in under an hour. But, there are achievements, so any collectors out there may enjoy unlocking them all. The gameplay is simple: fly around, possess literally just about anything you encounter, scare the begebees out of everyone! (It says there's a secret second goal... I didn't find it... and honestly I don't care what it is, because scaring everyone was a blast!) The game can get tedious at times once you're down to one or two people left, because you have to guide them toward the exits and keep up with them as they run all around... But I guess they couldn't have the game be too simple, right? I mean, if they're scared out of their minds they're not thinking straight. It works. I really enjoyed the different unique poses-sable items and how they scared people! Make a cup float in the air and splash, make a creature come out from a clock and roar, make a picture on the wall drop it's contents to the floor, make a statue come to life... The list goes on! It's genuinely a fun little time waster. Don't go in expecting anything too deep or you'll be severely disappointed. It's a 4 star game for what it offers at it's price-point. 5 for sure if they ever allow adjustment to the key-bindings! Try it out for yourself and see what I mean!
It takes a bit to make a game that just sucks me in and keeps me playing until I roll the credits. This game did just that. Interesting plot-line, if not a little shallow. But that was half the fun: the game didn't take itself too seriously. It left a lot open to humor and action. Swapping bodies and trying to survive rooms full of colorful lasers was a blast! Most puzzles were minimal difficulty... I struggled with figuring out how to disengage some force-fields, but other than that it was a pretty easy game. This game, with it's great mix of retro sci-fi, 70's swag, and metroid-vania gameplay... It really blew me away. I appreciate a game that doesn't overstay it's welcome, and I could see myself getting bored if it were any longer than it is. I can't recommend this game enough. If you enjoy metroid-vania style gameplay then this should be your cup-of-tea right here, unless the retro sci-fi aesthetics are just a turn off to you. I couldn't put it down. I grabbed it on sale, so I really felt like I got my money's worth. I don't know that I would've paid the full asking price... But I'm a cheapskate... so yeah.
Ok, so I see a number of low rating posts throughout the reviews below... It seems that some people missed the point of this game: To laugh and shoot things and bring things back from the dead! Oh my goodness I have not laughed out-loud so many times while playing a game before! If you want a good laugh at every spaghetti western stereotype then THIS IS YOUR GAME! Honestly, it's worth it just for the comedy. But there's more! The actual turn based combat is pretty fun as well. You have a few classes to choose from at the beginning to help determine your playing style (I chose to work with snakes... Loved it!) and there's opportunities to become a full fledged necromancer by the end of the game, if you so choose. Riding through the desert with your "pardner" on your special trusty steed... The game is just a gem. I can't say that I encountered the same weapon or hat twice... So many unique items and each with their own abilities or quirks... You can tell this was an absolute labor of love. Every location has its charms, and feels so right within the western setting they developed. Oh, and there's some "ancient alien technology" to be found along the way as well! (Seriously, they thought of everything!) The music and atmosphere and the writing for the conversations... all spot on. Such witty responses (some corny, but it's intentional) had me laughing so hard, but wanting to progress to see where the paths before me led. Oh, and the Cows... demon spawn. The cows are demon spawn. Everything was great until "the cows came home" and then things were bad. Very bad. Play the game to see what I'm talking about! I can't recommend this game enough! The difficulty does scale with you, as the previous reviewer states... But it helps the game to last longer. And trust me, you want this game to last! I was sad to see it end. Thankfully there's the DLC with more content to wade through! Seriously... If you know what you're buying ahead of time this is a 5 star game!
So, if you grew up playing games like Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, or Tactics Ogre, you'll be right at home with this game! That said, this game takes the themes of strategy and class development into new realms of depth. Considering that there are 20 base classes available (some need to be unlocked), and then more as the game progresses or you buy the DLC, there's over 30 classes eventually. And, personally, I don't know what your party's ultimate roster limits are... because I never reached it. With both monsters (I had the Missions and Monsters DLC) and people I had well over 15 in my party and I didn't receive any notice that I had reached my limit. You can only take (most battles) up to 6 party members into battle. Sometimes less is required, and on rarer occasions more. Managing your entire party can become burdensome if you're not careful. It can be overwhelming. But, if you love customizing then you'll love every second of figuring out which classes any character uses, which skills they should wield, and which items fit them best. The story-line was not something to write home about, to be honest. But, it still provided fun and some twists and turns that I wasn't expecting. So, overall I'd say it's as great as many other game's stories. But, you're not really playing this game for the whole story... You're playing it for the tactical battles, which are phenomenal. For those unfamiliar with this style of game it it turn based, based on every character's speed level. It constantly cycles through all characters on the field, and you select what each character does as their turn falls on them. There are numerous abilities that allow you to manipulate the field in many ways... slowing/poisoning/blinding/bleeding/putting enemies to sleep... Healing/boosting strength or speed/defending other party members. A myriad of magic attacks from summoning to elemental, and numerous skills from stealing to trapping. So worth your money. Get it!
So, their first games were The Last Door games, which were phenomenal point and click adventures that had a mix of vibes from Edgar Allen Poe and H.P. Lovecraft. Loved every second of both seasons. Now, imagine my surprise that their second game jumps into the metroid-vania realm! Completely different type of game, and they still killed it. This has quickly become one of my favorite games. It is heavily inspired by Spanish Catholicism for it's art style and music, but it creates its own warped, corrupt religion that you're character must confront. The Miracle has it's beauty, but also has created grotesqueness beyond description. As the Penitent One you wield a magical/blessed sword and face off against the terrors that The Miracle has created. The music is beautiful, the atmosphere is very gothic and dark, with a mix of moments of beauty thrown in. The controls are perfect, with abilities increasing as you progress and new abilities to learn along the way. Also, lots of hidden stuff! Religious relics, rosary beads, and now with the DLC's plenty of hidden rooms where other events occur. The collector inside of you will have a field day. Such a beautiful game! I can't say that enough. I know some might be concerned with the subject matter... Like, "Is it really blasphemous, though?" My answer to this is you must follow your own convictions. I have my own religious views, which do not coincide with Spanish Catholicism, and I don't disrespect others who may hold to that, but even though at times this game felt like it was hitting a little too close to home when it used certain words to describe certain aspects of the false religion portrayed in the game, I reminded myself that it is a made up religion used in the game. Despite it's inspiration, it does not seem to be poking fun at anyone's beliefs, just borrowing terminology and situations as inspiration. I really enjoyed the game overall. If this sounds interesting to you at all you really should check it out!
So, I played the demo of this game recently, and so I had to buy the full game. I hadn't read many reviews, though many just express anger at having to start over so many times. I get it... But it's literally the design of the game. Or, I should say, the design of the first PART of the game. That's right, there's much more than the cabin! I won't spoil everything here. However, I will say that the other parts of the game cross over into other genres of game-play, but were all natural extensions of the story. The story is amazing. Ok, so maybe some of the acting from the guy in the in-game videos is a little dry at times... but I still felt hooked by the story, and was flabbergasted by the ending. The game just kept getting better and better, the story deeper and deeper, and the finale was wonderful! For those wondering about the "other genres" I mentioned earlier I will give some light spoilers about what to expect next. (I WILL NOT EXPOSE ANY OF THE STORY! Just the genres)- Not in any particular order you will encounter a large board game style aesthetic with checkpoints. When you die you don't start all over, just back at one of the checkpoints. There is also an actual deck-building game where you travel to different points on a map and face challenges while finding cards and personally adapting your deck to your desires. (4 major types of decks to choose from and mix and match during this segment.) You also encounter a few others, but those are so brief that I won't ruin them here. It's a shame, because I think the game's popularity would have been greater had some of these other portions and aesthetics been showed in the preview pictures or videos... but I get why they didn't do it. They kept it all a mystery. I literally wasn't expecting what I experienced because the pictures only showed the cabin. This game is so much more than just the cabin. I highly recommend this game! And I'm grateful to a friend of mine for convincing me to actually play the demo!
