You and your enemies have what the developer calls “soft body physics,” meaning you squish and squash as you ram into each other and into walls. Since many enemies don’t deal damage on contact, this opens up some interesting gameplay avenues, but mostly it’s just fun.
Things can get chaotic.
Credit: Aberrant Labs/Slug Disco
Things can get chaotic. Credit: Aberrant Labs/Slug Disco
Despite my praise, there are a few things to keep in mind. If you’re not into roguelites—maybe the whole “permadeath” thing turns you off—this game won’t be for you. And not every run will be a banger, of course; there’s plenty of randomness involved, as befits the genre. Making the best of what you get, and occasionally surprising yourself with a wacky build, is all part of the fun.
The game is also not easy; there’s a lot of bullet hell here, and many rooms are tight and filled with hazards and enemies. I’ve had more than a few frustrating deaths due to so much going on in small spaces, though I’m learning how to avoid them the more I play. Overwhelming visual effects can sometimes be an issue, but you can tone down the clutter in the settings if it gets to be too much.
Still, any death just makes it all the sweeter when you return next time with an overpowered build and delete entire rooms as you walk into them.
The game plays great on the Steam Deck, essentially a requirement for me these days. When things get chaotic and effects fill the screen in the later stages, there can be some slowdown, but nothing has been showstopping for me. It’s currently available only on PC, though, so console players are out of luck.
But the best news might be that the game is scandalously underpriced at $10. If you like action roguelites at all, this is a no-brainer pickup.
Being sick is miserable, but I have to admit, I’ve gained some newfound respect for the little guys that put me through this. May they all see a game-over screen soon.