14 DAY TRIAL // I am surrounded, which is always a bad place to be in any kind of Souls-like experience. I’ve come to this new area and, after an ominous message from an unseen voice, was promptly attacked by a host of small but blocky enemies. I dodged a few strikes, landed a few blows, and then the group managed to overwhelm my hero.
As always, he reappears at the nearest tether, which is basically a bonfire. I race back to my place of death, make sure to recuperate my memories and engage in battle again. I do better this time, heal when the need arises, and use my special abilities to gain an advantage.
I push a little farther into the level and attempt a backstab attack against a bigger opponent. I land it but his massive sword and long reach, coupled with an environment that limits my maneuvering ability, means he kills me pretty quickly. I’m back at the tether and consider how I might tweak my equipment and approach. These Minecraft-themed goons can’t get the better of me for much longer.
The Last Hero of Nostalgaia – The Rise of Evil DLC is developed by Over the Moon Games and published by Coatsink. This is the first downloadable content pack for the game and expands the world of the third-person action title with two new areas to battle through. The base game is now also offered on the Nintendo Switch and the PlayStation 5.
The new content includes two new areas for players to move through, both with unique enemies, a clear visual identity, more equipment, and extra lore. Because this is a game inspired by From Software titles, there are also bosses, deviously designed to challenge gamers in new ways.
The core mechanics of The Last Hero of Nostalgaia are unchanged. The player’s avatar explores a world inspired by video games and there are plenty of enemies ready to strike. To eliminate them, gamers have to learn their patterns, avoid incoming damage, and attack only when the time is right. Bosses bump up the difficulty while tethers allow players to rest, refill their flask and improve stats.
Stamina management is important, especially against groups. Always keep some in reserve if possible. A variety of builds are possible, although most players will be well served by a focus on mobility. All the mechanics of the Souls-like space are present and executed well.
The Last Hero of Nostalgaia allows players to invite others to their game, which is a good idea given the difficulty level. Try to bring in a friend who has played the game recently and can actually contribute during the big battles.
The Rise of Evil does not tweak the title’s presentation much. There are two large new areas to explore, which integrate well with the rest of the world. The Last Hero of Nostalgaia is designed to be taken semi-seriously and the environment is most a battlespace, with a limited sense of place. Enemies and bosses draw inspiration from popular video game franchises. The sound design will also be familiar to players or the main game.
Conclusion
The challenge level in the DLC is even higher than in the base game and should satisfy any fan of the Souls-like genre. The Rise of Evil doesn’t have any major innovations and doesn’t tweak the core elements of the game’s genre but it will give fans of The Last of Nostalgaia a chance to spend more time in the game’s universe.
A review key was provided by the publisher
