Leif’s Adventure: Netherworld Hero is a 2-D action adventure video game developed by OneManOnMars Art & Games with an art style reminiscent of the good old days of classic video games. Even though it has the looks of a classic action adventure side-scrolling video game, is it worth the time? Can players enjoy this adventure or is this 2-D game something to avoid entirely? Let’s look at Leif’s Adventure: Netherworld Hero!
Leif’s Adventure
You play as Leif, the young son of a village chief. Leif is the youngest son of his father and mother. His brother, Ragner, is the main hero of their village. Ragner is basically the golden boy of the family. This puts Leif in a position below his brother and makes everyone in the village question him when it comes to his bravery. Leif is an interesting character because of this and it makes the story of Leif’s Adventure: Netherworld Hero stronger for it. Leif wants to prove that he is stronger than his brother and show that he is a capable fighter in his own right, no matter what anybody else thinks. Anyone with a sibling can feel some sympathy for Leif. Adds a lot of realism to his character and makes him more relatable. Very strong for an action 2-D game.
Leif meets others from different dimensions throughout his adventure to protect his people. The most important is this ghost that you encounter. Leif’s ghost guide is the most important as he accompanies Leif. The ghost guide’s dialogue is a bit too much at times. It really tries hard to be funny but fails. This is personal preference. If you are into dumb, cliché dad jokes, then you are in for a good time. The themes of friendship and bravery take center stage in Leif’s Adventure and they are very good. The plot is strong and emotional sometimes. It really took me by surprise by how invested I was in the story. While not every character is memorable or deep, Leif’s journey to become a brave and strong fighter for his people is a joy to witness. The gameplay, however.
Clunky And Frustrating
The gameplay of Leif’s Adventure is very simple. It is a side-scroller, so all you have to do is move forward and kill any enemies in your way. You can access a wide variety of weapons from swords to hammers, to take down your foes. Each weapon has different attributes and range in damage. These weapons can be obtained from merchants or picked up from fallen enemies. Choosing the right weapons is essential as enemies have different weaknesses to exploit. Weapons can also be broken so it is important to look after them. There isn’t a wide variety of enemy types. It can become repetitive to fight some of the same monsters over and over again.
The biggest problem Leif’s Adventure has is its combat. It is clunky. Sometimes when attacking enemies it may not register attacks or even have a delay when swinging your sword. There were times when an enemy wasn’t facing me and it somehow hit me and took some health or even killed me. It became frustrating as the game went on. There isn’t much to the combat in the game and it can become boring and frustrating over time. Despite being an action game, the action is unfortunately average, sometimes bordering on bad.
The boss fights are fun, if a bit frustrating. They are big and take a lot of damage to put down. Another gameplay mechanic to mention is the ghost guide. Leif can use the ghost to access moving lifts to access higher areas and to make some enemies vulnerable. In the boss fights though, the ghost guide becomes a problem. It is hard to keep track of everything when using the ghost. When using him, you can’t move as Leif and you must use the ghost’s pulse to destroy vines or create bridges to attack bosses. It can lead to deaths and frustration. The camera itself at times seems to have a hard time keeping up, especially when using the ghost guide. The combat really holds this game back.
Exploration
The map of Leif’s Adventure is really big and there is a lot to explore and discover. It is recommended to explore as often as you can. Players can find loot, treasures, and even powerful weapons. There is a vast world out there and you can even find lots of side characters that will give you a side mission for lucrative rewards. Exploration is excellent in this game and the art style really sells it as the world is beautiful to look at. The map is incredibly detailed. You can easily get lost in this world.
Verdict
Leif’s Adventure: Netherworld Hero isn’t a bad game. It’s just above average. The story and Leif’s journey is very good and emotional. As a sibling, I understand his character and it makes him relatable. The themes of bravery and friendship are powerful and makes the game worth playing through. Exploring the map is fun and rewarding and the art style makes the world incredibly beautiful to explore. But the clunky combat, ghost guide mechanic and even camera at times can make the adventure tedious and frustrating. If you are into 2-D action games, it can be worth trying out but there are better alternatives out there.
