Rogue Voltage
- May 10, 2024
- Horizont Computergrafik
- 25h median play time
Get on SteamIn Rogue Voltage, a puzzle-based roguelike game, players build their abilities by wiring together modules to create powerful builds and defeat monsters with chain reactions. Every turn, players decide where to allocate energy, such as powering their blaster or healing potion. Turns can be manipulated tactically to dodge hazards or ambush enemies. The game features procedurally generated levels and enemies that become increasingly challenging as players progress.
Reviews
- Rogue Voltage offers a unique and innovative take on the deckbuilding roguelike genre, combining puzzle-solving with strategic gameplay that rewards creativity and planning.
- The game features a variety of characters and modules, allowing for diverse playstyles and synergies, making each run feel fresh and engaging.
- The core mechanics are well-designed, providing satisfying moments of chaining actions and executing complex strategies, which keeps players coming back for more.
- The game currently suffers from a lack of content, with some players feeling that runs can be completed too quickly and that there isn't enough variety in enemies and stages.
- Balancing issues exist, as some characters and modules can feel overpowered or underwhelming, leading to frustration during runs due to reliance on RNG.
- The user interface and visual presentation need improvement, as some players find it cluttered and difficult to navigate, which can detract from the overall experience.
- gameplay56 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by innovative and engaging mechanics, particularly in its roguelike deckbuilding format, which features unique combat systems and a variety of character classes. While many players appreciate the addictive nature and depth of the gameplay, some express concerns about balancing issues, bugs, and the steep learning curve that can lead to frustrating experiences. Overall, the game offers a fresh take on the genre, with potential for further development and refinement.
“Interesting fresh combat mechanics, nice to see something really non-standard.”
“The gameplay loop is interesting and engaging if you like logic puzzles; there are interesting synergies between characters, and I have a feeling it is only going to get better from here.”
“Unique, addicting gameplay that instills that 'just one more run' feeling.”
“Currently, some characters outshine others, and certain mechanics such as hazards and gravity effects can feel redundant compared to simply going for high damage numbers to secure quick victories.”
“There's a noticeable lack of incentives to fully use gravity mechanics, which currently offer minimal payoff.”
“In Rogue Voltage, the consequence of forgetting one of the many mechanics is death, and the run ends.”
- graphics15 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the charming retro art style and polished visuals, while others criticize the lack of animations and a busy aesthetic. Users appreciate the moody soundtrack and the overall aesthetic of the menus, but some find the GUI lacking in functionality and appeal. Overall, the graphics are described as a blend of great pixel art and a scrappy feel, though opinions vary on their execution and impact on gameplay.
“Great gritty pixel graphics, moody soundtrack, and addictive gameplay.”
“I also find the art style very charming and cute!”
“Graphics are great, I especially love the art style of the characters.”
“No content besides generic story mode, boring enemies, no story, simple graphics with almost no animations.”
“The GUI is pretty atrocious both aesthetically and in showing the relevant information.”
“Having a retro art style is not an excuse for having no transitions, fun effects, and animations.”
- music11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its moody atmosphere and old-school vibe, while others find it dull and uninspiring. Critics note issues with the soundtrack's seamlessness and express a desire for more engaging and dynamic music to enhance the gameplay experience. Overall, while the graphics are appreciated, the music is seen as a significant area needing improvement.
“Great gritty pixel graphics, moody soundtrack and addictive gameplay.”
“Rogue Voltage answers the question: what if Slay the Spire, but instead of cards, you have modules on a rack that you can wire together like a switchboard operator to (a) make stuff, (b) make stuff blow up, or (c) move stuff around in time, all with an old-school analog vibe, great music, and that 'just one more turn!' addictiveness that'll keep you up till 2:00 a.m.”
“As a person obsessed with electricity, I really enjoy zapping the components and wires :) The graphical style and music are magnificent!”
“The music doesn't loop seamlessly, so it's very jarring.”
“Atmosphere is good and moody, but the soundtrack is pretty boring.”
“Minor technical hiccups, presentation issues, and a frankly uninspiring soundtrack.”
- story5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received largely negative feedback, with many users describing it as generic, uninspired, and lacking depth, featuring minimal dialogue that is easily overlooked. However, some players appreciate the balance of story elements with gameplay mechanics, noting that the polish and thematic consistency add a level of interest despite the overall simplicity of the narrative.
“So glad to see an early access game with the amount of polish this one has - just enough story, character, and theme to keep things interesting, well-polished graphics, solid mechanics, and enough variability to make me keep playing.”
“No content besides generic story mode, boring enemies, no story, simple graphics with almost no animations.”
“The story is meh and uninspired, with what little dialogue between characters and background story there is being a couple of lines that are easily missed in between runs.”
“The story is uninspired, with minimal dialogue and background story that can easily be overlooked during gameplay.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability due to its engaging gameplay and a wealth of unlockable modules and characters, making it a worthwhile investment for players seeking to revisit the experience.
“This game is fun, it's cerebral, it's incredibly replayable, and it's worth your money!”
“The sheer number of unlockable modules and characters gives this game tons of replayability!”
“Very high replayability.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly due to cumbersome mechanics like cabling and board rearrangement, which can lead to accidental swaps. The slow progress in unlocking items, requiring a minimal downpayment of plasma, further contributes to the overall sense of tedium.
“And good luck making the cabling mechanic anything other than tedious.”
“Rearranging your board can be tedious due to accidental swaps.”
“The downpayment of just 1 plasma at a time makes unlocking things tedious and frustrating.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the optimization aspect of the game to be highly engaging, noting its creativity and the unexpected depth it adds to strategy. Overall, it is described as a source of enjoyable optimization challenges.
“Very creative and fun, with a lot of unexpected depth in strategy and optimization.”
“Lots of optimization fun!”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is generally praised for being good and moody, creating an engaging environment for players. However, some users find the soundtrack to be lacking and uninteresting.
“The atmosphere is good and moody.”
“I love the atmosphere.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players feel a sense of intelligence and accomplishment while engaging with the game, highlighting its ability to evoke positive emotions related to problem-solving and critical thinking.
