"A Visual Spectacle with a Few Speed Bumps" - A Review of the Latest Bullet-Hell Adventure
Get ready for a wild ride as we delve into the latest bullet-hell adventure game that promises to be a visual feast for the eyes, but with a few hiccups along the way. The game is a unique blend of fast-paced action and deckbuilding mechanics that might challenge even the most seasoned gamers.
Starting off Easy, Going from Annoying to Easy Again
The game begins with a balanced difficulty level that eases players into the game's mechanics. However, things start to get frustrating in the middle when the enemies become increasingly difficult to defeat with just the basic shot. To make matters worse, the game introduces some new gimmicks such as the infamous submarine and sniper towers that damage you if you linger too long.
It can be especially challenging for players who don't have access to more powerful spells yet. But fear not, near the end of the game, you'll finally start collecting some seriously powerful spells that will make defeating enemies a breeze.
You'll need these spells, though, as the true final boss is a tough nut to crack, so much so that you're given the option of skipping it entirely (but be warned, you'll get a bad ending if you do).
Deckbuilding in a Fast-Paced Bullet-Hell
One of the most subjective aspects of the game is the difficulty level, which will vary greatly depending on each player's skill level. But what is less subjective is the odd inclusion of a deckbuilding system in a fast-paced bullet-hell game.
These two genres are fundamentally incompatible, and the game demands that players pay attention to three things at once: avoiding bullets, aiming at enemies, and managing the cards available. Unfortunately, there is no clear indication near the player character to show what spells you have or how much mana you have to cast them.
All of this information is grouped together in the bottom-right corner of the screen, far away from the action. This makes it literally impossible to pay attention to both the action and the deck at the same time. You'll end up mostly focusing on avoiding bullets, but eventually, you'll need to take your eyes off the action to check your deck, which more often than not ends in your demise.
To make matters worse, the buttons you need to press for each spell constantly change as you cycle through your deck, so you can't even be sure what your buttons do without looking away from the action.
Other Issues to Consider
In addition to the deckbuilding system, the game also has some other issues worth mentioning.
The movement speed is slow and the lack of fast-travel points makes backtracking a chore.
The story is awkward and lacks depth, making the game's setting and lore feel incomplete.
There are frequent opportunities for players to make "moral decisions," but the game suggests that making the good choice will hamper your progress. However, you can just throw money at a machine to make up for it, making the decisions feel meaningless.
Despite all of these issues, the game is still a visually beautiful making it somewhat fun to play and gorgeous to look at. The music is also worth mentioning and really compliments the aesthetics .
The game's fast-paced action is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. However, it's important to keep in mind that not every part of the game is as enjoyable as it probably should be.
Overall it's a decent game but with a difficulty curve and game mechanics that when combined, are going to be very off-putting and frustrating to most players.
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