Verho - Curse of Faces
" Atmospheric adventure RPG with rewarding exploration and combat, but suffers from bugs and AI flaws "
Verho - Curse of Faces Review
Verho - Curse of Faces is a passionate indie dungeon crawler that pays homage to the King's Field series with a modern twist. Players appreciate its atmospheric world, extensive weapon variety, and engaging combat mechanics that reward timing and strategic play. The game offers a compelling story with memorable NPCs and multiple questlines, enhancing immersion despite some voice acting inconsistencies. Exploration is rewarding with secrets and diverse areas, though some zones feel less polished towards the endgame. Technical issues like occasional bugs, hitbox inconsistencies, and enemy AI quirks are noted but generally do not overshadow the experience. The inclusion of a demo that transitions saves to the full game is well received, encouraging players to dive in. While the difficulty ramps up, some find the final sections tedious and unbalanced, yet the overall journey is satisfying for fans of the genre and retro aesthetics.
Highlights
Players praise the game's atmospheric and well-crafted world, reminiscent of classic King's Field titles with a distinctive PS1-era art style. The combat system is engaging, featuring a clever charge mechanic and a variety of weapons and spells that support diverse builds. The story and worldbuilding are intriguing, with memorable NPCs and multiple quest outcomes adding depth. Exploration is consistently rewarding, encouraging thorough investigation of the environment. Additionally, the soundtrack and sound design complement the immersive experience, and the demo's save transfer feature is highly appreciated.
Criticisms
Common criticisms focus on voice acting quality, which some find inconsistent and immersion-breaking, leading some players to mute dialogue. The enemy design and AI occasionally feel janky, with flying enemies clipping through walls and unfair attack patterns. The endgame areas and bosses are seen as overly tedious and sometimes unfair, with difficulty spikes and repetitive encounters. Technical issues such as bugs, hitbox problems, and UI clunkiness (notably weapon selection and menu navigation) detract from the experience. Some players also mention a lack of armor and defense options, making survivability reliant on health stats and potions. Lastly, the world feels somewhat fragmented and linear in places, limiting exploration freedom.
Pros
- • Atmospheric world with engaging PS1-style graphics and sound design.
- • Varied and rewarding exploration with meaningful secrets and loot.
- • Diverse weapon and spell options supporting multiple playstyles.
- • Combat mechanics reward timing and strategic movement.
- • Memorable NPCs with interesting questlines and multiple endings.
- • Demo with save transfer encourages players to try before buying.
- • Generous leveling and respec system enhances build experimentation.
Cons
- • Inconsistent and sometimes immersion-breaking voice acting quality.
- • Enemy AI issues including clipping, unfair attacks, and persistent aggro.
- • Endgame areas and bosses can feel tedious, unfair, and repetitive.
- • Technical bugs affecting physics, hitboxes, and occasional crashes.
- • UI and menu navigation can be clunky and confusing.
- • Lack of armor and defensive options limit survivability strategies.
- • Some enemy types feel recycled with minor variations.
Rating Criteria
Verho, a Dark RPG following the tradition of the King’s Field series, takes place after the catastrophic Era of Solitude, where masks have become the only protection against the Curse of Faces. Travel to the land of Yariv, find the source of this scourge and face its dangers.