A Familiar Roguelite With Plenty Of Bite
I am, as long term readers will know, almost allergic to roguelike (or indeed roguelite) games, and yet I somehow end up playing, and reviewing, them. I suspect the editor is indulging in some kind of aversion therapy to try and get me over my affliction, and the latest in a long line of games in that genre is the subject of today’s review.
Going by the name of Dragon is Dead from PM-Studios, I should clarify at the outset that this is a roguelite game – for the avoidance of doubt. Is this the game to finally make me love the rogue style?
Obviously, having a story is a good start to these games, and here the news is pretty good. We are a successor, an immortal warrior (and this particular trait will come in handy, believe me), left to save the world. So far, so normal, right? Well, hold on, because things only get more cliche from here on out!
The Black Dragon has fallen, and despite him once facing down the Gods, it appears that the rift he used just before dying has now become the source of unholy energy that is destroying the world. Can we battle our way across a dying world to bring life back to it, or will we die? Well, the answer to the question appears to be yes!
Pixel Art, Monsters And Plenty Of Style
Now, looking at the presentation, and again Dragon is Dead is pretty good. The graphics are presented in a retro style pixel art kind of aesthetic. Again, been there, seen that, and I have a wide variety of tee shirts, but it does actually suit the feel of the game very well. Enemies are suitably scary looking, while bosses are not only terrifying to behold, but also have unique mechanics. Further, the backdrops of the various areas we visit tie in with the locale, and the action is presented from a side-on platforming kind of perspective. Think Dead Cells and you won’t be a million miles off.
Sound is again well done, from the haunting piano tunes that fit the vibe through to the sword swiping, monster battering sound effects. Presentation wise, everything here works, and while there is nothing ground breaking or shocking, it does the job perfectly well.
Death Is Only The Beginning
But I guess you’ll want to know more about the actual gameplay, and as we would expect from a roguelite game, death on a run is not the end of the story. Although when we die, we do lose all our gold and experience, but anything we have found in terms of weapons of gear remains with us, and this forms the basis of the next run. In this way, each time we die we get to become a little bit stronger, and there are other perks as well.
Build Your Character Through Skills And Synergies
You see, Dragon is Dead has an extensive skill tree to get to grips with, and the skills unlocked depend on the blessings of the Gods. There are ice, lightning and fire powers to unlock, and defeating enemies unlocks skill points, which are then used to unlock nodes on the skill tree. Experimenting with the powers is very much the order of the day, and I love the lightning based powers that are available. Having lightning chaining to all the enemies on screen makes the game that tiny bit easier, and while you may get on better with other powers, it’s Thor time for me!
Every time we die, we have to start again right at the very beginning, and the levels also switch up from there on out, including where enemies will spawn. Also, the rewards we get for finishing each stage change each time, so you can never predict what artefacts and soul gems you are going to receive. These things have certain synergies that allow them to be chained together, again making us stronger. The way the skills and gear systems have been designed is very clever, and works really well. Tying synergies from gems to the artefacts and the weapons we use feels quite satisfying, and gaining new attacks along the way will eventually turn us into a badass. Until we die, that is!
Tough, Rewarding, But Unlikely To Convert Everyone
And that is pretty much it for the world of Dragon is Dead. You will enjoy your time in its world, but be warned – Dragon is Dead is punishingly hard; almost too hard. I know that these games are meant to be pretty tricky, to make you earn your progress through the game by building on the bones of previous trips, but even so it seems very mean.
So nope, Dragon is Dead isn’t the game to sway me to the dark side. But it gives things a damn good go.
Important Links
Dragon Is Dead Delivers Dark Fantasy Roguelite Action To Console – https://www.thexboxhub.com/dragon-is-dead-delivers-dark-fantasy-roguelite-action-to-console/
Buy from the Xbox Store – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/dragon-is-dead/9NRJ7PH5Z2MV/0010
