Review for moonlighter. Game for Linux, PC, Mac, Android, iOS, PlayStation Network, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, the video game was released on 29/05/2018 The version for Nintendo Switch came out on 05/11/2018
Never a historical moment, at least in the videogame sector, was it more saturated with deserving exponents of the roguelike genre. It seems that the developer world has been kidnapped by procedurally generated dungeons and permanent or semi-permanent deaths with relative loot loss and increased gamer stress.
In dealing with moonlighter Digital Sun would therefore seem legitimate to think, given the amount of roguelikes that surround us, to find ourselves in front of something already seen: well, you are very wrong.
The plot rests on something we all know and often underestimate: video game stores. Virtually any adventure you have faced has seen you, at some point, go to a shop, a merchant, a stall, a traveler. No matter the context or the motivation: whether the need to change equipment, buy items, level up or rest, sooner or later every gamer must contact a shopkeeper. Why not create a videogame that narrates the deeds of a trader struggling both with everyday life and with the heroic and dangerous feats aimed at filling the shelves?
Or do you think that the mythical flaming sword or the fearsome cursed armor will arrive on the shelves by themselves?
In the small village that gave us our birth, out of the blue we find ourselves managing the family shop. After a very brief tutorial on the trade of a merchant held by a crazy grandfather, we find our exercise on our hands. Too bad the shelves are soon empty; if we want to pocket something, we have to get busy. Fortunately, our ancestors built the family business in an ideal place: a village close to a site of magical portals capable of transporting thousands of fearless leaders (and future customers) to desolate labyrinthine lands. Once the shop is closed, our fearless protagonist takes up a sword and a shield and also goes to face the dungeons to recover raw materials, artifacts and weapons to sell.
At the beginning, only one portal will be available, consisting of multiple levels with a final mini boss. Once the latter is defeated, access to the other portals will also be freed. Attention: exactly like in all the other exponents of the genre, even in Moonlighter the death during the exploration of the dungeon will lead to the inevitable loss of everything you have collected; only a small part will remain at your disposal, a few objects all present in your pockets, while the contents of the bag will inevitably be lost.
The devs have thought of two important features in order to make the title proceed smoothly without leading to unintelligent and frustrating farming. The first feature concerns an amulet found in the first explorations, a medallion able to get you out quickly with all the loot collected. Be careful, however, because to activate the medallion it takes a few seconds in which you will be completely at the mercy of your enemies who will not hesitate to take you out. The second item that can help you a lot during your raids is a mirror capable of transforming the items found into hard cash: to be honest it is a bit stingy when it comes to converting but it proves essential to make room in the backpack for children. objects of greater value.
But don't think that the adventure is limited to the simple operation of collecting items in the dungeons. The sales component is really well developed and involves exhibiting, selling and combining objects; all with a direct experience of the player himself, who does not know exactly what he has in his hands. Observing the reactions of customers to the price we would set will help us decide whether to raise it or lower it in order to find the right balance between profit and honesty. In addition, like any true merchant, you will have to maintain good neighborly relations, expand and maintain your shop, exchange raw materials in exchange for finished items and, above all, get yourself interesting goods. And don't forget to keep away the dishonest ones with long hands who will inevitably be attracted to your rarest and most expensive items: watchful eyes and always full shelves, this is the secret of success.
The combat system is reduced to the bone: two buttons are enough for attack and defense, one to change the weapon set between the two available, one for inventory and one for usable items. In the shop, you need even less: one for interaction and one for confirmation: in this case the weapon sets are limited only to making the rogues escape.
Moonlighter features retro fake graphics with a pixelated style and fluid animations on beautifully colored backgrounds. Definitely a great job, strongly reminiscent of the RPG of the past, combined with a sound sector at the height of indie. The problem is that, despite the attention paid to the realization of the levels, they become rather monothematic and boring. The lack of depth also affects all the other features of the game.
Unfortunately, studying the reactions of buyers, facing the dungeons, loading material and expanding the various shops becomes a boring experience that only manages to involve fans of the genre; pity, because the premises were remarkable. A more complex level design, combined with greater attention to history, would also have enhanced the originality of the plot.
Moonlighter, developed by Digital Sun and produced by 11 bit studios, is an indie roguelike with action and RPG elements that offers a brilliant and innovative idea in a landscape saturated with similar exponents. The transposition for Nintendo Switch enhances its qualities by minimizing its defects, which unfortunately remain and penalize a title that suffers from lack of depth.
► Moonlighter is an Action-Roguelike-RPG type game developed by Digital Sun and published by 11 bit studios for Linux, PC, Mac, Android, iOS, PlayStation Network, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, the video game was released on 29/05/2018 The version for Nintendo Switch came out on 05/11/2018
