Developer Coronary heart Machine has been busy.
Following the launch of Hyper Mild Breaker, the successor to Hyper Mild Drifter, they’ve additionally been exhausting at work on Possessor(s), which is described as a “fast-paced motion facet scroller.” In actuality, it is a hybrid between old-school facet scrollers, Metroidvanias, and sure, Soulslike titles.
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There is not any scarcity of Soulslike video games within the indie world. If I had a greenback for each Soulslike that exists, I might be capable to purchase Elden Ring: Tarnished Version for the Nintendo Change 2.
It is a standard style for a purpose: the video games are well-crafted, difficult, and profitable. From Hole Knight to 9 Sols, and all the things in between, Possessor(s) enters a crowded house.
Fortunately, Coronary heart Machine has the pedigree to drag it off. After spending roughly an hour or so with the sport, there’s quite a lot of promise right here. All of it will depend on whether or not they can observe by and stand out from their friends.
A Deal With The Satan
Possessor(s) begins in a fairly horrifying method. You play as Luca, a woman who lives in a megacity that has skilled mass destruction. Luca is not any stranger to this terror, as she’s misplaced each of her legs and is within the technique of bleeding out.
The sport begins as she crawls in the direction of a demon named Reth, who needs to make her a deal: she will get her legs again as long as she helps this mischievous man out with a job. We do not have a selection, so it is time to make a cope with a demon.
Then we turn into a demon ourselves and get possessed by Rehm. I suppose we’re caught with this man, so we would higher do what he says. We’re given hints at each characters’ backstories by reliving recollections of each Luca and Rehm. There are some important moments right here that assist flesh the characters out. Sadly, they have been fairly restricted of their scope, given the demo lasts roughly 30–40 minutes.
The Gameplay Feels Very Acquainted
In the event you’ve ever performed an indie Metroidvania Soulslike earlier than, then Possessor(s) is like using a motorcycle.
Gameplay consists of exploring a 2D labyrinth-like world. Selecting up upgrades, reminiscent of a grappling hook or a parry, provides you with entry to new areas that allow you to progress and full your duties. There is a good mixture of platforming alongside the fight to assist preserve issues recent, although the platforming feels somewhat naked bones to this point.
Exploration feels fleshed out and pure. There is not any must seek for any secret passages it’s possible you’ll miss at first look. Moreover, backtracking was by no means a problem. In a single case, I needed to dive deep down right into a basement to select up an improve and unlock a door.
Fortunately, an elevator was ready for me to deliver me again to stated door. It is all the time good when these video games respect my time, as a result of there’s nothing extra irritating than having to backtrack by 5 to 10 minutes of the sport to maintain progressing ahead.
I did get to expertise one boss battle, and it delivered. It is a quick, frantic battle that examined my reflexes and talents with out being too overly tough. It is nonetheless a problem, however you will not die a number of instances over in the event you perceive the core mechanics at play right here.
It was good to see that makes an attempt to cheese the struggle, reminiscent of repeatedly dodging, weren’t overly efficient. I am excited to see how different boss battles can observe swimsuit.
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A Attractive Trying Recreation
From the beginning, Possessor(s) does not try to cover its sense of fashion. The graphics are vibrant, vibrant, and slick, but additionally convey a way of darkness and despair. It matches nicely with the sport’s subdued soundtrack.
Given the grim nature of the sport’s story, the presentation pairs completely with the narrative. We’re attempting to recuperate from a horrific accident, uncovering the mysteries of town we thought we knew so nicely. There are quite a lot of good touches at play right here.
The darkish, dreary setting of a mega-corp’s basement makes you’re feeling such as you’re exploring locations you should not be in. The extremely vibrant mild from the interdimensional rift that tore town aside. Darkish, metropolis streets lit by streetlights within the rain. It is all extremely atmospheric and does an amazing job of emphasizing the temper we ought to be feeling.
There is a particular sense of surprise inside Possessor(s) that encourages me to discover and progress, however the story and characters must uphold their finish of the discount. After enjoying by the demo a number of instances, it is simply my greatest concern.
The Writing Does not Give Me A lot Optimism Proper Now
In contrast to Hyper Mild Drifter, there’s a big emphasis on story in Possessor(s). The fixed dialogue between Luca and Reth is a significant focus of the sport, with Luca being somewhat on the naive facet and Reth prepared to indicate Luca how the world actually works.
Naturally, Luca is not too happy that Reth has possessed her physique. Towards the backdrop of extra critical story components, the bickering between Luca and Reth was entrance and middle through the demo. The problem right here is not essentially the backwards and forwards, however the way it was portrayed. The writing felt juvenile, with insults I hadn’t heard since highschool being thrown round. Maybe it matches inside Luca’s character to speak this fashion, but it surely feels extremely jarring.
I can already inform there can be some hard-hitting, emotional moments ready for me in Possessor(s). Because of this, the standard of the writing wants to satisfy these moments. Up to now, I am not precisely assured that would be the case.
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Whereas I did not get an opportunity to completely discover upgrading my skills and introducing affixes to my weapons, I did get a bite-sized style of how that system works.
Each time you kill an enemy, you will acquire Chroma. It is the sport’s principal forex. Consider it just like, nicely, Souls. In the event you die, you will lose all of your Chroma, however in the event you return to the scene of your demise with out perishing, you may acquire all of them again. Sound acquainted? You are additionally capable of retailer them within the occasion you are headed someplace dangerous.
The Chroma, together with choose different objects out there, helps you to improve Luca to turn into stronger. In Metroidvania trend, there may be additionally a bunch of skills ready to be found as you discover the world. This contains important skills such because the grapple hook and parrying, in addition to affixes to go onto your weapons. It is a good stability between the Soulslike and Metroidvania designs that helps tie issues collectively.
It is clear that Coronary heart Machine is taking inspiration from each genres, even all the way down to the “bonfires” that exist in sport. I am excited to see how deep these methods go. If Coronary heart Machine can pull it off nicely, we’ll be in enterprise.
I consider Possessor(s) has the potential to turn into one other nice indie title from Coronary heart Machine, but it surely must observe by and execute. Whereas my time with the sport to this point has been restricted, there’s loads to take pleasure in, particularly the sport’s fight and Metroidvania-style exploration.
The writing, nevertheless, must observe by. As is, it breaks any sense of immersion the sport creates, and has me preferring to skip the dialogue and get again to the motion. I hope that after I dive deeper into the world of Possessor(s), I proceed to love what I see.
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