[Preview] Realm of Ink – Hades-like roguelite

If you enjoy independent indie game coverage, consider supporting Indie-Games.eu on Patreon. It helps keep the site independent.

In Realm of Ink, you begin your journey as the swordswoman Red, gradually unlocking additional characters as you progress. She discovers that her life is dictated by fate within the world of a book, ruled by a mysterious spirit, but soon realizes that she can influence it herself.

Only by breaking free can she uncover the truth of her existence and challenge the limits of destiny: “From ink and brush, life is born anew; in the embrace of death, souls remain tranquil.” The old world will collapse as a new one forms, and awakened spirits will reshape their true selves amid endless cycles of destruction, hence the roguelite essence.

Yes, this is indeed a roguelite game where there will never be a shortage of action. At every turn, you may be attacked by creatures inspired by Chinese mythology, whether they possess special skills, use magic, or attack with weapons like swords and arrows. In the demo version at least, you will have to defeat the same two bosses with every playthrough, but the loot will never be the same.

Gameplay and Combat Mechanics

First, it’s worth noting that in the demo version, there are three weapons you can wield against your enemies. The primary weapon is a standard sword, but there are also dual blades and the Azura blade for ranged attacks. The weapon you prefer certainly depends on your playstyle, but don’t worry, as you’ll have plenty to explore and try out, this is just the beginning.

As for the gameplay, it revolves around simple mechanics. There’s a light attack and a heavy attack; each deals a certain type of damage and can be combined. Furthermore, by collecting Inks, you gain special powers that you can use. Only two are available at a time, so it is crucial to take the best ones or combine them so they function well together. Whether you want to poison or burn enemies, throw a huge rock at them, or empower yourself, it’s up to you to decide how you want to play.

Additionally, you can dodge enemies with a quick dash forward, and each enemy has an indicator for when they will attack, which makes the job of evasion much easier. However, you are limited in this regard; the dodges are displayed as jewels beneath your character, and the lower your health, the fewer times you can use this mechanic. Dodging will prove to be extremely useful, as the bosses will require you to master this mechanic thoroughly.

Route Selection and Upgrades

During the game, you will be able to choose the routes you want to take. Each route provides specific bonuses or benefits and consists of the following elements:

• Silver Chest – a route for collecting Silver Coins which are used to buy food, perks, and upgrade Inks.
• Elixir Hub – for various Elixirs that can strengthen you or give you more health, and which can be stacked on top of each other.
• Gems Abyss – a place where you can acquire Inks for skills after defeating enemies.
• Perk Stand – you can select perks in the form of items that remain throughout the playthrough and grant you specific bonuses.
• Trial Valley – you are asked to complete a specific challenge in exchange for extremely good loot.

There are also Cursed Perks; these items have both positive and negative effects, and once you choose one, there is no going back. Whether you want to sacrifice the amount of loot you receive or your health to hit harder, perhaps it’s better to avoid them in the end? Additionally, all items within the game have a rarity, with the gold-er the color, the stronger the items or perks. Furthermore, you will not be alone on your journey; you will have your animal companions, each with special attacks and skills.

Conclusion

Realm of Ink is a truly visually stunning game; you feel as if it’s immersed in ink, it’s pleasant to the eye, and the details are quite thorough. The characters look great, especially when we are in the main hub before starting the game. Are they attractive? Absolutely! However, this game lacks voice acting; while it is present in a few places, it’s very quiet, and it seems that only the main character speaks. Perhaps the main sequences in the full version will be voiced.

You might be asking if this game is good? It is good, but the gameplay is extremely simple, and the enemies, and even the bosses, never pose a real challenge. You’ll spend more time dodging enemies, and it’s odd to me that we aren’t limited in some way there, as it recharges very quickly. In the beginning, until you figure out which perks and skills are best, the game might feel slow, but later the gameplay becomes repetitive, though this may change when the full version of the game is released.

I really like that the text is enlarged for easier reading, and it helps greatly that we have indicators showing us everything. Perhaps they should work on the difficulty level, as the various enemies presented no challenge whatsoever. Realm of Ink can boast about its perspective from which we play; everything is visible and easily noticeable, and it gives us the impression that we are truly in control of our character and their fate.

Personally, Realm of Ink was very fun; the action is exactly what attracts players, and this game has plenty to explore and try out. I didn’t encounter any bugs or major difficulties, and I regret that the demo showed us very little. However, we are promised over a hundred Inks, travel through four kingdoms, and a story spanning 100,000 words. Realm of Ink has me intrigued, and it’s worth seeing what this game ultimately becomes.