Loop Hero stands in a means few games do, by completely subverting a genre and taking out the best-loved elements. While the game is a blast to experience on PC, this hit game developed by Four Quarters and published by Devolver Digital works perfectly on the Nintendo Switch.
Loop Hero is a role-playing game, but not in the way we typically consider role-playing games. Rather than directly moving your player throughout the world, the smoothness moves and battles automatically. There aren't any combat mechanics to understand, there are no branching paths to obtain lost down. The levels are merely loops, hence the name Loop Hero, that gradually expand while you battle. The field of Loop Hero has ended, and it is as much as the hero to literally put the pieces of it back together. It can make for a quite interesting premise, and the execution is top-notch.
The core gameplay is not incredibly hard to grasp, but the roguelike and deck-building aspects allow for lots of creativity. Every time you emerge from a battle victorious, you are given new cards to place recorded on the map. These may be as easy as adding new locations to the world, however they can also help boost your character’s stats and chances of survival. Different terrains have different effects around the player, and also the equipable items do too. The overwhelming most of all of this is randomly generated, making the knowledge various and interesting for every player.
While Loop Hero starts off relatively simple, the mechanics pile up and the pace quickly increases while you progress. Thankfully you'll be able to pause among battles, otherwise, it could get a little overwhelming. The range and impossibility of enemies may also increase as you journey across the road to rebuild the planet. You start off only fighting the standard slimes, but then face things like gargoyles and vampires the further you get. You mostly reach choose what enemies you face through the cards you set recorded on the map, which I really liked.
The story in Loop Hero is also very worthwhile, even if it is not groundbreaking. It feels like a weighty role-playing game sometimes, but the simplicity of the gameplay loop helps it from ever feeling like it is simply too much to handle. The retro art style also helps contribute to the outcome from the story and the world you are rebuilding. It feels just like reliving a vintage role-playing game such as the older Final Fantasy games, just with a totally different gameplay style. Additionally, it doesn’t hurt that the game includes a truly excellent soundtrack.
The very best a part of my experience with Loop Hero on the Nintendo Switch, however, had absolutely nothing to use the gameplay itself. Basically would come up with one particualr perfect Switch game, Loop Hero has to be towards the top of the list now. The straightforward gameplay loop works absolutely perfectly when using the go. I found myself bringing my Switch everywhere beside me since i could not place it down. Because the game also is not mechanically complicated or graphically taxing, the Switch runs it seamlessly. I didn’t encounter just one issue during my time playing, and that's vital when games get ported over to the Switch from PC.
Loop Hero had been a game title of the Year contender for me, but the ability to play it on the go makes it tough to keep out from the top spot. It is essentially a role-playing game management simulator, and I imply that within the easiest way possible. If you haven't had the chance to play Loop Hero yet, do your favor and pick this up on Switch as soon as possible. I promise you that you simply won’t be sorry!
Loop Hero is out December 9th on Nintendo Switch.
