Alright, let’s talk about Shadow of the Depth, a top-down roguelike that just hit early access.
The game starts you off with a quick tutorial that throws you right into the action. You can choose between gamepad, keyboard, or keyboard and mouse controls. For me, keyboard and mouse felt the most comfortable. It lets you aim your attacks precisely, which is important because auto-aim can be a bit meh.
The first thing you’ll notice is that the game starts slow. Your character is weak and barely does any damage. But as you fight your way through hordes of enemies, you’ll pick up items and weapons that make you stronger. These come from chests, dropped by enemies, or even hidden in special rooms you unlock by clearing out bad guys.
One of the cool things about Shadow of the Depth is the variety of characters you can unlock. There are five in total, ranging from sword-swinging fighters to ranged attackers. You start with the basic dude, and you gotta level up a bit to unlock the others.
Each character has their own playstyle. Some are slow and tanky, while others are fast and deal a ton of damage. There’s also a neat system where you can earn Runes that give you permanent buffs before you start a run. These can be a lifesaver, especially when you’re facing tougher enemies.
The dungeons themselves are randomly generated, which means every run is different. This keeps things fresh, but I did notice some repeated room layouts, especially these annoying one-corridor rooms with hazards everywhere. It felt like a cheap way to slow me down.
Speaking of slowing down, sometimes the rewards you get from chests can be underwhelming. You might fight your way through a tough room expecting a sweet upgrade, only to find something that doesn’t fit your build at all. The good news is that unwanted items can be sold for coins, which you can use to buy things you actually need. This gives you some flexibility in building your character.
The combat in Shadow of the Depth is decent. It’s not the flashiest thing in the world, but it’s satisfying to see the numbers pop up when you land a hit. The enemies are all well-designed, and their attacks are easy to read. This lets you dodge out of the way or block them with your shield, depending on your character.
Just like any good roguelike, Shadow of the Depth throws some tough bosses your way between levels. The difficulty can vary depending on what kind of build you have. In my first playthrough, I got lucky and found an attack that stunned the boss a lot, making it a breeze. However, some bosses might feel unbeatable if you don’t have the right gear.
Visually, Shadow of the Depth has a simple but brutal art style that I really liked. The dark dungeons are full of atmosphere, and the sound design is top-notch. The ambient sounds while exploring the dungeons are great, but it would have been nice to have some more intense music during boss fights.
So, is Shadow of the Depth worth checking out? Here’s the deal: It doesn’t do anything groundbreaking in the roguelike genre. But it’s still a fun and engaging game with a good amount of content to explore, especially with the different characters. If you’re a fan of roguelikes and want another title to add to your collection, then Shadow of the Depth is definitely worth a shot.
Shadow of the Depth: It doesn't do anything groundbreaking in the roguelike genre. But it's still a fun and engaging game with a good amount of content to explore, especially with the different characters. If you're a fan of roguelikes and want another title to add to your collection, then Shadow of the Depth is definitely worth a shot. – Tom Henry
