Hello everyone, @Piroct here. Today I bring you a very interesting game, with a huge learning curve and almost everything physics-made!
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Let's start!
Exanima
Exanima is described as a "Hardcore", isometric, dark RPG with physics-based mechanics that aim to achieve a realistic simulation of things. Exanima counts with a complex combat system, character customization, lots of weapons and armor pieces and an alternate Arena Mode, which is almost a different game entirely.
We all know that "physics-based" can mean two things:
-Immersiveness.
-Drunkenness.
Exanima combines this two words to create a unique kind of Gameplay that is fun, immersive and different. This game has a complex scheme of controls that requires some time to get used to but when you get the right hand into it you'll experience Exanima at its fullest.
As I said, Exanima is a "Physics-Based" game. It's true that characters will look like drunk people in some cases, but this feature of the game has a lot of pros too.
If we talk about combat, in Exanima every fight is different. Every hit and swing will have a different consequence in your character's body depending on the force and the direction in coming to. You'll have to block and dodge, and learn to position your character so your swings hit the target right in the enemy's weak point!
Your character can trip with objetcts on the ground, your weapons can get stuck if you swing them in a small space... In Exanima you'll have to be careful even of the smallest details.
In addition with the combat system you'll have a Skill Progression system for your character, where you can decide what skill it will train. When the skill is completely trained your character will level up and you'll get to choose another skill.
The choices range from Block Recovery and Doble Swinging to Meditation and Magic. It's a really interesting set of skills to offer and it really feels how your character gets better and better in combat... But it's not that easy. Some skills will require to be triggered and by that I mean you need to perform some kind of movement so that your character can faint a hit or can hit twice in a row, and it's not so easy to get around those triggers but it's surely rewarding when you get the hang of it.
NPCs have a polish AI, learning from your movements and attacking when you're least prepared, as well as running and calling for reinforcements when they get into trouble. They will be really unpredictable so you must be careful before rushing them, even when they're alone they can be a real threat.
Exanima has an interesting mechanic that lets you grab objects from the map near to your character then move them and place them wherever you like as long is in reach. This work with loot too! Sometimes you'll encounter weapons or pieces of armor in the floor or hanging on the walls, so be sure to keep your eyes open so you can grab them and place them of your inventory.
This game counts with different types of weapons and lots of armor pieces to equip and mix so you can build the character you want. For weapons stats you have "Slash", "Pierce", "Crush" "Impact" and "Balance" and for armor pieces you'll encounter "Coverage", "Encumbrance" and how effective they are against the type of damages I said above.
I'll try to explain the stats that I find to be quite unique:
- Impact is calculated from the weapons mass and it represents the amount of force the enemy will receive when it take a hit.
- Balance represents how fast your character can recover its position after swinging a weapon.
- Coverage represents how much that especific piece of armor is covering your character's body part. This is useful to decrease the chance of getting wounded. (This stat can also be judged by looking your character and noticing how much that piece of armor is covering its body).
Exanima calls itself a Hardcore and unforgiving game. In Story Mode you'll start with only a torch and you'll have to wander through the dungeon in search of something to defend yourself. You'll have a small space to breathe after you encounter your first enemy and then you have to decide if you're ready to fight or run for your life.
In Story Mode your health will regenarate as long as you're not wounded. The only way to regenarate from wounds is to find and drink a Potion, and you're right to assume that it isn't easy to find one.
Story Mode contains 3 large levels with a lot of creatures, traps and some puzzles to solve, but one of the hardest things is that you have only 3 or less checkpoints between levels and it's quite frustrating to die from a dumb wrong move and have to repeat a lot of things you did after that checkpoint... But, in some way it's fair and adds a sense of fear when you see a enemy coming to you or a trap you need to avoid.
I'd like to talk about the enemies in this game but if I do I could ruin a surprise the game has to every player when they get far in the game. Still, I'll tell you that the enemies in this game really inspire fear, not only with their looks but with their unpredictable actions. I'll ruin one of those surprises:
And at last we have the Arena Mode, an almost completely different game. In this mode the game let you participate in different kinds of fight to earn some money and then buy equipment for your characters. You'll have to train and hire new characters so you can take on battles that require two or more characters. In this mode is important to train your main character but at the same time to make sure it gets out alive from every match. If your main character dies, all your progress will be gone forever!
The types of battles range from pugilism, where it's only allowed to use your fist, to Frays, where 6 charactes have to battle for their lives.
This mode gives you a fast welcome to the fighting and action within Exanima, and the fun of building your characters as you progress through matches and rankings.
That's all for now, I hope this review was fun to read and catch your attention. If you liked the game please visit its Steam Page and support the developers!
I'll see you soon, Steemians!
