Review: You Better Be A Demigod To Play GODSTRIKE
I love challenges. I love boss fights. I love going into a fight again and again to hone my skills. Godstrike is this. A series of boss fights with little to no room for mercy. It isn't crazy impossible to win, but it isn’t for the faint of heart, and that is what makes this game amazing.
If you are looking for a fun, twin-stick adventure game with some cool graphics, this game might be too much for you. This game is HARD. There is a solid selection of bosses that can be taken down through one way, and one way only, skill. I’m not that skilled, so each boss has been a rough grind of learning patterns, sharpening my reflexes, and finding the best windows of weakness. Each boss has a specific amount of time in which they can be beaten. Players can grab upgrades, abilities, and new weapon types to take on these bosses, at the expense of time to kill the boss. Players also don’t have a health bar in battle, their health bar IS the time. This means, the more you hit, the less time you have to kill the boss. When time runs out, players can only be hit one more time, but they have infinite time after that. This system is elegant, smart, aggressive, and just about perfect. For players who want to challenge themselves, Godstike will push their skills to some pretty high standards.
Along with the base campaign, a lot of added modes are included that give great longevity to the game. The campaign will put players against increasingly difficult bosses (they are all difficult, but it is scaled a bit for the campaign). When those bosses are defeated, they will unlock new abilities, skills, and passives that can be used in later fights, at the cost of time. Other than the main story mode, there are daily challenges, which are specifically crafted challenges with modifiers or abilities and specific bosses. There is also a type of practice/exposition mode where players can access all bosses and all unlocks, trying out wacky combinations and seeing all the bosses even if they haven’t gotten that far in the story. While it is basically more of exactly the same gameplay over and over again, it is quality content and wonderfully intense even after beating the same boss for the tenth time.
Another fantastic aspect of the game is its visuals and audio design. The music is a great blend of epic adventure and cool synth beats. The sounds can act as immersive elements while also being helpful cues to help players fight enemies. Visually, this game is even more impressive. High frame rates, hundreds of moving objects, and bright/distinct colors all culminate into a beautiful blender of violence. Just watch a video of it and you’ll see why it is such a great sight to behold.
As you can see in gameplay and from what I’ve said, this game is relentless and ingenious. Even though its only truly original idea is the health/time/ability system, the other familiar aspects are top-notch. I wish there were some more bosses, some forms of customization, and a more engaging story, but if you want raw, intense gameplay with equally amazing visuals, this game is for you.
