Arboria

Developed by Dreamplant, Arboria is a dark fantasy 3D rogue-lite game that follows general dark fantasy with aspects of the Norse mythos. You play as a troll who must burrow into the world tree’s roots and gather a substance that will help stop the end of times. In regards to the story, that’s pretty much it but there’s a surprising amount to the game so jump into this review and let me tell you what’s what.

[DISCLAIMER: THIS GAME IS STILL IN ALPHA AT THE TIME OF WRITING THIS REVIEW. THERE MAY BE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO COME BEFORE ITS OFFICIAL RELEASE. A NEW REVIEW WILL BE WRITTEN AT THAT TIME.]

Gameplay

This game is a rogue-lite, plain and simple. Heavily inspired by classics like Dark Souls and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, there is a looooot of dodging and timing involved in the combat; the player must have patience lest they be destroyed by a single foul move.

You will play as a Yotun warrior who is equipped with symbiotic weapons and bio mutations, this allows the player to switch up their combat in a way that best suits them and their play style. You aren’t stuck to a single type of weapon or ability but there are a few mainstays that you can utilise regardless of the other weapons you choose to carry.

A very interesting ability the player possesses is the ability to use previously gather Veri, an upgrade item, to upgrade yourself. Using those to make yourself stronger depending on how strong you were and how far you got, your next character will inherit stronger traits which makes the journey easier but enemies may be stronger, so it balances really well.

The actual controls and responsiveness are very good, which is absolutely imperative for games like this. Dodging and attacks require a precise movement that the game successfully delivers on.

Map

Something that was very interesting about the game is that the map changes for every playthrough. Unlike games like Lords of the Fallen, which requires constant practice to master each stage, this demands a more fluid adaptable attitude where you must be ready for anything. It’s something that I really appreciate in games and found to be very enjoyable in this one. If you like something that tries its own thing with a formula that you love, then this may be exactly what you are after.

Aesthetic

This game has a clear aesthetic, it may not be as straight up Norse inspired as you might think. The dungeons are very green and wet, showing that nature has a clear control. There is an unmistakeable humour that shines through as well, so you really don’t have to worry about it being exactly like God of War or anything. Rating: 7/10

Pros:

• Interesting world
• Tight controls

Cons:

• Lacks refinement