Skautfold: Usurper – Game Review

Skautfold: Usurper – Game Review

Greetings, fellow gamers! Welcome back to the Veteran Game channel. Today we’re venturing into the world of “Skautfold: Usurper”, the latest installment in the Skautfold franchise that has fearlessly explored various genres from survival horror to RPG. Notably, Usurper is the series’ first venture into the Metroidvania realm, and at first glance, it promises an interesting experience, with its key art reminding us of the beloved “Aria of Sorrow”. However, unfortunately, it doesn’t quite live up to the hype.

Set in an alternative 19th-century London, the story unfolds shortly after the city is struck by an alien structure known as the Citadel. Emitting a malevolent ‘Fog’, it turns citizens into Lovecraftian monsters. You step into the shoes of Saragat, a resurrected knight controlled by a necromancer, Waltham, who plans to overthrow the Citadel’s keeper and harness its power. Despite this intriguing premise, the story falls flat due to lackluster writing. Character dialogues are awkwardly paced and stiff, making it challenging to follow the characters’ connections and their hazy pasts.

The gameplay blends action-focused Metroidvania mechanics with a touch of Soulslike influence. Combat is deliberate and deadly. However, death means forfeiting all your acquired experience and being returned to your last checkpoint. Here’s where the unique aspect of the gameplay kicks in: you have minuscule health and can easily be defeated by enemies, but a larger, quickly replenishing stamina meter bolsters your survival. While this presents an exciting twist to the combat, it’s unfortunately poorly balanced and excessively harsh.

Your character remains largely stagnant throughout the adventure. Despite the option to level up, your character remains frustratingly weak, a stark contradiction to the power progression typically found in Metroidvanias.

When it comes to exploration, Usurper doesn’t fare any better. The environments, although straightforward to traverse, lack enticing secrets to uncover. There are new weapons and magic stones for leveling up, but the absence of other gear or items to mix up gameplay is sorely felt. Moreover, the map’s inability to provide helpful information leaves a lot to be desired.

Adding to these grievances are the unimpressive spritework and sound design, giving Skautfold: Usurper a rather amateurish feel, more reminiscent of a middling flash game than a well-crafted eShop release. While there are sporadic moments of fun, the game struggles to bring together its various elements into a cohesive, worthwhile experience.

So, if you’re in search of a solid Metroidvania with Soulslike elements, I’d recommend looking towards titles like “Blasphemous”, “Hollow Knight”, or “Salt and Sanctuary”. They deliver a much more polished and enjoyable gaming experience. That’s all for now. Stay tuned for more reviews, and as always, game on!

source