Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel
" Gripping roguelike action RPG with tight combat and rich Norse lore but limited content "
Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel Review
Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel is a visually impressive and engaging roguelike action game set in a Norse mythology-inspired world. Players battle through mythic realms such as Niflheim and Muspelheim, facing hordes of enemies and epic bosses with tight, satisfying combat mechanics. The game offers a variety of hero classes, god blessings, and build customization that keep each run fresh and strategic. Despite being in Early Access, the game boasts polished graphics, immersive audio, and a compelling gameplay loop balancing moment-to-moment action with long-term progression.
However, some players find the current content limited, with only two realms and a narrow skill variety. There are also critiques regarding pacing, balance, and occasional performance hiccups. The developers actively update the game, addressing issues and adding features, which fosters a positive community outlook. Overall, Jotunnslayer is praised for its art style, combat depth, and replayability, making it a promising title for fans of roguelikes and Norse-themed action games.
Highlights
Players highly praise the game's tight and buttery combat mechanics, which deliver a satisfying hack-and-slash experience reminiscent of Diablo but streamlined for fast-paced action. The Norse mythology setting and detailed realms offer an atmospheric and visually stunning backdrop, complemented by excellent animations and sound design. The variety of hero classes and god blessings provide meaningful build customization, enhancing replayability. Additionally, the game's polish and frequent updates show developer commitment, with many appreciating the game's challenging yet rewarding progression and strategic depth.
Criticisms
Common criticisms focus on the game's limited content in its Early Access state, with only two realms and a restricted skill tree that some find unimpactful or grindy. Players mention balance issues among characters and god skills, as well as slow pacing and occasional frustrating objectives that hinder movement. Technical problems include long loading times, performance drops during intense battles, and occasional bugs like collision issues. Some find the meta progression and skill upgrades incremental and lacking excitement. Overall, players desire more variety, better optimization, and refined gameplay systems.
Pros
- • Tight and satisfying combat mechanics that feel weighty and responsive.
- • Beautiful and stylized graphics with impressive animations and effects.
- • Engaging Norse mythology theme with atmospheric realms and lore.
- • Meaningful build customization through diverse hero classes and god blessings.
- • Frequent updates and developer support improving the game steadily.
- • Challenging gameplay that rewards strategic thinking and skill.
- • Polished audio design enhancing immersion and atmosphere.
Cons
- • Limited content and variety with only two realms currently available.
- • Some skills and upgrades feel unimpactful or underwhelming.
- • Balance issues among characters and god skill effectiveness.
- • Long loading times and occasional performance drops during battles.
- • Frustrating mandatory objectives that interrupt fluid gameplay.
- • Repetitive maps and slow pacing in some runs.
- • Collision and visual clutter causing player frustration.
Rating Criteria
Hordes of Hel is a gripping roguelike horde-survivor game set in the dark realms of Norse Mythology. Fight waves of enemies to earn divine blessings of ancient Viking Deities, explore hostile worlds and face powerful bosses. Become a god-like warrior in this ultimate showdown.