A Tale of Two Games
This review has been particularly difficult to write. Not because I was unable to gather my thoughts on Loot River; the newest game in a long line of roguelikes by straka.studio. No, it wasn’t that; it was because while I love the art style utilized in the game, and the extremely fluid and realistic water effects…I am just burnt out on roguelikes. While I have enjoyed quite a few as of late (Sifu, Stranger of Paradise and of course Elden Ring) the genre was never one I was a huge fan of in the first place and I think fatigue has set in. Now, while I may not think Loot River is a game for me, let me tell you why I think it might be a game for you.
First and foremost, Loot River isn’t the usual roguelike, while yes players will have to finish more than one ‘run’ to learn all the worlds secrets acquiring gear and materials that they will lose upon death. Only to be resurrected and have to do it all over again, but what Loot River adds is an exceptionally good ‘Tetris’ like puzzle game that players will use to navigate the world. Players are able to move these blocks in four directions over a beautifully animated river, it was just relaxing to float the bricks over the water and to see and hear it crashing against them with the hauntingly melancholy soundtrack was chilling at times. The procedurally based nature of Loot River means that each new run will be different, which means the path that was taken the time before is going to be totally different next time.
MSRP: $24.99
Platforms: PC (reviewed), Xbox
Price I’d Pay: $19.99
Like many, many other roguelikes; Loot River’s start is going to be like coming home again for fans of the genre. A nameless hero bounds towards their target for some purpose of revenge in a boss fight that players are meant to lose. In the case of this game their lives are saved by a mysterious woman as they are pulled from this dimension only to awaken in the Sanctuary. Here in this hub, of sorts players will learn that the world is in a sort of stasis/time loop and only they can get things in motion again by defeating the evil holding everything still. While it’s not the best narrative, it is however an intriguing enough premise to give the repetitious nature of these sorts of games a good reason to be so.
Players will spend their time navigating the river, which itself is a maze of broken blocks and bodies; the aftermath of some sort of catastrophe frozen in time. Players will fight various beasts and monsters known as The Legion. Of course, it wouldn’t be a roguelike without loot, (that and the word is in the name of the game, could you imagine if it didn’t have any?!) and as players cut down their enemies they will acquire the most important resource in Loot River, and that is known as ‘Knowledge’. Once players have accumulated enough knowledge they can speak to the shopkeeper in The Sanctuary and unlock new weapons, magic spells and armor which will allow for new player builds and variety.
While I absolutely enjoyed the real-time puzzle elements of Loot River, I felt that the combat, for me was lacking and pretty basic. Utilizing the standard light attacks quick combos and a heavy attack players will cut down denizens of The Legion. But that once beautiful and intoxicating environment can at times be your worst opponent. On more than one occasion, I was killed because of being blocked by a wall, but it looked as though I could dash through. The enemies in Loot River are not the slow, yet giant creatures from the typical ‘Soulsbourne’ games. No, these enemies are faster, deadlier; and will be drawn to the player if they are on a connecting block. And once they have you cornered its neigh impossible to escape without seeing the death screen. Yes, there is a parry button but with so many enemies and the speed at which they attack it just becomes about as useless as the letter ‘K’ in the word knife. But knowing this and having the freedom to literally move a platform away from enemies it becomes a bit easier to plan and execute tactics.
Aside from puzzles, one thing I found clever was the usage of variations of blocks between each biome. For instance, the starter area has wooden blocks and fire, so a safe area can quickly become tinder if used properly. But that is a catch 22, because if you set things ablaze it will catch very quickly so players will have to plan out an escape plan from the carnage. Another biome had blocks with lasers on them, and I applaud the developers here because this will add some variation to the endless runs that are possible here.
The world of Loot River is visually striking as I mentioned at the outset; its hand-drawn pixel world manages to be beautifully inviting yet, dark and foreboding all at the same time. Presented in an isometric viewpoint not unlike Diablo and other dungeon ARPG’s, Loot River manages to give players a great view of its hand-drawn environments as they navigate each biome’s labyrinth. While navigating the sunken worlds on top the various blocks, players will begin to notice how each one is a part of a whole. You’ll see a desk here, some pots there and as you scan the environment, players can imagine where these ‘blocks’ originated from and it makes things even more tragic and dire than it already is.
So many times, I think we, as reviewers tend to rate some titles based on what we wanted it to be instead of what it actually is. And more than anything, my time with Loot River taught me that you can’t do that; its ok for a game to not be for me as the reviewer but still be a solid experience for anyone interested. And so, it is with Loot River, while I said its not for me, I did however love the aesthetic; the hand-drawn levels, the puzzles and the simply gorgeous water effects. Those were all the highlights of my time in this world, while the combat is there and it functions, more often than not in got in the way of what I really wanted to do; which was explore this river and solve puzzles. But for those who love to challenge themselves in the roguelike genre; you will find a competent combat system that will allow players to carve a path to the heart of this mystery. Loot River is not a bad game by any stretch of the imagination; it, like many new IP’s just needs some tweaking to iron out some of its technical issues and I have no doubt that with its truly unique blend of traditional roguelikes with a dash of a block puzzler, that Loot River will quickly carve out a place for it on the ever-growing roguelike mountain.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
