Developer: Knight Shift Games
Platforms: PC (Reviewed), PS5, Switch
Genre: Action, Adventure
Publisher: Playtonic Friends
Elsie is a bright technicolour roguelike platformer-shooter that combines fast-paced and lots of fantastic platforming elements, too. The levels are procedurally generated, and you gather valuable resources that you can use whilst in a run or a permanent upgrade after you die.
The game is reminiscent of many retro platformers, with the bright-coloured pixel art style and an old-school soundtrack and effects that fit the game. A bright, airy soundtrack accompanies our hero throughout each level. The game mixes platform elements, bullet-hell, and straight-up shooter mayhem. Gameplay includes parry, dash, sliding-down wall mechanics, the average shooter, and jumping mechanics. The game combines these mechanics as well.
The game follows a few patterns, where you play a couple of stages: a mini-boss, another mini-boss, powerups, and then a boss stage. Each section and level allows you to gain power-ups and level up as you see fit to battle the next hoard of enemies. Each stage and level progress the game, and as you defeat a boss, you will enter a new-looking level style for your next run of levels. The bosses are big and nasty, and there is a sense of achievement in beating them, which makes the somewhat repetitive sections worth it. It’s a case of rinse and repeat. You will die, and like any rouge, the more you progress and die, the stronger you will get for subsequent runs, which will help you progress. You will meet many NPCs that will not live long in the memory.
The gameplay controls were frustrating, but this was more of a case of being used to the controls and game mechanics. At times, it does seem like the game is against you, but I have to say the controls are tight and responsive. You feel in complete control, but like any bullet hell game, you will feel the game is against you. Sometimes, you will just get hit randomly by an enemy you don’t see. There is a good variety of enemies, but at the start, you will; the enemies don’t change much as you see the same ones and do them repeatedly! The augmentations and buff in any roguelike make the game; there is a whole host of augmentation/buff enhancements from health, armour, weapon, critical hits and dash attacks. As you progress through each level, you can choose the augments that suit your style of play.
It’s not the best rouge-like game ever, and your mileage may vary regarding replayability and how long you will keep progressing through the levels. I did like it, and the retro platformer and shooter aspects are well executed; the rogue elements are all there, but I did find it repetitive at times. It’s hard to get a rouge-like that drags you in and keeps you in. It’s good fun and worth a spin.
Overall: 7/10
Enjoys more than the odd game, long time gamer, somewhat a technologist and everything else in between.
Also enjoys a good solid game of FIFA online. Currently PS4, XBOX 360 and STEAM.
