Skeletons are the bane of your existence in video games. Always coming to life and attacking you once you solely have a stage 1 sword, they’re pests actually. So with a title like Skelattack, it could be simple to imagine that you will hack and slash your approach via a horde of the ivory warriors, however don’t be fooled. This game has methods up its sleeve not solely in how a lot it should make your curse at your tv through its gameplay but additionally in its deeply layered lore.
In Skelattack you play as Skully, one of many many skeletons that stay in Aftervale, who should come to phrases along with your existence as a member of the deceased inhabitants. At the core of the game is a twist on the dungeon-crawler/fantasy style, positioning you, the lowly skeleton enemy with a sword, as the principle hero towards people invading your world. You should leap, slash, and attempt to not flip right into a pile of bones, which you’ll do typically.
And that’s what makes the inspiration of Skelattack so compelling. The coronary heart of this game’s narrative is an attention-grabbing flip on numerous video game tropes and Ukuza, Inc. has accomplished its finest to layer it with little story beats and deviations that play with what you recognize. How many instances have you ever destroyed a strolling skeleton in a Skyrim dungeon? Over 1,000? This time the skeleton fights again with equal footing and it’s a hoot to observe. In addition, the game has an exquisite artwork fashion and hand-drawn aesthetic that works extraordinarily properly.
The downside in fact is that that is all largely window dressing for the precise game, a hook to maintain you invested within the gameplay, and I’ll admit that labored on me — no less than till the gameplay itself pissed off me into oblivion. Described as an motion platformer, although clearly with some severe Metroidvania tendencies, the game will throw you throughout dungeons and landscapes the place the problem varies from room to room. You would possibly get caught in a single space for 20 strong minutes after which clear the subsequent three with no bother in any respect.
It definitely looks as if the intention of the developer is that your character is straightforward to kill. After all, you’re enjoying as a personality that might be the simplest goal in some other game, however that doesn’t make dying 60 instances throughout one room any much less annoying. The excellent news is that the game can also be designed to encourage repeat try as flames throughout every room provide you with new spawn factors and there really isn’t any restrict on what number of instances you may die and preserve going. That’s a brilliant spot, but it surely doesn’t make up for the tiniest level of an space turning into lethal and completely annihilating you thrice in a row.
Despite being discouraged whereas enjoying the game, after some reflection away from the controller I actually do like Skelattack. Frankly the, ahem, bones of its construction are the first promoting level for me, however I feel that mighty basis finally ends up being a launchpad for one thing that doesn’t all the time work. Is elements and designs are fairly clear, however its inconsistent problem doesn’t all the time include a sense of accomplishment or mandatory rewards.
In any occasion, Skelattack is a great-looking, albeit fully irritating game that may certainly delight and infuriate of us. Even although I tossed my controller apart greater than as soon as in my playthrough, I can’t assist however really feel the attract to attempt once more. I do know I’m going to grunt and moan the whole time, however the look and lore of this game are an excessive amount of to disregard regardless of my complaints.
Rating: three out of 5
Skelattack is now out there on Nintendo Switch, Steam, Xbox One, and Playstation 4. A PlayStation four overview code was offered by the writer for the aim of this overview, and it was reviewed on a base mannequin PS4.
