Usurper

About

Usurper is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Pugware and was released on February 20, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Usurper" is a single-player Metroidvania Action-RPG, serving as the sequel to "Shrouded in Sanity" in the Skautfold series. The game features an intriguing story, amazing gameplay with a unique "Guard" system that rewards skillful play, and fantastic visuals combined with an exceptional soundtrack to create a distinctive atmosphere. Your mission: rid London of Eldritch horrors unleashed by the Citadel and defeat the nightmares within.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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71%

Audience ScoreBased on 234 reviews

gameplay36 positive mentions

grinding7 negative mentions

The game features a compelling Lovecraftian story with interesting characters and lore that expands on the previous installment.
The pixel art style is visually appealing, with well-designed environments and unique enemy designs that enhance the atmosphere.
The combat system, particularly the guard mechanic, adds depth and encourages strategic play, rewarding players for mastering timing and positioning.

The game suffers from significant technical issues, including lag and unresponsive controls, which can detract from the overall experience.
The lack of healing items and infrequent save points can lead to frustrating gameplay, especially during challenging boss fights.
The map design is confusing and lacks clarity, making navigation difficult and hindering exploration.

gameplay
105 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
59%
7%
The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its metroidvania elements and unique mechanics like the stamina and guard system, while others criticize the difficulty posed by overpowered enemies and frustrating boss fights. Many reviews highlight a steep learning curve and a need for mastery of the combat mechanics, which can be rewarding but also punishing for newcomers. Overall, while the game offers interesting design and atmosphere, its gameplay may not appeal to everyone due to its challenging nature and occasional mechanical issues.
- “Challenging, genuinely scary (pretty rare for a metroidvania), and super rewarding in its gameplay (once you get the hang of it).”
- “It feels like it perfectly captures elements of modern (metroidvania) Castlevania combat, with stat building and RPG mechanics pulled from the Dark Souls series.”
- “Once you master the mechanics, you will feel like a pro.”
- “The gameplay is okayish; there's a lot of things that hold it back from being good.”
- “The big problem is that a lot of the enemies are seriously overpowered; even the common ones can kill you in just two hits, even when you upgrade your defenses.”
- “The gameplay is really slow, and even if they hadn't been, the whole gameplay seems to move in slow motion.”
story
94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
56%
5%
The story of "Skautfold: Usurper" is a mixed bag, with many reviewers praising its intriguing narrative and character development, particularly the connections to its predecessor, "Shrouded in Sanity." While some found the plot convoluted and lacking emotional depth, others appreciated its Lovecraftian themes and the atmosphere it creates. Overall, the story is seen as a compelling aspect of the game, though it may require familiarity with the series for full appreciation.
- “The story is intriguing, and I really want to see what happens at the end.”
- “The story, setting, and characters really end up making Usurper stand out and tie the whole experience together.”
- “Lovecraftian horrors, fascinating new game design, and a compelling story make this a unique take on metroidvania and souls-like ideas.”
- “The story can be convoluted and cryptic at times, but it stands out as a creative and uncompromising title in the overabundance of media toggling the genre and the lore.”
- “The story assumes you know a ton of events and characters despite you seeing it for the first time.”
- “The first few minutes of the game introduce you to a dull plot line that is ankle deep.”
graphics
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
45%
6%
The graphics of "Skautfold: Usurper" are a mixed bag, with many reviewers praising the pixel art style and unique designs that evoke a gothic, Lovecraftian atmosphere. However, criticisms arise regarding the clarity of the visuals, with some environments appearing muddy and making it difficult to distinguish interactive elements. Overall, while the art style is appreciated, the execution suffers from inconsistencies and a lack of polish, leaving some players wanting more from the graphical experience.
- “The pixel graphic art style is very good with some nice uses of colors and designs, like the first game they actually really push how far these pixel graphics could go.”
- “Graphically the game is very gothic and serene like a Castlevania, which gives it a nice touch.”
- “The gameplay is smooth and the exploration fun, the graphics and animations are beautiful pixel art that are not the slightly cop-out-ish faux 16-bit pixel graphics that are so popular these days.”
- “A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
- “Graphics feel like the old DOS version of Prince of Persia, and you sometimes can't make out if barrels are in the foreground and breakable or not.”
- “The graphics are vivid, but difficult to parse, making it unnecessarily hard to tell exactly where platforms' edges are and frequently obscuring important gameplay-related objects among the clutter of the detailed backgrounds.”
music
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
29%
7%
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality, with many tracks effectively enhancing the overall mood, particularly during exploration and calmer moments. However, some players feel that the music lacks memorability during intense sequences, such as boss fights, and could benefit from more polish. Overall, the soundtrack is described as somber and evocative, contributing significantly to the game's unique aesthetic and immersive experience.
- “The atmosphere, piano soundtrack, background, enemy and boss design are just top notch and add to that perfect otherworldly experience.”
- “What really stuck with me, though, is just the tone of it – exploring this huge weird living castle, with rough-but-evocative art and melancholic music, steeped in understated cosmic horror – there's just not much like it out there.”
- “The lovecraftian setting is great, and alongside the game's music gives a very somber and creepy atmosphere.”
- “Instead I got a very unpolished game with ugly sprites, nonexistent music, and a clunky, slow, and ill-conceived combat system that punishes you for being aggressive.”
- “The music is all very somber and subdued.”
- “Usurper's title screen credits all of three people for its development - one for the music, one for the character portraits, one for everything else.”
atmosphere
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
30%
10%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique worldbuilding, compelling story, and immersive sound design, creating a dark and eerie experience reminiscent of Lovecraftian themes. While many players appreciate the beautiful locations and attention to detail, some note that navigation can be tedious and certain areas feel empty. Overall, the combination of art style, music, and atmospheric elements contributes significantly to the game's appeal, despite some gameplay mechanics being less well-received.
- “The atmosphere is dense, the writing and worldbuilding are very unique and well done, and I really liked the final encounter.”
- “The best part of Usurper is the atmosphere; it drips with Lovecraftian ooze.”
- “The atmosphere is pretty dark and genuinely disturbing at certain points, and the gameplay is satisfying.”
- “The lovecraftian setting is great, and alongside the game's music gives a very somber and creepy atmosphere.”
- “Music tracks and sounds do the job and generate the desired dark and bleak atmosphere; however, do not expect the most pompous movie score.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
88%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, primarily due to a slow movement system and a cumbersome vitae mechanic that requires excessive grinding for progression. Navigation issues and glitchy mechanics further exacerbate the experience, making it feel more like a chore than an enjoyable challenge. While the story and atmosphere have their merits, many reviewers feel that the grind detracts significantly from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The map has some beautiful places and a good atmosphere, but the navigation is very boring, making the experience tedious.”
- “The vitae system makes the game grindy, and the movement system makes the early game feel too slow. Once you beat the fourth boss, your mobility dramatically improves, but that system is also glitchy, causing some secret areas to take minutes to escape because it wouldn't register that I had lined it up correctly.”
- “I hopped between trying to figure out whether I was enjoying this game or not, and in the end, it was more of a tedious experience than it was good.”
stability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting significant bugs that detract from the experience, while others playing in 2024 report no issues. However, users have noted minor visual glitches, particularly on ultra-wide and 16:10 monitors, and some intentional glitches that add a unique twist to gameplay. Overall, stability appears to vary widely depending on the platform and version played.
- “The game is too buggy to recommend.”
- “Buggy issues for what would otherwise be an interesting experience.”
- “There are a couple of weird visual glitches when playing on an ultra-wide monitor.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
Players find decent replayability in Usurper due to its build variety, New Game Plus (NG+), and optional challenges. The game's focus on gameplay and a unique battle system further enhances its replay value, making it a compelling experience for returning players.
- “There is decent replay value with build variety, New Game Plus, and optional challenges.”
- “Usurper is a metroidvania action RPG that focuses heavily on gameplay, featuring a unique battle system and significant replayability.”
- “There is decent replay value with build variety, NG+ and optional challenges.”
- “Usurper is a metroidvania action RPG that focuses heavily on gameplay - with a unique battle system and significant replayability.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of clever references, such as to iconic weapons, and a lighthearted tone that contrasts with its otherwise dark plot. The banter between the protagonist and his parasite, along with interactions with other characters, adds a comedic layer reminiscent of humorous visual novels, while weapon descriptions often include a humorous twist.
- “A lot of funny references like guts, clank swords, and lightsabers.”
- “The pretty obscure and gloomy plot is totally lightened by the constant verbal bickerings between the protagonist, his parasite, and the inhabitants of the hub, all in the spirit of humorous visual novels.”
- “The weapons are practical, and they often come with blunt or humorous descriptions.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers highlight that the game features compelling character development through its interesting enemy and creature designs, which contribute to a rich and immersive narrative experience. The unique designs enhance player engagement and add depth to the overall storytelling.
- “The character development is incredibly rich, with each character having a unique backstory that adds depth to the overall narrative.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making choices that truly impact their personalities and relationships.”
- “The variety of interesting enemies and creatures enhances the character development, as each encounter reveals more about the characters' strengths and weaknesses.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game is criticized for being a blatant cash grab, with the developer seemingly recycling the same game mechanics across multiple titles without significant innovation. This approach has led to a perception of low-quality, asset-flipped products aimed primarily at generating revenue rather than providing a meaningful gaming experience.
- “For beginners, the game design is craptastic. While it does have enough mechanics to make this more than just a pure asset flip, it's apparent looking at their catalogue that they've just copy-pasted this same game multiple times and dumped it quickly on Steam as a cash grab.”
- “Gamemaker Studio is most commonly used to make retro pixel shovelware and cash grabs.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a lack of emotional connection to the story, feeling that explanations are often superficial and fail to engage. The gameplay mechanics, such as slow movements and floating jumps, contribute to a sense of detachment, making some fights feel insignificant.
- “The movements made me feel slow; jumping too felt like I was floating.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, including lag, stuttering, and inconsistent framerates. Reviewers note that it feels unpolished and could benefit from improved controls and better visual clarity.
- “There's inexplicable lag, stuttering, and framerate jumps.”
- “Though it is unpolished and needs optimization badly, it could use less darkness and more responsive controls.”