Anyone who loves pixel indie games will surely love Guidus Zero. Izzle came up with a casual mystery dungeon pixel 2D game that was released on 26th November. This is a real-time grid-based action roguelike game.
You will need to explore the sinkhole known as the “Scar” to search for spirits and treasure chests. Moreover, defeat the corrupted enemies and bosses to progress through the levels of scar. The game invites players to explore the treacherous depths of the scar and unveil the secrets within.
The Chaotic Sinkhole
The South Korean gaming studio Izzle did an amazing job in putting an interesting story line to this top-down 2D game. The story takes place in a war wrecked world without any sign of victory. The world’s central continent was a danger zone as it has a massive sinkhole called the scar.
“Long ago, during an era of racial wars fought to control the continent, a massive sinkhole suddenly appeared at its center.”
From the sinkhole there are some mysterious substances known as the Black Blood. This mysterious substance is the core reason for corrupted creatures who will be your ultimate obstacle.
Real-Time Grid-Based Combat
“Guidus Zero is a real-time grid-based roguelike game where you navigate the field in four directions.”
The central feature of Guidus Zero is a real-time grid-based combat system. You need to carefully navigate the field where you need to consider enemy position and attack ranges. You need to keep your precision and timing on check so you can properly dodge incoming attacks and strike your enemies. The system is more of a tactical approach and it feels like every gameplay is a rewarding experience.
Moreover, the game’s combat mechanics are enriched by the introduction of spirit powers and treasure chests. These mystical elements provide players with various abilities and enhancements to upgrade their characters.
“While exploring the Scar, you will come across relics imbued with mystical powers and receive blessings from spirits that aid you in combat. Forge strong bonds with them to unleash even greater power.”
A Symphony of Elemental Power
As previously mentioned the game has a spirit mechanism where you have to bond with elemental spirits. These will allow you to explore greater power and help you to combat tougher enemies.
There is Ignis the fire spirit who gives you the fiery affliction where you can weaken an enemy by setting them on fire. Then there is Atlen the water spirit that grants you the power of slowing down your enemies to create room for your combo attack.
Moreover, there is also Rathorus who is the spirit of lightning and bonding with them will give you aggressive shock debuff to enemies. Enryl the wind spirit allows you to move faster, increasing your agility during combat. Lastly, Terrania the earth spirit grants you a power of petrification.
A Dark Descent into the Unknown
As you venture deep into the Scar you will encounter a diverse cast of enemies with unique move sets and behaviors. You will find enemies who are slow in terms of their movement but have immense power. You will also find enemies who are agile and will be quite a challenge to tackle down. The game’s combat system is quite intense. You will need proper reflexes and careful planning to gain the upper hand.
Moreover, the visual style of Guidus Zero is very stunning and striking. The atmosphere is dark and brooding which complements the entire concept of a mysterious sinkhole filled with corrupted enemies. The characters are also designed with high attention to details which makes the gameplay immersive.
A Roguelike Experience with Depth and Replayability
As a roguelike game Guidus Zero really embraces the genre of the game. It has the principles of procedural generation and permadeath. Each playthrough offers a unique experience with different layouts to explore. Game mechanics like these encourage exploration and experimentation.
The game’s core mechanics are quite solid. Of course it is still in early access so you will encounter bugs or glitches. There are few areas where improvement could be made.
Conclusion
Guidus Zero is an immersive and challenging roguelike game. The South Korean developers really pulled it off with this pixel 2D game. So far the steam reviews are also positive. Hopefully the game will be more polished with continuous patches.
