Possessor(s) Is A Stylish Side Scroller With The DNA Of A Soulslike

Developer Coronary heart Machine has been busy.

Following the launch of Hyper Light Breaker, the successor to Hyper Light Drifter, they’ve additionally been exhausting at work on Possessor(s), which is described as a “fast-paced motion facet scroller.” In actuality, it is a hybrid between old-school facet scrollers, Metroidvanias, and sure, Soulslike titles.

There is no scarcity of Soulslike video games within the indie world. If I had a greenback for each Soulslike that exists, I might be capable to purchase Elden Ring: Tarnished Version for the Nintendo Switch 2.

It is a widespread style for a purpose: the video games are well-crafted, difficult, and profitable. From Hole Knight to 9 Sols, and the whole lot in between, Possessor(s) enters a crowded house.

Fortunately, Coronary heart Machine has the pedigree to tug it off. After spending roughly an hour or so with the sport, there’s plenty of promise right here. All of it relies on whether or not they can comply with via and stand out from their friends.

A Deal With The Satan

Possessor(s) begins in a fairly horrifying method. You play as Luca, a woman who lives in a megacity that has skilled mass destruction. Luca isn’t any stranger to this terror, as she’s misplaced each of her legs and is within the means of bleeding out.

The sport begins as she crawls in direction of a demon named Reth, who desires to make her a deal: she will get her legs again as long as she helps this mischievous man out with a activity. We do not have a alternative, so it is time to make a cope with a demon.

Then we turn out to be a demon ourselves and get possessed by Rehm. I assume we’re caught with this man, so we might higher do what he says. We’re given hints at each characters’ backstories via reliving recollections of each Luca and Rehm. There are some very important moments right here that assist flesh the characters out. Sadly, they have been fairly restricted of their scope, given the demo lasts roughly 30–40 minutes.

The Gameplay Feels Very Acquainted

If you happen to’ve ever performed an indie Metroidvania Soulslike earlier than, then Possessor(s) is like driving a motorcycle.

Gameplay consists of exploring a 2D labyrinth-like world. Selecting up upgrades, akin to a grappling hook or a parry, will provide you with entry to new areas that allow you to progress and full your duties. There is a good mixture of platforming alongside the fight to assist preserve issues recent, although the platforming feels a bit of naked bones to date.

Exploration feels fleshed out and pure. There is no must seek for any secret passages chances are you’ll miss at first look. Moreover, backtracking was by no means a difficulty. In a single case, I needed to dive deep down right into a basement to select up an improve and unlock a door.

Fortunately, an elevator was ready for me to convey me again to mentioned door. It is all the time good when these video games respect my time, as a result of there’s nothing extra irritating than having to backtrack via 5 to 10 minutes of the sport to maintain progressing ahead.

I did get to expertise one boss battle, and it delivered. It is a quick, frantic battle that examined my reflexes and skills with out being too overly troublesome. It is nonetheless a problem, however you will not die a number of occasions over when you perceive the core mechanics at play right here.

It was good to see that makes an attempt to cheese the combat, akin to repeatedly dodging, weren’t overly efficient. I am excited to see how different boss battles can comply with swimsuit.

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A Attractive Wanting Sport

From the beginning, Possessor(s) would not try to cover its sense of favor. The graphics are vibrant, vibrant, and slick, but in addition convey a way of darkness and despair. It matches properly with the sport’s subdued soundtrack.

Given the grim nature of the sport’s story, the presentation pairs completely with the narrative. We’re attempting to get better from a horrific accident, uncovering the mysteries of town we thought we knew so properly. There are plenty of good touches at play right here.

The darkish, dreary setting of a mega-corp’s basement makes you’re feeling such as you’re exploring locations you should not be in. The extremely vibrant gentle from the interdimensional rift that tore town aside. Darkish, metropolis streets lit by streetlights within the rain. It is all extremely atmospheric and does an awesome job of emphasizing the temper we must be feeling.

There is a particular sense of surprise inside Possessor(s) that encourages me to discover and progress, however the story and characters must uphold their finish of the discount. After taking part in via the demo a number of occasions, it is simply my greatest concern.

The Writing Does not Give Me A lot Optimism Proper Now

Not like Hyper Gentle Drifter, there’s a big emphasis on story in Possessor(s). The fixed dialogue between Luca and Reth is a serious focus of the sport, with Luca being a bit of on the naive facet and Reth prepared to indicate Luca how the world actually works.

Naturally, Luca is not too happy that Reth has possessed her physique. Towards the backdrop of extra critical story components, the bickering between Luca and Reth was entrance and heart through the demo. The problem right here is not essentially the forwards and backwards, however the way it was portrayed. The writing felt juvenile, with insults I hadn’t heard since highschool being thrown round. Maybe it matches inside Luca’s character to speak this manner, but it surely feels extremely jarring.

I can already inform there might be some hard-hitting, emotional moments ready for me in Possessor(s). Because of this, the standard of the writing wants to satisfy these moments. Up to now, I am not precisely assured that would be the case.

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Upgrades! Get Your Upgrades Right here!

Whereas I did not get an opportunity to totally discover upgrading my skills and introducing affixes to my weapons, I did get a bite-sized style of how that system works.

Each time you kill an enemy, you may receive Chroma. It is the sport’s principal forex. Consider it much like, properly, Souls. If you happen to die, you may lose all of your Chroma, however when you return to the scene of your demise with out perishing, you’ll be able to achieve all of them again. Sound acquainted? You are additionally capable of retailer them within the occasion you are headed someplace dangerous.

The Chroma, together with choose different objects accessible, allows you to improve Luca to turn out to be stronger. In Metroidvania vogue, there’s additionally a bunch of skills ready to be found as you discover the world. This contains important skills such because the grapple hook and parrying, in addition to affixes to go onto your weapons. It is a good steadiness between the Soulslike and Metroidvania designs that helps tie issues collectively.

It is clear that Heart Machine is taking inspiration from each genres, even all the way down to the “bonfires” that exist in recreation. I am excited to see how deep these programs go. If Coronary heart Machine can pull it off properly, we’ll be in enterprise.

I imagine Possessor(s) has the potential to turn out to be one other nice indie title from Coronary heart Machine, but it surely must comply with via and execute. Whereas my time with the sport to date has been restricted, there’s lots to take pleasure in, particularly the sport’s fight and Metroidvania-style exploration.

The writing, nonetheless, must comply with via. As is, it breaks any sense of immersion the sport creates, and has me preferring to skip the dialogue and get again to the motion. I hope that after I dive deeper into the world of Possessor(s), I proceed to love what I see.

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