All images and gameplay courtesy of MAGIC Spell Studios.
Gameplay: Featuring Odiumar as the Yellow Wizard, Green Rogue played by Epicfunsize…and introducing Agent 0303 as the Red Archer.
Hack, Slash & Backstab (HSB) was developed by MAGIC Spell Studios. Although it’s not presented as such, MAGIC is an acronym standing for Media Arts Games Interaction Creativity.
Hack, Slash & Backstab: MAGIC Spell is located at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, where a new expansion building intended to upgrade and house the studio is scheduled to open in the fall of 2018.
There’s no getting around it, anyone in my age bracket is going to take one look at this game and immediately think of the old arcade cabinet game, Gauntlet. The similarities are certainly there. Four player co-op, fantasy themed dungeon crawling, massive amounts of enemies, power-ups, treasure chests and the pursuit of the dungeon’s exit as the ultimate goal. There have also been a number of ports and reboots over the years, but none of them really captured the same fun. HSB definitely captures the fun and throws in a few twists, just for kicks.
You shall not…er…portal!
Not content to just reboot a classic, MAGIC decided to up-the-ante. Hack, Slash & Backstab features randomly generated dungeons, no two are the same…they even change between group wipes, so don’t count on memorizing any paths. There’s also no end to the enemies in this game, and they can come from any direction that is off map, even if you know the room behind you is empty…if you can’t see that room, it’s going to spawn mobs. Another new feature is boss battles. Among others, the game features a powered up, dark version of each playable character; warrior, wizard, rogue and archer. MAGIC wasn’t entirely cruel; if they can stay away from the mobs, players will heal over time.
This game is Couch Co-Op only, no online mode included. This isn’t an oversight, or the product of a freshman studio. MAGIC did this entirely on purpose. This game is Difficult! Even on the easiest setting, you will likely need some help to make it to the end of the dungeon. On the harder settings, most players won’t make it past the second room. Okay, but why “couch” co-op? HSB is an interactive reflection of teamwork and group dynamics, specifically the idea that teammates absolutely NEED each other, but that only one member can be recognized as the “winner.” As Clancy Brown put it while playing the Kurgan in Highlander “There can be only one!” Enter the Backstab! Yes ladies and gentlemen, at some point either you will turn on your friends, or they will turn on you. In an online game, it’s just way too easy to hide behind a gamer tag, HSB ensures that not only will someone eventually betray a friend…they will be sitting right next to them when it happens. It’s entirely possible that everyone could just agree on who is going to win, but what gamer do you know that agrees to not win? Witness the very real temptation below!
Admittedly, the art style of the game is a bit on the cutesy side. Even the enemies are cute. The co-players on my little excursion squealed in delight when they saw them. That tune changed rapidly when those mobs started ripping us apart. Graphically, this game was very smooth, with no lag or broken visuals. My only real complaint is that the static view did leave a few mobs hidden behind the walls, resulting in more than a few lost health points. The atmosphere set by the graphics was helped along by the original game, generated soundtrack and effects. MAGIC did some solid work here, they may not have pushed any boundaries, but they definitely delivered a polished end product.
The gameplay in HSB definitely depends on the makeup of your group. While soloing is possible, it’s near impossible. (Have I mentioned that this game is tough?) If you’ve got a dedicated lone wolf sitting with you, you’re going to have trouble. Any player that wanders into an adjacent room alone, will either die horribly, or more likely come racing back with a horde on their tail, making things that much harder on the group. If everyone can cooperate and vibe as a team, there’s no reason you can’t take out the bosses or make it to the dungeon exit. When everyone is gelling, it’s a beautiful thing.
When it comes to achievements, HSB is in a class of it’s own. According to Xbox Live, every single achievement for HSB is considered to be rare. Less than 10% of tracked gamers have each achievement. (Did I mention this game was difficult?) All but a few achievements are limited to the two hardest difficulty settings. For someone like me, who craves those “rare” achievements, this one is for you. Completionists may want to set up an all day play date with a few friends and order some pizza, it may take a while to plow through them. Especially if everyone is going for the win.
Hack, Slash & Backstab, may not be the most original game concept, but MAGIC has done a great job updating it for today’s generation. The random dungeons, bosses and backstab twists add to both the fun and replayability. Without a doubt, HSB is definitely worth the five dollar price tag. Winning three dungeons in a row by taking out my co-players at the last minute…priceless.
The post Hack, Slash & Backstab – What else are friends for? appeared first on PopNerdTV.