Spiritfall
- February 28, 2024
- Gentle Giant
- 16h median play time
Good idea just not well executed, Spiritfall's attempt at the first action platformer roguelike fails to deliver.
"Spiritfall" is a single-player Fantasy Hack and Slash game with an intriguing story and excellent graphics. It features tight platform fighter combat, smooth movement, and roguelite mechanics, allowing for experimentation with over 150 powerful blessings and unique builds. Death is temporary, with resources gathered used for upgrades, unlocking new abilities, and awakening mighty weapons, providing lots of replayability.
Reviews
- The combat system is fluid and satisfying, allowing for creative combos and skill expression.
- The art style and animations are beautiful, enhancing the overall experience.
- The game offers a unique blend of platform fighter mechanics and roguelike progression, making each run feel fresh and engaging.
- The game currently lacks content, with only a few weapons and areas available, leading to a shorter overall experience.
- Some enemies and bosses can feel unbalanced, with certain mechanics making combat frustrating at times.
- The meta progression can feel slow, and some upgrades may not significantly impact gameplay.
- gameplay449 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Spiritfall has been widely praised for its fluidity, satisfying combat mechanics, and engaging roguelike elements, drawing strong comparisons to platform fighters like Super Smash Bros. and Hades. Players appreciate the depth of the combat system, which allows for various builds and combos, while the progression system keeps the gameplay fresh and rewarding. Despite some critiques regarding originality and balance, the overall experience is described as fun, addictive, and well-designed, making it a standout title in the genre.
“The combat is satisfying and fun, and I've been enjoying the gameplay loop a lot!”
“The gameplay is simply perfected.”
“Spiritfall's satisfying progression loop ensures that every playthrough feels fresh and rewarding, while its solid combat mechanics offer depth and complexity, inviting players to master a diverse array of moves and abilities.”
“The UI is rough, and the post-credits gameplay is pretty shallow.”
“The spirit blessings you get slightly affect gameplay but not in a way that matters that much; more attack speed, damage over time, more launch power, etc. It feels very uninspired.”
“Lastly, when you finish most of the core things you can upgrade, you run out of things to meaningfully work on, which essentially ends my motive to continue my adventures because of the things I found unpolished in the gameplay.”
- graphics148 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their beautiful and distinct art style, often compared to hand-painted landscapes and reminiscent of titles like "Hades" and "Dead Cells." Players appreciate the vibrant colors, intricate details, and smooth animations, which enhance the overall gameplay experience. However, some critiques mention inconsistencies in character design and a lack of depth in certain visual elements, such as shadows and enemy variety.
“The art style, reminiscent of hand-painted landscapes, engulfs players in a visually stunning world teeming with vibrant colors and intricate details.”
“The visuals are stunning, with each level and character designed with intricate detail that truly immerses you in the game's world.”
“The art style perfectly complements the game's tone, creating an environment that is both immersive and visually stunning.”
“But, it is lacking in the visuals department, especially shadows on characters.”
“Lastly, I am not the biggest fan of the art style.”
“The battle encounters aren't all that special, and the artwork feels like something I would get in a mobile game.”
- music98 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers highlighting its catchiness and ability to enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the beautiful soundtracks and effects, particularly noting the main hub's music and boss themes as standout elements. While some mention minor issues like repetitiveness or a distracting background noise, the overall consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's enjoyment and replayability.
“The music is fantastic, the music that plays in the main hub is particularly beautiful.”
“Beautiful graphics, amazing soundtrack, and a great challenge.”
“The music is incredible, the art is phenomenal, what more could you ask for?”
“If those descriptions made you want to give up and go to bed, the music will make you want to stay there.”
“But there is a constant mosquito buzzing added within the music.”
“Music that sounds like a sex scene from a 1980's fantasy movie.”
- story79 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally considered serviceable but lacks depth and focus, with many players noting it feels generic and underdeveloped compared to similar titles like Hades. While some appreciate the intriguing elements and potential for worldbuilding, others find the narrative vague and sidelined, leading to a desire for more substantial storytelling and character development. Overall, the game offers a fun experience, but the story could benefit from further expansion and refinement as it continues to evolve in early access.
“I would definitely recommend this game because it has good art, a good storyline, and good combat.”
“So far the story is keeping me hooked, so looking forward to where it goes next.”
“The story beats are there, the bosses and such, but I think the only thing missing to tie it all together right now is finding out what waits beyond that final boss.”
“There's plenty of rough edges and the story is a little generic and flat, but the core loop is compelling and there's a solid 20-50 hours of fun platform fighter PvE in here for folks who would enjoy that.”
“The story itself is also pretty weak, and takes a bit too much of a backseat compared to Hades.”
“The story is flavorful, but anemic.”
- replayability50 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its depth, unique builds, and engaging combat that encourages multiple playthroughs, while others note that it can become repetitive and lacks the extensive replay value found in other roguelites. Many appreciate the variety of weapon sets and mechanics that enhance replayability, but some feel that the overall experience may not sustain long-term interest. Overall, it offers a solid replay value, particularly for those who enjoy experimenting with different strategies and builds.
“Tons of replay value, really challenging, great controls, great visuals and music.”
“I had never before played a rogue-like and the unique aspect of starting each run with a new map and unique build, from the weapon to the blessing to the masks makes the game infinitely replayable.”
“One of the most unique rogue-likes I've played so far; it combines Dead Cells and platform fighting. I have almost 50 hours in this game and I always come back once every 2-3 weeks for 5-10 hours. The bosses are perfect and the synergies make the game replayable.”
“This lowers the replayability significantly.”
“That dramatically reduces the replayability of this roguelite.”
“There's some replayability, but if you only use 1 weapon and max it you could beat it in like 3 hours.”
- grinding24 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players note that grinding is a significant aspect of the game, particularly in the early stages where unlocking essential abilities and resources can feel tedious. While some enjoy the slower, more intentional gameplay and find the combat replayable, others feel that the grind for upgrades and weapons can be uninspired and time-consuming, especially given the reliance on RNG for achievements and the lack of testing options before purchasing new weapons. Overall, the grind is seen as manageable for those who adopt a fighting game mindset, but it can still detract from the experience for some players.
“The grind for resources is a little bit tedious early on, but once you've gotten past the worst of it, the game basically has no major issues with its loop.”
“The game also expects you to die a lot and restart while being slightly stronger. There are four different meta currencies to level up your characters, and it feels very uninspired as it's mostly flat updates or slight movement upgrades. You can also unlock new weapons that change the way you play, but they are costly (around an hour and a half of playtime to unlock one out of ten), and there is no way to test them before purchasing. So if you don't like the way this weapon feels, go back to grinding.”
“I have started to like the slower, more intentional gameplay, but clearing the first levels gets tedious because your damage and health scaling never really trivializes these initial stages like other games would.”
- humor12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its lighthearted and whimsical elements, with players enjoying the ability to execute amusing combos and interactions. While some find the gameplay mechanics, such as easy enemy encounters, lend themselves to a playful experience, the overall comedic tone is appreciated, particularly through the presence of "funny spirits."
“I don't even really have any funny jokes for this review, Spiritfall is a fantastic game on all fronts and is slept on so hard by pretty much everybody.”
“You can pull off some pretty funny combos on things and just watch things fly.”
“I recommend it if you like cool magic and funny spirits.”
- optimization10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its smooth performance and high polish, with many players reporting no bugs or performance issues, even in early access. However, some users express a desire for further performance improvements before fully committing to the game.
“Haven't had any bugs or performance issues.”
“Even though it's in early access, I haven't encountered any bugs or performance issues.”
“It's clear that the developers put a lot of effort into testing and polishing the game, ensuring that it runs smoothly and flawlessly.”
“I like the game, but I'm going to have to wait for the performance increase.”
“Even though it's early access, I haven't encountered any bugs or performance issues.”
“I like the game, but I'm going to have to wait for the performance increase.”
- character development10 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by charming and intricate character designs, complemented by fluid animations that enhance immersion. The intuitive leveling and skill tree systems allow for meaningful progression, while the overall visual and auditory experience enriches the player's connection to the characters. The combination of appealing aesthetics and the tension of gameplay creates a compelling environment for character growth.
“The levelling and skill tree systems are intuitive and easy to navigate, and the character design is charming as well.”
“The combination of great character design and the stress of losing really completes this game.”
“The visuals are stunning, with each level and character designed with intricate detail that truly immerses you in the game's world.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game exhibits notable stability issues, including buggy menus when using a controller, potential softlocks, and various glitches. Players have reported a decline in performance after completing the initial run, with increased audio glitches and frame drops, indicating that the game may struggle under certain conditions.
“Menus are buggy with the controller, and you can get softlocked.”
“There are some things that are rough around the edges, and I've experienced a few glitches.”
“After finishing my first run and unlocking the additional difficulty settings, the game has started to perform worse, with audio glitches and frames being dropped.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a profound emotional connection to the game, highlighting its ability to captivate and immerse them in a way that rekindles their passion for gaming. Many feel that it has empowered them and made them truly identify as gamers for the first time.
“It's been quite a long time since a game has entrapped me and made me feel like I can't get enough of it.”
“What I do know is that this is the first game that ever made me feel like I could be a gamer.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its effective blend of platform fighting and roguelite elements, enhanced by a complementary art style. However, the immobility of certain mechanics, like the hammer, creates a unique dynamic that can lead to unexpected gameplay moments. Overall, the atmosphere contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
“Does a perfect job combining platform fighters with a roguelite aspect, and the atmosphere and art style complement it greatly.”
“The hammer is super immobile, so it creates this weird atmosphere where you'll knock an enemy super far, but then don't really have a good follow-up on them.”