3000th Duel

In spite of what people might think, the gamble of mixing metroidvania with elements of soulslike has paid off, resulting in a game that will delight fans of this genre.

Combat is simple – but very well thought out – and the sheer strength of the attacks means that it never feels repetitive. On top of basic attacks, there are charge attacks (which have an effect on state) and “mortal blows”, which are a more powerful type of attack and use the perks you get from attacking.

In terms of items, there are a number of places to access them quickly in real time, and a healing item, the Violet Scripture, which is recharged every time you rest at a save statue.

As you defeat your enemies, you gain karma and when you gain enough of it, you can use it to level up the statistics of your choosing. The system is the same as Dark Souls, but it has to be said that you can’t expect the same freedom when it comes to creating builds. 3000th Duel is more about physical combat, but there are also two hidden powers you can equip yourself with. These are magic attacks and two rings which level up various aspects.

When you complete a level, you get a seal breaker stone which unlocks abilities on a considerably large skill tree. The effect of these skills is somewhat indirect, but they can reduce the charge time for sword attacks or give you super armour when you perform a lethal lance attack. They’re pretty useful.

So, what happens when you die? You guessed it. All the accumulated karma up to that point stays exactly where you fall, and it takes on the form of a purple orb which you must destroy if you want to get it back.

3000th Duel is a challenging game in which a wrong move could send you tumbling to the unknown. On the whole, it’s well balanced. It manages to be “difficult, but not wildly so”, although there are some situations that are frustrating. The bosses, while not exactly mind blowing, have well-defined attack patterns which you will need to memorise in order to defeat them.