Our friends over at DreadXP were kind enough to send us a copy of Entropy to check out during the game’s early access on Steam. This dark fantasy RPG is being developed by Lovely Hellplace and features PSX inspired low poly visuals and turn based combat. But there is so much more under the hood of this game, that it almost feels criminal to write it off as just another “throwback” RPG.
Now since Entropy is still in development and things can change as the build progresses, we won’t do a full review just yet. But this preview is definitely promising for fans of early Final Fantasy games and other JRPG’s, as well as touches of Fallout and Soulsborne games.
The story follows the sole survivor of a theater troupe. While in the town of Draenog and on stage performing for the crowd a sudden attack from demonic forces pushes the townsfolk into full chaos. The few knights the town has go to arms on the frontline to try and push back the attack, while any able-bodied person (mainly civilians and members of the troupe) use bows and arrows to attack from the rear. All was for naught and the town was overthrown and burned to the ground, with all the townspeople killed. For mysterious reasons, you emerge from the pile of the dead still alive and with the ability to now fight the demons. As you gather mercenaries and others to fight alongside you, you venture forth into Hell to defeat the evil once and for all.
All standard RPG stuff, for the most part. The story keeps things simple, while the meat and potatoes of the experience is mainly within the combat and how death is approached in this game. You technically can’t die in this game. The player always comes back. There can be an injury that needs a doctor, but by all accounts, you always come back.
Your companions on the other hand are a different matter. By the roll of imaginary dice, if they fall in battle, there is no way to wake them up during the fight. No matter what the outcome is, you either find out they have minor injuries, major injuries that require medical attention, or they died. And if it’s the latter, that NPC is gone for good. This adds some major layers to party and resource management. Success in a fight can easily hinge on which classes you have in your party and which items you have at your disposal, like any other RPG, but losing that valuable party member mid-fight can also alter the experience going forward.
You can hire mercs as you see fit, but how you pay them is then another factor to consider. It would be interesting in the final build if right before a fight, an NPC merc asks for his payment, just to leave if you can’t pay. Leaving you without that much needed hand in battle.
My short time with Entropy has been a fun and equally difficult time. To dive a little further into the combat system. Typical turn-based mechanics are just the foundation for what The Lovely Hellplace has built. They added a targeting system that can target specific limbs, similar to Fallout’s VATS system. When those limbs receive enough damage, they break and become useless. I targeted the right hand of an enemy, effectively cutting off his sword hand. Which alters how much damage they dish out. I swiped at a leg, making it easier for my hits to land since they can’t dodge. All this can be coupled with debuffs and magic to really amplify the damage output.
But you shouldn’t think Entropy is going to be easy. In my time with the game, I came across a boss fight with a demon that just ruined my whole night. It was laughably easy for them to almost one-shot kill me, and I was not doing anywhere near as much damage. Just to respawn and see which of my party is now dead or who needs medical attention and resources I do not have. All to go back into town and see which mercs and supplies I can afford.
Graphically, the game does a perfect job of recreating the old school graphics of the original PlayStation and the N64 era. It gave me vibes of a low poly version of Dark Souls. Which looks cool.
We’re really excited to see where this game is going to go as player feedback and development continue through this early release period.
You can support Entropy’s early release now on Steam and there is also a demo available to check out.
Steam code provided by DreadXP
Check Out the Trailer