Infernax follows the exploits of Duke Alcedor upon his return from the Crusades. The game pays homage to many games, both new and old. It has a death and reward system like Dark Souls. The music and overall aesthetic make it look like the older Castlevania games.
It also has some hints of Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link what with the townsfolk and RPG elements. This is not the first game from Berzerk Studio, but it certainly seems like their biggest endeavor yet? Did Infernax's blend of beloved classic titles make for an interesting indie game all its own or is it too stuck in the past?
7 Best: 8-Bit Graphics
Infernax pays homage to the classics nicely with equally well-designed 8-Bit graphics. Everything about the game makes it feel like it came out in the 80s. Even the music fits with the aesthetic.
One of the best sets of designs in the game is the bosses. They are utterly grotesque but that fun of it. Another great thing that can go unnoticed is how Alcedor’s sprite changes with time from new sets of armor to blood from enemies.
6 Worst: Platforming
The controls in Infernax are tight. Jumping does not feel as stiff as some clunkier 8-Bit games. However, there are instances where it can become increasingly frustrating due to enemy placement.
For example, there are spiked chandeliers that drop in the early sections of the game. Players must hop from one holding to the next while they rise and fall. When enemies aren’t around this is no issue but when they are, it can screw up jumps enormously. This is something the designers probably should not have taken from the classics. Deaths from instances like this can feel cheap.
5 Best: Assist Options
As hard as Infernax can be, it does have something that aided gamers in the 80s. There are internal cheat codes. These act as assist options in the game that can be turned on or off. There are only two revealed in the options menu, but there might be more.
There is an invincibility mode. This means players won’t take any physical damage. If they fall in a pit then they will be zapped back to the nearest platform. There is also an infinite jump cheat which allows players to bypass a huge chunk of the game. As a Metroidvania, players will unlock upgrades to traverse new paths. These cheats aren’t needed to beat the game, but more assist options are always nice to see to gather more types of gamers.
4 Worst: The Map
The map has a pretty standard layout for a Metroidvania. It’s easy to read. However, that’s because there are not a lot of details put into it. This will force players to take manual notes instead if they wish to avoid backtracking more than necessary.
Even with the best maps out there in video games, like in the remake of Resident Evil 2, manual notes are always encouraged. That was a necessary process during the 8-Bit era. Players couldn’t rely on the Internet to fix their problems with hundreds of FAQs and videos. This simple map problem in Infernax isn’t a huge deal. It’s more of a nitpick but it still deserves to be said.
3 Best: The Violence
There is one thing that doesn’t fit the 80s vibe and that would be the violence and gore. Mortal Kombat came out in 1992 and even that game isn’t as violent as Infernax. The gore in this game is outrageously over-the-top and that is great. It has a dark humor to it too.
For example, after players defeat the first boss at the docks, they can keep hitting it. Eventually, Alcedor will remark about how it can’t get any more dead. It’s just a pile of mush at that point. As mentioned earlier, blood also stays on Alcedor’s body until he rests up. Sometimes it’s fun just to appreciate violence in video games.
2 Worst: The Mace’s Reach
Alcedor’s mace is not as iconic as some other 8-Bit heroes. Infernax borrows a lot from Castlevania and there is nothing cooler than the Vampire Killer whip from that series. The whips in those games have a nice reach whereas the mace’s reach in Infernax is short. This doesn’t cause a huge problem.
There are spells to assist in the massacre of monsters as well. It’s another small nitpick but weapons can sometimes make or break an experience. While the mace certainly doesn’t break Infernax, it would have been nice to see more variety early on in the game.
1 Best: Quests And Player Choice
Infernax follows the 8-Bit book of design for the most part. The biggest addition the game adds to the formula are quests and player choice. These two things have been done to death in modern games but they weren’t as big during this era aside from full-blown RPGs.
Everything the player does has consequences which can be positive or negative. Killing a bandit in one section may have his minions slay a quest giver later on in the game as revenge. Alternatively, sparing someone may wield greater rewards later. Players even have to be careful about actions in town. It is possible to destroy them with an accidental press of a spell button for example. Adding in quests and choices gives players more engagement with the world which is by far Infernax’s greatest strength.
Infernax will release on February 14, 2022, and is going to be available on PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.