Another day, another game with the word “Survivors” in the title, but for a change, this isn’t yet another rip off/homage (feel free to delete as appropriate) to the great Vampire Survivors.
No, this game goes by the name of Entropy Survivors; a game classed as a online roguelite twin stick shooter. Normally I would run a mile from any title that has the word “rogue” in the description, but this one from Moving Pieces Interactive and First Break Labs piqued my interest. Why? Well, how many other games cast you as a sharp shooting frog riding a sword wielding mech? By all means drop me a line if you can think of another!
Kicking off with the presentation and Entropy Survivors is a typical top three quarter camera viewed twin stick shooter. The enemies that come bounding our way are very well designed and prolific, with a lot of creatures coming to try and end our little froggy lives! The frog and mech combo is also very nice to look at, and in a nice touch, not only can the mech be painted different colours, unlocked through playing the game, but various classes come to the fore too, each with an individual look. The worlds that we visit are unique too, whilst the backdrops have a nice, almost hand painted vibe about them.
I’ve been impressed by the audio too. Gunshots and sword swipes make up most of the sound, but alongside that is some decent music. That said, when you are knee deep in enemies and shooting for your life, it does tend to fade into the backdrop somewhat. All in all, the presentation of the game works very well, and while it isn’t always easy to see what it is that is nibbling your ankles, you can usually see well enough.
Usually, I’d move onto the story in a normal review, but here I can’t, as there is no narrative to speak of. We are an immortal frog whose chosen form of transport is a massive mech with a sword, there are some worlds that are full of enemies, and the two merely have to be brought into close conjunction. To be fair, Entropy Survivors doesn’t require a deep and moving narrative, and so the absence isn’t an issue.
That means we can crack on with the gameplay, and what we have here is a basic twin stick shooter that has had a good slap with the wacky stick. As an example, the weapons and perks you can claim from levelling up are bonkers, with things like garbage trucks that drive through enemies, crates that fall from the sky and smash foes beneath them, and many, many more. Getting a build going is interesting and fun to look at, and while the action may be over the top, you’re going to need all the help you can get if you wish to survive what Entropy Survivors can throw at you.
The controls are as usual, with the left stick moving your mech, the right stick aiming the frog’s gun and the mech’s sword. Pulling RT shoots, while LT uses the sword, as you try and make a little room around you. The gun only has a limited amount of bullets before it needs to reload, and while the reload time sort of suggests that the frog is not only filling the magazine but actually casting the bullets, you soon learn to adapt. Add in swarms of enemies that never stop coming, odd mini bosses that pop up and act like bullet sponges at certain points in the run, and a final boss should you manage to survive for 20 minutes, the action never stops.
Dying is not the end, and to be fair, is pretty much the point of the game. As we go through Entropy Survivors, we pick up gold, which can be used at the end of each level to power up our character in the hub level, buying new weapons, upgrading existing ones, and attaching new perks to our guns. These power ups, perks and new weapons help us to survive a little longer, and so we gradually get stronger and are able to deal more damage. If you find it hard going on your own (and it is, don’t doubt it for a second) you can always hop online and join up to three fellow amphibians. The netcode holds up very well, and Entropy Survivors gets even more frantic with four players blazing away.
Entropy Survivors offers up a lot of fun, and the power ups, while being random in the levels, add to that. Having a build that deals a lot of damage, or one that concentrates on healing is enjoyable to experiment with, whilst various mech classes help even more. With a host of levels to go at, the challenge is real, but when you add in multiplayer as a cherry on the cake, it’s easy to see how Entropy Survivors becomes a game that is well worthy of your time.
If you like a shooter or a roguelite, give Entropy Survivors a go.
Entropy Survivors: Prepare for Absurd Weaponry and Chaotic Fun on PC and Console – https://www.thexboxhub.com/entropy-survivors-prepare-for-absurd-weaponry-and-chaotic-fun-on-pc-and-console/
Buy Entropy Survivors on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/entropy-survivors/9P08V56D7W1W/0010
