Helvetti Review
It has to be said, Helvetti is a sublimely gorgeous game to look at. Rich visuals bring to mind a moving oil painting, one that shares aesthetic comparisons with the work of Vanillaware. Character models are sumptuous, whilst environments are cram-packed with details. The combo-heavy gameplay is silky smooth, your protagonist gliding through the 2D levels, unleashing over-the-top explosive attacks on every bizarre enemy they meet. In short, it all looks lovely, but beauty, as we know, is often only skin deep.
The incredible art style owes a lot of its charm thanks in no small part to the unusual setting of Celtic mythology. Developers Team KwaKwa have clearly delighted in this mythological inspiration, crafting heroic fox-men, enormous tree demons, and sinewy fairy folk with aplomb. Each screen you explore is filled with unusual wonders, usually ready and waiting to be smacked around with your sword.
When it comes to its structure, Helvetti is a deeply conservative 2D roguelike. It offers everything you expect of the genre but offers few surprises. At the outset of your adventure, to free the land from a curse, you’ll pick one of three distinct heroes. There’s the melee-orientated tank Divico; the nimble, flashy, yet frail Renart; and the spell-blasting, special ability-orientated, and tricky to use correctly, Nammeious. Each protagonist stands apart with unique abilities and combos.
Once you’ve picked your hero, you navigate a maze-like series of screens battling hordes of enemies and the occasional boss. There are pick-ups and weapons to uncover, though when you die it’s back to the start you go, losing all the perks you gathered in the process. Though, as expected, you’ll be able to unlock permanent upgrades, called
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