AK-xolotl Review (W+M1)
I've done a few more runs and unlocked some of the meta progression and some more axolittles and i still don't want to play more. The game in my opinion has 3 fundamental issues that i dont think can be patched. One game speed is jsut to slow, its so boring maybe its because i expect newer roguelikes to give me a similar rush to the rushes nuclear throne and gungeon gave me years ago but this game isnt tense, not even during bosses because everything moves so slow if you have a modicum of reaction time you'll be fine. The only time you'll be taking hits as a roguelike veteran is when you zone out from boredom. The second major issue is run diversity, i know meta progression has become a staple of roguelikes (much to my disdain) but locking run diversity behind meta progression is ultra mega ass garbage. Imagine if in gungeon you could only find like the flare gun, flintlock, wind up gun, sling, cactus, and m1 until you rescue like 2 npc's, thats what this game does and its awful. Meta progression isnt inherently bad when done right like gungeon but the main problem here is that im not having fun with the core game and i dont want to unlock more i want to stop playing. FInally this game is too easy, if every room was built like a challenge room i might've had fun but fighting 3-8 enemies a room is boring. Also respectfully what do you mean you dont have alternate bosses right now? That crab boss is so fucking braindead and boring oh my. Oh god and the biomes all just feel like palate swapped versions, at least the three i saw in my 6 runs.
As much as i want to recommend this game and as excited as i was for the chance of a new Nuclear throne this one isnt it. And my issues can't exactly just be patched they are all the core pillars of which this game was built, patching this game to a point where i could recommend it would unfortuantely just make it a different game entirely. I think if this one leaned more into the base building stuff and became alternate cult of the lamb i wouldve liked it a lot more
TLDR: This is a roguelike made for cozy gamers not a cozy roguelike and i know that sounds like a slight against cozy gamers, it isnt. It's just if you wanted a more traditional hard roguelike this isn't it