Trials of Fire Review – An RPG and a Roguelike Walk Into a Bar …

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GAME INFO

Fire tests

9th Apirl, 2021

Platform PC (steam)
Publisher Whatboy Games
Developer Whatboy Games

It is usually complicated to merge different video game genres. Many have tried over the years, but most have failed. It literally took a trial by fire, and a lot of time in Early Access, for one developer to achieve a truly remarkable achievement: creating a role-playing game mixed with elements of tactical turn-based, deck-building and roguelike that isn’t just fun to play. to play, but also incredibly accessible to all types of players.

The odds could not have stacked up more for Trials of Fire. Roguelikes are not known for being accessible games, and adding role-playing game features was a recipe for disaster. And while some of the mechanics of role-playing games aren’t particularly profound, there’s no question that developer Whatboy Games has managed to masterfully combine them with features from a variety of genres to create an incredibly engaging mix that many will enjoy for a long time to come.

Trials of Fire takes place in a fully realized fantasy world, complete with deep knowledge, multiple races and factions, and a story developed in storybook style with a very well written story. The world doesn’t feel exactly original, to be honest, as it contains the most common fantasy tropics out there. Still, the high quality storybook narration makes it feel a bit better than it actually is. Plus, the many quests and stories have different results depending on the choices players make, so Trials of Fire almost feels like a real role-playing game: just don’t expect to be blown away by a major twist, because there aren’t any.

At the heart of every roguelike is the gameplay mechanics. In this regard, Trials of Fire delivers an extremely polished experience that feels unique despite the mishmash of different genres. For starters, players have complete control over how they want to experience the game. Trials of Fire offers several campaigns that can be completed in about a few hours, ranging from the main Lore Quests to the Daily Challenges, campaigns with some specific modifiers, Combat Runs, campaigns targeting combat and Seasonal series with multiple modifiers for the ultimate challenge . Among them, the Lore Quests can be customized in several ways as players can decide on the size of the campaign, the group members and the difficulty level.

Once a campaign is selected, players are transported on a procedurally generated overworld map with multiple points of interest, an indicator that shows the location to reach to advance the main mission, and a variety of enemies. Despite the storybook-inspired visuals, campaigns in Trials of Fire manage to feel like authentic journeys, thanks to mechanics like Morale and Fatigue that affect the three party members’ combat performance. The sights are also incredibly varied, ranging from villages to ruins, caves and all kinds of dungeons, all of which feature events with different outcomes and even skill checks along the lines of table roleplay. By completing events properly, players can receive rewards such as new equipment, potions, materials to upgrade equipment, and food. The latter is crucial, as it is necessary to set up camp to recover from fatigue and even heal characters.

By participating in specific events or by running into an enemy on the map, players are transported in a battle area divided into hexagons. It is during combat that Trials of Fire shines brightest, as fighting enemies is challenging yet fun and extremely engaging, thanks to its unique combination of turn-based and deck-building mechanics.

All the characters in the game, from the novice Warrior, Hunter, and Elementalist classes to advanced ones that must be unlocked by completing various tasks, come with unique abilities represented by different maps. At the start of each turn, players draw three cards for each character, cards that can be used to unleash a variety of abilities, ranging from melee, ranged and magical attacks, and passive buffs. All of these cards have a specific value that represents the amount of will power required to activate them; To gain willpower, players must recycle cards or activate special cards such as Advance that give a unit the ability to move while receiving extra willpower. This peculiar risk-reward system has incredible depth, as it lets players try all kinds of strategies: for example, it is possible to sacrifice all the cards of a specific unit to gather the willpower needed to attack another unit multiple times. unleashed. Or, if the situation seems dire, sacrifice most of the cards without playing them to build up armor to withstand an enemy attack. The possibilities are truly endless, and the game goes out of its way to make every strategy viable, although boss fights feel a bit unbalanced, with the scale tipping markedly in favor of the AI ​​in most cases. Adding even more depth to the experience are the procedurally generated combat arenas, which contain various obstacles that can be used to the player’s advantage and various hazards that can damage units on specific hexagons.

At a higher level it is possible to recharge any card already in the deck or replace it with a brand new card. The skills associated with the maps are all instrumental, allowing players to diversify their builds in many different and effective ways. For example, the Hunter class is great in both long-range and melee combat, allowing players to come up with builds that can evolve better or make the class an all-rounder. The possibilities are further expanded by the equipment system, which allows players to equip various items that give access to additional maps.

However, since you are a roguelike, any progress made during a campaign will be lost upon completion or defeat. This does not mean that players will not get a reward for their hard work, because every time a run ends, the classes used will see their Soul Level increase, unlocking new cards, opening up and increasing more customization options. the chances of a campaign to be successful.

As mentioned before, Trials of Fire features a storybook presentation that works and looks great, with high-quality artwork that brings characters to life. Cards also include some colorful illustrations to show the skills that look pretty good despite not being of the same quality level as the characters. Despite the straightforward presentation, the combat also looks pleasant, thanks to an attention to detail not normally seen in similar games: pins are beautifully animated and you can almost feel the impact of the attacks, also thanks to some simple but fun-looking specials . effects and appropriate sound effects.

Trials of Fire remained in Early Access for quite some time, but it eventually paid off. Whatboy Games has released a highly polished title that masterfully blends different genres while being accessible at the same time. Due to the roguelike mechanics that govern the progression, those who don’t like to see all their hard work go away will likely be put off by the game. Still, any player with even a passing interest in roguelikes, RPGs, deck-building and turn-based tactical games will find plenty in Trials of Fire.

Review code provided by the publisher.

8.0

Trials of Fire is a great mix of RPG, turn-based and roguelike mechanics that is deep and accessible at the same time. With a great storybook presentation, tons of different options to customize the experience, and the multitude of builds made possible by the great deck-building system, even those with a passing interest in roguelike and role-playing will find plenty in the game.

Benefits

  • Masterful blend of RPG and roguelike mechanics
  • Great storybook presentation
  • Engaging and deep battles
  • Huge customization options
  • Multiple campaigns and gameplay options to tailor the experience

Cons

  • Roguelike progression may not be everyone’s cup of tea

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