Voidwrought Review (Nintendo Switch OLED)

Summary

Voidwrought features decent cel-shaded cartoon graphics and a manageable download size of 2.8GB. The game offers four save slots and employs a Metroidvania platformer gameplay style, with tutorial pop-ups to guide players as they progress. The 2D game world is complemented by 3D backdrops, and players can navigate using a mini-map and a larger map that uncovers as they explore, marking points of interest and allowing for custom markers. The hack-and-slash combat style is engaging, with enemy names displayed during fights. Save rooms, which replenish health and potion uses, are scattered throughout the world, and players can unlock shortcuts to facilitate easier navigation. The game world is memorable and visually appealing, with enemies that respawn and drop random items and materials. Players earn new abilities by exploring and defeating bosses, making previously inaccessible areas reachable. Background objects can be broken to drop materials or items, adding a layer of interaction to the environment. Slight puzzle elements are also present, enhancing the gameplay experience.

The game boasts awesome-looking animations and an open world that allows players to choose their own path. The health bar system is straightforward, with potions used to restore health. Save rooms are easily identifiable by their purple doors, and players do not lose anything upon death. Collecting shards of Vitae increases potion usage, and a downward swipe move allows players to bounce off spikes. The game introduces interesting characters who provide advice or story snippets, and big boss encounters add to the excitement. Vendors are available to buy items and gear using solid earned from enemies. However, the game’s performance is not as smooth as it should be, with a noticeable slowdown and juddering. The inability to remap controls and the small size of rooms, leading to frequent black screen loading times, can be frustrating. Signposting is unclear, and there are no real game settings or accessibility options. The lack of camera control makes drops unpredictable, and the absence of game difficulties might not appeal to all players.

Despite these issues, Voidwrought offers a great world with an intriguing story and lore. The biomes and locations are fantastic, and the game becomes more enjoyable as players unlock new abilities, making exploration and platforming more fun. The game does suffer from a lack of voice work, making it feel flat and lifeless, especially in the first hour. Backtracking is a common occurrence, and loading times, while not long, are frequent enough to be a nuisance, particularly when playing handheld. Mission markers help guide players, and relics can be equipped to add buffs. Souls, which are special attacks and abilities, can be quickly accessed through equipped slots. The game world is rich and interesting, with a variety of biomes and locations to explore. Once new abilities are unlocked, the game opens up significantly, making exploration and platforming more enjoyable.

In summary, Voidwrought is a visually appealing Metroidvania platformer with engaging combat and a rich world to explore. While it has its share of performance issues and lacks some modern conveniences like remappable controls and accessibility options, the game’s intriguing story, memorable locations, and enjoyable gameplay make it worth playing. The game’s strengths lie in its open world, interesting characters, and the sense of progression as players unlock new abilities and explore new areas. Despite its flaws, Voidwrought offers a compelling experience for fans of the genre.  And is one of those games where the first hour is rough but it then blossoms into a hefty satisfying experience.