No Rest for the Wicked proves that Early Access titles can be polished and enjoyable from the off. Furthermore, this title highlights the benefits of development experience as the team behind Ori brings their A-game to this genre-defying experience. Though everything isn’t rosy and perfect, it is damn near it in this ever-evolving, ball-breaking fantasy endeavour.
This action RPG was developed by Moon Studios and published by Private Division. Moreover, it has the painful precision of a souls-like and a story that is so captivating that you’ll be disappointed when you stumble into its awe-inspiring conclusion. In short, this is one preview title that impressed me! This game has it all, whether it is the character customisation, interesting quests, methodical combat, or jaw-dropping scenery. However, its tough nature and methodical fighting will put off less battle-hardened gamers. Additionally, weaker gaming rigs will be punished as this requires a surprisingly powerful PC/laptop.
No Rest for the Wicked tells a dramatic tale.
The island of Sacra was a pleasant and quiet place. However, the Pestilence, an unholy plague, runs wild across these lands. Consequently, the church and one of its holy warriors see this as an opportunity to prove itself in the eyes of God. By exploring this once-beautiful place and helping the residents, you will banish the monsters, undermine the Pestilence, and confirm that Madrigal Seline, a ruthlessly ambitious leader, is worthy of her position.
You are a Cerim, a holy warrior endowed with incredible strength and abilities. As your journey evolves, you will grow stronger and develop your skills. It is this classic RPG element that will feel familiar to veteran gamers. Yet, the combination of precision combat and death-inducing souls-like moments will cause you to wince. As you delve deeper into the mire that is Sacra, you will discover special equipment, new weapons, and upgradeable items. Additionally, you may adjust your approach by altering your gear and lightening your load. This sense of variety and character creativity allows gamers to deep-dive every playthrough they experience. Moreover, when the going gets tough, you can adjust your approach to suit any situation.
Save the world in more than one way.
Sacra desperately needs a hero to slay the monsters who dwell within. Yet, they require someone to help them rebuild their crumbling society. Thankfully, you are free to explore either element as you wish. Subsequently, you may help to rebuild Sacrament and benefit in the long term. Alternatively, you may explore the sprawling surroundings whilst searching for treasure and creatures to destroy.
When you blend both of these mechanics, you get a hearty mixture of rewarding gameplay that focuses your mind. As you explore for resources, thwart creatures, and discover secret locations, you put your life on the line. But it is this risk vs reward gameplay that reflects the Diablo/Soulsborne influences that we all know and love.
A taste of things to come.
No Rest for the Wicked currently has around 10 hours of main story quests to enjoy. As you reach the finale, the plot heats up and you crave the next instalment. This wonderful cliffhanger design creates a sense of desire that ensures its player base will come back for more. Additionally, you are free to explore Sacra as much as you wish. With hidden caves and grim dwellings to discover, you will encounter plenty of secrets and new items/resources to grab.
As you venture into the murky but alluring world, you will stumble across an array of disgusting brutes and cruel monsters. Each creature has strengths and weaknesses that must be exploited if you wish to survive. Alongside this, you must understand the power of your weapons and your abilities if you want to manipulate each situation in your favour. This slow and precise combat experience will annoy hack ‘n slash gamers. Moreover, if you do not have patience, then you will struggle with the finer moments.
Alongside the minions, No Rest for the Wicked promises an array of heinous boss battles to test your resolve. In its current state, you enjoy a slither of what will come. Without spoiling anything for you, these encounters require an eye for detail, an impressive hero, and the right level of resources, food, and patience to complete the job.
No Rest for the Wicked is grim but stunning.
Moon Studios’ experience shines through! Their ability to build truly stunning landscapes is put to the test with this isometric title. However, they have excelled themselves as this is a grim but stunning world to explore. Furthermore, every resource node is easy to identify and though navigation isn’t always straightforward, it makes discovering secrets and hidden areas that bit more rewarding. I adored the character customisation and the strange human-like figures. Each person has elongated limbs that make them appear as if they are the missing link. Though this is strange at first, it suits the incredible art style perfectly. Alongside this, I was amazed by the buttery smooth animation.
The audio is dreamy and screams fantasy adventure. The rich mixture of dramatic tunes and upbeat songs fills you with dread and energy in equal measure. Alongside this, the sound effects will make you wince. The crunching melee weaponry is brutal and uncomfortable. Moreover, the shrill sounds of magic and the interesting sound bites punctuate the wonderful exploration elements.
Spectacular controls.
A PC game that puts gamepad controls at the fore is normally frowned upon. Consequently, No Rest for the Wicked will divide its audience. However, I felt free and closer to the action thanks to the incredible controller layout. Alongside this, the superb UI and intuitive inputs help to keep you in command of every combat encounter. If you wish, you can use a mouse and keyboard. Yet, this approach feels more restrictive. Subsequently, I recommend sticking with the gamepad for the ultimate experience.
If you can cope with the brutality, you will discover an expansive world that is a joy to explore. Furthermore, if you enjoy finding hidden locations whilst tackling cruel entities, then this is the game for you. Where this differs from its souls-like cousins, is the lack of enemy respawn. As such, when they are killed, you can safely explore those areas without fear. This was a great choice from the developer as it balances the action RPG and cruel soulsborne elements.
No Rest for the Wicked is a spectacular indie game.
Though No Rest for the Wicked tested me to my limit, I adored every aspect. My only complaint, and I know I’ve left this late, is the inventory management system. With limited space and plenty of resources to gather, you quickly run out of space. When a game demands that you explore every nook and cranny, you expect it to be much better. However, I’m sure the developers will adjust this mechanic and improve the game further.
Despite this issue, the rest of the action is fantastic! I cherished the brutal and precise combat, the varied weapons, and how balanced the gameplay is. The boss encounters are tough and will test your knowledge, patience, and skills. Moreover, the world is such a joy to explore. Accordingly, I love it and I recommend buying it here! Will you become a hero and save the day? Grab a weapon, explore the world, and banish the Pestilence.
