Lost Castle

As the other one would say: "I don't like rogue-like but I like it". Lost Castle won the Palm of the best game of its kind, in any case for me. Not being a big fan of Castle Crashers yet very close (lack of depth), of the binding of Isaac, darkest Dungeon or even of enter the Gungeon among many others, I have overcome my few a priori to try without conviction this little game indie released last year. 28 hours of play later, I admit to having taken a lot of fun in this treasure hunt! In most rogue-like, the principle is as follows: to confront enemies more and more difficult in order to rise in power, to avoid at all costs death because it is fatal and synonymous with game-over, finally, adapt to the highly random dimension of game (monsters, loot, map of the place...). Lost Castle does not escape these elementary rules but remains much less hardcore than these confreres, it is this aspect that seduced me. Indeed, in lost Castle we have a clear and precise goal: to pick up equipment and reach the Castle corresponding to the 5th level to defend the evil. We have a very clear view of the steps to be overcome. In addition, most levels are relatively short compared to other games of the genre. The increase in power of the enemies is done smoothly, just like that of the bosses. The random dimension inherent in the genre appears mainly in the loot because lost Castle offers a very wide variety of items to unlock (more than a hundred) but also in the spawn of enemies and bosses of end of level, the succession of the halls in the different dungeons or the skin of your character after his death. The strong point of lost Castle is that death seems less punitive than it seems because it improves its character by spending souls gleam on defeated enemies. Certainly you start again from the beginning but you can use these precious souls in a tree of talents in order to improve or unlock skills until reaching the level 110. Obviously, this rise in power is saved which, for my part, gives all the interest in the title by increasing de facto replayability unlike its confreres who often penalizes death by a small: "well done, start again from scratch!". In short, the classic pattern of a part of lost Castle roughly resembles this: the more you play, the more souls you collect. The more you die, the more you are "submitted" to your character's enhancement interface. The more power your hero gets, the more you go away in the adventure. Simple and efficient. The maneuverability to the joystick is very good (I have not tried the keyboard), that said you have to get used to the rigidity of the movements and actions. This may be the only small weakness of the game but nothing insurmountable or off putting either. Your attacks are summed up in three buttons: Classic attack, alternative attack/skill and a kind of Ulti. These skills vary depending on your weapon and not your personal. The many utilitarian objects to pick up add a bit of salt to this seemingly basic gameplay: Boomerang, bomb, potions, traps, throwing knives etc. Add to this not far from 80 successes on steam to unlock, very well designed and that give a real depth to the game and you will become addicted! Ah if, another weak point, the music unboring and irrelevant. Then the game would be really great if the developers added one or two more levels... quibble story and not make the fan boy! Finally, it is not forgetting the possibility to access the entire Modo solo to two, in local co-operation (fendard) or online (Server sparsely populated...) that makes lost Castle a small nugget at less than €10 in normal time and €5 during the periods of pay. What are you waiting for, treasure hunter? I recommend it.