Bloodroots Xbox Series X Review
| Game: | Bloodroots |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Paper Cult |
| Developer: |
Bloodroots is one of those games that wants you to get moving, and once you do, it just doesn’t want you to stop. Like me, you may very well not want to stop either, as this is one immensely satisfying game that is all about stringing your violent actions together.
Bloodroots doesn’t take place in the Wild West, although it does have the Weird West as its center stage. Taking control of a bearded character known as Mr Wolf, the character is left for dead at the beginning of the game meaning that this is a tale that is all about revenge of the bloody kind
By nature, Bloodroots is a simple game. Your task in each area is to simply kill everyone that stands in your way, making use of a varied set of weapons. Rendering things more difficult is that Mr Wolf can be killed in a single blow, forcing you to be both efficient as well as cautious. Frustrating? Without a doubt. Fun? Most certainly yes.
Mr Wolf can make use of his fists when he is without a weapon, but it’s said weapons that add so much to Bloodroots comic violence. These tools of death are limited in their use but functionality is varied and, as each area is full of them, you’ll often be able to find another weapon once your current one is spent. Weapons such as the sword can be used to carve through a number of enemies at once, vases can be lobbed, guns can be fired, ladders can be spun around your head, you can ride on barrels to steamroll across your foes, and you can even sit inside a giant boot and stomp across anything that moves. The weapons are an absolute joy to make use of, and the game is still introducing new tools to you in its later stages, which came as a nice surprise to me.
As I said in my opening paragraph, Bloodroots is a game that encourages locomotion. With that said, it feels kind of wrong to not play the game in the way that it was intended, going swiftly from one kill to the next, stringing combos together. The game also really likes you when you attempt to be a little bit varied with your murderous revenge. The action is buttery smooth, and levels feel very replayable as many will attempt to improve upon their previous scores.
As I mentioned earlier, Bloodroots is definitely a game that isn’t without its frustration. If you die, you’ll go straight back to the start of the area, and then all the enemies will respawn as well. With that said, a simple mistake on your part can lead to you having to restart an area, even if there’s only a handful of enemies left. There’s definitely a feeling of relief when you do clear an area, as then you reach a much deserved checkpoint. Levels must be completed, however, as quitting the game will place you back at the start of a level once you return to the game.
Bloodroots also features unlockable hats for Mr Wolf and, while they can be worn at any time, their abilities only become available once you replay a previously completed level. Abilities give you access to actions like a double jump as well as beginning a level with a gun in hand, and so on.
Bloodroots is a hugely enjoyable action game that feels fast, smooth and responsive at all times. While it can frequently frustrate , this is a game that never feels unfair, and it is never lacking in fun either. The vast range of weapons will be enough to tattoo a permanent and gleeful smile on many a face, and to manage to design a killing combo that results in a nice score at the end of a level is the cherry on top of this bloody cake.
