I recently jumped back into Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel after it officially exited Early Access, and wow, has it changed. When I last played, it only had a few maps and the missions got repetitive fast. Now, the game is twice as big. It has more characters, more gods to experiment with, and tons of new maps. There’s also a lot more to do, with new achievements, trophies, and weapons for every character. Best of all, it’s still a pretty cheap game.
While much has improved, some things have stayed the same. The quest system, for one, still feels generic and repetitive. You’re given a timer to complete objectives that range from defeating enemies in a specific area to closing portals or collecting. It’s essentially just running from one side of the map to the other. Although some maps make these quests more enjoyable, and there’s an endless mode, the system itself needs more variety. It definitely won’t be for everyone.
“You can upgrade all skills in the game, including those for your characters and gods, using a skill tree.”
What’s great about this game is the constant swarm of enemies. Similar to Vampire Survivors, more powerful enemies and mini-bosses appear as you survive for longer periods. To help you deal with the challenge, you can use different characters who can attack from both close and long range. The game is clearly inspired by Norse mythology, and you get help from gods like Thor, Loki, and Skadi. They provide you with various active and passive abilities to use in combat.
You can upgrade all skills in the game, including those for your characters and gods, using a skill tree. You’re able to use multiple skills and upgrades at the same time, which is a big plus. The more you play and the more rewards you earn, the more points you’ll have to spend. As mentioned, each character can use multiple weapons, which you unlock with a special currency. This currency is earned by completing trophies or finding it in the game’s world.
While the skills are unique and allow for some experimentation, you’ll likely find yourself using the same few abilities over and over. You quickly learn which ones are most effective. For example, Freya’s powerwave is incredibly strong, Thor’s lightning attacks are very powerful, and Odin’s attack speed boost is a must-have. Once you get used to the game, you’ll know exactly which skills to pick.
Although skills might not offer much variety, the characters you play with certainly do. The Berserker has a unique rage ability, the Revenant can summon a wolf, and the Warden uses a shield slam instead of a dash. The good news is you can allocate your skill points to any character you choose, making it easy to try someone new at any time.
“While the skills are unique and allow for some experimentation, you’ll likely find yourself using the same few abilities over and over.”
During your playthroughs, you can find food you eat to heal up, plus chests that can give you gold or unique perks, and each map has something unique about it. For example, Svartalfheim is settled inside a mine and has moving carts, but also doors to open and special catapults that throw you to the other side of the map. In general, the game offers plenty enough of variety while also keeping things interested when needed.
Jotunnslayer is a beautiful game, with a stunning art style, animations, and UI that perfectly capture its Norse mythology theme. The soundtrack is also fantastic. You’ll love the look of each skill and the design and movement of every enemy. At the end of each playthrough, you’ll face a huge and challenging boss. These bosses vary by map and are all incredibly tough with a massive amount of HP. You might fight a giant robot that deals damage with his chainsaw, or an ugly abomination that chases you while spitting poison.
I stand by my original Early Access review: “you’ve got nothing to lose by giving it a try.” It’s still one of the more affordable roguelites available and offers plenty of fun. I didn’t experience any bugs, though there were some minor FPS drops. The game has more depth now, but I still don’t think every fan of the genre will fall in love with it.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Significant improvements from Early Access. | Repetitive quests. |
| Affordable price. | Balancing issues. |
| Strong art and sound design. | Minor technical issues. |
| Varied characters to play with. |
Review copy provided by the publisher
