Inkbound review: the groundwork for a great multiplayer roguelike

Respect must be paid to games that call villains villains. Nothing is clearer than that.

ink boundis the latest title from developer Shiny Shoe, which will be released in Early Access on May 22nd. monster train. Although described as a turn-based co-op rogue-like game, ink bound It’s a game that uses the verb “to meet” too much. Unfortunately, I have to do this. ink bound teeth Hades meet Diablo meet Into the Bleachwith just a small splash fortnite I put it in just in case.

let’s get started HadesBecause structurally, it’s the most obvious point of inspiration. ink bound is a narrative-driven, top-down rogue-like action filled with characters who give you tasks to accomplish over and over again in a narrative setting. There’s the Silent Promenade, which isn’t as quiet as the name suggests, and yes, no, there’s the Proving Grounds where you can definitely prove yourself. Every run brings me back to the hub area slash library, Ateneum. Despite the apocalyptic trap, it seems very cozy for a book nerd like me. Here is the story. Every book ever written is kept in Atheneum, but— but —they are in danger of being destroyed forever, as the aforementioned villains suck the ink out of them and make them fade.

Yes, yes, but gameplay. Initially, he plays as one of three classes: Magma Minor, Moskrok, and Weaver. Magma Minor is a tank that can stack ability powers and shields. Moskroak is a rogue of sorts, with an emphasis on combo dashes and throwing shurikens. Weavers are a twist on the traditional sorcerer who ties enemies with strings, setting new enemies to take more damage each time they pull the string. In the pre-release build I played, he unlocks two additional classes as he progresses through the early few quests. One combos his support and damage his dealer his Clairvoyant, the other his is my personal favorite, as a weapon he’s an offensive frontliner with two giant stone shields. is his Obelisk.

Of course, like any good roguelike, each class can be drastically altered in terms of playstyle by abilities acquired along the way. My more successful runs involved doing as much poison damage as possible with each of Moskrok’s abilities, and one run turned an obelisk into a god-like teleporter. Juggernaut. (Needless to say, I won.) Hadesor in any other good roguelike, your abilities are almost imperceptible from your starting character by the time you reach the end of the run.

Image: Glossy Shoes via Polygon

Combat is done from a top-down perspective. Diablowhich features a hotbar of unique abilities for each class, but is also turn-based, with a clear layout of upcoming enemy actions and total damage Into the Bleach. If this sentence confuses you, his first hour when you start the game will be similar to mine. It takes a second to get used to the flow of action. But once in action, combat becomes tactical and thoughtful. Both movement and abilities use will, a limited resource similar to mana that replenishes each turn, so you need to balance your movement power and damage. Will I use my will to smash these exploding little moles to the ground, or will I spend some outside this big AoE circle on the ground promising to halve my HP? What should I do to get out?

Complicating matters is that the circle of play shrinks as the fight progresses, encouraging action rather than doing nothing, but the mechanics should be familiar to anyone who’s played. fortnite or its ilk. on the 4th or 5th run, respectively ink bound Combat felt like a brain teaser, requiring a deliberate series of moves and attacks to overcome.

At that point, unless you’re playing multiplayer ink bound It feels like a completely different game.

Image: Glossy Shoes via Polygon

To say “completely different” might be an exaggeration, but not by much. Everything I’ve said about gameplay so far still holds true if you add another player (or more, up to 4). Combat is still turn-based, and enemy damage is still clearly laid out. However, when it is the player’s turn, all actions by the party are performed simultaneously. While solo play allows you to carefully consider each move, chaos tends to reign in multiplayer. As you line up dashes as an obelisk, suddenly Moskrok’s friends perform their own dash and shuriken combos, wiping out the enemies you intended to eliminate on your turn. If you happen to left-click at the same time, it is very disappointing. Because there is no “undo” button when dashing outdoors. Just wait until the next turn.

This is a game that requires voice chat to coordinate attacks, but even so, adding another player into the mix ink bound Suddenly it feels more like a desperate fight than a careful game of chess. This isn’t a bad thing, but it’s been a long time since I’ve played a game where the co-op experience felt so different from the solo version.

Image: Glossy Shoes via Polygon

ink boundAs with any early access game, it will inevitably change as updates progress. But what I’ve played so far is a strong foundation. My main gripe at the moment is that the NPCs don’t feel as clear as I’d like, making it harder to immerse yourself in the story. But I appreciate that you agree with the creative writing maxim by naming your player character “Needless”, along with the supporting cast’s comment that if you don’t have a need, you’re not a real character. Still, the whole “every book so far” angle is probably for legal reasons, not dealing with copyrighted material, just because it’s a general take on storytelling in general. Even if it is, it feels undercooked. (Maybe they should, since it’s now in the public domain) the great gatsby update? )

Ultimately, though, the real measure of a roguelike game is whether it instills a sense of “I can do it again.” ink bound There are enough of them. If the game’s Early Access is the prologue, I’m ready to read Chapter 1.

ink bound Windows PC will be released in early access on May 22nd. This game was reviewed on PC using a pre-release download code provided by Shiny Shoe. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not affect editorial content, but Vox Media may earn a commission on products purchased via affiliate links.discoverable Additional information on Polygon’s Ethics Policy can be found here.