2013 has been a good year for Rogue-Likes on Steam, and what better way to finish the year than with an awesome Rogue-Like like Risk of Rain. Risk of Rain is 9.99 USD and is currently available on the PC platform.
Risk of Rain is just like Spelunky and Rogue Legacy, the other Rogue-Like titles that made a splash on the market this year, it has a one-death game-over policy and the stakes run high for anyone playing. What makes risk of rain unique from the other two are its art style, it’s combat system that reminds me of Diablo with its special attacks, and its awesome soundtrack. The game stars a stranded astronaut that must fight his way through each stage to survive- however, survival isn’t easy. Personally, I have only been able to get through the first couple of stages and then proceeded to die afterward. You have a space-gun at your disposal and you have some cool and helpful super-moves that can help you maneuver through waves and waves of ruthless enemies. The enemies are hard, the bosses are hulking monolithic beings that give you little chance of survival, and the environments are large and take some time to explore.
There are a couple factors that you can make work for you on this perilous journey, however, and these would be the factors of time and money. Time plays a huge part in Risk of Rain- the longer you play through the game, the harder it gets. If you can manage to get all the items and power-ups you need to take on each level’s final boss within a reasonable time, then you will find it much easier to progress. However, time only makes the game harder and really gets you moving so you aren’t in the same level for thirty minutes. You’d think that this game mechanic would be frustrating, but it really helps move the action along- plus, I found it to be an adequate amount of time to explore the stage and escape before it gets any harder. Another factor is grabbing up loot- if you get enough money, you can afford to purchase items that you find lying around throughout each stage. These items can be very unique and quite necessary when traversing through alien terrain. In one play-through you can pick up a sentry gunning pet that helps you attack enemies, or you could pick up an item like a heart that will heal you if you idle out for a few seconds. The items really keep the game interesting and give you a fighting chance. The more you play, the more items you find and the better you get at surviving.
Although the game’s death system is frustrating, the game keeps things fresh by promising unlockable characters and items if you manage to progress further or play more. While I haven’t unlocked any other classes than the basic engineer you start out with, I have googled these classes and each one is unique from the other- every unlocked character has unique abilities, immunities, and vulnerabilities that change the way the game is played. Along with that, the items I have unlocked so far are really interesting and help each playthrough feel unique. Along with procedurally generated worlds, this game has a certain freshness about it even though you will die and have to replay it again and again.
Steam Reccomendation: Worth it for the price
+Fun Gameplay
+Tight controls
+Intense combat/boss battles
– Constant death can make the game feel like a waste of time
– Unlockable characters can be too difficult to get
Steam of Consciousness 