Looking at the 8-bit art and – let’s admit it – the atrociously generic title, Vampire Survivors seemed to be the kind of game that was rapidly cobbled together to make a quick buck. It didn’t exactly look enticing to play. But with so many people playing it, it had to be doing something right… Right?
YES. RIGHT. DINGDINGDING.
Forgive me father, for I have sinned: this game is great! It’s a fantastic 2D roguelite with very uncomplicated gameplay but lots of modifiers to keep you entertained throughout every run. And it is highly addictive.Floor ChickenIt’s all very straightforward: pick your survivor of choice (this could be a skeleton, random Buff Herotype™, a vampire or you can even unlock an unexpected, endangered animal) and then survive the night for 30 minutes. You’ll start out with a couple of enemy bats here and there but as the night progresses you will get absolutely swamped with huge hordes of tough-as-nails enemies that damage you on impact. Your only hope is picking up random weapons along the way (by leveling or finding treasure) and healing yourself with some much-needed floor chicken now and again.
You don’t need to do much: the only controls you have are movement. The weapons fire by themselves so all you have to do is move through the sandbox levels, find weapons, and gather gems and coins. And preferably also don’t die.So, this is a very simple and accessible game. You could give this to your grandma and I’m sure Memaw will get the hang of it immediately. This, however, does not mean it’s boring. Because there’s actually a lot going on.Modifiers galoreAfter finding your first few weapons and figuring out what they’re for, you’ll start to notice that you can combine and upgrade them to make really interesting setups with loads of variations. But you’re not just dependent on the randomized weapon drops to get better, you can also collect powerups and upgrade your survivor’s abilities by investing the coins you’ve gathered. And if this still isn’t enough: you can also unlock a whole bunch of Arcanas in the later levels. Each of which modifies the gameplay in different ways. Get Yer Dopamine Hits!This game doesn’t only look retro, it also offers that sweet sweet, old school addictiveness. It is so satisfying to see all your weapons firing at once while your hero just plows through mountains of enemies. And then there’s the sound effect of clattering coins and gems raining into your pockets while your searching for your next weapon upgrade or treasure. It also just doesn’t get repetitive because it stays challenging and you’re always working towards a goal.
RatingThis is a great game for a small price. Beware of the Tetris effect with this game. You’ll close your eyes and you’ll still be seeing gems and enemies!
