Loot River
- May 3, 2022
- straka.studio
- 6h median play time
Loot River offers a challenge for the most sadistic of players. While the combat elements are enjoyable and the moving platforms give it a new spin that really works, I just always felt cheated with the lack of progress I was making.
Get on SteamAwake as a lone traveler in the mysterious, perilous world of Loot River. Befriend Iphis. Fight. Reach the Opulent Sanctum. Control the world beneath your feet. Cleanse the infinite universe plagued with the power of the relic. Be reborn upon your death. Grant the gift of eternal death to countless tortured souls or abandon your duty and attempt to escape the impenetrable keep. Master many …
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Innovative mechanics with moving platforms that add a unique twist to combat and exploration.
- Beautiful pixel art and atmospheric design that enhances the overall experience.
- Engaging gameplay loop that encourages players to experiment with different strategies and playstyles.
- Combat feels clunky and unresponsive, with issues like inconsistent hit detection and awkward animations.
- Balancing issues, particularly with certain items and abilities that trivialize progression.
- Lack of meaningful meta-progression, as resources do not carry over between runs, making it feel unrewarding.
- gameplay180 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title features innovative mechanics, particularly the movable platforms that add a unique twist to combat and exploration, creating engaging puzzle-like encounters. However, many players noted issues with the core gameplay loop, including clunky controls, inconsistent mechanics, and a lack of meaningful progression, which can lead to frustration. While the game has potential and offers a visually appealing experience, it requires further refinement to fully realize its engaging concepts.
“Lots of playstyles, fast or slow, diverse weapons, and above all else a very fun gameplay loop.”
“The tetris-like mechanics of moving platforms in both combat and puzzles build up to a fantastic feeling while playing.”
“A fun and different take on the rogue-lite genre with an interesting puzzle platform mechanic.”
“Unfortunately, the basic movement and combat mechanics feel unpolished, resulting in clunkiness, inconsistency, and unpredictability that often lead to frustration rather than the punishing-but-fair challenge the developers are aiming for.”
“The combat is fine, but what's broken is the absolutely atrocious roguelike mechanics on which the game is predicated.”
“I've been playing Dark Souls and roguelikes/lites for as long as I can remember, and I'm no slouch when it comes to these games, but Loot River just doesn't give you that feeling of satisfaction since it feels like you either cheese the game or die to unfair enemy attacks and gameplay jank.”
- graphics56 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique art style and beautiful visuals, creating a captivating atmosphere. However, many players find the visuals can hinder gameplay, making it difficult to focus on characters and enemies during combat, which detracts from the overall experience. While the aesthetic appeal is strong, the lack of clarity in the graphics can lead to frustration, especially in fast-paced scenarios.
“Absolutely beautiful graphics.”
“Pixel art graphics are very well done.”
“Fantastic soundtrack, gorgeous visuals, solid gameplay.”
“The game has its unique art style at a glance, but it can be hard to focus in on your tiny character and what the nearest enemy is doing.”
“The art style is made by someone talented but makes it very hard to see what's going on, especially in a game like this that requires fast instincts and correct timing and movement.”
“However, even when you get down to one-on-one encounters, the graphics and associated animations don't convey enough information to inform what the enemies are doing.”
- story26 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it uninteresting and lacking major progression between runs, while others appreciate its intriguing elements and compelling world-building. The integration of dying into the narrative is praised, and the cryptic storytelling style draws comparisons to games like Hyper Light Drifter and Blasphemous. Overall, while the main focus is on combat, the story adds an enticing layer to the gameplay experience.
“On top of all that, the story is very intriguing.”
“I haven't finished it yet but I really want to; they've done a great job integrating dying into the story, and the worldbuilding is very compelling.”
“I liked the world-building and the hints at the plot dropped as you progress along.”
“The structure is kind of weird; it's a sort of roguelite like Hades where you get stronger between runs, and like Hades, dying a bunch is part of the story.”
“Although there's a small plot, don't expect it to be lavish; the main focus is the combat.”
“For example, there is no major story progression between runs like there is in Hades.”
- stability20 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game exhibits a range of bugs, including issues with hit detection, input processing, and AI glitches, which can lead to humorous moments like walking on water. However, these bugs are generally minor and do not significantly detract from the overall gameplay experience, allowing players to enjoy the game despite its instability.
“Game is buggy right off the bat.”
“While there are a fair bit of glitches and annoying bugs, they don't ruin runs or anything.”
“However, it is a bit buggy so be warned.”
- music16 mentions
- 88 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its epic and engaging quality, contributing to a poetical atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, describing it as "bangin'" and "fantastic," with many expressing a desire to purchase it separately. Overall, the combination of impressive visuals and solid gameplay, paired with the captivating music, makes for a highly enjoyable roguelike experience.
“A nice roguelike with a stunning pixel look and an epic soundtrack creating a poetical atmosphere with a really interesting playstyle somewhere between a top-down Dark Souls and shifting 'Tetris' platforms.”
“Fantastic soundtrack, gorgeous visuals, solid gameplay.”
“This is a really fun game and the soundtrack is amazing.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, featuring stunning pixel art and an epic soundtrack that together create a poetic and immersive experience. Reviewers note its unique blend of mechanics reminiscent of both Dark Souls and Tetris, making it a compelling choice for players seeking a novel vibe. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a significant highlight, warranting exploration despite potential updates.
“The artwork and atmosphere are fantastic, and it's worth at least trying this game out for the vibe and novelty of the mechanics.”
“A nice roguelike with a stunning pixel look and an epic soundtrack creating a poetical atmosphere with a really interesting playstyle somewhere between a top-down Dark Souls and shifting 'Tetris' platforms.”
“If you're on the fence, I would say wait and see what more updates will bring, but I still think this game is worth checking out for its unique movement system, souls-like feel, atmosphere, and visual style.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players have mixed feelings about the grinding aspect of the game; while some appreciate the variety of weapons, spells, and abilities that can be unlocked through repeated runs, others find the process tedious and lacking in meaningful incentives. The introduction of unique abilities can enhance gameplay, but the overall experience may still feel frustrating for those who dislike grinding.
“Yes, subsequent runs of Loot River can easily become tedious, and there isn't any incentive to do so besides grinding knowledge to expand your arsenal.”
“Some players may enjoy this, but I found it sadly tedious and frustrating.”
“Abilities such as creating temporary platforms that will decay over time or charging the platform you are standing on so you can do some crash course to knock enemies off will vastly breathe new air into the tedious runs.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game offers notable replayability, primarily attributed to its engaging loop system, which encourages players to revisit the experience. Additionally, the appealing music and innovative concepts further enhance its replay value.
“Nice music, cool concepts, good replayability.”
“It's got some replay value due to how the game's loop system is.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by occasional bugs that lead to amusing situations, such as players walking on water or encountering quirky hitboxes for enemies. While these moments can be entertaining, they are infrequent and do not significantly impact the overall gameplay experience.
“The game can be a bit buggy at times, such as becoming Jesus and walking on water or having the enemies with funny hit boxes, but those rarely happen and don't really affect the game much.”
