Recent reviews by menagegametrois

Lethal League (LL) is the quintessence of competitive arcade gameplay. Being completely free of over complication, Team Reptile have fortunately channelled the most special elements of the nostalgic games of the golden era, where a sole focus on gameplay has driven design and development. The result being a game with no apparent story, not character progression, and no cheap ways of making you feel as though you should be playing the game, instead it slaps you in the face with a fresh take on Fighters, that is plain and simply, unsullied fun.

The gameplay and structure of LL lends itself perfectly to the resolution of longstanding disagreements (1-on-1 Fights), bouts of personal worth and glory (4 way FFA), and also to bond-building exercises (2-on-2 Team Fights). The beautiful thing about the simple gameplay is it works so well not only in the hectic 4-way FFA, but also in 1-on-1 combat, where the simple mechanics eventually boil down to a game of whits, where you are more trying to force the other player/s to swing at the wrong point, or you are trying to think and act fast enough to catch them off-guard.

That long winded jargon can be distilled down to; this game is perfect for playing with friends, and that is exactly how it should be consumed. This game has one of those qualities where if you get served too hard, you will hate it; so take it in with friends and you will instantly see the gratifying outcome of learning together, while also pulling off some badass manoeuvres resulting in you all squealing like manly Girl Scouts. We have not tried it in Online Play as my internet services would make the game run like an interactive slideshow. But we can safely say that by grabbing a few ales, a few controllers, and huddling around your PC, you will be parting in the finest display of competition I have seen in a video games since Mario Party 64.

Team Reptile have not given this game a huge amount of content, with 5 characters and 6 Levels, BUT, the content in the game is so perfectly polished, I question whether the development team is really as small as they say. We would love to see more playable characters and levels in the future just to give the game that bit of spice, but where it stands now is a testament to where AAA game development falls short in modern game development; where such heavy focus on being the next money making machine makes games lose that…specialness.

From a developer’s standpoint this game has soul, you can feel the love that went into it when you play it. So get it, you won’t be disappointed.

3 / 3 Worth Playing

-C

Disposable Heroes HD: The Legend of Ferretbearer, and Pinecloak, and Skybane, etc.

VDH is like a crash test facility for fantasy themed champions. The player will spend their time trying to find the perfect hero to use as a protagonist (after generations of disappointments), able enough to complete the 10-level quest by which so many predecessors have inevitably failed.
Approaches to play-style can differ from chaotic to tactical; the path of progressive pacifism is possible, though most will prefer to engage with blade, bolt or blast (amongst other things).
It is simple to grasp, though many heroes will meet their doom early. Fortunately, no effort (death) goes unrewarded as resources (as well as abilities) stockpile, which means it is not nearly as frustrating as it should be.
Skill acquisition is indefinite, meaning earned abilities become inherent, allowing for a more expansive genotype, and thus is an inspiration to continue despite the permadeath nature of the game.
The only notable grievance comes within a poorly designed HUD, which can hinder co-op interactions, making for a slightly cramped feel to split screen mode.
'Falling to progress' is a significant enough change logistically to alter the feel of the game from similar titles, and works to enhance the fast paced direction that the game embodies.
VDH is fun without the demand of time input, and although it isn't one you would likely spend hours on, you'll come back to it often; the epitome of the casual indie.

- MénageGameTrois
, J.