LUMbA: HANGOVER

I've been anticipating this game since it's initial announcement, which feels like it's been over a year, at this point. So I am BEYOND ecstatic to finally get to play the game! Now, bear in mind, I haven't finished the game yet, so this review is a work in progress. The gameplay itself is absolutely great. As a top-down shooter, it delivers that on exactly what it sets out too. It's very high adrenaline, and overall very fast-paced. This game is intense. It's exactly what you'd expect from a game of this genre, and I'm loving it so far. DB, who is behind the writing, has done a fantastic job on the story and dialogue. The dialogue keeps me genuinely engaged, and every time I close the game, I can't help but think about how excited I am to jump back in. Kudos to DB for keeping me hooked! -and with NeatNeet coming back, The original tracks in the OST are pure fire. Seriously, NeatNeet deserves way more recognition in the games industry as a whole. I've been listening to these tracks non-stop since he posted them a few months back, and the fusion of the music and gameplay elevates the whole atmosphere and immerses you in a big way. The difficulty and the 1 HP system, I'm torn, to be honest. On one hand, it's skill-based and rewards those who put in the effort. Each mistake can be fatal, and it really forces you to be on top of your game. When you finally overcome a challenging section after multiple attempts, the satisfaction is immense. It's hard NOT to get frustrated. It's a fine line between exhilarating and hair-pullingly difficult. I'm not sure yet how I feel about it, but hey, it's definitely a system that demands your skill and perseverance. All in all, LUMbA: HANGOVER is shaping up to be a solid indie game. It's got great gameplay, an engaging story, and a killer soundtrack. While I'm still unsure about how I feel regarding the difficulty, I can't deny that it's a skill-based game that rewards those who put in the effort. So, take my review with a grain of salt for now, as I plan to update it once I finish the game. It's really hard to put all my thoughts into words, but I hope I did an adequate job.