'Princess.Loot.Pixel.Again' is competent yet uninteresting

It is, by and large, Valve Software’s Steam and other digital distribution platforms that allow small, independent game developers to sell their works to gamers. The rise of digital distribution is almost entirely responsible for creating the demand that has led to the release of dozens of celebrated, independently developed titles over the past few years. Recently, Valve has also become less selective about what it sells and now allows gamers to choose which games end up on Steam through a program called Steam Greenlight. These changes make it easier than ever to get a game on Steam, but they also mean that, for every break-out indie hit, there are many obscure titles that never see any meaningful sales numbers. This relaxed approach has earned Valve some criticism from industry commentators, with noted YouTube personality John “TotalBiscuit” Bain bemoaning the volume of so-called “tat” that is available on the service.

Valve has also made it possible for developers to sell their games to fans before the final product is ready via the Early Access program, an approach that is supposedly a win-win for both customers and developers. Ideally, devoted fans, by purchasing an Early Access game (normally at a discounted price), get to play something they are excited about early, while developers get invaluable feedback, as well as extra funds to put towards making their game. At worst, fans are left with an unfinished product foisted on them by an unscrupulous developer promising more down the road.

“Princess.Loot.Pixel.Again," by Saint Petersburg-based developer Efimov Max and released on Early Access with little fanfare on Nov. 6, takes advantage of both Valve’s recently relaxed attitude toward their wares and Early Access. “Princess.Loot.Pixel.Again” is a fantasy roguelike/platformer where players must rescue a captive king from a haunted castle by slaying enemies and avoiding environmental hazards. The fact that “Princess.Loot.Pixel.Again” can be boiled down to such a generic description nicely illustrates the uphill battle the game faces in trying to differentiate itself from the many better-known roguelikes/platformers on the market. Unfortunately, “Princess.Loot.Pixel.Again” only moderately succeeds in this respect and instead offers a mostly competent, albeit familiar, experience.

The game begins with hero selection, where players are invited to choose the hero they will play as during their attempt to rescue the king. For now, players are limited to choosing between three old fantasy standbys: a warrior, an archer and a wizard -- although the developer plans on adding more later on. Each character behaves exactly as you would expect: The warrior swings a sword and can take the most punishment, while the archer and wizard have ranged attacks (arrows and magic missiles, respectively) but are more fragile. The player roams through a haunted castle searching for the end of the level while avoiding traps, slaying enemies and finding equipment to enhance their character. After finding the door that marks the end of the level, the player moves on to the next, and, after a certain number of levels, the player must fight a boss. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. The gameplay is, ultimately, standard roguelike fair.

The formulaic gameplay is matched by equally formulaic presentation. “Princess.Loot.Pixel.Again” is rendered in a pixel art style designed to be reminiscent of '80’s classics, and the game executes this style well. Unfortunately, pixel art has been done to death recently, and “Princess.Loot.Pixel.Again” does nothing to stand out from the crowd visually. The game also features a chiptune soundtrack, which is par for the course for games in this genre. Though nothing unexpected, the game's soundtrack is a well realized and surprisingly enjoyable accompaniment to gameplay.

Beyond its standard gameplay and presentation, “Princess.Loot.Pixel.Again” is also riddled with localization problems. Phrases in broken or incorrect English dot the game and read like something one might find in one’s spam folder. An upgrade for the player’s bombs for instance, elucidates its purpose by simply declaring “bombs very stronger.”

At this stage in its development, “Princess.Loot.Pixel.Again” introduces nothing new to a formula that has been thoroughly played out. Fans of roguelike platforms will enjoy a competent entry into the genre, but everyone else should wait and see if the game becomes more interesting as it develops.

“Princess.Loot.Pixel.Again” is available for $4.24 on Steam.