Malevolence: The Sword of Ahkranox
- April 8, 2019
- Visual Outbreak
- 12h median play time
Get on SteamMalevolence: The Sword of Ahkranox is a first-person, turn-based roguelike game set in an infinite dream-world, where you play as a sentient sword protecting the realm from shadows. Inspired by classic RPGs, the game features infinite loot, quests, and possibilities, with a steep learning curve and no hand-holding. Your character starts as a scavenger, and success must be earned through patience and determination.
Reviews
- The game offers an infinite procedurally generated world, providing endless exploration opportunities and a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic RPGs.
- Gameplay is challenging and requires strategic thinking, making each level-up feel rewarding and engaging for players who enjoy old-school dungeon crawlers.
- The developer is dedicated to ongoing updates and improvements, showing potential for future expansions and enhancements to the game.
- The game suffers from long loading times and repetitive dungeon designs, leading to a monotonous experience as many areas feel similar.
- Graphics are outdated and lack polish, which may deter players who expect modern visuals from a 2022 release.
- The game has been criticized for its lack of variety in monsters and quests, as well as unclear character stats and mechanics, making it difficult for players to fully engage with the gameplay.
- graphics18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have been widely criticized for being outdated, often compared to early 2000s PC titles and lacking variety in design. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and gameplay, many agree that the visuals are not a strong point and may deter those seeking modern graphical fidelity. Overall, the graphics are described as clunky and simplistic, but they do not overshadow the engaging gameplay experience.
“Do beware as the graphics and other things are outdated but that shouldn't matter too much if you dig it.”
“Purchase this if you want to re-live the RPGs of yesteryear including graphics and difficulty.”
“Graphics: not state of the art by any means, but stay true to what exactly the developers are trying to achieve with this game.”
“Do not buy this if you think graphics make a game because the textures look like a PC game from the early 2000s.”
“Warning though... the graphics are terrible.”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a nostalgic blend of classic turn-based RPG mechanics reminiscent of 90s titles, featuring dungeon exploration, loot collection, and strategic combat. While it offers an infinite procedurally generated world and engaging mechanics, players note that it can be repetitive and rough around the edges, with some wishing for more depth and polish. Overall, it appeals to fans of blobber games but may frustrate those seeking a more refined experience.
“If you like blobber games where you delve into dungeons, look for loot while avoiding and disarming traps, fight monsters turn-based and have to think a little and ration your potion supplies, and want an infinite gameplay version of that, this game is for you.”
“Infinite procedurally generated world, classic CRPG gameplay, dark basic :D hell yeah, sign me up.”
“Gameplay is or will be a mix from Might and Magic turn-based RPGs like MM3 and Daggerfall (The Elder Scrolls 2).”
“The game is not vast and filled with different mechanics and build abilities like some rogue-like games such as Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup.”
“It's got a lot to offer and a rarely done style of gameplay, but in its current state is incredibly rough around the edges, pretty much all over, but it'll give you quite a lot of enjoyment if you don't mind the general wonkiness it has, and given plenty of polish could be something absolutely wonderful.”
“They sacrificed many potential gameplay options in order to pay homage to the 90s era for RPGs.”
- story7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as lacking depth and variety, with quests primarily revolving around simple objectives like defeating enemies or exploring dungeons. While the procedural generation offers some engagement, the absence of guild quests and crafting, along with shallow quest design, detracts from the overall narrative experience. Despite these shortcomings, players may find the gameplay addictive, even if the story itself is not particularly rich or compelling.
“I was looking for procedural, medieval roguelikes with a story, and I found this.”
“Now this isn't graphically superior or story-rich, but it is definitely engaging and will keep one playing a lifetime if they wish.”
“The quests are shallow, really just go find this dungeon, which is not easy in this vast world, kill a certain amount of X creatures or the big bad boss.”
“The game suffers from a lack of monster variety, and the randomly generated quests need more variety as well.”
“You play as a single character, which I usually don't like in an RPG, and take various quests to gain prestige, power, and the ability to purchase greater goodies.”
- music7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the sound quality and atmospheric pieces, particularly during loading screens, others express frustration over the inability to adjust volume or turn it off. Overall, the music has grown on some users, enhancing their gaming experience despite initial concerns about its repetitiveness and long load times.
“I like the sounds and the music.”
“Sound: fantastic music; especially the piece in the loading screens while waiting to enter towns.”
“Also of note is the music which sets the mood for the game.”
“Now I will not talk about the music, which cannot be turned off nor can you reduce the volume!”
“Sound and music... decent, no better.”
“There are long load times, and there's a music jingle that plays if you enter a town. Only once it actually ends can you play again, and the jingle is about 30 seconds long, I think.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is praised for evoking nostalgia for classic RPGs while maintaining a user-friendly interface, creating a seamless and enjoyable experience reminiscent of older games without the typical frustrations.
“The feeling, atmosphere, and layout evoke a trip back to the RPGs of old, without the frustrating UI or unintentional confusion that often accompanies playing my old favorites in a modern setting.”
“The atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, lacking the depth and immersion I expected.”
“Despite the beautiful graphics, the overall atmosphere is flat and fails to engage me.”
“The game tries to create a dark and moody atmosphere, but it ends up feeling forced and artificial.”
