Eliwood8 Posted August 20, 2019 Share Posted August 20, 2019 Originally born out of a Seattle Game Jam, Gurgamoth, from developer Galvanic Games and publisher The Quantum Astrophysicists Guild, offers up a lightning fast party game of kill or be killed. In a vague eldritch horror setting where dark sorcerers compete to summon the elder god Gurgamoth, up to four players locally compete to be the last cultist standing. It's fast, frantic, and fun, though undeniably one note. Part of what makes Gurgamoth an effective party game is the simplicity of its controls and gameplay. You'll move around, smash into other players, dodge, or try to stun them with a risky stun maneuver. Your goal is to smack opponents into the stage's hazards, whether those are spikes, spinning saw blades, or rotating lasers. It only takes a minute to learn, though there's still a little depth that you'll uncover as you play more—specifically, baiting opponents into positioning themselves poorly, or mastering each stage's unique hazards. Perhaps most importantly, you only have a limited number of attacks before you have to wait for them to recharge (indicated by white dots above your character). This is where strategy becomes crucial, since you can monitor your opponents' remaining attacks to know when to strike, or horde your own attacks until just the right moment. Gurgamoth is fast-paced and chaotic, which makes it great for a raucous local multiplayer game night, plus the short length of most matches means the energy never flags. And although you can technically play solo against three AI controlled opponents, Gurgamoth is at its best when you've got friends sitting next to you. The only problem with Gurgamoth is that there really isn't much in the game. There are a handful of stages, each with unique hazards, so there's a bit of variety and replay value in swapping stages, but otherwise the game is woefully light on gameplay options. You can adjust how many points are needed to win, change the frequency that power-ups appear, but that's it. Other games might feel bogged down with too many side mode options, but in this case something like a challenge mode or story campaign would have done wonders to make the game feel more fleshed out. Gurgamoth is single-minded in its gameplay approach, which is admirable, but it does make the experience feel a bit bare overall. The game's colorful, cartoony look perhaps helps soften the fact that your goal in each match is to kill your opponents so you can summon an elder god. Regardless, the visuals are charming, even if there isn't a ton of variety to them. You've got a few characters to choose from and a handful of stages to battle on, but that's it, unfortunately. At least there's a decent upbeat soundtrack to match the fast-paced energy of each battle, though sadly there are only a handful of songs to enjoy here as well. Gurgamoth is great for a quick and chaotic party game, but the lack of game modes and features means it doesn't have quite the longevity of similar titles. And the game's simple, pick-up-and-play philosophy is a big part of its charm, but it's just not enough to sustain the game for too long. Give Gurgamoth a try if you're in the mood for a solid, fast-paced party game, but be aware that the longevity isn't quite there. Rating: 6 out of 10 Elder Gods Review copy provided by publisher Gurgamoth will be available on the Switch eShop on August 23rd for $9.99. Quote Link to comment
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