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It was initially rather surprising when Moon Studios, well known for developing the beloved Metroidvania games Ori and the Blind Forest and its sequel, announced that its next game isn’t a Metroidvania at all.No Rest for the Wickedis an action-RPG not unlike Diablo, but the devs have reassured that it’s “much more Metroidvania” than most games in the genre.
This detail was teased in a deep dive video in theFuture Games Show Spring Showcase’s “Expansion Pack” stream. In the video, creative director Thomas Mahler speaks about the freedom of movement that’ll be afforded to players, noting that we’ll be given “ultimate control of the character” that’ll be “super precise.”
Bouncing off from this, production and technical director Gennadiy Korol adds: “It’s a very intuitive thing for us as well – I don’t think that we would want it any other way, especially with all the verticality that we have in the game, jumping and climbing. It’s a very different level design compared to just any other action RPG. It’s much more Metroidvania, it’s much more of creating these shortcuts, creating these interconnected moments, [and] having something that you can really get lost in in a good way.
“With a point-and-click model, how do you really make that natural? How do you make that convenient? I think it would be very, very difficult, and it just doesn’t fit our DNA.”
Moving on from this, Mahler compares No Rest for the Wicked’s combat system to Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat, pointing out the intricate planning that goes into each and every one of the actions seen in the game. There are “hundreds if not thousands” of different “moves and so on” integrated, making the process of making them all “extremely laborious.” In particular, it sounds like a lot of detail has gone into all of the attacking animations, which Mahler says “really have to matter” as you have to “let the animation drive everything.”
It sounds like we’ll be able to look forward to a really satisfying feeling of progression, not just while upgrading weapons and stats, but also while developing skills during play. Maxing out your stats action RPG-style while also honing your mastery of the mechanics will make you feel like a “badass” as you improve at the game, Korol says.
No Rest for the Wicked will be released in early access on PC on April 18, but it’s also planned to launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S later.
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3
Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
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Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
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2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
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Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
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Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
1
Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3
Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”