[Discovering Indies] Skul: The Hero Slayer

If there is a genre that fascinates me and hates me at the same time, it is roguelikes. These generally procedural and terribly difficult games bring out the worst in me. It could be said that it is the genre that has broken the most controls. And there are a few.

The first roguelike to be released this year is Skull: The Hero Slayer. After just under a year in Early Access, development of the game has finally finished and version 1.0 has hit the market.

Skull: The Hero Slayer takes the classic fantasy tale and turns it on its head. Normally the stories follow the perspective of the hero who kills demons in order to save humanity, but in Skul, the heroes are the enemies. After an attack by the good guys in which the Demon King is kidnapped, everything will depend on Skul, a small skeleton who will face the human army and rescue the king, leaving a trail of dead heroes along the way.

Skul has the ability to swap his skull with any other he finds. Each skull offers a unique set of abilities that are randomly assigned to each match. The skulls have four levels; common, rare, unique and legendary that we can improve with the bones that we will obtain by destroying unwanted skulls or collecting those given to you by certain NPCs.

Every game begins in the Demon King's Castle, where we will buy upgrades and obtain some objects, such as extra skulls, when we unlock new NPCs. We will have to face a total of five worlds before we can go after the final boss. And I assure you that it will be a very difficult task.

The combat is fast, fluid and addictive. As I mentioned above, each skull has its own set of potential abilities (laughs guaranteed when seeing the initial skull ability) and rarity level, but there are also different types to obtain. Balanced Skulls offer a balanced experience between all stats, Speed ​​Skulls move and attack quickly but deal less damage, and Power Skulls are strong but slow. Take for example the skulls of Werewolf and Ent. Both are common level, but the werewolf is a speed type and thrives on running from one side of the screen to the other, dealing quick but decisive hits. On the other hand, Ent's is powerful, so it will be much slower, but each hit does considerably more damage.

And due to the synergies created between the two skulls that you can have equipped, all games will be different.

As with any roguelike, replayability and longevity are always a huge factor. The game can be completed relatively easily. We will have an interesting variety of enemies, different in each world. The fights against bosses are challenging, but not impossible.

Graphically, the game is simple but beautiful. The 2D pixelated graphics are vibrant and eye-catching. The skulls range from adorable to badass, and the same goes for NPCs, both allies and enemies.

If I had to ask for anything to be added to the game, it would be alternate routes. It's something any great roguelike needs: the ability to go off the beaten path and take an alternate route. The only option you have on your route is to choose between different doors that offer different types of rewards, but ultimately they will all lead to the same bosses. Some alternatives would make the game win integers. Of course, more skulls would also be welcome.

For those who have never played Skull: the Hero Slayer, I really have to recommend it. It may seem a little basic compared to other roguelikes, but it's a fantastic game that's a lot deeper than it initially appears. From the story to the game system to its fantastic soundtrack, there is more to it than meets the eye.

Take advantage of their 20% discount as an introductory offer on Steam!