A Dicey Roguelite Adventure?
Now here’s a world I wasn’t expecting to return to so soon. That’s not me passing judgement on the original game, Lost in Random, but indie titles don’t typically manage to spawn sequels. True enough, this isn’t that, instead Lost in Random: The Eternal Die is something altogether different.
Escape from Mare
You step into the shoes of Queen Aleksandra alongside her adorable living die-companion, Fortune, in a quest to escape the nightmarish world of the Black Die. The evil force that runs the twisted games is fittingly enough called Mare, who enjoys conjuring up images of the past to torture Aleksandra as she seeks a way out.
I would like to declare immediately that I absolutely adore the world of Random, which is adorned with symbols of chance and luck, but also strategy. Whether it’s ancient decaying segments of dice, or chess pieces standing tall, this foreboding realm is eerily beautiful in the same way a dark fairytale is.
Roguelite Evolution
Lost in Random: The Eternal Die is an isometric roguelite which marries together real-time action and strategic decision making with pleasing results. Your journey takes you through four different biomes, each procedurally generated and laid out like a board game. A handy map tracks your route, however you won’t know what’s coming next thanks to each room being shrouded in mystery. It’s most likely a battle against nightmarish creatures that awaits, but just sometimes you’ll find something totally different.
You’ll be met with various mobs in the majority of rooms, as well as slightly stronger enemies from time to time. At the end of each biome, on the way to the exit, you’ll often encounter a boss with a chunky health bar who will need dispatching before you can continue. Clearing each room through battle will drop a reward or choice of two at random.
From time to time, you’ll come across rooms without hideous creatures trying to lay into you. These contain a whole range of different, more positive, things such as a merchant, games of chance, extra items and even long lost memories. One of my favourites is a mini board game, where you roll fortune to move your piece and collect rewards along the way.
Aleksandra’s Arsenal
Aleksandra has a few tricks up her sleeve to defend herself against Mare’s minions. First off, her primary weapon has a regular and ranged attack for fending off the nasties. She can also chuck Fortune at her enemies, and the number rolled works in conjunction with certain relics (more on those in a second) to bring a variety of different effects into play. Whether it is a poison, chill, lightning, fire or even a weakening condition, there’s plenty of combinations to try out.
Finally, Aleksandra can carry one card which grants her a special ability that often doubles up as a powerful attack. The control setup is simple enough but also allows you to make use of all three types of attack at the same time.
Our heroine has four weapons to choose from, which are a mix of ranged and close combat options. My preferred option was the spear, a melee weapon with decent range. But I also enjoyed playing with the bow and arrow, which shifts the play style. Cinder is the resource which is used to upgrade these by equipping them with enchantments, and can be collected whilst out in the wild.
Blessings and Relic Synergy
Pip Dust is the other main resource which is used to unlock and upgrade blessings. These are essentially passive character buffs, which offer all sorts of bonuses such as a great chance to do damage and evade attacks, as well as unlocking the ability to revive after death. Handy.
However, it’s relics and their associated colours that bring the tactics into play. These offer additional bonuses and when found, you place them onto a square based grid. Each has a different colour which, when you match three or more in a row, will boost the corresponding stat for you.
Stacking similar relics and their associated stats means you can develop character builds on your run designed around specific status effects. For example, you may have relics which infect enemies with poison which will grow stronger as you boost your stats. Add in your chosen card attack into the mix, which may stack poison by lobbing exploding jars everywhere as an example, and you can quickly see how Aleksandra can become a little powerhouse.
Between Runs
As Lost in Random: The Eternal Die is a roguelite this means some progress is carried over after each time you venture into the maze-like Black Die. In between runs (after you die) you’ll have some downtime at the sanctuary to chat to various characters who you have led to safety, as well as upgrade your gear and abilities. Oh and do yourself a favour and choose the normal difficulty, it offers a healthy challenge especially when the bosses or mid level bosses pop up.
The balance of battling and upgrading tactically is pleasingly struck in Lost in Random: The Eternal Die. There’s enough variation in the rooms, and plenty of items to keep it from feeling like a grind, and making each run enjoyable.
What’s even more pleasing is that unlike some other games in the genre, the permanent progression actually makes a difference and you feel the effect after every attempt at reaching Mare and defeating him. However, it’s not exactly a walk in the park either, so the balance pretty much hits the sweet spot.
A Sleek, Smart, and Simply Brilliant Roguelite
I can honestly say that Lost in Random: The Eternal Die is one of the best roguelites I’ve played. Sure, it’s limited in scope with only four biomes and can get a little bit repetitive, but it’s such a captivating world to explore with tight game mechanics that I honestly didn’t mind at all. Perhaps most importantly, even when you complete it there are still plenty of reasons to dive back in. The biggest one? It’s a hell of a lot of fun.
Lost in Random: The Eternal Die is a sleek, smart and simply brilliant roguelite which hits upon the coveted formula to keep you coming back for more.
Important Links
Roll Again as Lost in Random: The Eternal Die is Revealed – https://www.thexboxhub.com/roll-again-as-lost-in-random-the-eternal-die-is-revealed/
Lost In Random: The Eternal Die Launches on PC, Game Pass and Console – https://www.thexboxhub.com/lost-in-random-the-eternal-die-launches-on-pc-game-pass-and-console/
Download Lost in Random: The Eternal Die (on Game Pass) – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/lost-in-random-the-eternal-die/9n72g399183f
Grab the Fortune Edition – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/lost-in-random-the-eternal-die-fortune-edition/9NVGSN062292/0010
