There’s no way I’m getting a Lost Castle 2 review completed in time for launch. It’s Early Access? Thank goodness for that. Not that you’d know it. This rogue-like from Hunter Studio is pretty darn polished in its current build; you’d be a fool not to have a look-see.
Rogue-likes have swiftly become some of my favourite genres, though there’s always one key ingredient required: an enjoyable gameplay loop. First impressions were favourable: there’s a character customisation with so many options, it may as well have been the game. After an hour (not that long – honest), it was time to begin.
One thing noted so far was the cute visuals, but navigating the menu was quite clunky. This carried over to the actual gameplay, as it was awkward and cumbersome, and the first ‘death loop’ occurred far too early. But wait, I was playing on a tenkeyless keyboard and holding the FN key as if playing a miniature ESP with a bunch of bananas. The solution? Swap the keyboard out.
Now, the developers can slowly recline in their seats and fear not a tirade of complaints about the controls in Lost Castle 2 – it was all on me. Except for the Steam Deck – my go-to review device, I seldom play with a controller on the PC. A bigger keyboard was significantly better, though I continued on the Steam Deck. Bliss.
The rogue-like hub is your village, populated by a fair amount of folk from blacksmiths to alchemists, and it’s all relatively safe. The townsfolk tell you how to invest in the village, but instead of a Minecraft architectural affair, you’ll invest your loot into a skill tree that includes melee, magic, and drinkables. But first, let’s earn some loot.
Lost Castle 2 is a 2D rogue-like specialising in melee and ranged combat. The choice of weapons is awe-inspiring, and you’re never tied to one type as it swaps out on most runs. Playing on the keyboard with a melee build wasn’t a good start, so I thought that ranged attacks (arrows or magic) were best, though the variety of melee attacks means you’re spoilt for choice. One time, you’re like Aloy from Horizon Dawn; another, one of those goons from Monster Hunter with a halberd that’s loaded with gunpowder.
On top of the weapons is a wealth of armour and accessories. Each ‘room’ takes place in multiple biomes, and there’s typically a path you can opt for – one to fight elite characters or perhaps a curse where you have to clear the area as swiftly as possible. Clearing the area will award treasure, which can either be equipped or dismantled for goodies – later used at the village.
In Lost Castle 2, there’s usually a wave of various enemies; once beaten, new ones will spawn. Some are ranged, others are melee, and it’s straightforward enough when to expect an attack and then counter with a charged attack, dash, or even evade it. However, the best of all is the throw ability. Not only can you lob crates and explosive devices, but also enemies at one another – some can be picked up and instantly killed.
The challenge is either from the volume of enemies that swarm you while you work on one or the bosses. Bosses (so far) have a large amount of health, as well as multiple phases. The first boss was straightforward due to having a ‘helper’ with me, who was an armoured boar. However, another kept spamming me, and the only way to counter (based on my ability) was to repeat some runs and then invest in permanent buffs at the village. Perfect.
On that basis, Lost Castle 2 includes that special ingredient: the gameplay loop. After getting a rundown of my performance, I’d head straight back into the battle and try something completely new – and each time, there was either a new piece of armour or a variation of a weapon that changed gameplay entirely. I really like this one and encourage you to find out more…
