Standing Out In A Sea Of Roguelites
80s synth-based soundtrack. Neon, cyberpunk Japan. Samurai owls? Roguelites may just be the most oversaturated corner of the gaming market currently, with each indie, and occasional AAA title, that releases seemingly falling into this category. It comes as no surprise however, as the key traits woven into the genre’s very DNA (prioritising replayability and personalised experience) strike a chord with the very essence of what makes our favourite dopamine-inducing games so gripping.
Yet with such an abundance of similar titles, how can one stand out from the crowd of clones? Look no further than Atomic Owl. But is standing out for the better?
Neon Streets, Talking Swords, And Feathered Revenge
As alluded to a moment ago, this game sees us take a trip to the fictional world of Judanest, inspired by a neon-Japan and fused with 80s synth inspired music. You take on the mantle of Hidalgo, driven with a vendetta against the Omega Wing for the treatment his friends and himself were subject to. It’s a relatively simple narrative, but when the backdrop consists of neon-soaked vibrant streets to inspire courage, not much more incentive is needed for players to persist.
This basic story approach also leaves room for an entertaining dynamic between our protagonist and his talking blade, Mezameta. The two can lift the spirits with humour, whilst bringing the mood down for emotional resonance during Atomic Owl’s darker moments, leaving a well mixed blend of simple yet effective narrative threads. Sadly their relationship never reaches the same fleshed out levels that the talking weapon dynamic offers, yet it remains entertaining nonetheless.
Three Weapons, Endless Possibilities
This simple yet effective approach can also be used to describe the main gameplay premise, applying the roguelite formula to an action and platforming heavy focus wherein you must run through a series of challenging platforming scenarios along with defeating foes. The Mezameta Blade can transform into three variants cycled through with the bumper buttons; Tengu Killer Whip, ideal for striking distant foes; Flattened Wing, a heavy hammer unleashing a small projectile; and Bladewing Buster, a claymore-esque weapon which releases a slow yet powerful attack. This weapon system highlights the crucial aspect of any roguelite… replay value.
More often than not, roguelites can fall into the trap of offering many differing routes to retread in replays, yet no incentive to return to the world; sometimes an overarching simple skill tree or upgrade shop can give players enough reason to return, yet Atomic Owl employs a vast variety of combat options to keep each run distinct, and players returning. The only drawback to Atomic Owl’s combat system is the stiffness that often occurs if engaging in combat midair. For whatever reason, the developers decided that the player must not be moving in order to attack, creating a frustrating system where damage is taken despite the input being registered. This could be viewed as an intentional mechanic to require more thought from players, but to me the resulting effect is a sense of frustration and unfairness.
Built For Speed, Rewarding Mastery
The platforming itself is less egregious, with me only having minor nitpicks. The most pivotal factor (the move-set) is largely a roulette wheel of whichever Wing Remnant (essentially an extra move that lasts for the duration of that run) you receive at the run’s inception. Ranging from a triple jump, to an extra dash, or most things in-between, they encourage exploration through alternate paths you may have avoided in previous attempts, yet at the same time rarely make or break an attempt. A base move kit of double jump, dash, and run leave plenty to be desired from the Atomic Owl’s upgrades, yet can be looked past thanks to the compensating level design.
Even though the move-set is slim, Atomic Owl makes it clear this was an intentional choice as to not over-complicate the combat/platforming hybrid approach. As you run through the stages, it becomes apparent both the horizontal and vertical axis were considered in design, with foes occupying both, and you as the player needing a master over ground and air to progress. Atomic Owl’s ability to chain together platforms in a way that rewards speed and one’s proficiency at dealing with enemy encounters is fantastic, and what makes the gameplay so addictive.
Unfortunately, that same praise can’t be extended into boss fights; the tedious and disengaging aspect of each run. They largely rely on a repetitive chain of moves that barely change between phases, and with the barebones weapon upgrade system not offering much in the way of distinct builds to aim towards, it becomes a trial of stamina rather than skill.
The aforementioned ambivalent consequences to Wing Remnants extend into the other roguelite elements too, with the small selection of upgrades on offer largely feeling shoehorned in to reach the rogue-lite label. It’s a shame really, as Atomic Owl has so much potential for developed systems fleshing out the combat, platforming, and exploration, yet instead we’re left with a simple upgrade shop with less than ten options.
A World Bursting With Personality
One element that can’t be faulted with Atomic Owl is its presentation. Everything is fanatically polished, slotting perfectly in with the cyberpunk aesthetic showcased. This extends to the menus, UI, and character interactions, all sleek and smooth highlighting the distinct appearance maintained.
Atomic Owl is full of promise and potential, with the neon-soaked streets players traverse truly immersive, and a synth-based soundtrack that demonstrates the style-over-substance final product players are left with. Platforming and combat certainly have their strengths, and players will enjoy many of their runs. Yet it reaches a point of exhaustion where all joy, entertainment, and novelty Atomic Owl has to offer is drained. A hollow, barebones roguelite is left.
Important Links
Atomic Owl Flies Onto Xbox, PlayStation, Switch And PC With Feathered Fury And A Talking Sword – https://www.thexboxhub.com/atomic-owl-flies-onto-xbox-playstation-switch-and-pc-with-feathered-fury-and-a-talking-sword/
Buy from the Xbox Store – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/atomic-owl/9ppt35z56hrw
