Never Grave is a Metroidvania x Roguelite game developed by the makers of Palworld. Read on to learn our initial thoughts on this magical 2-D action game!
Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse
What is Never Grave About?
Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse is a 2D action game where you embark on a journey aided by a cursed hat. Combining elements of the metroidvania and roguelite genres, the game features randomly generated dungeons and ruins that change each time you enter. Exploration is key as you'll encounter interconnected puzzles and enemies that must be overcome to progress through each section of the dungeon.
What sets it apart from other games in its genre is that it blends elements from "Mario Odyssey" and incorporates base-building mechanics similar to those found in "Palworld." Your cursed hat can possess specific creatures that you defeat, granting you their abilities to aid in your journey. Unlike "Mario Odyssey," however, you have the flexibility to switch between the witch and the possessed creature at will, until the creature succumbs to enemy attacks.
While traversing the dungeons, you'll gather materials dropped by enemies or found in the environment. These materials serve to rebuild your village and construct new facilities, such as your own house, crop fields, and other structures to aid you in battle. The village acts as a central hub where you retreat and stay in between dungeon runs. Building and expanding your village not only unlocks new items and opportunities but also provides a canvas for your creativity to flourish, allowing you to design your ideal sanctuary from the perils of the dungeons.
Never Grave offers multiplayer support for up to four players, allowing you to join forces in rebuilding your village and conquering dungeons together.
Never Grave Release Date Details
Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse is scheduled to release on Steam with no specific confirmed release date yet, but users should expect this game to drop in Q1 2024.
Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse Review (Steam Next Fest Demo) | Palworld Devs' Answer to Hollow Knight
Pocketpair has once again struck gold with their latest game, Never Grave. Drawing inspiration from beloved titles like Hollow Knight and Dead Cells, this game seamlessly blends the addicting yet punishing elements of 2D metroidvania and roguelite dungeon crawling.
Similar to their approach with Palworld, which clearly draws inspiration from Pokemon, Never Grave puts its own unique spin on familiar gameplay mechanics with the addition of base-building, possessing, and online multiplayer.
Unfortunately, the demo only features dungeon crawling and base-building, so I can't assess the multiplayer aspect. However, based on the trailers, it looks promising.
The demo begins with the player immediately entering the first dungeon and showcasing the possession mechanic. Similar to Mario Odyssey, this ability allows players to possess certain creatures, starting with the Witch herself, who serves as the main character.
What's intriguing about this mechanic is that players can release possession and repossess characters or creatures at any time, providing versatility in battles and platforming.
This mechanic enables access to otherwise unreachable areas, such as performing a double jump by releasing possession mid-air. It's a clever feature that enhances exploration and adds depth to gameplay.
The demo only demonstrated possession twice, with The Witch and a dog-like enemy. However, the trailer reveals that there are more enemies to possess, each with unique abilities. I'm very eager to see how this feature is further utilized and explored in the full game.
In terms of dungeon combat, Never Grave follows the typical metroidvania formula with hack-and-slash mechanics and depletable weapons like knives and spells for ranged attacks. The possession ability, while limited in function, adds depth to combat, allowing players to utilize the skills of the enemy the player possessed.
However, like most games in the metroidvania-roguelite genre, it's challenging, with enemies dealing significant damage. Death means restarting the randomly generated dungeon level, though quality-of-life mechanics like teleportation spots ease the frustration.
The primary objective in this demo is to defeat the boss at the end of the dungeon, and it's no easy feat. Prepare yourself for multiple defeats before emerging victorious against this challenging foe.
Thankfully, in Never Grave, death doesn't equate to losing your progress or equipment. Instead, you respawn at the Church, which serves as a location where you can either re-enter the dungeon or focus on cultivating and rebuilding your village.
Cultivating and rebuilding the burnt-down village is a pivotal aspect of Never Grave, and it's a feature that I believe sets it apart. While I thoroughly enjoy dungeon crawling, there's something uniquely satisfying and relaxing about constructing and enhancing your base.
This mechanic bears a resemblance to Palworld's base-building feature. You gradually progress from crafting simple items like furniture and crops to establishing facilities that bolster your combat, such as upgrade stations for abilities and equipment. The synergy between base-building and dungeon exploration is evident: materials acquired from dungeons fuel village expansion, while overcoming challenging bosses necessitates village growth to strengthen your character.
It's a rewarding system that transforms Never Grave into a delightful paradox—a game that seamlessly transitions between Harvest Moon-esque relaxation and intense metroidvania action.
So far, it's been an absolute blast, but the real test lies in whether this unique blend of gameplay features will clash or harmonize seamlessly in the full game release. The demo of Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse has left me eager to experience more of its captivating base-building mechanics, possession abilities reminiscent of Mario Odyssey, and delightful Hollow Knight-inspired gameplay, all wrapped up in a thrilling yet relaxing magical 2-D game.
Game8 Reviews
Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse Product Information
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| Title | NEVER GRAVE: THE WITCH AND THE CURSE |
|---|---|
| Release Date | TBA |
| Developer | Frontside 180 |
| Publisher | Pocketpair |
| Supported Platforms | PC (Steam) |
| Genre | Action, Adventure, Indie |
| Number of Players | 4 |
| ESRB Rating | Rating Pending |
| Official Website | Never Grave Website |
