Games Farm has released this new demo where we will have to face hordes of enemies in the Norse underworld. Jotunnslayer presents itself as a promising horde-survival roguelike.
Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel comes with a demo that seems really well done. Although the inspiration from titles like Vampire Survivors is obvious, it presents itself in a completely different graphic guise. It abandons pixel art for darker and more realistic graphics, with dark settings that go very well with Norse mythology.
The demo, released during the Steam Next Fest, introduces us to three usable characters and for now 3 deities with their blessings.
Norse Mythology
Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel already suggests a strong inspiration from Norse mythology. From the playable characters but above all from the upgrades and blessings. Since the title is a horde-survivor, the character will increase in level by collecting gems dropped by defeated enemies. At each level we will have to choose between 3 power ups to choose from. Precisely in this the Norse deities will have a decisive role. We will currently have the blessings of Thor, Freya and Loki to choose from. Each deity seems well characterized in terms of powers and bonuses they grant. In addition to this it is also possible to choose from a series of specific skills for the class we play.
Jotunnslayer Gameplay
In the demo we will be able to choose between 3 classes: Berserk, Seerer and Archer.
Each class has an active ability that can be activated by the player, and other passive ones. Each class has a dodge. The active skill and dodge are the only skills where the player has arbitrary choice. As in the most classic games of the genre, the player’s ability lies in positioning and choosing the best skills for his playing style.
While we manage the horde, we’ll have to complete some missions, which have different difficulty levels. Once you overcome the latter you arrive at the summoning of the final boss. Be careful though: summoning the boss interrupts the hordes. The player can therefore no longer level-up and must be sure that he has reached an adequate level for the battle.
The mechanics of choosing a subclass after reaching a certain level are interesting. This mechanic changes the way you manage your chosen class, introducing interesting mechanics.
The roguelite element is expressed in the Virtues. Once the game is over, some collected resources can be spent to permanently improve characters’ abilities and purchase more powerful weapons.
Is Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel Worth the Wait?
Jotunnslayer looks like a promising horde-survivor with roguelite elements. The consistency with which the developers update the demo, listening to player feedback, is appreciable.
Bosses and miniboss have a pleasant aesthetic and the enemies have a fair variety. Although the enemies are manageable at lower levels, their output cannot be underestimated. Unfortunately, when the situation is tense, it is not clear when we will get hit. We often find ourselves with half a lifespan without realizing it.
For those who appreciate the genre, Norse mythology and a more mature aesthetic, I recommend trying at least the demo.
