The Indie Informer

Neon-shot rogue-like, Reignbreaker, is darkened by a shadow that’s hard to forget while playing. Developer Studio Fizbin is set to close its doors just after the title’s release — no matter how the game performs. Following a devastating trend in the indie gaming space, publisher Thunderful is radically restructuring. The result? The studio behind Minute of Islands and Say No! More will call Reignbreaker its final project.

The Medievalpunk, devil-may-care vibes and vibrant world act, strangely enough, as a balm against its own dispiriting situation. Playing as the underdog, Clef, I fight against all odds to punch my way through a high-tech medieval dystopia. Its art is stunning and combat follows a familiar pattern. It’s one metal swan song.

This isn’t the first time the team has gone hands-on with Reignbreaker. The ever-talented Marcus Stewart saw the game last year at Gamescom. His preview explained the setup:

A villainous Queen reigns supreme, and players must battle through the depths of her stronghold, guarded by lock-operated medieval machines and other hazards. In addition to pummeling foes using her powerful fists, Clef wields a Javelin, a giant key-like weapon resembling a jousting lance. This powerful tool comes in many flavors. It’s an effective melee weapon that can annihilate multiple foes with wide radial swings. The Javelin can also perform ranged attacks, firing bullet spreads or enemy-piercing projectiles. Reignbreaker features around a dozen different weapons to find, and you can equip two different Javelins at a time, which can be swapped on the fly using the left trigger. With so many enemies often vying for Clef’s head, a quick dash keeps me darting around the battlefield to keep my adversaries guessing.

I can’t help but echo his sentiments. The combat — cutting very close to Hades — is fast-paced and frenetic. Though I haven’t finished the game, Reignbreaker‘s Hades-like combat and narrative flow possess a flair that injects the experience with adrenaline.