Reignbreaker takes a new twist on roguelike gaming. Focusing on a medieval steampunk theme where you play as Clef, the villain of the story who is currently trying to overthrow and kill the queen.
I have recently noticed that many games, books, TV shows, movies, etc., have been moving towards a morally gray villain that is actually the hero of the story (an anti-hero), while the morally just and heroic character is the villain. And with Reignbreaker, this storyline is done wonderfully.
The music, sound effects, and voice acting are all done amazingly well, giving Reignbreaker a great layer to its storytelling. One thing I enjoyed about the music was the inclusion of lyrical tracks. By doing that, it allows for those who are returning to the game to get more on the story with the lyrics. The sound effects do a great job of having it feel like you are in a clock-like world where gears rule all. The voice acting is also done beautifully. I love how when Clef is talking to her “sister,” you can tell that she loves her and doesn’t want her to get hurt during her fights.
I think the gameplay is very smooth and well thought out. The game recommends that the best way to play the game is with a controller and, as someone who is just getting into PC gaming, this made me feel more comfortable with the gameplay. I like the gameplay mechanics, especially being able to throw the javelin and slam it down. Though I’ll be honest, it took me around three runs in order to know that I could do those things. I also enjoyed how you can execute certain enemies; with the bells, poison bottles, and the spinning floating ball enemies, you are able to use your lance to unlock them, which has them break down in an execution-like style while time slows down, allowing Clef to dodge out of an attack quickly.
I also liked that there are lockdowns while playing through the rooms, and you can choose to get all of the upgrades if you are willing to risk losing health during the battles. There are also key treasure areas that have deadly traps set about and maybe one to three enemies that you have to defeat. You are then able to meet the Trenchrats, a group of children that run around the area and help bring Clef back to Ev after being defeated (though they take your key money in exchange for your safe return).
The one criticism I have about the gameplay is how I have to go through the tutorial room and be reminded of the controls constantly. While I like the fact that it has you go against the new enemy types, I don’t think it is necessary to remind me how to access my map or how to unlock the bridge. Every. Single. Run.
The boss battles are interesting as, for me, I thought that Spitface should have been the first boss you went against, while the Overseer should be the second. Other than that, I think the bosses do a great job of testing one’s might. At the end of run two, you run into upgraded versions of the previous enemies as well as three new types. I enjoyed the amount of enemy types you run into as well as how much diversity there is.
Now, the vaults are where lockdowns happen, and there are four that you are able to steal items from: Andrea, your old sister-in-arms, the BloodLetter, the band of mercenaries, and the Trapper – all have their own tools of the trade. I personally always grabbed the BloodLetter’s vaults as they gave me boosts to my health in one way, shape, or form. Though I did like the traps that the trapper and mercenaries give you when opening their vaults. After every set of vaults, players are able to get to a room where you exchange the keys you get for new gear that has conditions on the items. Such as, after so many lockdowns or after getting hit. You also can get a new javelin if you beat the timer to get to the safety room. This room also gives the player a chance to regain some health and possibly, with the right upgrade, add more health.
The storyline is gripping and being able to listen to the dialogue between the different characters gives a lot of insight into what is happening within the world. In one such example, when talking to Andrea, Clef talks about how they used to be so close but saw what the Queen of Keys was doing and couldn’t follow. Yet when talking to the other three vault owners, they see Clef as a nuisance that must be destroyed in order to prove their loyalty to the queen. When talking to the Trenchrats, they discuss how the signal hurts their ears, yet they are able to avoid the queen’s control. All of these things lead the player to understand that the queen is using a device to control her subjects while saying that she is protecting them.
Reignbreaker is a fun, quick roguelike that takes the players into a whole new version of medieval times. With the clockwork, heavy metal music, and amazing character designs and storyline, this game is a must-try for anyone who enjoys a twist to their medieval times.
Sara reviewed Reignbreaker on PC with a provided review copy.
