Imagine this: It’s the late 90s and you boot up your Super NES on a lazy Sunday, excited to beat another challenging level in Super Mario Bros. This is the vibe developer Squidbit Works’ new title, Lords of Exile conveys.
The new side-scrolling action platformer is completely developed in 8-bit graphics, giving off that retro-aesthetic feel. As someone who currently doesn’t play a lot of 8-bit games as compared to my childhood, it certainly enveloped me in a blanket of nostalgia.
The story of Lords of Exile is all about revenge and justice. Set in the far lands of Exilia, Gabriel is out for blood from those who wronged him. After realizing his beloved was murdered by an evil wizard, Galagar, Gabriel swears to bring justice to her name by bringing down her killer.
There are eight grueling levels to complete. Each of these levels are very different from one another, featuring new hurdles and environments to master. And by the end of a level, there is an equally hard boss fight waiting for the players.
Story Is Nothing Extraordinary
Lords of Exile opens with a minute or two of narration about the story, reasoning with the plot of Gabriel’s quest for vengeance. This wasn’t the best introduction I have seen in a game.
Since there was no voiceover present, the subtitles moved a bit too quickly, which made it a little difficult to keep up. I barely managed to get the gist of the story before it was over and the menu screen appeared.
As much as I wished to know more about the universe Lords of Exile is set in, the basic story isn’t something we haven’t seen before. Gabriel’s vengeance for losing his loved one felt like every other “lone-wolf survivor” story. But just like most of these stories go, it was done satisfyingly well.
Gabriel’s story and his drive for revenge didn’t feel like the main highlight of this game for me. Sure, it was a significant aspect. But back when I used to play Mario games as a kid, did I care about the story, or did I care more about taking down as many Goombas and Koopas as possible? It was the latter, of course.
It doesn’t matter that the story in Lords of Exile is nothing great, because where the game really shines is its gameplay and retro-style pixel art.
Merciless Gameplay
Brutal is one way I would describe Lords of Exile’s gameplay. The game doesn’t hold back when it comes to some of its boss fights. As someone who finishes a lot of games, there were times when Lords of Exile frustrated me to the end where I wanted to rage quit. Dying in the game was so common an occurrence that it didn’t faze me anymore, especially during those end moments of defeating a boss.
Being an exceptional warrior, Gabriel starts off with his trusty sword and the ability to throw knives or scythe which can be collected by breaking boxes. Even though his main attack is just slashing, he also gets special abilities, like double jump and weapons, after defeating each boss. Upon receiving these special powers, Gabriel can then use it to aid him against even bigger and harder enemies.
Eight of these levels were strategically well designed as they felt separate to one another with different enemy types, environment, and traversal. The progression within each of these levels made the gameplay a bit easier, especially with its generous checkpoints. Occasionally, I’d also come across shops where I could purchase health or certain power-ups to aid me for a short time.
There was also the inclusion of “Slot Machines” that acted as a mini game in itself. As they were placed in certain areas of each level and used your in-game money for each round, I only tried it once and then didn’t bother to try them again. I am guessing they offer certain resources if you win, but I just preferred to save my money and use them in shops.
I am not going to lie- the gameplay felt very exhaustive at one point only because of how grueling certain boss fights were. The best thing about the boss fights was that all of them were unique in terms of design and move set and were equally frustrating to beat. Each boss took me multiple tries, and I eventually lost count. However, the satisfaction of beating them once and for all did make the experience worth it.
Lords of Exile is the kind of game I would genuinely enjoy playing by taking long breaks in between, because the continuous hours I put into it for this review left me feeling drained. Additionally, the game offers a replayability option once you beat the game the first time by unlocking two additional game modes.
Retro Glam
There is always one aspect of retro video games I will always appreciate, and that is the visuals. My favorite thing about Lords of Exile is its pixel animation. It took me back to playing video games as a 90s kid where I found my happy place and deep regard for the medium.
The game’s gorgeous, handcrafted art is elevated by its retro aesthetics that made me appreciate old-school gaming in a new light. Lords of Exile confirmed my faith that we need more games with such art style because there is something very comforting about them. Maybe it is the nostalgia and good memories of gaming as a kid.
The other part of the retro aesthetic which Lords of Exile fulfills is the music. The soundtrack is perfectly crafted for each level depending on the mood. I found the music to compliment the gameplay; for example, when I started a boss fight, the music got intense. But right before entering the boss fight area, there would be silence, which got me anxious. Lords of Exile beautifully combines music to set the stage for its big boss battles.
Finally…
My time with Lords of Exile wasn’t always smooth sailing. The game throws you into a journey that is thoroughly challenging, but this doesn’t mean it is not enjoyable in its own way. Defeating big bosses was satisfying, albeit took me multiple tries until I eventually understood their attack pattern and how to survive them.
The universe of Lords of Exile felt intriguing and left me wanting to know more about it. There isn’t much to say about Gabriel as a character, except that his vigor and ruthlessness to achieve vengeance makes him an interesting protagonist.
If you are someone who enjoys a challenge in your video games or if you simply love retro titles, Lords of Exile should not be missed.
Lords of Exile
Lords of Exile is a challenging yet satisfying game with big boss battles, amazing pixel animation, and retro-aesthetics that offer players a balance between fast gameplay and stunning visuals.
The Good
- Good animation and graphics
- Challenging gameplay
- Unique character designs
- Catchy music
- Replayability option
The Bad
- Little knowledge about the universe
- Needed more emphasis on the story
