As Hades 2 early entry rolls on, we’re seeing a number of different studios put their very own spin on its specific model of top-down roguelike motion. Studio Fizbin, beforehand recognized for video games with easy, satisfying gameplay and socially related narratives – I notably loved the fulfilling Say No Extra – has introduced that design ethos to bear alongside a deeper gameplay focus within the ‘medievalpunk’ world of Reignbreaker. I sat right down to attempt it at Gamescom 2024, and got here away able to play extra.
Studio Fizbin describes Reignbreaker as an “anarchist energy fantasy” led by its rebellious protagonist, Clef. A former youngster soldier, Clef has rebelled towards the system and now fights to infiltrate the Queen’s Bastion, a stronghold guarded by a machine military the place locks management all the pieces, with a purpose to reclaim the facility held by its nefarious ruler. To take action, you’ll wield Javelins, a mix of weapon and lockpick that holds the important thing to unlocking the Bastion’s secrets and techniques – and lays the idea for the roguelike‘s fight.
Every Javelin brings a distinct set of abilities to the battlefield, and also you’ll take two of them with you which you can swap between on the fly. The ultimate quantity isn’t but set in stone, though Fizbin is aiming for “not less than ten.” For my run, I decide up the Gatling Javelin and the Laser Javelin. Clef makes use of her fists for the essential assault combo, however then you possibly can use the Javelins’ distinctive abilities for extra highly effective maneuvers. Every of them has an overheat meter that fills as you assault – it’ll consistently drop again down over time, however if you happen to cap it out you’ll be unable to make use of the Javelin till it cools utterly.
Every Javelin has a regular ability, a positioned ability, and will be thrown. The Laser Javelin has a pleasant round spin assault on it, or you possibly can stick it within the floor and it’ll ship constant pulses of injury in an space round it (helpfully, utilizing this doesn’t forestall you from persevering with to assault usually). The Gatling Javelin, in the meantime, fires off a spherical of photographs with its regular assault or sends out longer-ranged, turret-style bursts when positioned down.
Every additionally has a novel impact after you hurl it at a goal, and these numerous abilities are after all amplified as you unlock extra modifiers. From the design of the world I’m exploring, I can inform it’s the territory of a specific warden often called the Spearmaster. The rewards for succeeding towards her are usually attuned to throwing your Javelin – I take an improve that provides me a bonus for completely timed throws, however might as a substitute have snagged one which gave me an invincible sprint in the course of the toss.
That data might help you form your construct as you progress. As soon as I’m conscious that I’ve throwing-based upgrades in my future, maybe I’ll decide to take bonuses that profit this ability particularly. After all, you too can count on to develop acquainted with the Queen’s wardens and loyalists way more intently as you progress – whereas some can be agency foes, others may soften to you over time, and maybe you’ll even sneak in a bit friendship or flirtation.
Whereas I solely bought a quick hands-on, fight feels strong and the flexibility to hold two weapons without delay is a pleasant trick that lets you actually think about tips on how to greatest deal with every state of affairs. There’s an excellent number of enemies at play right here, and a few can pose specific issues – for instance, a sequence of bell-shaped foes with locks of their our bodies will solely keep down if you happen to run as much as them after dealing sufficient harm and use your Javelin to pop the lock. You’ll additionally encounter loads of traps, each in the course of the enviornment fights and whereas exploring aspect areas in quest of upgrades, new Javelin unlocks, and retailers promoting non permanent buffs that final for a sure variety of fight encounters.
With an growing variety of video games leaping into the motion roguelike area, particularly ones that undertake the core tenets of Hades, we’ll have to attend for the complete launch of Reignbreaker to see whether or not it does sufficient to face out from the pack. With that mentioned, I’m at all times open to new contenders, and my brief time with Reignbreaker actually left me eager to see extra. For now, you possibly can wishlist it on Steam so that you’re notified when it arrives.
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