Duel Corp.

This game is so close to being something I could lose 1,000 hours in, but as it is, I can't bring myself to play it for more than 20 or so minutes at a time. The problems all start and stop at the combat. Every single thing I think about, every complaint I have, can be traced back to the combat. I don't know why the game has Mordhau/Chivalry style directional combat. I assume it's because of the Mount and Blade inspiration. But the game is like 90% Dark Souls, 10% Mount and Blade, and the Directional combat simply doesn't work here. I spent 2 hours trying so hard to just "git gud" at the combat and it's just an exercise in frustration. The animations are too stiff for directional combat that's so punishing you die in 3 hits as a class with heavy armor. The difference between the overhead swing and the swing coming from your character's left are very difficult to discern at a glance, especially so when the character is obscured even a tiny bit. Which happens a lot. So if the enemy raises their weapon to the left, most of the time that interaction is a 50/50 guess where guessing wrong chunks 1/3 of your HP bar. I could overlook the drab dress-up. This game has mournful dress-up for a pseudo MMO that's inspired by Dark Souls and Mount and Blade. I could overlook the strange, ghostly faces all of the characters have. I could even overlook the lack of music anywhere other than boss battles. Those are all nitpicks and matters of taste, for the most part. But the directional combat... It just doesn't belong in a game like this. The controls aren't good enough and the animations aren't good enough. The combat in this game just isn't exciting. Every combat interaction is just a mini game trying to be a more fleshed-out combat system from more complete games. It actually breaks my heart because if it weren't for the combat filtering me like crazy, this game is almost exactly the kind of game I've been looking for. I can't even recommend it to my friends who I know would enjoy this game, but will also get filtered by the messy, frustrating combat. What a shame. If you REALLY like Mount and Blade style combat then I guess you'll like it. I mean REALLY, REALLY like Mount and Blade style directional combat. Otherwise, don't even bother. Not for 20 bucks.

The difficulty is something you could eventually get used to, but the bigger problem is how repetitive the game becomes. There’s no real story, lore, or direction, and the balance is practically non-existent, which was already an issue during earlier playtests. Over time, the repetitive gameplay, lack of progression, and poor balance turn the whole experience into a tedious grind. Combat is clunky, slow, and frustrating, with little enemy or skill variety. Progression feels unrewarding, exploration is barely encouraged, quests are generic, and the faction/crime systems are poorly implemented. The maps and enemies also feel extremely repetitive and lacking in originality. Despite being advertised with MMO features, there’s barely any player interaction or communication, making co-op especially frustrating. On top of all that, the game is still extremely buggy, with enemies randomly spawning in walls or mid-air and wiping your progress. Overall, it still feels like a playtest rather than a finished game and is nowhere near worth in its current state.

I haven't had this much fun in ages, wish the online component was a bit more alive though. After playing this game pretty thoroughly and reaching level 40, I can wholeheartedly say that the people who don't like the directional combat of the game should just use the shield. Yes it does remove the ability to use the parry critical hits, but it removes the need to time your blocks with directions if you were having issues with it. I only say this since I've seen a fair amount of reviews ragging on the game's directional combat. I like the feel of it, and once you get the timing down it's really satisfying.

Great concept, but currently way too punishing to be enjoyable. I really love the core concept and combat of this game, but the overall experience feels overly brutal and exhausting rather than fun: Unfair Risk vs. Reward: Dying costs thousands of EXP/Silver. If you die, gain a tiny bit of EXP on your way back to your body, and die again, all of your previous lost EXP is permanently gone. The punishment far outweighs the reward. Exhausting Combat Mechanics: The combat is fun, but constantly manual blocking makes every single fight feel sweaty. Adding an option for automatic blocking (or a toggle) would make moment-to-moment gameplay much more manageable. The stamina management just sucks, of all game this is the worst, how can you throw magic but consume lot of stamina? worst. Overly Punishing Progression: Skill/stat respec costs are brutal—costing significantly more than leveling up. This leaves zero room for experimentation or minor mistakes in builds. I genuinely enjoy what this game is trying to do, but in its current state, it’s too stress-inducing. I want to be able to relax and enjoy the game without feeling constantly penalized. I'll definitely change to positive if the game can make it easier for people who wants to play the games without sweat just chill EDITED: The game is already fun but frustating at the beginning but it became less frustating after i learn these things. 1. Risk losing lot of lichsilver/exp after grinding hours can be avoided by trading (buying stuff for trade wine, silk, wood, etc. kept them safe in inventory only sell it when needed) before going into dangerous activity 2. Combat is frustating at the beginning but it became enjoyable when you get used to it especially in higher level when you have the right build it feels rewarding 3. I still cannot accept respect skill cost so much and stats cannot be respect, this close the opportunity to experiment with many build

I was hyped for this game but I couldn't even finish the first map, not sure if that was a tutorial or what, it has 0 information, also, the UI is horrendous, you can't open a single menu without pausing the game and going into a completely different window. The combat feels really janky, slow, just terrible, and forget about playing with a keyboard. I didn't expect the game to be THIS BAD, such a shame.

Combat feels off. You cant do the same things with the same timing and achieve different results. something is wrong.

This game feels like it was made for someone who is not me. Your starting class should not be a mage or caster of any kind. Usually, in Souls-like games, if you don’t want to opt into difficult ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥, you pick a mage. In Nioh, you can lean into ninja abilities or Onmyo magic. But here, it feels like there’s no good option except going pure melee knight. You don’t get two-shotted, and your hits actually do decent damage. I started as a mage, and the beginning felt rough. Everyone was deflecting my attacks, and enemies could hit insanely hard. I went to the first town I saw. I picked up a bunch of quests, but most of them looked annoying or just not fun, like “deflect attacks with your sword” or “go kill this guy.” And they really were just that: not fun quests. In Souls-like games or Nioh, even when things are confusing or a little wonky, you usually get wrapped up in the characters, the world, or the atmosphere. This game felt more like a checklist. The combat is actually smooth, except for enemies constantly deflecting your attacks and then one-shotting you. Your mileage may vary, especially if you start as a knight, but as a mage it felt pretty bad. A lot of the game was just wandering around and fighting dudes in the overworld because the goal was not very clear. In other games, even if you don’t know exactly what you’re supposed to be doing, you can usually see something that pulls you forward, like a giant castle on a ridge or some big enemy standing next to a pile of treasure. Here, I didn’t really get that feeling. Maybe I was playing it wrong, I don’t know. But the game was not very clear, and eventually I just put it down. I don’t recommend it.

This game is chock-full of potential. It being a souls-like in an alive world means it can take us anywhere! HOWEVER! I do have quarrels with it. Now as you might have noticed (and so did I), the game is in Early Access! So I'll try not to nag about things that could be here, but due to it being Early Access, are surprisingly, not (is this a teaser for nagging part 2 YES IT IIIIS). Sure I'd love to delve into dungeons, slay huge field bosses, find LEGENDARY ITEMS, hidden spells etched into ancient stone, slay a dragon, get mail, buy a house in Windhelm- I mean.. Ehrenfeste. Find a white glowin- "ANOTHER HAND TOUCHES TH-" *smack*.. Maybe not that. Now wipe that drool off your shirt, I know it's enticing. But that's not why I'm forcing you into a Ted Talk with no refreshments right now. Point is. I THINK THE GAME HINDERS ITS POTENTIAL VIA CORE MECHANICS. If you're a faithful enjoyer of the game please put away your pitchforks and torches, and you over there at the back put that anthrax back in your pocket please it's not gonna end me before I stop explaining anyway. One of the main mechanics of the game is of course directional attacks and blocks. Oh my poor brain hates it! All that effort put into souls-like games to be able to tickle the perfect parries and now you're making me MOVE MY MOUSE TOO? Calm down Satan. Alright now that I riled you up so you continue reading, SURPRISE, this is not the true reason why I dislike this mechanic. Sure it tickles me the wrong way. If said tickling was done with glass wool. In my eyes. During allergy season. And the wool was drenched in linden pollen (SCREW YOU LINDEN POLLEN!!). Anyway the reason why I just don't like this is because.. that's all your moveset! Alpha omega. Slice left, right, up. Do you remember the feeling of finding a dope weapon, equipping it and gawking with a gaping mouth what sort of transcendent kamasutra katas your character does with it? Nope, not gonna happen here. We all do the pool noodle moveset here. No spins with curved blades, no rabies Wolverine with claws, no giant finger butthole flicks. Nada. Bitchslap left, bitchslap right, straight bonk. Different speeds. That's the menu folks, what will you be eating? And I'm just sitting there crying holding the most beautiful ethereal magical artifact forged from the core of a dying star, licked by a vegan unicorn inlayed with gems from the crown of Queen Elizabeth and all my character can think of is: "Mmmm.. inertia". I think I painted the picture didn't I? Well, did you enjoy the appetizer? Yes.. you heard me right. APPETIZER! So you just staggered a boss, dropped them to their knees, oh what a lovestory! But this is reality baby, here the only ring shaped object we work with is ripping bosses a new one (ring shaped object). SO YOU RUSH TO THE BOSS! AND SWING! SWING! Swing, swing.. swing? Wait. Swing? Why don't my character.. ohhhhhhhhh.. THERE ARE NO COMBOS! All the satisfaction! Being able to unload your entire throbbing stamina load onto the enemy's face, right after holding it in for several minutes, whittling down their 80% of the screen long ass red ego bar, hit and dodge by hit and dodge, NONE OF THAT! Here we edging baby! No combo corp-vember. Said to prolong lifespan by holding in unfinished combos in your balls so you won't want to DIE! Sure you have martial skills, I won't deny that. BUT WE JUST CYCLED TO THE FIRST POINT I MADE! Every weapon is the same! My steak is too soy and my lobster too soy. IT'S ALL SOY!!! And I hate to see it! Because the game is beautiful! Most importantly, the world is alive! (Unlike most souls games) And that's refreshing! SO WHY IS THERE SOY IN MY SPARKLING WATER!? Anyway moving onto the fact that in a game where telegraphed attacks are kinda the basis of.. not seeing the "yOu DieD tItLesCrEeN", it's a shame all humanoid characters share a common ancestor who decided to bang a Funko POP figurine 5 generations back. I understand it's an *rainbows* artstyle *rainbows*. But these cutesy bodies just make it easier for enemies to sleight of hand their sword into my ass without me noticing. Or my mouth, which I mean should be more difficult. I speak from experience. All it takes is a well placed leaf and suddenly you're legally blind. Did I hear git gud?! WHO SAID THAT!!! I shall send an army of little people to poke your ass! We'll see how fast you'll git gud at parrying their switchblades! Yes. In fact you can git gud. However that doesn't change the fact that this artstyle is creating an uninteresting visual obstacle and a hurdle for the player to overcome. Thank GOD there isn't a pixelation overlay over the characters because that would be.. a.. ..hold on.. *wipes glasses* .. wait I don't wear glasses.. which means-YOU GOTTA BE DEFECATING ME! If that wasn't enough nagging about the chosen artstyle, which on the internet is like castrating a livid bull without anesthesia, IMAGINE HOW COOLER THE MOVES WOULD BE IF YOU HAD LONGER LIMBS! It would create more action, more movement, more details, more SOULSLIKE AURA! But alas, I guess bigger heads at least means more emotions. Which ain't that bad I mean. But just imagine if some evildoer grabbed a spoon and plopped the eyes out of every character for a plot reason. That would.. suck.. ..♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ on. *wipes glass-we already did this before we know I don't.. wear.. glasses.. Which means-YOU GOTTA BE DEFECATING ME AGAIN!!!!! Judge, jury and executioner, I partially rest my case for now. Mainly because our lord and saviour has beef with reviews exceeding 8000 characters. Secondarily because my scientific analysis hasn't ended yet! I shall be reviewing the review after playing more of course. Sorry for speaking in riddles. Devs, you're doing a great job, feel free to cherry pick whatever constructive criticism you want from this review. Just remember to wash the jokes off, so you don't choke on them. Would hate to lose you!

I don't leave many reviews for the games I play. But this one is just terrible. The intro to the game is boring and meaningless. I chose to play mage, was given a sword and the only armor nearby was knight armor, not what I asked to play... Then the little pixel characters have such stubby arms you cant really see what way they are even striking which is stupid for a directional combat game. They pit you against this insane boss thats an absolute damage sponge. If you skip him and get to the world its just a map with a bunch of instances you can walk to, and when you get to one it's some faction that just attacks you right away and you lose rep with them for fighting back, without even understanding who they are or even if you like them or not. What an absolutely massive let down for a game I had wishlisted for a long time. Save your time and money, don't buy. Move on,