I’ve changed my review to positive, but here is my salty feedback, because I want this game to become great. It has so much potential.
I know it can sounds rude, but game fell under the ambitions of the creators. It seems like the developers came up with a mechanics and decided they are cool. But they never figured out why it has to be in game.
Game looks like patchwork without whole vision.
Now my concerns step by step.
- Game is not rewarding.
Souls-like game is about exploration. You search for interesting places and secrets to find unique equipment or powerful upgrades there.
In “No Rest for the Wicked” you will find in secrets same stuff like anywhere else.
Diablo-like games is about loot from bosses. You defeat bosses to get unique items from them.
In “No Rest for the Wicked” bosses drop same stuff like anywhere else.
So there is absolutely no point in searching for secrets or bossing.
Why it works in souls-like? Souls have huge variety of weapons and gear that can be found across the game. Game series have mechanics that can be upgraded, so upgrades can be placed in different places, such as loot for players.
It won’t work for “No Rest for the Wicked”, because you decided to make diablo-like loot.
Why loot systems work in diablo-likes? Those games have many systems and mechanics that can be converted to different stats, including some unique. And then developers can spread those stats across all items in game.
It won’t work for “No Rest for the Wicked”, because game doesn’t have enough systems and mechanics.
You see, you decided to make a soul-diablo-mix, but you missed the details that make each genre work.
To be honest, I don’t know how you can make it work. You decided to have diablo-like loot, so only way now is to enrich game with systems and mechanics. This will let you to create tons of items with different stats. Otherwise it will never work.
- Capital city is made of ladders.
You wanted to make a place which players would love to explore. Also you wanted game to have global upgrades. So you decided that city will have some of those upgrades made of shortcuts. But first city has to be less comfortable.
Same time, If you look to diablo games, you will see that in Diablo 4 city becomes more and more comfortable with each patch. And it requires less and less walking around it.
Original souls series always has hub where everything is placed in one place.
I think you need to redesign city. Separate the main part that players constantly visit and the parts for exploration. Perhaps let the city upgrade to open up previously inaccessible regions. It will make city upgreades more impactful.
- Balance all weapon types.
I was disappointed to find out that some enemies have a longer attack range than my claymore and a faster attack animation, even if they are also carrying a heavy weapon. There is no way to hit them without getting hit back.
So I had to change my weapon to a faster one, because if range doesn’t matter, then attack speed should be the main target.
- Make stealth useful.
Enemies see me in stealth even when they are off screen. Is it possible to reduce the distance at which they notice me in stealth? Because it’s not even about crit. The game lacks the safe scouting mechanic that stealth should have.
- Make housing, city and global upgrades cool.
Look at each housing and city upgrade feature. If doesn’t have wow-effect then remove it.
Because I purchased house and put there some stuff but it’s never impressed me. It looks just ok at best.
For example - look to Last Epoch crafting mechanics. Each of them look like op and imba. You want to get there and craft, and you know it will worth your effort.
Or check Grim Dawn where you can improve reputation with different factions for epic rewards.
- Play more diablo-like games and learn why they’re cool.
Sad to tell that to game developers. You decided to make hack-and-slash game in diablo-like genre. But it looks like you never played any of them.
There are several small but very good diablo-like games with unique features: Chronicon and The Slormancer. First one is made by one person, second one is by small team. And obviously both of developers teams are played a lot of diablo-like game, because they know how it works and what genre is made of. Even while both teams are newbies.
You’re veterans, but it doesn’t feel in your game. Well yes, visuals are stunning, it’s very very good in technical side, but core gameplay is just not here yet.