Revenge is a dish best served bloody.
Developed by Paper Cult, Bloodroots opens with a most remarkable homage to Kill Bill. Instead of a bride-to-be left to die on her wedding day, you take on the role of Mr. Wolf – a warrior who was betrayed and is now hellbent on finding his would-be killer. Do you have what it takes to seek out the ones that have wronged you?
On the onset, I’d just like to say that no game should be as fun as Bloodroots. It is absolutely insane how much enjoyment can be had when doing something so simple. Combat moves at breakneck speed as you grab whatever you can get your mitts on to wantonly butcher anyone and anything around you. At your disposal is a ridiculous number of weapons that range from the sensible to the silly. Anything from a trusty axe to a cumbersome, yet highly effective bale of hay can be used to pulverize your foes into a puddle of plasma. Why cut up an enemy that sharp-looking katana when a carrot-bludgeoning will get the job done. There is just something about one-hit kills that puts a big dumb smile on my face and Bloodroots had me grinning from ear to ear the entire time.
Kills are so deliciously sweet it practically gave me diabetes. The way blobs of blood fill the entire screen is a thing of beauty. The isometric perspective really helps to highlight all the carnage. The gameplay is so hypnotically addictive and so bloody fun that it is borderline criminal, and it will undoubtedly speak to the murder-machine that resides deep within. Controls are pretty straightforward with all the action being assigned to a handful of buttons. More often you will be using the incredibly versatile environment to get around such as riding a barrel or the occasional wagon. Mayhem aside, there are some systems in place that help make your killing-spree a bit less mindless.
Enemies aren’t the only thing in Bloodroots that can be insta-killed. You may look all tough with your brooding stare and wolf’s mane, but Mr. Wolf is just as easily squashed as anyone else. In fact, some enemies will eventually wise-up to their inherent squishy-ness and don a pesky defensive shield meaning it will take an extra hit to take them down. This adds just enough method to the overall madness and helps keep you on your toes. You will fail, a lot. Fortunately enemy placement is permanent so if at anytime you feel like a certain path or weapon isn’t quite working out, you can always try a different technique once you respawn. It is super-important in honing your skills for what’s to come.
Boss fights are every bit as flashy and eye-popping as what you will experience leading up to them. The PAX East demo culminated with a battle against a character known as Mr. Boar. Instead of a one-on-one fight to the death, the battle is broken down into a series of chase sequences, where you will have to use weapons in tandem with the environment to get by.
Rocking an artistic style that would make Afro Samurai proud and more blood than a Quentin Tarrentino flick, Bloodroots maybe just be my favorite thing ever. It’s fast, frenetic gameplay is equally addictive as it is absurd. Never before has the phrase ‘there is nothing else quite like it’ ever been more true. The moment you pick up your first axe and gleefully murder that first hapless victim (who let’s face it – totally deserved it), you just know that you are playing something special.
Though my time with Bloodroots was fleeting, it’s impression on me was not. Long after I had left Paper Cult’s booth and wondered off into the noise that is PAX East, I constantly felt myself wanting to go back for more. It’s hold on me was very real, and I honestly cannot wait for its release. I won’t have to wait too long to satiate my blood-lust though as Bloodroots will be coming to PC and consoles later this year.
Let the bodies hit the floor.
