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Lilpeepz
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Zeus23
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Another game beat & I posted this review to Steam.
I only got 75% item completion, and I might've missed a side boss or two. But I think I'm satisfied to move on from credits.
My overall feelings are positive. And I think the game's strengths are stronger than its weaknesses. But there's some fairly obvious low points and flaws. (Like the Battletoad-esque tower sections that end every dungeon on a sour note. With the most floaty controls of the whole game, and each time felt like an absolute chore to play through.)
People comparing this to Shovel Knight (even if it is by the same studio) feels like they haven't played it. Because this game wears its inspirations transparently on its sleeve. Silksong (Side-arms reliance especially.) & Dark Souls 2/3. (Similar bosses and end game 'spam enemies' level design.)
I've also told four separate people that I was playing this and they responded "Oh, the hard game?" So let me be clear about the difficulty here. This is not Silksong Act 1. (2 or 3) Mina The Hollower's best strength is how open-ended and rewarding it is to explore from the very start. And you'll be max level, before the game's even halfway over. (I was.)
The truth is, at least for me, the game's difficulty is kind of all over the place. (Except the absurd difficulty spike of The Radiant Manor that was just exhausting to get through.) And it feels rather unbalanced and frustratingly trial-and-error at points.
My question for everyone who did beat the game, or is currently going through it, what "tactic" did you use for the game? (And did you ever *need* to change it?) Because almost every encounter in the game seemed like this was meant to be bested by the age old strategy of "random ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ go!"
Side arm spam is the only way a normal person is getting through some of these encounters 1st try. My Axes always did more damage than my Mace (my weapon throughout the whole game) and every second enemy has a shield or flies. So my side arm was always more effective at damage AND range. (My two change-ups that weren't "win by axe spam" was Thorne's 2nd fight, the single time bombs were ever useful for me. And the parasol for the final boss' first phase.) But even then, without side arm spam, I highly doubt I would've defeated these bosses first or second try.
Though I'd still challenge everyone who thinks the game is "too hard". Because it's incredibly generous in giving the player more chances/upgrades. (I lost my bones once the whole game, I think.) But it's undeniably frustrating. The Mined Mind is the worst creature to ever exist in an otherwise incredibly easy near-end game level. Yet the hardest level mechanically & the best one by being cruel in a memorable way, is the wind / chase sequence level. (My third dungeon.)
TLDR: A positive mixed bag in terms of enjoyment. Really loved the opening hours. Had some good humor. Feel like the game does well at intrinsically rewarding the player. But I wanted the final level to be over. (A game like Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo comparatively is just a blast to play all the way through.) 7.5/10? (Will rate 4/5 stars on Playstation.)