Well, here we have a hidden little gem!

I'm so glad I've put my hands on Pseudoregalia, it's one of the very few games that got my attention on first glance (and trust me, I'm VERY picky on that regard).

So, what makes this retro-inspired, 3D platformer worth playing IMO?


+ MOVEMENT GAMEPLAY

The movement in this game is sooo satisfying: smooth like butter, and intuitive enough for many move combos. Speaking of which, I love the way the environment is built so that new areas can be reached with the new abilities you find in different parts of the castle, it adds a really nice puzzle element to the whole experience.


+ ARTSTYLE

I think retro aesthetics is a double-edged sword; partly because it's not easy to get it right, but mostly because way too often I've seen game developers use it as an excuse for laziness, which then carries over other aspects of the game like gameplay.
Fortunately, Pseudoregalia doesn't fall into this trap: the PS1/N64 era polygonal style looks actually really good, thanks to a clever use of shapes for both its gothic/surreal environment and its characters. Also, regarding characters...


+ PROTAGONIST

DAMNNN. Lara Croft’s triangle bewbs? Bayonetta’s skimpy outfits? Please, they can’t hold a candle to Sybil’s cake!
Honestly, I absolutely love the design of this goat-rabbit-cat lady: shape is easy to recognise, colour palette is nicely harmonious, and she has such thicc tights <3
I may not be impartial though, since I’ve always been a sucker for anthro characters… I’M NOT A FURRY I SWEAR


+ PRICE

Six dollars? Only? TAKE MY MONEY!
A game like this for such a low price is a literal STEAL. I’ve seen much worse digital garbage sold on steam for ten times this sum. A very good price for a very good game.



So, as you may have guessed, Pseudoregalia is great. That being said, there is just one major flaw that holds it from being even greater:


- COMBAT GAMEPLAY

As other reviewers have pointed out, Pseudoregalia is not the first 3D platformer to focus more on movement than combat, and probably won’t be the last one; however, I absolutely see why some people are complaining about it: attack combo is stuck to three hits and that’s it, weapon variety is non-existent, the new techniques you learn through the game are way too slow or complicated to use against foes before they attack you, and also enemy variety is a bit lacklustre.



In conclusion: this is the kind of game we all should support. That’s because despite not being perfect, it’s made with lots of passion, and it shows.