cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ninja/post/33667

As Scathe, Enforcer of Hell’s legions, my existence has been devoted to wading through the tortured pathways of this accursed plane, an ordeal that rings true to the suffering of the underworld. A venture I thought would parallel the glory of Doom incarnate turned to a pit of unfulfilled promise.

My genesis starts as an awkward shuffle into a sacred chamber, assigned by celestial entities to cleanse Hell’s forces. This cumbersome walk is the first sign of a lack of finesse that plagues my being.

Thrust into the fray without guidance, the purpose of my existence takes time to unravel, hindered by the absence of tutelage. The ambiguous nature of this universe offers no support, causing initial encounters to be strenuous. My destiny, based on cryptic hints from the tome of Steam and a barebones encyclopedia, appears to be bound to the endless corridors of a hellish maze.

My journey requires the collection of mysterious “Hellstones”, a task with no instruction. Additionally, runes lie hidden in the labyrinthine levels, their purpose equally elusive. Only later do I realize that the collection of these runes is essential for unlocking doors to demonic overlords, resulting in the acquisition of a Hellstone upon their defeat. The labyrinth teems with uninspired foes, their incessant spawning leading to monotonous combat.

While referred to as a “bullet hell,” the projectiles of my adversaries lack the distinguishing features of this genre. Enemy patterns are erratic and lack complexity, devoid of the strategic avoidance seen in other games. My combat experience thus lacks the enjoyment of dodging distinctive projectiles.

Progression is particularly vexing, eschewing conventional perks and level-ups. Instead, I uncover new firearms and spells in the course of my journey. However, the labyrinth’s intricate design results in missed opportunities for weapon and spell acquisitions, causing me to rely on a basic machine gun for most of my journey.

The arcane progression system hints at new weapons and spells on the map, if I manage to discover enough of the labyrinth. However, these hints are so faint that they are easy to overlook, leading to a potentially lackluster initial experience.

My weaponry leaves much to be desired. The starting firearm, while functional, lacks any extraordinary elements. The damage caused by various weapons seems consistent, and scarcity of ammo results in frequent reliance on the default weapon. Spells, although interesting, are often overlooked due to their limited utility.

Optically this universe deceives at first glance, with underlying issues revealing themselves upon closer scrutiny. I find myself confronted with my dismembered remains upon death, and enemies up-close lack aesthetic appeal. Enemies lack creativity, with many appearing to be rejects from the Doom 2016 roster. While I usually find myself amidst the orchestras of the heavens, all too often, I find myself in silence amidst my onslaught.

Despite a God having time for the creation of their universe, there are often problems with De Ja Vous. Odd visual artifacts and occurrences persist. I have discovered the balance of my weapons leaves much to be desired. It even seems the environment itself rises against me unfairly disrupting my most holy work.

The freedom to choose my path, engage enemies, and acquire weapons is a concept of merit, form a strong foundation for my quest, yet the execution is inadequate. I may find encouragement in others joining my endeavor yet it is unlikely to offset the substantial flaws of omnipotent beings. If a God themself perfected all that is around me, it would not be enough to overcome the existent complications to complete what they expect of me.

#scathe #multiplayer #hitandmiss #nonlinear #boomer_shooter