Evil warlocks are always causing trouble in fantasy worlds, but luckily in the realm of video games, a band of heroes is always ready to throw down against hordes of undead minions to save the world. That is just what players will have to do in The Slormancer, a brand new action-RPG that pits players against the eponymous villain, an evil warlock from the past who must be thwarted by three brave heroes in this humorous and colorful 2D top-down game.
Developed by aptly named Slormite Studios, The Slormancer is an exciting dungeon crawler full of loot drops, fast-paced gameplay and interesting mechanics that help it stand out among the massive indie scene. By delivering bullet-hell-like gameplay, a colorful art style and copious amounts of humor, The Slormancer is a no-brainer for action fans looking for a challenging experience.
The Slormancer's story is billed as an irrational tale where the heroes are born as complete nobodies. Despite their humble upbringings, the protagonists will have to take on the mysterious Slormancer and his undead army of silly monsters and save the world. It's a decidedly gameplay-focused affair, but one that's injected with a refreshing lighthearted tone and entertaining characters.
Gameplay is at the heart of The Slormancer experience, and it does not disappoint with its distinct focus on high-octane action. Players can choose one of three heroes to try and take down the evil Slormancer: the Knight, the Huntress and the Mage. These classic archetypes allow players to choose between a melee, ranged and magic-focused character respectively, which provides a solid base for the game's mechanics. Dubbed the "Slorm Reapers," each hero can traverse the game's dungeons, collecting powerful loot and dispatching enemies. The Slormancer features over 120 weapons to collect, including some that are one-of-a-kind and ultra-powerful.
Players can also upgrade the loot they find, along with unlocking powerful skills that will aid in the tense action. On top of this, The Slormancer also features an Ancestral Skill Tree, where players can choose to inherit skills from ancestors, much like in the lauded Rogue Legacy. There are over 150 skills to choose from. The deep level of customization available to each character makes The Slormancer a treat for fans of stat-based experimentation inside of an action game shell.
As for the action aspect of this action-RPG, The Slormancer piles it on thick, at times resembling a top-down shoot 'em up with the number of attacks coming at the player. Enemies are everywhere and constantly attacking from every angle. Players will have to keep moving and use correct timing and positioning to survive no matter what strong build they may create for their hero. This marriage of RPG mechanics with exciting gameplay really makes The Slormancer a fun and unique experience.
Visually, The Slormancer instantly brings to mind many popular top-down roguelikes like Enter the Gungeon and Nuclear Throne. However, The Slormancer differentiates itself with its use of eye-popping color and detailed pixel-art that permeates its medieval and gothic-based environments. Players will fight through atmospheric spooky courtyards full of gargoyles into well-lit libraries full of books -- and a smattering of enemies, of course.
Furthermore, the sheer amount of enemies that can populate the screen, all flinging colorful spells and projectiles at the player, make The Slormancer a rather visually interesting experience. Enemies are varied and well-designed, with all manner of plague doctors, skeletons and more exotic affair like fire elementals attacking the player. The Slormancer succeeds in recreating the kind of pixel-art nostalgic retro feeling that many players love these days. The game really looks and plays the way many gamers remember Super NES games looking and playing.
Ultimately, by combining solid gameplay, deep customization and a humorous pixel-art world, The Slormancer succeeds in delivering a great experience for fans of action-RPGs. The game is currently available on Steam in early access, though the two-person development team says it may take around two years for the final version to be released -- which is all the more reason for players who want to save the world and have a blast while doing so to jump in now.
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