[b]I like Angvik 2.
I do.
I recorded much of my progress in Angvik 2, enjoying it and clearing a few run, as well as offering some observations and thoughts.
Please take a look if you prefer a more audio / visual format.[/b]
https://youtu.be/oNf4sVyuPMQ
Angvik 2 is an Indie, light Action RPG Sidescroller Roguelite that feels inspired by Ghosts ‘n Goblins.
[h1]A Roguelite Ghosts and Goblins?[/h1]
In some ways; yes.
Angvik 2 is rocking the whole armor as hp angle, with most armors only able to take a few hits, before they literally burst off you, leaving you bare.
Angvik 2 is also a 2d sidescroller, and has elements of platforming, though it is no-where near as cheap and brutal as old school Ghosts and Goblins!
That game was nasty!
[h1]It’s a Roguelite:[/h1]
Angvik 2 has random outdoor dungeon areas to explore, which is good, as the randomized generation of the lvls helps keep the action fresh, as you never know exactly what awaits you, which I find really adds to the excitement of each run.
[h1]Meta Progression:[/h1]
As a roguelite, Angvik 2 is packing much in the way of meta progression.
The meta currency is coin, and fully carries over after each run.
Using the coins, there are many classes to unlock, which all play a bit differently, along with the expected meta progression power-ups like getting more gold, armor exploding when broken, bonus starting stats via food; etc.
Also, a bigger ship.
With more stuff to do on it; like fishing or farming (I am not kidding.)
Also, when you clear the game, you unlock “Bronze” mode; difficulty 2; enjoy.
Controller Support is present, and very good, which is good, because mouse and keyboard control is flat out impossible here, as the mouse is not recognized by the game!
We have another PC game here that neglects to support proper PC centric controls.
Unfortunate
While I did enjoy my time with Angvik 2, I did find some areas where it could be even better.
Please let me know if any of this is off-base, but I find directness works best here.
I will try and keep this organized.
[b]Tech / UI Suggestions:[/b]
[h1]1: No Mouse Support on a PC Game?[/h1]
Not on the title screen.
Not in-game at all?
Not a good look.
This is a very bad thing to see on a PC game.
It’s like a console game saying “Plays Best with Keyboard”, and not support controller play.
It should simply not be done.
Are any of these expected features planned?
[h1]2: No Setting Access In-Game?[/h1]
Only off the main menu?
This makes customizing controls needlessly tedious.
[b]Gameplay Suggestions:[/b]
[h1]3: Boo![/h1]
There is zero collision on the monsters here; you just walk right through them like a ghost.
Am I fighting ghosts?
It does not look good walking right through your foes like they’re not even there.
[h1]4: Drop Your Stuff![/h1]
When killing monsters, it often happens that they don’t drop the weapon I clearly see them using when they die!
You should keep what you kill.
Or at least, have a real chance at it.
Doing otherwise reduces the amount of loot for the player.
It also steps on the weapon shuffling theme the game has got going.
If the player has no weapon to shuffle, are they doing the shuffling at all?
Or just the fisting?
Additionally, without a weapon, players will just fist everything anyway, so all this does is drag out the mostly uninteresting combats.
At least allowing players to readily get more of the badly glued together weapons would be better than the current tedious fisting…
[i]One can only fist so much before the magic is lost...[/i]
Now, I know there is the item find stat of “Thievery”, as well as the % chance to avoid wear tied to “Skill”, but still, come on.
When you drop yet another dude with a giant axe, or a staff, and it doesn’t drop, again, it begins to feel downright absurd!
Was I punching the huge axe or staff to splinters as well?!
Every time?!
[u]Perhaps after a certain number of non-drops, these could be some sort of guaranteed, large weapon drop off certain foes?
Even if the durability is crap, yet still enough uses left to bother picking up, would make this feel a bit better.[/u]
[h1]5: The Combat Needs More[/h1]
So, there are no apparent down attacks, charge attacks, up attacks, or power attack / fast attack.
Nor is there a stamina system to apply some cost to chosen player actions.
Nop, you just swing / blast while jogging and jumping around.
Combined with the lack of collision on enemies, it just really feels like more meat on the bones here would add some engaging depth to the combats, aside from the weapon durability shuffling and manly fisting.
[h1]6: You Cannot Lvl-Up while Shape-Shifted?[/h1]
It just feels mean.
Yes, I know you can shift out of it; many players will not.
It feels like a mean trick to play on a new vampire.
Anyway, my critiques aside, Angvik 2 is a fun indie light Action RPG Sidescroller Roguelite that feels inspired by old Ghosts ‘n Goblins.
I like it.
Watch?
