Loop Hero is a strange but fun amalgamation of some of my favorite game styles. It’s a rogue-like that is also a deck builder. On top of that, it’s an “idle” battler that draws from games like Sword of Vermillion. It’s got enough depth to keep me thinking, but it also provides enough freedom to play it as a second-screen game. What I appreciate the most about it is how the three different classes have their own little quirks that work with how well you can build the world and kit out the hero. There are some idiosyncrasies, such as how the rogue rarely picks up new gear as they go around. It is all collected at the end of each loop. It’s also more advantageous to kit them out with generic armor and weapons for the raw damage output and defense qualities. It’s pretty neat when you have to consider the level and rarity of the gear, and sometimes that it’s not the best choice to go for the rarest kit. Successful runs often revolve around the build. All that said, it’s probably a game that’s not for everyone. It’s a little opaque in how it explains how things work together and how they affect runs. However, putting it all together and building up your base and resources becomes a great incentive for doing more loops. Also, the fact that this was made in Game Maker by just a few Russian devs is just neat. It’s a simple game wrapped in complex systems, and I enjoy every run in Loop Hero.
Don't own this game, but AtomTeam is a hard working dev studio with an office in Ukraine, which is going through a tumultuous time. Russian trolls are attempting to review bomb Ukrainian studios on GOG, so I'm doing my part to offset those 1 and 2 star reviews.
Metro 2033 is a game I'll buy on any platform. I've owned it on console, PC, Switch, Stadia, and GeForce Now. A4 is a Ukrainian dev with an interesting history, and I'll support them as much as I can. The Metro series is a comfort game in a way. Yes, it's a dark, depressing take on nuclear power run amok, but it's also a deeply personal story of a society making the best of the worst kind of situation. There are thematic aspects of this game that haven't aged all that well, but it's easy for me to look past. It's also a linear experience, but the hardcore mode is an itch that's always thrilling to scratch. Metro games are shooters on the surface, but there's a ton of heart poured into the details. As you pass through the Russian metro, you'll see a society teeming with life. The setting is dark, messy, and noisy. If you're not shooting at feral beasts, you're listening to the murmers, clanks, and creeks of dilapidated living quarters, dingy bars, and cobbled together supply shops. When people talk about atmospheric games, Metro should be referenced in those conversations. It's livelier than many open world games. It's more intense than many shooters. And it's darkly heartfelt like all Eastern Bloc games should be. It's strangely a comfort game to me and I love it to bits.
