After its successful PC release, Deathless. The Hero Quest launches on console, to much anticipation. In an era of vastly populated roguelites, can this card game stake a claim? Or should this hero have been laid to rest?
A Roguelite With Some Heart
This generation of gaming has become inundated with the roguelite genre. Many developers have tried to capture the addiction, replay value and uniqueness of this genre, to varying results. With so many games now populating this genre, I had my doubts upon seeing the reveal for Deathless. Thankfully, my doubts were mistaken. Without doubt, Deathless is a fantastic roguelite that has a brilliant narrative with unexpected depth and heart, and also a unique twist.
It is set in the land of Belosvet, which lives in constant fear and terror, thanks to the rule of witch Koschey, the Deathless. You play each run as one of four characters based on Slavic folklore: Varvara the Fair, Vasilisa the Wise, Dobrynya and Alyosha. These four characters are the land’s only hope in stopping Koschey and restoring peace and balance to this once beautiful land. What struck me instantly about this tale, is how it employs the From Software approach to storytelling.
In order to fully grasp the story, it takes multiple playthroughs of this relatively short game to piece together every narrative thread. I felt so rewarded discovering more and more of the story by obtaining lore texts and completing my runs. Each character has their own story beats and threads. I found this to be fantastic in uncovering their motivations and desires. Like many roguelites, the story isn’t the main focus of the game but I would argue it is just as important as it hooked me and made me want to complete further runs to uncover the full story. This is a fantasy tale with heart, humour and depth if you want to find it. It really feels like it’s an age old fantasy tale being told around a fire.
A Deck Building Card Playing Blast!
Nowadays, the roguelite genre is in its most lucrative era, as it sits at the forefront of many gamers’ preferences, thanks to hits like Hades and Slay The Spire. You know the drill – death is a way of progression and improvement. Try, fail, learn, succeed. It’s the rewarding gameplay loop, which, when it connects, I simply cannot get enough of. Deathless is no different. This is a roguelite deck builder; in each new run you gain new cards for your deck to use in battle. Everything you expect from a card game appears here; action points control which cards you can use in battle. Stats, buffs and debuffs appear for each character and enemy, along with varying modifiers, depending on the enemy.
Another positive feature is that each of the four playable characters has distinct abilities and playstyles. Therefore, it’s up to you to experiment with each one and find your sweet spot. There isn’t anything particularly new or unique to the gameplay of Deathless, but the gameplay succeeds in what it sets out to do. Each fight feels desperate and intense as you pick and choose the best card for each battle. Fights can reward you with gold, relics (semi-permanent perks) or the chance to meet a merchant to buy new gear. Every fight is your typical back and forth encounter. I particularly love how, after each fight, the game shows you options to choose your path in the style of beautifully rendered choices which look like they come from an old fantasy book.
Some Minor Flaws
One of the biggest draws to deck building roguelites is the ability to build your deck and mould it to your will. Deathless succeeds although, at times, it can feel slightly shallow. The brilliance of Slay The Spire and Balatro is the ability to morph cards to your will and mould the deck into a true powerhouse. Unfortunately, Deathless decided to limit the player’s ability to change the cards and their stats, much to my disappointment. However, the option of two difficulty choices is at least a nice touch. Overall, this is a very satisfying gameplay loop that any card game fan will be able to pick up and enjoy.
A Mixed Bag
Whilst for the most part I adore the visual presentation, one issue sticks in my mind. For the most part this game is breath-taking in its beautifully illustrated characters, enemies and environments. At times I truly felt like I had been transported into a mysterious fantasy world. Menus and UI are beautifully rendered and designed. The console versions have been wonderfully optimised and run extremely smoothly. However, the one issue I have is the game’s animations. These can be ugly and look extremely basic at times and really take you out of the moment in some intense fights. Still, this is a brilliant achievement in presentation by developers 1C Game Studios.
Thankfully, I only have a very small issue with the audio presentation and none whatsoever with the musical score. Audio sounds crisp and powerful during each fight, thus heightening the desperation as each run goes deeper and deeper. The only issue I have is that the lack of voice acting for the characters hurts the delivery of the story. As mentioned, the musical score is absolutely fantastic, as the developers have crafted a wonderful eerie orchestral soundtrack which perfectly encapsulates the fantasy setting. This is a brilliant effort overall for an indie studio in the presentation department.
Verdict
Deathless. The Hero Quest is a fantastic addition to the roguelite genre with an intriguing narrative, strong gameplay loop and gorgeous visuals. Whilst the level of depth in relation to the deck building may not satisfy some hardcore fans of the genre, it’s still a great experience. Sadly, some animations can affect your enjoyment of the game, but for the most part, this is an absolute blast in a great fantasy setting! I am amazed how the roguelite genre continues to grow! Check out the page yourself: Deathless. The Hero Quest
