Disclaimer – The following is an early access review for the first chapter of the game that is currently available at the time of writing. However, a score will be given at the current state of the game; this score will change or stay the same as more content is released as the developers inch closer to a full 1.0 release.
Moon Studios was one of the standout indie developers that popped up during the 2010s, partnering with Microsoft to release Ori and the Blind Forest. The game was once again a standout in the indie Metroidvania scene, with its hand-drawn visuals and emotionally gripping story. The game was such a success that it led to the creation of a sequel that being Ori and the Will of the Wisps. But since ending their relationship with Microsoft, Moon Studios decided for their next game to do something completely different, a Diablo-style hack and slash with gameplay elements from the Soulslike genre; the end result is No Rest for the Wicked.
The game is a historical fantasy fiction set in the year 841; you create your character and are part of a group of people called Cerim, a group of holy warriors imbued with magical abilities, who must purge the “Pestilence”, a plague which has transformed the locals of Isola Sacra into dangerous and mindless monsters. Along the way, you end up in local revolts involving local rulers and kings and, on the other side of the coin, the local rebels. The games world is very engaging I wanted to keep exploring every nook and cranny and uncover every single story element I could, this is the first time in a while that a new IP’s world has gripped me this good.
Then you have the gameplay, which in one statement can be described as punishing, at first you will play it like Diablo because that’s what it visually reminds you of, but very quickly, you will realize that it does not play like that; instead, goes for souls like and coming off the most recent Elden Ring DLC I kind of knew what to expect. You get the usual elements that are present in the genre, different gear builds, dodge rolling like a monkey, and enemies and bosses that, if you are not paying attention to 100 percent, you will end up being swung across the screen to your death. It’s one of those games that if you don’t play it the way it wants you to, you will not have a good time.
But the standout element of the game, is the visual style. Moon Studios once again proves that they are one of the top-tier studios when it comes to art direction because this game oozes style. With this being their first mature outing after Ori, they are able to evolve their art style and, at the same time, give it that unique Moon Studio flair. I ended up playing this at 4K and it is at moments like watching a moving painting, some moments I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, and I hope when it comes to console it can keep that raw visual style and detail.
So, with that said, should you get this game at this very moment? It depends on if you like what you see in the gameplay videos that are over the internet. Because this is an early-access game, the only section that is currently playable is the first chapter. I did get a lot of time with it, and I will be coming back to it as more chapters are released. But I would I wait until its fully released to give it a try, because this is a game that if you step away from for a bit you will quickly forget how the game wants you to play.
Score: 8 out of 10
Reviewed on PC (Steam)