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Everybody needs to be nobody

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Whenever an action-RPG game promises to put a new spin on the genre, it’s easy to be cynical. However, nobody saves the world, which drops today (January 18) on Xbox and PC — and also lands day one on Game Pass — wasn’t made by just any developer.

Canadian indie company Drinkbox Studios hasn’t released a game since 2018, when it unveiled the wonderful Guacamele 2. Over the next four years, he strove to create an entirely new take on an age-old and hugely popular style of play, without losing any of its idiosyncratic and humorous charm.

A little like Guacamelee, the 30-hour getaway offered by nobody saves the world offers unique art style, smooth and reliable graphics, responsive controls, great score and no glitches. And, just like its predecessor, it’s also very, very good.

nobody saves the world starts abruptly. You, the titular Nobody, wake up in a shack in a small village, with more than a tip of the hat to The Legend of Zelda. However, you are far from a young and brave Hylian: you are a cold, dead-looking and genuinely pathetic creature, barely clinging to anthropomorphism as you gaze upon your surroundings through blank eyes. and holes and absolutely no memory of who you are or why you are there.

Within minutes, the story of the game unfolds quickly. A violent storm led to the disappearance of Nostramagus, the most powerful wizard of all time. An ancient fungal “Calamity” has awakened, devouring all life and unleashing monsters across the land. It’s up to you to solve it. So far, so simple.

However, things diverge dramatically from age-old action-RPG tropes within minutes, once you find Nostramagus’ Wand. As you escape near-immediate captivity at the hands of the wizard’s jealous, angry, and important understudy, Randy the Rad – who looks like a haggard cartoon version of Tan France from weird eye– you transform into a rat to make yourself smaller, a bit like GuacameleePollo Power, centered on chicken.

With this first new form, as well as each one you will unlock, you initially receive a signature attack, which recharges mana. nobody saves the world also gives you access to little side quests for each character, which in turn level them up on an F to S ranking system, unlocking more abilities and ultimately those exciting extra forms.

Once the gravity of the game’s core mechanics hits you, nobody saves the world quickly feels overwhelming. Fortunately, it is also exciting. In the early hours, your three-pronged form tree gives you access to a selection of ranger, guard, horse, and even an egg. Each has different strengths, weaknesses, speeds, and status effects that overcome the game’s rapidly growing trove of quests, attacks, enemy protections, unlockable areas, and upgradable abilities.

Each character is infinitely customizable. In addition to signature attacks, nobody saves the world Actively encourages you – and, with some character quests and dungeons, forces you – to combine various powers from different characters to succeed, creating even more challenges.

Eventually you level up high enough to unlock three additional passives per character, and this once again matches the game’s gradually increasing difficulty. For the most part, you’ll end up with a trio of ever-reliable ones – for me , it was buffs that included poison and fear, and another for regaining health via attacks – but nobody saves the world assures that there is no “perfect” combination with his dangerous world.

The variety of Trials available, especially the game’s Demi and Legendary Dungeons, forces you to think outside the box, regularly recalibrate, and simply explore characters you’ve barely worked with, beyond the leveling needed to access new shapes. Previously insurmountable dungeon rules can become so much easier with a little critical thinking, and the satisfaction you get out of it is incredible.

Battles are also a combination of strategy, brute force, and using your landscape. New and elite enemies pose challenges at every turn and can often use your own powers against you. Using multiple characters on the fly with your quick select wheel is simple and often a godsend.

While nobody saves the world is a game full of non-stop highs, exciting battles, fun side quests and a real challenge, it still has a handful of weaknesses. When faced with huge waves of enemies, you can completely lose track of where you are, only to be consumed by a mass of baddies – even a huge pointer barely cuts through the noise inside. ‘screen.

In the final third of the game, depending on your approach to character development, quests can also feel tedious, especially since you need to complete most of them to earn the stars needed to unlock the doors to the final two Legendary Dungeons. You may well find yourself depending on an easy half-dungeon or two to tick off those last few boxes, undermining an otherwise well-paced game.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, nobody saves the worldThe focus on quests and progression forces the story to take a step back. Sure, there are real thrills to be had from the exploration and self-improvement, but it feels like the bulk of the story is told at the end of the main quest – and even then, there were a few unanswered questions.

However, if that means Drinkbox needs to make a sequel to fully explore the world’s potential, I’m all for it. For action-RPG fans, nobody saves the world is a must; for Game Pass subscribers, it’s another classic surprise just waiting for you to stumble upon it.