Hellboy Web Of Wyrd Review (PlayStation 5)

Hellboy: Web of Wyrd is a visually stunning game with its unique cel-shaded comic book graphics. The game, which is a 2.10GB download, offers a platinum trophy for achievement hunters. It provides various game options for player customization, such as health boost, longer enemy cooldowns, lock-on style, and pre-attack warnings. The game also offers optional tutorial pop-ups and controller settings like camera flip and recenter axis.

The gameplay is roguelike with a run-based game loop, and the layout of the runs randomizes every life. The combat is meaty and satisfying, with the ability to lock onto bigger enemies in fights. You can smash enemies into the environment for extra damage, and perfect dodges allow you to deal more damage. Smaller enemies are one-hit kills and serve as just fodder. All fights take place in arena-like rooms, and you can choose your route through a run with multiple doors and routes available to you.

The game features big boss encounters that drop an artifact giving you new abilities. The locations look fantastic – grim and dark but fantastic. Found items of lore are displayed in the museum back in the hub. You can throw parts of the broken environment at enemies. When you quit out of the game, you can choose to start in the hub or in a run.

After a successful boss battle, you return to the hub where you can unlock new abilities as you progress and buy them back in the hub. You can upgrade all weapons and abilities within the hub. As you beat bosses, you unlock the door to jump straight to that Wyrd Realm.

The game nails the atmosphere of the franchise. Clearing a room or nailing a smash is very satisfying. You can charge up your special attack (attacking enemies fill it up) and do a crazy over-the-top attack sequence.

However, the game has its drawbacks. The combat is slow-paced, which takes some getting used to. The overall pace of the game from unlocks to movement to general progression is slow. Loading times are inconsistent – sometimes good, sometimes bad. The controls cannot be rebound which might be an issue for some players. Overall though it’s a game that fans can get behind and it does offer a good challenge but also a steep on-ramp.

The art style coupled with the animation is very unique and it does take a while to adjust. Combat can be tricky as your attacks outside of ranged shots don’t stagger or stop enemy swings. The Butterfly House hub is all spread out and it never feels worth it to track everyone down.

In conclusion, Hellboy: Web of Wyrd offers an immersive gaming experience with its unique art style and gameplay mechanics but has room for improvement in terms of pacing and combat mechanics.