Shards of the Banished

Shards of the Banished is a dark fantasy action RPG that I found interesting because it takes the familiar soulslike formula and puts it into a bleak world filled with ruins and strange crystal powers. I play as an exiled heir trying to survive in a fallen kingdom while uncovering what happened to the land and why I was banished. I liked the setting because it gives the exploration a constant feeling that something important has been lost. The combat is based around stamina management, dodging, parrying and powerful finishing attacks. I enjoyed the fact that I cannot simply attack constantly without thinking. Watching my stamina and choosing the right moment to defend or strike makes the fights feel more deliberate. The combat can be punishing, but that fits the style and makes successful encounters feel more rewarding. Character progression gives me several ways to shape my play style. I can unlock abilities through a skill tree and use talismans that provide different bonuses and effects. I liked having those choices because they give me some control over how my character develops instead of forcing me into one fixed build. The mysterious crystals also tie the progression system neatly into the game's world. Exploration is another part I enjoyed. Moving through ruined landscapes and discovering powerful enemies gives the adventure a nice sense of danger. The dark fantasy presentation works well with the gothic atmosphere, and the three dimensional pixel art gives the game a distinct look. I especially liked how the world feels damaged rather than simply designed to look dark for the sake of it. My biggest issue is that the game still feels like it needs more polish. Some animations can look awkward, and certain interactions do not have the impact I would expect from a soulslike combat system. The developers clearly have the core ideas in place, but some areas of the presentation and technical side still feel like they are being refined. I also wanted more enemy and environmental variety. The combat system is promising, but fighting through similar encounters for too long can reduce some of the tension. More unusual bosses, stronger exploration rewards and additional build options would help the game feel much more ambitious. Overall, Shards of the Banished has a solid foundation and a setting that I genuinely enjoyed exploring. The stamina based combat, parries, skill tree and talisman system give me enough control to experiment with different approaches, while the ruined fantasy world creates a strong atmosphere. It is still rough around the edges, but I can see a lot of potential here. Rating: 7/10

Jeu incroyable, les musiques sont vraiment bien, le jeu est très complet même si il est très court et comporte quelque bug, je le recommande fortement