For all the gothic Metroidvania lovers Skelethrone may actually be interesting. Skelethrone is being developed by 70’Strike and being published by Valkyrie Initiative. This new game will have similar vibe like Castlevania and Dark Souls. The game promises a hauntingly challenging and rewarding game mechanics. It will also have immersive RPG system that will lure you to indulge in the game.
A World of Decay and Despair
The game revolves around decay and despair. The Kingdom of Ericona was initially embraced by civilization but now it is infiltrated by grotesque creatures. The city is just now a husk of its former self. Moreover, the visual design looks stunning it has a gothic hand drawn art style. The art style looks a bit similar like Blasphemous. You will see crumbling architecture, haunting sounds and detailed gothic characters. The color palette is dominated by gloomy color like gray and brown.
“To the Sun-city that hides in the labyrinthine of an ancient tomb where an unspeakable evil lingers, long forgotten by mankind.”
A Skeletal Protagonist with a Purpose
“Assume the role of Derek Ericona, a lord destined for death by treachery, who avoided it in favor of a more grim fate.”
As the title it is obvious the protagonist will be a skeletal warrior who is resurrected from the depths of the earth. The narrative of the game has subtle atmospheric touches instead of explicit exposition. The game highlights on elements like loss, redemption and struggle between life and death. The game’s story is shaped by choices that will define your journey. Play through levels and bosses, discover side areas with more secrets and enemies to defeat.
Challenging but Rewarding Combat
As mentioned before this game will remind you of soulsborne elements. The combat is a fast dance with death. You need to be aware of your surroundings and read your enemies move. Moreover, the controls are tight and responsive.
“You must use an ever-expanding arsenal of weapons and equipment to repel a wide variety of enemies. Put your courage, skills, and resolve on display for them.”
Each encounter will test your reflex and skills. The enemies are all relentless so you will face some challenge while fighting them. This allows you to be better with combat skills moreover it enhances the combat mechanics. The game expects you to learn from each death and perfect your combat skills. Players can find bows, scythes, longswords, whips, pistols, rifles, and many more traditional weapons. As the game progress you will also find legendary weapons.
The boss battles are quite memorable each boss has its own unique move set and abilities. There are some colossal enemies that will require learning their attack pattern. The game will constantly test your patience as you face challenging battles that require their own unique approach.
A Metroidvania Heart
At its core the game is a Metroidvania and of course it promises to excel in its genre. The world of Skelethrone is interconnected with several hidden paths and secrets waiting to be discovered. Moreover, backtracking is encouraged every time you get a hold of new ability so you can uncover the secrets. The game focuses on exploration you need to dig every corner and revisit to fully understand the lore of the game.
Moreover, the map system of Skelethrone is also well designed. It helps to track your progress easily and plan your next steps. Of course, there are times where you may feel overwhelming but don’t forget to use your map.
RPG Elements to Enhance the Experience
Skelethrone also incorporates RPG elements that adds extra depth to the narrative. You can upgrade your weapons and armor to fight better as you progress. Moreover, there is also a character skill tree that you need to upgrade to try out different builds. The game allows you to choose your own playstyle. Moreover, you can make key decisions along the way to determine Ericona’s fate as you progress through the story.
A Few Skeletons in the Closet
For new players who are not familiar with the idea of Metroidvania may find it difficult to progress through the game. Moreover, the game itself can be difficult sometimes due to its challenges. Also, the game will throw curve balls at you. So, it may seem frustrating at first but you just have to get good.
If you are a fan of games like Blasphemous, Dead Cells, Hollow Knight or Animal Well then you should definitely give Skelethrone a try.
