When it comes to roguelike action games, there have been quite a number of excellent indie titles that have shown the way in this generation. Of course, Hades very comfortably sits at the top of the pile, but there have been a variety of others like Wizard of Legend which have had their own merits to make themselves worthwhile. As I typically mention, the problem is then for newcomers since they now have to deal with the high bar that has already been set for them in the space. 

For me that makes evaluating a game like StormEdge a challenge. On the one hand, it has a pretty solid look, the combat is generally fluid, and on the surface it feels like it has some class and ability variety to keep things interesting. Indeed, early on it felt pretty promising, with combat relegated to pretty contained zones where you’ll often need to contend with both enemies and a variety of traps to keep you on the move. Gameplay videos also tend to make the game look pretty intense and action-packed, which can make it feel like a good overall deal.

The problem is that for roguelike veterans who’ve been spoiled by the best games in the space it shouldn’t take long to detect some issues. While your dash, and executing a perfect dash in particular, are vital to your success, it can also feel outright cheap and spammy depending on the class you choose. Considering the fact that the on-screen action can generate loads of visual flourishes, it can actually be difficult to follow what’s going on well, which honestly also encourages you to stick with what works and spam combos of attacks rather than taking a more measured approach. Even as intense as the top-tier games in this space can get, I don’t typically feel like I’m able to go on auto-pilot, and need to plan as I go to be effective. Here, more often than not, the combat just didn’t feel terribly satisfying since it seemed too spammy and repetitive, often even when using different skill sets.

For the less picky, and folks who want some degree of challenge without necessarily needing to become fully invested in what you’re doing, this may prove to be fun. There are some systems here that work, and with the trap variety and tight feel of the controls you can have some great moments. That said, the more games like this that you’ve played, the more likely it is you’ll see the cracks in the facade, and see this as having good potential, but not pulling it together well enough to compete with the better games in the eShop in this space.