14 DAY TRIAL // A vampire mansion adds bloodsuckers to all battles within a certain radius. Does this mean it is a good idea to place them somewhere far away, where their impact will only be felt rarely and after some time? Or should I put them somewhere familiar, allowing them to mix with other creatures and offer up some interesting rewards? Should a forgetful hero remember to retreat when facing potential overwhelming attacks or should he stick it out to the bitter end?
Loop Hero is a title created by Four Quarters and published by Devolver Digital, offering up a mix of rogue mechanics, role-playing, and management ideas. The game seems simple but offers a lot of depth and quickly becomes very challenging.
As the name implies all the core mechanics are built around a character that moves around a pre-determined dungeon path. The protagonist encounters enemies (battles are automated) and moves through villages, meadows, cemeteries, and more. Combat offers either equipment, with a variety of stats and abilities, or cards. These the player can choose how to place them inside the level. Each of them can deliver a positive effect, can generate resources, or can create enemies. Some of them also have some hidden effects, which are interesting to discover while playing.
At some point, the hero will die. Any saved resources can then be used to upgrade a village, which grants boosts for the next run. The loop is satisfying and engrossing, with a little bit of story delivered via dialogue. But the mechanics of the game are enough to keep interest up, especially when a run comes close to achieving a particular objective, like taking out a boss or upgrading a particular building.
The Loop Hero concept seems dry and easy initially. But it takes quite a bit of time and thinking to create a layout that makes it easy for the hero to actually win battles, especially once enemies become stronger and gain abilities. The game's presentation is very retro, which fits the theme and mechanics. The music and sound effects are a little underwhelming but the item and tile management remain clear despite the classic look.
Conclusion
The title is very solid despite its Early Access status, with no major bugs or crashes. Loop Hero has the potential to be a very good spin on the classic rogue formula. Developers need to add more options for character development and maybe a few more ways to interact with the world. The presentation can be a reason to avoid the game but the main mechanics make it an addictive, just one more run experience.
