Larva Mortus Demo

Given the advanced graphics current technology is capable of nowadays, simple-looking top-down shooters are a rare sight and not very popular anymore. On the other hand, no one says such a game wouldn’t be received well if it had what it takes to captivate the gamers, so any attempt is welcomed. As it happens, Larva Mortus took a chance and revealed itself to the world, featuring a classic top-down perspective and more cliches than you can count.

The game is a combination of shoot ‘em up gameplay mechanics and a few role-playing elements, which basically translates into a lot of shooting rewarded by leveling up every now and again. The entire thing is also coated in a horror theme to make matters more interesting, but don’t expect to be scarred for life by the wacky-looking monsters that waltz around on the screen.

Story-wise, you play the role of a hunter specialized in supernatural creatures, which means zombies, ghosts, giant spiders, and everything in between. To deal with the abominations, your character has a variety of weapons at his disposal, including swords, pistols, and sub-machine guns. Depending on the skills you choose to rely on, the character can deal more damage with a particular type of weapon.

In order to pass the levels, all you have to do is use everything you’ve got to clear each room. Sometimes, a key is needed in order to open a certain door, so you have to take a detour and clear some additional rooms before heading in the right direction. This gimmick adds a lot of game time, but it also makes it repetitive and sometimes boring, which is not something you want to experience in a fast-paced shooter like this.

From a technical point of view, the game is not impressive and it doesn’t try to be either, but it looks fine even without the DirectX 12 special effects. Sure, the animations are a bit too stiff and most of the environments seem the same, but if you catch the fever and you enjoy killing things, none of that should matter too much in the end.

In the end, Larva Mortus’ greatest feat is the fun factor, while challenging gameplay only adds to the experience. Hence, if you are not the type to ask for too much from your games and you do not mind a bit of mindless repetition every now and again, this can very well be a game you might enjoy.