TL;DR: A game in alpha that I'd already vote for GOTY.

Disclaimer: Everything I mention here is purely a matter of taste.

what it offers:

- Souls-like, but a shooter - totally not melee-oriented (though close-range weapons and add-ons are present).
- Story delivery - just enough to get you started and provide a glimpse into what we're doing and why.
- A true dark fantasy - a blurry line between "good" and "evil," as it should be. Our character is questionable, and so is the so-called "witch hunt."
- Minimal guidance, few optional (!) tutorials, but balanced by..
- ..great audio, visual, and text clues - the game heavily rewards attention and grants autonomy. Read that again: it gives the player their AUTONOMY. I can’t thank the devs enough for this.
- Amazing sound design and direction.
- Gunplay feels satisfying and well-balanced: some weapons feature more straightforward mechanics, making them easier to use, while others require greater skill and precision but are highly rewarding when mastered and used strategically.
- Minimal, barely visible HUD - fits perfecttly with the game’s feel and look.
- Not a heavy meta. Most guns, powers, and passives synergize well. Each one feels unique, crafted with care and attention, each having its' own character comparable to Borderlands' legendary guns in terms of variety and unique powers. Visual and audio cues complement the brief(!) text descriptions elegantly. No cluttered HUD icons telling you about status effects, buffs, or powers (clarifying just in case: that’s a plus).
- Traversal and movement feel great—movement speed feels just right, paired with well-sized detailed yet simple maps that avoid tedious travel. Double-jumping allows access to elevated areas, perfect for scouting, analyzing surroundings, or gaining a combat advantage.The choice is yours.
- Rising difficulty done right: new enemies, traps as well as rewards appear as difficulty increases. Maps you’ve already raided are randomized and evolve with your progression.
- Rewarding skill and punishing mistakes: play well, and you'll be rewarded; make poor decisions, and the game punishes you (even more so for consecutive mistakes).
- Death is fair. If you die, it’s on you - due to your mistake or inattentiveness, not some bs reason like “you weren’t supposed to go there” (looking at you, Elden Ring "masterpiece").
- Puzzles follow the same logic: if you didn’t solve them, that’s on you. The game provides enough clues; it’s up to you to pay attention or dismiss them. I trust the game in terms of communication, and didn't have a single how-tf-was-I-supposed-to-know-that-moment plus the maps are simple and clear enough + not overwhelmed with detail to be able to see points of interest and discover them. Solving puzzles will reward you, but failing? Well, in the best case, you’ll survive and move on.
- Feels fair and fun - the game respects your time, has clearly been playtested and designed for enjoyment.

If you’re reading this - do not nerf the enemies, vaults, calamities, puzzles, or events. You’re on the right path. There are people who notice, appreciate, and understand the reasoning behind your design choices and the love you’ve poured into this project.

during this golden window of alpha stage - while guides, wikis, and detailed resources are still scarce or in development, leaving players to rely on themselves (as it should be used to be),, I wanted to emphasize once again that some of us truly feel and understand your game. You’ve done a fantastic job fostering communication between the game and the player.

Yes, there will be complaints - about the game being “unclear” or “too hard” - but hard and unclear for some is exactly what makes this game shine. For those looking for something 'easier' and 'more straightforward,' there are plenty of other options to choose from. I’m sure making something different was part of your goal.

--

Thank you for doing this your way and not ticking off “modern game design” checkboxes.
Keep up the great work.

[i]TL;DR: A game in alpha that I'd already vote for GOTY. [/i] [quote]Disclaimer: Everything I mention here is purely a matter of taste. [/quote] what it offers: - Souls-like, but a shooter - totally not melee-oriented (though close-range weapons and add-ons are present). - Story delivery - just enough to get you started and provide a glimpse into what we're doing and why. - A true dark fantasy - a blurry line between "good" and "evil," as it should be. Our character is questionable, and so is the so-called "witch hunt." - Minimal guidance, few optional (!) tutorials, but balanced by.. - ..great audio, visual, and text clues - the game heavily rewards attention and grants autonomy. Read that again: it gives the player their AUTONOMY. I can’t thank the devs enough for this. - Amazing sound design and direction. - Gunplay feels satisfying and well-balanced: some weapons feature more straightforward mechanics, making them easier to use, while others require greater skill and precision but are highly rewarding when mastered and used strategically. - Minimal, barely visible HUD - fits perfecttly with the game’s feel and look. - Not a heavy meta. Most guns, powers, and passives synergize well. Each one feels unique, crafted with care and attention, each having its' own character comparable to Borderlands' legendary guns in terms of variety and unique powers. Visual and audio cues complement the brief(!) text descriptions elegantly. No cluttered HUD icons telling you about status effects, buffs, or powers (clarifying just in case: that’s a plus). - Traversal and movement feel great—movement speed feels just right, paired with well-sized detailed yet simple maps that avoid tedious travel. Double-jumping allows access to elevated areas, perfect for scouting, analyzing surroundings, or gaining a combat advantage.The choice is yours. - Rising difficulty done right: new enemies, traps as well as rewards appear as difficulty increases. Maps you’ve already raided are randomized and evolve with your progression. - Rewarding skill and punishing mistakes: play well, and you'll be rewarded; make poor decisions, and the game punishes you (even more so for consecutive mistakes). - Death is fair. If you die, it’s on you - due to your mistake or inattentiveness, not some bs reason like “you weren’t supposed to go there” (looking at you, Elden Ring "masterpiece"). - Puzzles follow the same logic: if you didn’t solve them, that’s on you. The game provides enough clues; it’s up to you to pay attention or dismiss them. I trust the game in terms of communication, and didn't have a single how-tf-was-I-supposed-to-know-that-moment plus the maps are simple and clear enough + not overwhelmed with detail to be able to see points of interest and discover them. Solving puzzles will reward you, but failing? Well, in the best case, you’ll survive and move on. - Feels fair and fun - the game respects your time, has clearly been playtested and designed for enjoyment. [h1]A word to the Devs:[/h1] If you’re reading this - do not nerf the enemies, vaults, calamities, puzzles, or events. You’re on the right path. There are people who notice, appreciate, and understand the reasoning behind your design choices and the love you’ve poured into this project. during this golden window of alpha stage - while guides, wikis, and detailed resources are still scarce or in development, leaving players to rely on themselves (as it [strike]should be[/strike] used to be),, I wanted to emphasize once again that some of us truly feel and understand your game. You’ve done a fantastic job fostering communication between the game and the player. Yes, there will be complaints - about the game being “unclear” or “too hard” - but hard and unclear for some is exactly what makes this game shine. For those looking for something 'easier' and 'more straightforward,' there are [b]plenty[/b] of other options to choose from. I’m sure making something different was part of your goal. -- Thank you for doing this your way and not ticking off “modern game design” checkboxes. [i]Keep up the great work.[/i]