Loot River

metacritic.com:

Great potential - awful execution. Loot River has a fun idea with it's puzzle combat hybrid but just now the game feels like it's still inGreat potential - awful execution. Loot River has a fun idea with it's puzzle combat hybrid but just now the game feels like it's still in some unpolished early access state.

My main issue is with the combat. It just doesn't flow nicely like other top-down roguelikes (Hades, Dandy Ace etc.) Swordplay feels artificially stiff and awkward with a dodge roll that sometimes works and sometimes not. I understand that there should be maybe more of a "Dark Souls" style feel to the combat but for now it feels frustrating bad, not challenging but fair good.

The art style is fine and I like the grittiness of it. BUT the gameplay loop and the feel of constant progression that makes games like these addictive and fun just isn't there. This just doesn't suck you in like it's contemporaries.

I really hope they fix this game with smoother combat. I will come back to correct myself. But for now, I'm happy this was on Game Pass and I did not spend money on this.