Review: The Vagrant

The Vagrant introduces Vivian’s journey in Mystery Island named Mythrilia. This 2016 kickstarter project is heavily inspired from Dragon's Crown, Oboro Muramasa, and Castlevania X in term of gameplay and art direction. 

The world filled by hand-drawing characters and charming environment. The variation of music is noticeable from acoustic to heavy metal. It’s very subjective taste but I found it fits very well.

The Vagrant offers simple mechanics (2D combat, exploration, character progression). The world is divided into many sub sections filled by different threats and themes. In combat, the game offers basic two-button sword action which can be expended by movement input and player position. Player can also use special skills which consume amount of rage gauge to unleash powerful attack. Each skills and combo are well designed and worth by purpose. Combined with responsive control and feedback, it creates fluid and solid action. Moreover, the boss fight design can be inconsistent in difficulty, but they’re fair challenge once you figure out their patterns.

The exploration in Mythrilia offers fair rewards such as key item to learn new moves and new rage skills. Blending objects into environment keep enticing player to discover and learn world design. All enemies and breakable object can drop gold and mana. Mana is mainly used to unlock skills and enhance gears. There are also small feature like enchant rune system that allow you to customize extra attribute for items and campfire cooking that give permanent bonus depends on choose receipt which are nice touch.

However, the game still need some improvement and tweaks during early access state. These include translation and UI accessibility for player. There’s also huge gap between some items and abilities, require huge grind which I feel like it keeps slow down on progression. Infinite spawn in some area can sometimes get frustrating in exploration. Finally, the rift area (unlock after defeat boss in each area) doesn’t offer worth payoff compared on cost you pay for rift access.

The Vagrant is still under development promised by six chapters (currently on three) and although it has major changes of design based on original project. But it’s very solid 2D action title with some interesting features that have potential. I believe that amount of feedback and right direction from developers with help to polish this gem to its best.