The Rangers In The South – Cheap and Solid ARPG

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• DEVELOPER: DPA Studios
• PUBLISHER: DPA Studios
• PLATFORMS: PC
• GENRE: ARPG / Roguelite
• RELEASE DATE: January 9, 2024
• LAUNCH PRICE: 3.99€
• REVIEWED VERSION: PC

The Rangers In The South is a game that brings about divided feelings. Developed by a single developer, this 2.5D pixel art ARPG combines rogue-like elements, loot progression, and permadeath mechanics into a charming but challenging experience. At the affordable price of €3.99, it offers a surprising amount of content and creativity, making it worth trying out. However, despite its ambitions, the game struggles to stand out due to repetitive gameplay and a lack of innovative mechanics. Nonetheless, it is fun enough to keep you occupied for a few hours.

Solid Core Gameplay Loop That Falls Short the More You Play

The core gameplay loop is solid. The world consists of five linear biomes with increasing difficulty, which feature dungeons, enemies, treasure chests, and magical stones that allow for limited meta-progression. Additionally, the combination of Diablo-style loot and Rogue Legacy-inspired permadeath mechanics create a sense of caution and reward. The character progression systems are also solid, being based on a wide range of weapons (physical and magical), skill synergy, and random upgrades that make each playthrough feel different.

Unfortunately, combat is the weakest aspect of the game. It heavily relies on repetitive attacks, with no option to hold the attack button, which can make playing physically tiresome and monotonous. When your character dies, all equipped items are lost, although saved items and incremental world progress remain for future runs. Sadly, the generation mechanics lack sufficient depth, as the differences between characters are minimal, outside of their equipment.

Each weapon in the game has unique animations and special attacks, which adds variety to the combat. However, the controls can sometimes feel clunky. For instance, weapons like the spear often have precision issues, making it difficult to consistently hit enemies. The same goes for arrows, which often get stuck in the ground. Also, the introduction of random skills upon level-up brings a fun dose of unpredictability, although it can be frustrating when the offered skills don’t align with the desired character build.

Insufficiently Rewarding Grind, But Beautiful Graphics Compensate

You start with basic gear collected from a ruined base and gradually become stronger by farming enemies, crafting green-tier equipment, and optimizing your character. Unfortunately, the dungeons, which are designed as a key repeatable feature of the game, suffer from repetitive tiles and uninspired design. The boss encounters are no better; they are often just scaled-up versions of regular enemies with simple attacks. Grinding for high-level gear, like gold weapons, can also feel tedious, further increasing the monotony.

For players looking for a focused story, the lack of a clear narrative thread might be a drawback. However, the open exploration provides freedom for those who enjoy creating their own adventure. Visually, the game impresses with gorgeous pixel-art graphics reminiscent of the 2.5D style of Octopath Traveler. Indeed, the vibrant and detailed environments bring each biome to life, from lush forests to snowy peaks, with a distinct aesthetic for every region.

While the visual style stands out, the audio design makes a weaker impression. The soundtrack is pleasant, but the lack of ambient sounds, such as birds chirping, rustling leaves, or a crackling campfire, diminishes the sense of immersion in the game world. Additionally, the transitions between day and night appear visually abrupt and could be more natural with a smoother pace of change.

Ending Thoughts

The Rangers in the South is afraid to tap into the full potential of its roguelike ARPG concept. Its repetitive combat, uninspired dungeons, and lack of meaningful progression make the game tiresome after a certain point. Nevertheless, the game will find its audience—those who enjoy its style and mechanics. The first three hours of gameplay are particularly satisfying, and the progression system during that timeframe feels rewarding. However, once you complete the basic objectives and explore the biomes, the game starts to lose its appeal.

For fans of roguelike ARPGs, The Rangers in the South can provide short-term entertainment, but the lack of innovation will likely leave many players disappointed. The main issue is that progression becomes a grind over time, with little repeatable content other than experimenting with new skills to maintain interest. Despite its flaws, this is still a solid title. At such an accessible price point, it’s unlikely you’ll feel ripped off if you give it a chance.

Review copy provided by the publisher