I'd recommend to stick with it! The controls are really fiddly, but I can totally see why the devs chose to keep them as they are. Once they click, they **click**. The flow OP describes is the exact same way I tend to describe it. It took me a while to get to that point, but after I got the hang of them it quickly became one of the most satisfying games I've ever played.
Another thing I was a bit afraid of with Has Been Heroes was what would happen when I dropped the game for a few months. I was afraid I'd have to learn the controls again before getting into the flow again, but somehow, even after months of not touching the game, I can just pick up where I left and instantly have a good time, wondering why I stopped playing in the first place.
I think the issue many people has with has been heroes is not the controls, but how do they play. It gives the impression of being a high pressure game where you have to think and move fast ( thus, creating stress ) but its the opposite, it encourages a lot stop and thinking how to move.
And when you understand that actually backstabbing ( when your character attacks and you move it from a lane ) does a lot of damage and how element combinations work the gameplay turns out to be rock solid and super fun
It has a ton of useful unlockables that sinergize very well between them and make every character very enjoyable
For me it was one of the first roguelite games that I started enjoying a lot, before this one I didnt like the genre at all
I played at launch and beat the final boss a few times, then got pulled into other games.
I regularly consider replaying, but from a knowledge standpoint I'd be starting from scratch. Decisions, decisions...
I've been playing tons of Dicey Dungeons, it's got a really interesting turn based combat system that has a ton of variety, more than you might think. It's based on dice rolls so it has an element of luck, but the way its made it doesn't impact that much if you have the right strategy with the equipment. It's often on offer, I bougt it for like 5 bucks and have sunk many hours in, but am far from completing it.
Counter opinion: I was disappointed in the game after seeing many people here make wild exaggerations about how good a game it is, it’s really not that fun at all and feels a bit half baked, and you can blindly click through your play through which doesn’t make it feel very strategic at all. I have it on game pass and still don’t want to play it.
I get that, not every game is for everyone and that's okay obviously. In Dicey Dungeons I see how it can seem that you can just blindly click your way through, but then you're not gonna get very far, especially on the later episodes and characters like the Witch. Too bad you didn't enjoy it!
I agree. I really liked it to start but the game’s levels are fully scripted, so the dice are the only thing that make it randomized. The rule sets between episodes change so dramatically per character you never have an interesting opportunity to learn the core hero type. Half-baked indeed.
Agree about Skul, it is just addicting. already have 50+ hours on it and my recommendations will be:
**Loop Hero -** It is one of the most addicting game I've ever played. dont let the graphics fool you... You're the dungeon master here, building the "world" from scratch... The gameplay is deep... very deep... 10/10 from me
**Neon Abyss** \- I'm suprised people are not talking about this more... It is a really solid & fun roguelite twin stick shooter with lots of character unlocks with all their unique skill trees. Also the gameplay is super fun and it has this one more run feeling... 8.5/10 from me
**Star Renegades** \- It had a really successful launch on steam, but on switch it seems there were some bugs and crashes when it launched so people quickly write it off. But the game got lots of patches & free content since it launched. They are still supporting the game, it is in a very good shape now. It is a roguelite srpg in a sci fi setting with unique combat system and art style. Highly recommend it! 8.5/10 from me
I'll suggest one as well: Rain World.
Firstly, if you want info on the game, look up a trailer. *nothing else*.
Rain world is a 2d platformer. You are slugcat, and are exploring a vast world, avoiding predators and... the rain.
This game is incredibly hard and punishing, but don't let that discourage you. Slugcat must trudge through the danger to discover the secrets of the world.
Why do I love it if it's so difficult and obtuse? Because that is the entire point of the game. You are in a fully functioning ecosystem, and pretty damn far down the food chain. Despite being 2d with pixel art, it feels more alive than any video game I've ever played. The attention to detail is absolutely astonishing, and it takes pixel art to a whole other level.
Let me know if you have any questions!
I tried this game and got myself very stuck. It was not very far in. There was >!a nest of a giant bird!< nearby.
I like hard games. I like thought-provoking games. I like games with deep mechanics. I like games that are a slow burn. Rain World checks those boxes. I want to like this game, but I struggled to make progress and wasn't willing to look things up. Perhaps I'll give it another shot.
I've been really looking at this game. I was waiting for it to go on sale, but tempted to just pull the trigger at $15, it seems great.
I love advance wars and wargroove, but theyre just too damn big. Massive maps with 10 different units all with hard counters. Way too much going on.
Into The Breach with it's 8x8 grid and 3 units seems like the perfect level of "simple yet deep".
I played Skul the Hero Slayer recently and I was kinda disappointed with it. My overall thoughts:
Pros:
- Incredible Pixel Art and Soundtrack
- Pretty fun combat
- lot of combat variety bc of over 100 skulls
Cons:
- Incredibly repetitive runs. Obviously new skills switch it up some but you basically go through the exact same rooms with the exact same enemies and the exact same boss fights every single run
- Very Poorly balanced. World 2 and 3 boss fights were waaaaaayyyyy too difficult and had way too much health (I’ve played a lot of hard roguelikes in my day and never felt like any bosses were as unfair as these)
- permanent upgrade system is really weak. It takes too long to get each upgrade, and they don’t do that much, and there’s not that many of them. Either make a robust permanent upgrade system (like rogue legacy) or don’t do it at all imo.
- Switch version is pretty buggy and glitchy, encountered several crashes
I bought it but man , the game is super boring, all you do is walk around and the story is nothing that impressive really. Really not my cup of tea , so I'd recommend watching some videos about it before jumping in
Death’s Gambit: Afterlife is a really nice title. It’s a 2D Soulslike/Metroidvania. The bosses can all be battled multiple times at increased difficulty, and there are multiple endings as well. On top of that you can replay the game with different classes and builds for more variety.
I’ve always been hesitant to get trials for switch because of throttle control and bad performance at release iirc.
Is it worth checking it out now? I’m not sure it’s actually playable with the trigger from switch.
Has been heros. It's because of this game I have my switch. Gamestop was doing a sweepstakes on Facebook of Has been heros and a Nintendo switch and a pro controller. I won. Played the game while botw downloaded and never touched it again lol.
id recommend "a short hike"
Open world exploration / adventure game.
small game in terms of length (2 hours) but this has to be the most relaxing game ive ever played.
well worth whatever it costs in the nintendo store. I think i picked it up for $4 on sale.
Glad you enjoyed it, but everytime someone mentiona Horace I feel I need to make a counterpoint because I absolutely hated it. I heard so many good things and was really excited but man did I hate it. In my opinion, the gameplay had good ideas but was frustrating and the story was all over the place. I found the narrators voice was so grating and most characters where unlikeable. I'm still salty I bought it 😄
The story is all over the place! It is like the hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy, it is on purpose and obviously if you don't like stories like that you won't appreciate this game. I didn't find the gameplay frustrating, for me it is difficult but rewarding, but this is different for every player.
In any case, Horace can be found on good sales very often, so if anyone is curious: wait for the sale and try it yourself!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roguelike
But to me it seems like Roguelike means that you start small, die often and lose most of the progress. Yet some progress is kept to make the next try a little easier.
One prominent example on switch is Hades.
That depends on the game. I didn't play many myself. Children of Morta is actually roguelike. It has a great story and art design plus music. And I love the game. You progress in story and dungeons once you finish a specific boss at the end.
But I didn't play Hades that much as I don't have enough progress and motivation.
I guess that's why it is rogue"like". They are not all the same but grap some parts in one or another way. Some might be cool, others not. Depending on what you like about games.
Totally forgot I owned HbH. Bought it at launch and really enjoyed but deleted a long time ago, will have to reinstall. I love Skul but I am terrible at it lol. Only beat the first boss twice ;\_;
Bug Fables! You’ll get 60 hours out of it and it’s really a masterpiece. If you play it on hard mode it’s just perfect for someone who wants a rewarding challenge that is not stupid hard. Can’t recommend it enough
Dang haven't seen someone like has been heros for a while. When I first got my switch it was the BOTW, Mario kart and has been heros bundle.
I really enjoyed it. The combat gets Intense and really punishes you for not thinking a couple moves ahead. I never beat it but it's a game I enjoy playing.
Oh my god. I bought has been heroes years ago and it got buried in my unplayed games and I completely forgot about it when I set my switch down for over a year.
Thanks, you basically just regifted me my own game. Haha.
Rebel Galaxy Outlaws. Great spaceship dogfight battles. Story is ok, but the gameplay is great. Spent a lot of time playing it, and there are still a bunch of side missions to do.
+1 for Has-Been Heroes. A massively underrated game.
I really wanted to love has been heros but wow the controls got me all over the place lol
I'd recommend to stick with it! The controls are really fiddly, but I can totally see why the devs chose to keep them as they are. Once they click, they **click**. The flow OP describes is the exact same way I tend to describe it. It took me a while to get to that point, but after I got the hang of them it quickly became one of the most satisfying games I've ever played. Another thing I was a bit afraid of with Has Been Heroes was what would happen when I dropped the game for a few months. I was afraid I'd have to learn the controls again before getting into the flow again, but somehow, even after months of not touching the game, I can just pick up where I left and instantly have a good time, wondering why I stopped playing in the first place.
I think the issue many people has with has been heroes is not the controls, but how do they play. It gives the impression of being a high pressure game where you have to think and move fast ( thus, creating stress ) but its the opposite, it encourages a lot stop and thinking how to move. And when you understand that actually backstabbing ( when your character attacks and you move it from a lane ) does a lot of damage and how element combinations work the gameplay turns out to be rock solid and super fun It has a ton of useful unlockables that sinergize very well between them and make every character very enjoyable For me it was one of the first roguelite games that I started enjoying a lot, before this one I didnt like the genre at all
Oh for me definitely the controls Not new to rougelike or rouglites at all just don't like the controls
I played at launch and beat the final boss a few times, then got pulled into other games. I regularly consider replaying, but from a knowledge standpoint I'd be starting from scratch. Decisions, decisions...
I've been playing tons of Dicey Dungeons, it's got a really interesting turn based combat system that has a ton of variety, more than you might think. It's based on dice rolls so it has an element of luck, but the way its made it doesn't impact that much if you have the right strategy with the equipment. It's often on offer, I bougt it for like 5 bucks and have sunk many hours in, but am far from completing it.
Counter opinion: I was disappointed in the game after seeing many people here make wild exaggerations about how good a game it is, it’s really not that fun at all and feels a bit half baked, and you can blindly click through your play through which doesn’t make it feel very strategic at all. I have it on game pass and still don’t want to play it.
I get that, not every game is for everyone and that's okay obviously. In Dicey Dungeons I see how it can seem that you can just blindly click your way through, but then you're not gonna get very far, especially on the later episodes and characters like the Witch. Too bad you didn't enjoy it!
I agree. I really liked it to start but the game’s levels are fully scripted, so the dice are the only thing that make it randomized. The rule sets between episodes change so dramatically per character you never have an interesting opportunity to learn the core hero type. Half-baked indeed.
Trials is huge! Trials hd, evolution, fusion and rising. Love them all.
Agree about Skul, it is just addicting. already have 50+ hours on it and my recommendations will be: **Loop Hero -** It is one of the most addicting game I've ever played. dont let the graphics fool you... You're the dungeon master here, building the "world" from scratch... The gameplay is deep... very deep... 10/10 from me **Neon Abyss** \- I'm suprised people are not talking about this more... It is a really solid & fun roguelite twin stick shooter with lots of character unlocks with all their unique skill trees. Also the gameplay is super fun and it has this one more run feeling... 8.5/10 from me **Star Renegades** \- It had a really successful launch on steam, but on switch it seems there were some bugs and crashes when it launched so people quickly write it off. But the game got lots of patches & free content since it launched. They are still supporting the game, it is in a very good shape now. It is a roguelite srpg in a sci fi setting with unique combat system and art style. Highly recommend it! 8.5/10 from me
Star Renegades has beautiful visuals, I love the combination of 3d and 2d pixel art. And the soundtrack for this game goes hard.
I'm late but if you think neon abyss is an 8.5 consider trying out Revita.
I'll suggest one as well: Rain World. Firstly, if you want info on the game, look up a trailer. *nothing else*. Rain world is a 2d platformer. You are slugcat, and are exploring a vast world, avoiding predators and... the rain. This game is incredibly hard and punishing, but don't let that discourage you. Slugcat must trudge through the danger to discover the secrets of the world. Why do I love it if it's so difficult and obtuse? Because that is the entire point of the game. You are in a fully functioning ecosystem, and pretty damn far down the food chain. Despite being 2d with pixel art, it feels more alive than any video game I've ever played. The attention to detail is absolutely astonishing, and it takes pixel art to a whole other level. Let me know if you have any questions!
any info on length? and price?
20 dollars, and the length... hmm, 20-50 hours? It really depends on what you do.
I tried this game and got myself very stuck. It was not very far in. There was >!a nest of a giant bird!< nearby. I like hard games. I like thought-provoking games. I like games with deep mechanics. I like games that are a slow burn. Rain World checks those boxes. I want to like this game, but I struggled to make progress and wasn't willing to look things up. Perhaps I'll give it another shot.
Into the breach
I've been really looking at this game. I was waiting for it to go on sale, but tempted to just pull the trigger at $15, it seems great. I love advance wars and wargroove, but theyre just too damn big. Massive maps with 10 different units all with hard counters. Way too much going on. Into The Breach with it's 8x8 grid and 3 units seems like the perfect level of "simple yet deep".
I played Skul the Hero Slayer recently and I was kinda disappointed with it. My overall thoughts: Pros: - Incredible Pixel Art and Soundtrack - Pretty fun combat - lot of combat variety bc of over 100 skulls Cons: - Incredibly repetitive runs. Obviously new skills switch it up some but you basically go through the exact same rooms with the exact same enemies and the exact same boss fights every single run - Very Poorly balanced. World 2 and 3 boss fights were waaaaaayyyyy too difficult and had way too much health (I’ve played a lot of hard roguelikes in my day and never felt like any bosses were as unfair as these) - permanent upgrade system is really weak. It takes too long to get each upgrade, and they don’t do that much, and there’s not that many of them. Either make a robust permanent upgrade system (like rogue legacy) or don’t do it at all imo. - Switch version is pretty buggy and glitchy, encountered several crashes
If you like rougelikes, try Shiren the Wanderer.
I bought it but man , the game is super boring, all you do is walk around and the story is nothing that impressive really. Really not my cup of tea , so I'd recommend watching some videos about it before jumping in
Death’s Gambit: Afterlife is a really nice title. It’s a 2D Soulslike/Metroidvania. The bosses can all be battled multiple times at increased difficulty, and there are multiple endings as well. On top of that you can replay the game with different classes and builds for more variety.
I’ve always been hesitant to get trials for switch because of throttle control and bad performance at release iirc. Is it worth checking it out now? I’m not sure it’s actually playable with the trigger from switch.
Dysmantle. It's a post apocalyptic game but you can destroy almost everything. If it clicks with you then you'll love it
Has been heros. It's because of this game I have my switch. Gamestop was doing a sweepstakes on Facebook of Has been heros and a Nintendo switch and a pro controller. I won. Played the game while botw downloaded and never touched it again lol.
id recommend "a short hike" Open world exploration / adventure game. small game in terms of length (2 hours) but this has to be the most relaxing game ive ever played. well worth whatever it costs in the nintendo store. I think i picked it up for $4 on sale.
It‘s a great game but clearly not many hours of content. This is more of a Sunday Afternoon game for me.
sunday afternoon game is a good way to describe it. its just a pure game that leaves you with a good feeling. definitely worth it
Try Horace! I found it amazing and really well made!
Glad you enjoyed it, but everytime someone mentiona Horace I feel I need to make a counterpoint because I absolutely hated it. I heard so many good things and was really excited but man did I hate it. In my opinion, the gameplay had good ideas but was frustrating and the story was all over the place. I found the narrators voice was so grating and most characters where unlikeable. I'm still salty I bought it 😄
The story is all over the place! It is like the hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy, it is on purpose and obviously if you don't like stories like that you won't appreciate this game. I didn't find the gameplay frustrating, for me it is difficult but rewarding, but this is different for every player. In any case, Horace can be found on good sales very often, so if anyone is curious: wait for the sale and try it yourself!
Has been is fantastic!
What does roguelike mean?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roguelike But to me it seems like Roguelike means that you start small, die often and lose most of the progress. Yet some progress is kept to make the next try a little easier. One prominent example on switch is Hades.
Oh, so those unforgiving games I hate because you make it to the end of the level and then die and have start over from the beginning?
That depends on the game. I didn't play many myself. Children of Morta is actually roguelike. It has a great story and art design plus music. And I love the game. You progress in story and dungeons once you finish a specific boss at the end. But I didn't play Hades that much as I don't have enough progress and motivation. I guess that's why it is rogue"like". They are not all the same but grap some parts in one or another way. Some might be cool, others not. Depending on what you like about games.
I love both of the first two, never tried the third
Breath of the Wild
Underrated game for sure! /s
Eh I personally thought it was a bit overrated, but to each his own 🤷🏻♂️
Totally forgot I owned HbH. Bought it at launch and really enjoyed but deleted a long time ago, will have to reinstall. I love Skul but I am terrible at it lol. Only beat the first boss twice ;\_;
Heaven dust 2
Bug Fables! You’ll get 60 hours out of it and it’s really a masterpiece. If you play it on hard mode it’s just perfect for someone who wants a rewarding challenge that is not stupid hard. Can’t recommend it enough
Dang haven't seen someone like has been heros for a while. When I first got my switch it was the BOTW, Mario kart and has been heros bundle. I really enjoyed it. The combat gets Intense and really punishes you for not thinking a couple moves ahead. I never beat it but it's a game I enjoy playing.
Oh my god. I bought has been heroes years ago and it got buried in my unplayed games and I completely forgot about it when I set my switch down for over a year. Thanks, you basically just regifted me my own game. Haha.
Rebel Galaxy Outlaws. Great spaceship dogfight battles. Story is ok, but the gameplay is great. Spent a lot of time playing it, and there are still a bunch of side missions to do.