Skelethrone: The Prey
- March 14, 2024
- 70`Strike
Get on SteamYou're in for a great adventure inspired by games like Castlevania and Dark Souls. Bloodthirsty monsters, divine creatures and epic boss battles. The game’s story is shaped by choices that will define your journey. PROLOGUE KEY FEATURES: Metroidvania - Unlock unique upgrades for movement and combat to expand the world. Maintaining the game's progression requires you to use different relics, i…
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Engaging combat mechanics with a variety of weapons and challenging boss fights that require unique strategies.
- Stunning art style and atmospheric sound design that create an immersive experience.
- The demo serves as a promising introduction to the full game, offering a taste of exploration and Metroidvania elements.
- Clunky controls and unresponsive movement can hinder the overall gameplay experience.
- Repetitive music and minor bugs detract from the polish of the game.
- Some players find the boss mechanics and enemy designs lacking depth, leading to a less engaging experience.
- graphics15 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique and grim 2D pixel art style that many players find captivating, though opinions vary on its execution in animation. While some praise the stunning visuals and atmospheric design reminiscent of other gritty metroidvania titles, others note issues with clarity and detail, suggesting that the graphics could benefit from further refinement. Overall, the art style is a highlight for many, contributing to the game's dark fantasy aesthetic.
“Stunning well-crafted 2D pixel art style, a cool dark story with great eerie music, and is a brilliant Metroidvania with Souls-like elements.”
“Skelethrone: The Prey is a captivating dark fantasy Metroidvania demo that surprised me with its engaging gameplay and stunning art style.”
“Despite not being a huge fan of the genre, I found myself drawn in by the game's grimy yet clear visuals and intrigued by the exploration and level design.”
“The only saving grace that I can mention is the art style, very grim and unique, but completely ruined when animated.”
“The only fault I could really find was that the graphics are kind of ugly; everything else works fine.”
“Graphics look similar to other gritty metroidvania/souls-like games (e.g. Blasphemous, Moonscars, etc.), could do with a bit more definition and detail.”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game features engaging combat mechanics with a diverse array of weapons, allowing for personalized combat styles, but is marred by clunky controls and frustrating wall climbing mechanics. While some players appreciate the smoothness and challenge reminiscent of Dark Souls, others find the gameplay lacking and occasionally empty, with issues like poor dodge mechanics and limited animations detracting from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the game is noted for its captivating art style and solid core gameplay.
“Engaging combat mechanics: the game offers a variety of weapons and equipment, including bows, scythes, longswords, whips, pistols, and rifles, allowing players to tailor their combat style.”
“Skelethrone: the prey is a captivating dark fantasy metroidvania demo that surprised me with its engaging gameplay and stunning art style.”
“Nice game, the gameplay is smooth and it gives you challenge with its Dark Souls-like style.”
“Clunky controls: some players have reported that the controls feel a bit clunky and unresponsive, which can hinder the overall gameplay experience.”
“Seems like it could be a good game, but it feels empty at times. The wall climbing mechanics are really poor when you have to climb vertically, and the highlighting of the character makes him feel like he is straight out of MS Paint.”
“The worst dodge mechanics.”
- music10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and atmospheric contribution, enhancing the dark and immersive experience, particularly during boss encounters. However, some players find it repetitive over time, which can detract from the overall immersion. While the sound design complements the game's art style effectively, there are mixed opinions regarding its consistency and impact, with some players expressing dissatisfaction with certain tracks.
“Atmospheric art and sound design: the hand-crafted levels and environments, combined with fitting soundtracks, create an immersive experience that enhances the game's dark and foreboding atmosphere.”
“Stunning well-crafted 2D pixel art style, a cool dark story with great eerie music, and is a brilliant metroidvania with souls-like elements.”
“Same goes for music, especially during bosses; it just felt appropriate, like it belongs to this game's world.”
“Repetitive music: while the music is praised for its quality, it can become repetitive over time, potentially diminishing the immersive experience.”
“The music should probably fade a bit in the game menu so it doesn’t feel like the action is still going on in the pause screens when it isn’t.”
“Music was a bit samey, but fit with the dreary tone set in this release.”
- story6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its excellent storytelling and dark, eerie atmosphere, complemented by stunning 2D pixel art and music. While the narrative shows promise, some players hope for a more serious approach in the full release, as the depth of the story is crucial for a successful soulslike experience. Overall, the combination of engaging plot elements and artistic style creates a compelling backdrop for gameplay.
“Excellent storytelling too.”
“Stunning well-crafted 2D pixel art style, a cool dark story with great eerie music, and is a brilliant Metroidvania with Souls-like elements.”
“I don't think that they'll hire a writer for the full release, but I pray that they go about the story more seriously there, as Soulslikes carry a lot of weight on their narratives.”
“I don't think that they'll hire a writer for the full release, but I pray that they approach the story more seriously, as soulslikes carry a lot of weight in their narratives.”
“The story I read, the graphics I saw in the trailer, and the fact that it was made with pixel art.”
“It would have been awesome to have some no-hit boss related achievements in the main game as well, as that is what drew me back to experience the prequel story and face a few more bosses.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Skelethrone: The Prey" is highly praised for its immersive art and sound design, which together create a dark and foreboding environment. The game is noted for its compelling blend of challenging combat and exploration, reminiscent of Dark Souls but with its own unique atmosphere and lore. Overall, players find the atmospheric design to be excellent and integral to the experience.
“Atmospheric art and sound design: the hand-crafted levels and environments, combined with fitting soundtracks, create an immersive experience that enhances the game's dark and foreboding atmosphere.”
“In conclusion, 'Skelethrone: The Prey' offers a compelling blend of challenging combat, exploration, and atmospheric design.”
“Dark Souls reimagined in two dimensions, with its own distinct atmosphere, mechanics, and lore.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report a range of glitches affecting gameplay, indicating that stability is a significant issue for many players. These glitches can disrupt the gaming experience, leading to frustration and a lack of confidence in the game's performance. Overall, stability appears to be a concern that developers may need to address.
“The game is riddled with glitches that disrupt the experience.”
“I encountered frequent crashes that made it nearly unplayable.”
“There are constant bugs that prevent me from progressing in the game.”
