Lords of Exile Review

This review was done on a Xbox Series s/x, Lords of exile is also available on Nintendo switch, Playstation 4 and Steam.

One of my most favorite franchises by far is the Castlevania series. I grew up with entries like Symphony of the Night and Aria of Sorrow, which took the Castlevania concept to new heights. Together with the Metroid franchise, it developed a whole new genre commonly known as Metroidvania, which remains relevant for the franchise to this day. Its earlier installments, on the other hand, were much more platforming action-based. I have to confess that I didn’t play these games until recently. Two weeks ago, I bought a compilation package covering several of its earlier installments in the series and started playing through the history of this big franchise. I was baffled by the difficulty the first games provided, but I really enjoyed the charm of the first game. So when Danny came up with a review opportunity for Lords of Exile, a game that looks like it could have been the next entry in the Castlevania franchise, I was instantly like, ‘Bring it on!’ If I must believe the words of the developer, this is going to be a trip down memory lane, as he ensures us it is ‘a tribute to classic games of the late 80s and early 90s.’ Let’s find out if he is can deliver on the promise.

Who needs a story anyway

Lords of Exile tells the story of Gabriel, a cursed knight who seeks revenge on the diabolical Galagar. This evil entity waged war on his homeland Exilia, destroying everything Gabriel loved. Though the story isn’t particularly captivating, it provides just enough reason to embark on a killing spree against enemies that cross your path. But to be honest, stories in games back in the 80s weren’t much better either

Great visuals

While the story may be somewhat simplistic, the graphics in Lords of Exile are something else. The game’s 8-bit visuals are absolutely stunning, with enemies nicely visualized and levels filled with detail. Your journey takes you through eight beautifully constructed levels, which include giant castles, eerie docks, a mountain pass, and even a moving train. Each of these locations features stunning background visuals accompanied by a great 16-bit soundtrack. It’s a shame that the levels are very linear and leave little room for exploration. Although this was a design choice, I would have loved to see more ways to navigate through each level. Every level follows a similar structure, requiring you to navigate through obstacles and enemies before eventually reaching an area where a boss awaits.

Boss fights

The boss fights in Lords of Exile are quite enjoyable and offer a diverse range of combat encounters. I’ve battled a giant pig, a big spider, grotesque monsters, and even some evil ninjas. Each of these bosses has a fighting pattern that you can memorize to minimize the damage you take. While these patterns are not very difficult to master, they still provide a fun challenge. Gabriel comes equipped with a whip and a secondary weapon, similar to the protagonist from the Castlevania series. Secondary weapons can be obtained throughout the levels and range from throwing knives to scythes and bombs. These weapons are very powerful and particularly handy during boss fights. Additionally, Gabriel can unlock some shadows to join him in battle, which can be charged to deal damage. Unfortunately, these shadows are relatively ineffective in combat, as their damage output is minimal. However, they are necessary to progress through certain parts of the game. In my opinion, more could have been done to make these shadows more useful in battle; currently, they feel like filler content.

Replayability

After completing Lords of Exile for the first time, you unlock different modes and a new character named Lyria. Unlocking this second character significantly eases the game, as Lyria can shoot from a distance and run twice as fast as Gabriel. This provides a welcome change from Gabriel’s slower pace. However, the downside is that you can finish the game in less than an hour with her, given that the game only consists of 8 levels, which are not particularly long. For those seeking more challenge, there’s the option to test their skills in a boss rush mode or the speed run mode