Analysis of Rogue Legacy: A Familiar Endeavor
Strap on your platforming shoes and become a uniquely challenged hero in the wacky indie game, Rogue Legacy. This game's got more than just a taste of the roguelike genre, but instead concocts a delicious mix of familiar roguelike elements, platformer action, and comedic quirks!
A couple weeks ago, we chatted about the nuts and bolts of roguelikes in our Reader's Feature. Rogue Legacy might just be the poster child of these quirky role-playing games, with its dicey DC comics-inspired heroes and fast-paced, head-banging gameplay. Though most roguelikes are identified by their top-down dungeon crawling adventures, they come in all shapes and sizes. Examples like FTL and Tokyo Jungle have dominated our discussion of the genre, but Rogue Legacy is filled to the brim with a charmingly oddball flavor that's all its own.
The retro aesthetic is strong in this one, but no one’s going to mistake Rogue Legacy for a throwback to Atari gaming days. The graphics might not be up to the standards of modern AAA titles, but they're intentional, self-aware, and darn cool. The game plays like an old school Castlevania meets Ghosts ‘N Goblins, but with a couple hidden curveballs. The maps you battle through are procedurally generated, ensuring that no run is exactly the same. Usually, this kind of trick is tough to pull off in 2D platformers, but this game manages to make it work just well enough.
As you slay your way through hoards of demons and skeletons, an RPG flavored mystery brews beneath the surface. You'll carry over your earnings from run to run, allowing you to upgrade your skills, granting you access to blueprints for new weapons, and equipping you with runes for unique abilities. The catch? These upgrades aren't for your current character, but instead for their heir. When you bite the dust, as you inevitably will given the game's difficulty, you take on the role of your offspring. Unfortunately, they can't keep any unspent gold, forcing you to spend it all at once, leaving little room for meticulous planning between runs.
This gold sink can be a double-edged sword compared to other roguelikes, which utterly strip you of all belongings upon death, leaving you penniless and starting from square one. In Rogue Legacy, you're at least left in possession of those nifty skills and abilities you've honed over time.
When you bite the dust, you'll get to choose from three randomized role-playing classes, each with unique abilities and quirks. There's the tried-and-true mage with superior magic abilities, the beefy barbarian packing a serious punch, and the rock-collecting miner. All characters have their own unique skills, quirks, and even spells, adding a layer of randomness to every run.
So, you might find yourself set to conquer the castle with the stealthy prowess of a hyena (yup, they're a class), only to discover that your particular hyena suffers from vertigo, forcing you to play the whole game on its head. Or you might inherit the irksome curse of irritable bowel syndrome, filling the screen with fart clouds that, while visually hilarious, offer no gameplay advantage.
Rogue Legacy is a game that never takes itself too seriously, but the random nature of the character traits adds a whole new dimension of variety to the gameplay. Team that with more direct action and you've got the perfect entry point for roguelike enthusiasts and would-be strategists alike. The 2D platforming here is a treat to play and the controls are as precise and responsive as a Swiss watch, making an unexpected death your own misfortunate fault.
Typically, bosses are a hallmark of roguelikes, showcasing the culmination of a run and offering a satisfying challenge. However, in Rogue Legacy, the bosses are a bit underwhelming, lacking variety and size to set them apart from the minions you've slain on the journey. It's a minor criticism for a game that combines these two genres in such a smashing way, offering not just a great balance of challenge and reward, but an original approach to combat and character development.
If you're not already crossing your fingers, hoping you won't develop hypergonadism when playing this game, perhaps this review should convince you. This year's already brimming with great indie titles, but Rogue Legacy stands out as one of the best. Just don't tell your doctor that you're inheriting a litany of imaginary medical conditions from your in-game descendants.
In a Nutshell:
An ingenious mix of genre staples, Rogue Legacy excels in its delightful blend of rogue-like and platformer elements, backed by strategic depth and a heaping dose of humor.
Pros:
- Lively mashup of roguelike and platformer mechanics creates a genuinely unique gaming experience.
- Unique character traits inject humor and variety into gameplay, keeping every run fresh and exciting.
- Outstanding balance of difficulty and reward, ensuring a satisfyingly challenging yet rewarding adventure.
Cons:
- Bosses lack in variety and interest, serving as bloated obstacles rather than memorable foes.
- Some room for improvement in the randomization of map generation, as connections between rooms aren't always seamless.
- Charmingly limited graphics aren't going to break any showstopping records.
Final Score: 8/10
Formats: PCPrice: £11.99Publisher: Cellar Door GamesDeveloper: Cellar Door GamesRelease Date: 27th June 2013Age Rating: N/A
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Through the amalgamation of roguelike and platformer aspects, the indie game Rogue Legacy provides an enjoyable blend of technology and entertainment.
Besides the thrilling gameplay, the game's distinct humor, achieved through eccentric character traits and quirks, adds an additional layer of entertainment to its engaging gameplay.
