ScourgeBringer

Kinetic action, beautiful, horrible pixel-art and a sense of place that stays with you - this is a dark treat.

In the end, I do think it is too “hurt me plenty” for me, only just. The sensation of being slapped right back to the start every time and having to repeat the opening level is as likely to produce a frustrated sigh as it is to inspire a “one more go” mentality. In this case, new minibosses have started to appear to offer some variety. But I’m probably bowing out, at least for the time being. That’s okay. I can appreciate the knuckle-cracking attitude of improvement-by-death while also being ready to lay down my demon razor and die no more. You win this one, ScourgeBringer.

ScourgeBringer is a wonderfully slick and addictive roguelite adventure that flings its players headlong into non-stop frenetic combat and never lets up. This is an unapologetically tough game and if you struggle with the constant repetition and death inherent in the roguelite genre you may find it all a little hard to put up with. However, if you're not put off by a challenge, or if you're a Celeste or Dead Cells fan who is craving more, what Flying Oak Games has conjured up with this one is sure to absolutely delight.

ScourgeBringer manages to work on the strength of its controls and the overall smoothness of its combat.

ScourgeBringer is an addictive experience that delivers terrific arcade-style gameplay.

It almost feels like nitpicking to find flaws in ScourgeBringer, as it has an answer for almost anything that might be a problem.

ScourgeBringer is a beautiful game, that combines an inspired pixel art with a very entertaining gameplay. Unfortunately, the limits of its low-budget nature tend to become apparent after a couple hours of play, when the poor variety starts to sink in.

Overall, ScourgeBringer is an immensely enjoyable game. Even your best run will be fairly short, so you can pick up and play anytime you feel like it. As light as it is on the story, it’s heavy on action and gameplay. It offers tons of replayability, too, with multiple endings. So if you’re looking for an intense roguelite platformer, give ScourgeBringer a try. I promise you’ll never be so frustrated and happy at the same time.

ScourgeBringer is a worthwhile addition to the genre and worthy of your time. It finds the right balance with its challenge, but players can scale it down if needed. The game can also get repetitive due to its fixed bosses and lack of a shortcut system, but this is outweighed by the enjoyable experience throughout.

Like so many indies before it, rogeulike Scourgebringer has found its true home on the PlayStation Vita.