REVIEW : Arboria (PC)
This is an excellent game! During the first hour, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about it—there were a few tough elements, which I’ll discuss later—but there’s a lot to like.
The look is cool and distinct. It applies a strange Stoney overlay/art style to everything. It isn’t always my cup of tea, but I admire its dedication throughout, and I find it intriguing.
The gameplay is inherently souls-like, and it’s especially bloodborne-like with some trick weaponry. Unfortunately, it has no stamina. Hence it moves quickly even when compared to BB. The challenge is high, especially at first when you don’t understand what’s going on, but you’ll get it. This may not be for you if you despise difficult games, but it’s not too difficult, and I’m always improving.
Also, there are many conceivable combinations between your mutations (special powers/skills) and the numerous weapons in the game. As far as I’ve seen, the mutations are entertaining and feel nice. In addition, they can substantially alter your approach, adding to the combat’s complexity.
The gameplay is enjoyable and well-balanced. It’s moderately aggravating to get stuck on some of the room’s more stylized elements now and again, but it’s not going to kill you (probably).
Parts that aren’t as great yet aren’t fatal: I’m picky about understanding core game mechanics and systems, and the game’s unique style describes the early parts of the roguelike systems in a troll-y, odd, and ambiguous manner. In a way that I found difficult, it takes a few runs to figure out.
Graphics settings: without editing the.ini files, there is no way to disable the film grain and their mega-post processing. This appears to be a style choice, but the graininess, even at maximum settings, looks awful. It’s not difficult to repair by editing a few lines in the.ini file; the Steam forum has a few discussion threads on the subject. But it was a hassle (fortunately now behind me- looks much better without all that).
Finally, using a gamepad, the menu/UI interaction settings feel clumsy, which, in my opinion, is the proper method to play this type of game. It’s not unpleasant, but it does take some acclimating. (edit- it’s alright once you’ve gotten used to it)
So, those are all things that you may overcome.
There appears to be a lot of stuff, and after reading the first section, it’s evident that there are many interesting combinations, and I’m only scratching the surface. I’m looking forward to putting some time into this one because I appreciate the roguelike systems. There is some randomness, but it never feels unfair, and the combo possibilities are enormous in a lighthearted manner. The 5 Elements system initially appeared to be a gimmicky feature with no substance, but the more I play, the more I discover that it is well-thought-out and, more significantly, that there is no’meta’ for each run due to the way it is set up. I won’t say much more, but I’m getting into it.
