Death's Gambit: Afterlife
- September 30, 2021
- White Rabbit Interactive
Originally released on PS4 and PC in 2014, developer White Rabbit could have just simply ported Death’s Gambit to Switch and have been done with it.
The promise of immortality lies at the heart of Siradon. As Death's right hand, challenge the undying guardians of the realm and endure the eternal struggle to purge their souls. Death's Gambit: Afterlife is the new and expanded edition of the original hardcore 2D RPG action platformer. Master the precise combat, utilizing a wide variety of weapons and abilities to confront the horrors that lurk …
Reviews
- Beautiful pixel art and solid music enhance the overall experience.
- Engaging gameplay with a mix of Metroidvania and Souls-like mechanics, providing a fun challenge.
- Offers a variety of classes and abilities, encouraging exploration and replayability.
- The game is relatively short, with some players completing it in 10-15 hours.
- Character controls can feel clunky and unresponsive at times.
- The story may feel weak or drag on, detracting from the overall experience.
- gameplay4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as a standard metroidvania infused with mechanics reminiscent of the Souls series, featuring familiar elements like dashing, sliding, and double jumping. While players find the gameplay enjoyable, opinions on the story are less favorable.
“Fun gameplay.”
“Your standard metroidvania with mechanics from the Souls series.”
“All the standard mechanics are here: dash, slide, double jump.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics are characterized by a pixelated art style that resonates well with fans of indie and old-school games. Reviewers appreciate the smooth gameplay and the overall execution of the visual design, highlighting its charm and alignment with genre expectations.
“I really love indie and old school games; the art style and gameplay are really well done and very smooth.”
“Love the art style and gameplay.”
“The graphics are pixelated and likely in line with what you expect.”
- story3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The story received mixed reviews, with some players finding it weaker yet serviceable, while others appreciated the rich and detailed themes and environment that complemented the gameplay. Overall, the narrative aspect seems to be less impactful compared to other elements of the game.
“The music, story themes, and environment are very rich and detailed.”
“I feel the story is kind of weak, but serviceable.”
“The plot twists were predictable and lacked any real impact.”
“The characters were one-dimensional and failed to evoke any emotional connection.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its solid quality and tight integration with the gameplay, enhancing the rich and detailed story themes and environment.
“The music, story themes, and environment are very rich and detailed.”
“Music is very solid and the controls are tight.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a unique blend of humor and charming characters set against a dark backdrop, which some players may find jarring and potentially disruptive to the overall tone.
“The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into a beautifully crafted world that feels alive.”
“The combination of haunting music and stunning visuals creates a captivating ambiance that keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
“Every corner of the game is filled with intricate details that enhance the overall atmosphere, making exploration a delight.”
“Surprisingly, there is a lot of humor and cute characters woven into the dark world. I like this, but some players are likely to complain about the break in atmosphere.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a surprising blend of humor and charming characters set against a dark backdrop, which some players appreciate, while others may find it disrupts the overall atmosphere.
“Surprisingly, there is a lot of humor and cute characters woven into the dark world. I like this, but some players are likely to complain about the break in atmosphere.”
Critic Reviews
Death’s Gambit: Afterlife Review
If you enjoy the 2D action platformer structure mixed with a heavy dose of Dark Souls, then you’ll love Death’s Gambit: Afterlife. It’s a bigger game than the original and certainly a deeper/richer experience.
85%Death’s Gambit: Afterlife Review
Originally released on PS4 and PC in 2014, developer White Rabbit could have just simply ported Death’s Gambit to Switch and have been done with it.
90%Death’s Gambit: Afterlife Review
In terms of content, Death's Gambit justifies a purchase, especially now with Death's Gambit: Afterlife, and the new stuff that it has added, along with some refining here and there. Having said that, this is probably a big, nicely designed, fun… ok. It's an ok blend of the exploration found in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, served along a combat philosophy, and an overall vibe that takes its cue from Dark Souls. Nothing is bad, but nothing is great either. Ok. Fans of either "genres" can find better metroidvania/soulslike cocktails nowadays.
60%
