"A Premium Prospect For Roguelite Veterans": Risk of Rain Returns Review

screenrant.com:

An indie roguelite classic proudly rides again in. Now under the umbrella of Gearbox Entertainment, Hopoo Games’ original came out a full decade ago, back during the burgeoning roguelite renaissance and two years after hit PCs. Like, it proved a crucial hit in the indie space over time, and even perpetuated certain standards and tropes which would find their way into later roguelites, including the studio’s own massively successful sequel. served as an expanded 3D take on its predecessor, but is a formal remake, functionally reinvigorating a ten-year-old essential roguelite while carefully retaining its crucial essence.

For anyone who hasn’t played either of the main entries in the series, is an action-roguelite platformer with an emphasis on item acquisition and synergy, exploration, and relentless combat against steadily increasing enemy hordes. It’s a game which has never felt quite like any other roguelite, partly due to its unusual setting and tone, its merciless time-based challenge mechanic, and its depth of content. The infectiously eerie soundtrack by Chris Christodoulou is also to blame – lightly retooled and refreshed for this remake – or how the diminutive proportions of the player character amplifies the somber sense of solitude, this tiny soldier left at the mercy of the vast and menacing alien landscape.

Related: Risk of Rain 2 — Survivors of The Void DLC Review: Into A Beautiful Void

While it's easy to skip over the narrative beneath the surface of, it comes alive via hidden journal logs and item descriptions that are always worth the time to pore over. As before, paying attention to these texts will reveal an inventively odd drama with a distinct voice, a mix of purple prose and pulpy sci-fi lore.

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