One of the best hack&slash top-down RPGs of all times: great level design (it is not another randomly generated game), 3 much different characters (with different beginning and storyline) and tons of fun. I completed this game 3 times in year 2000 and after 20 years its still good! It is a great example how premade levels and key items can be more interesting and replayable than randomly generated junk we have today in most diablo-like games. If you have problems with launching this game (flickering screen, freeze) check the internet for solutions. This problem is easy to deal with (by turning compatibility mode on and/or launching the installed game directly from folder).
I like the idea of this game very much. I spent hours in Terraria just toying with lava pools or water and I always wondered why there are not many good games like that. I also spend hours in Noita so from this perspective I could recommend this game (especilly if there is discount). However, even for a "roguelike" the game is simply too random: - spells and wands seem to give you immensive choice of options but in reality - only some effects and combinations are useful (or not too lethal to the user). Sooner or later you will end up with e.g: one "machinegun" wand, one explosive wand (to destroy walls), and one-two "toolbox" wands for some seemingly interesting effects (like creating water, acid, teleporting etc.) that will be rarely used. That of course depends on luck. Sometimes you will find great, useful wands at the first level, sometimes never; - The maps sometimes give you cool possibilities (like flooding rooms with acid, setting fires, collapsing walls etc.) but since they are randomly generated its usualy nothing even close to what trailers show you; - Depending on luck the game can be super irritating or super easy. There are wand effects like "matter eating" (allowing to dig in any material) and e.g. means to "fly" indefinetly. With a bit of luck you can enter "god mode" and go through the whole map and secrets without any problems. With less luck you will just spend some tiresome hours with this game to end being killed by some random monster or effect. Since the game is still being developed I hope they will add some options to it to make it less random, like: - at least small possibility to keep some achievments/equipment between the runs - more possibilities to modify the wands and the character in the temples. Perhaps some basic effects always available to buy? Giving two perks would be good to - if their power level was more balanced. - more preset quest locations (Pyramid with a special monster to kill is a good example how it shood work).
Another good Team 17 game (for those who dont know - they were like early Blizzard of Amiga age - every game they released was fresh and good. I am glad they keep making games). For me there are 3 best 2D hack&slash platformers currenty: Dead Cells, Blasphemous and Salt. The game has great dark climate, interesting setting and opponents. It tends to be difficult and irritating like most roguelikes or platformers. But even I (casual player) managed to survive till the end so its manageable. It could be more replayable though (like Dead Cells are). Perhaps they will just add expansions and equipment in the future.
