14 DAY TRIAL // I mix air time with quick attacks to take down enemy fliers, trying to make sure that I have at least half of my stamina left when landing. Dodge away from a big enemy with an axe and pause for a second to take a breath. A special attack and a heavy takes down one of the mob of grunts facing me but I have no potions left as more enemy units pop up on screen and I have one big sub-boss to deal with.
Lost Epic is a video game developed and published by OneOrEight and Team Earthwars. It blends side-scrolling exploration with combat action brawler elements that are inspired by the very popular Dark Souls. The core is the combat, powered by a system built around stamina. A range of attacks, combined with a jump and dodge, offer options. But each combination of enemies and terrain demands attention and quick thinking. Good management of stamina is essential, as is learning the patterns of the enemies, especially the more powerful ones.
The story is intriguing, built around a fight with new gods, which become well-crated end-level bosses. The game also features inventory and character management, level-up mechanics, ways to forge equipment from enemy drops, and other standard role-playing concepts. They work well but do not introduce any major innovations.
Lost Epic is clearly not aiming for a distinct look. The levels themselves are often beautiful but the models for both the player and the enemies do not have a lot of detail and animate in some weird ways, with very floaty moments. There’s also very little in the way of originality, the entire game is built upon an anime foundation with little to make it stand out. The sound design is good in combat and the music is suited to the concept, although it also fails to stand out or to make a clear impact.
Conclusion
The core elements of a good game are present. But players need to know if they really like the theme and the main ideas before jumping in. The presentation is very standard for its genre and the mechanics, while well-executed, don’t feature anything new. For fans of the side-scroller brawler space Lost Epic will be a solid title but it offers little for someone new to it.
Review code provided by the publisher.
