A kingdom in ruin, a procession of forlorn and horrifying foes, and big bosses that'll make you beg for mercy (yet at the same time beg for more). Yes, the Souls-like is one of gaming's most revered and reviled genres, and we've seen it take many weird and wonderful forms over the years, but have you ever seen a hero fight a leader of a mythical gnome-like cult with nothing but his boxers on? Well, with Greedventory—the upcoming 2D action RPG from Ukrainian developer Black Tower Basement and Lithuanian developer-publisher Nordcurrent Labs—you may be about to.
For a start, Greedventory, as the name suggests, is a lot more giving with its loot; in fact, there's enough loot here—from bucket helmets to katanas, mystical rings, and, uhhh, beehives—to get Diablo stirring anxiously in his hellish tomb. It's all about the hoarding here, as you slice your way through bizarre enemies like a hot sword through pig flesh to keep increasing your hero's stats and weps.
The combat isn't exactly what you'd expect either. You move across the screen by clicking with your mouse, making it feel almost like a fast-paced ultra-violent point-and-click adventure. Combat is mostly point-and-click-based too; hover your mouse over enemies and click to attack them, and remember to to avoid their attacks using swish moves like turning into a wisp of smoke or the good old-fashioned parry (which you'll need to learn to time perfectly, of course). But in true Soulsy style, you'll need to watch your stamina, lest you puff yourself out and leave yourself vulnerable.
Expect comically gory animations, as well as strange enemies that range from demonic clowns to heavy-drinking cherub-dwarf dudes, and formidable bosses like Morzok the Short (yes, the name is ironic). Things get pretty challenging out there, but you'll be handsomely rewarded with tons of plunder as well as those super-satisfying 'Victory' messages upon defeating a boss.
On the other hand, Greedventory doesn't suffer fools lightly, so when you die you lose that precious gold used to improve your stats and buy new gear. Don't let its silly style fool you; the stakes are high and this game will eat up the complacent gamer with the swiftness and brutality of a mimic chest.
Greedventory's story is a classic tale of heroism in the face of insurmountable odds except, well, no one really cares for your heroics. The game laughs in the face of a fantasy apocalypse, and the NPCs are a foul-mouthed bunch, bossing you around and cursing each other as the world crumbles around them. Sure, no one's going to be celebrating your existence and calling you a hero, but haven't you had enough of that from those more conventional RPGs? Besides, in a ruined world like this what's an NPC to do other than get drunk and belligerent?
The game's unique pixel art style reflects this irreverent tone. The vibrant levels range from cosy villages, to misty moonlit coastal towns, green pustulent caves, and, uhhh, a circus zoo that you need to tear your way through. You know that feeling in Elden Ring when you emerge from a dungeon to be greeted with a spectacular vista that would just blow your mind? Well, Greedventory's unique world is kind of like that in terms of the surprises it throws your way (except 16-bit, and indie… and made on a slightly smaller budget).
Greedventory arrives on Steam 17 May 2023. Head over to the Steam or GOG page to check it out, wishlist it if you like it, and get involved with the game's community on Twitter. If you're sick of the self-serious Souls-like, and want your dark RPG with a wicked vein of dark humour running through, then this weird world created in Black Tower Basement awaits you...
