Chasm

The roguelike genre is not as popular as it used to be, but it can still create a bit of a splash in the industry if someone manages to put out a decent title. As such, games like Faster Than Light quickly became famous, even if the difficulty level was quite frustrating for everyone. However, randomness and chance always incite the human mind, which is why such games usually capture the attention of gamers.

Chasm also tries to include a few other elements into the mix as well, by borrowing them from titles like Castlevania and Metroid. As such, while the main idea is that of a roguelike RPG, you play and fight like in the titles mentioned above, coupled with some platforming sections as well. In essence, all of these elements should add up to something interesting at the very least, although the potential for greatness is also within reach.

The story talks about a small mining village somewhere at the foot of a mountain, where Daltyn - our hero - is sent to investigate a series of strange reports. As it happens, the mines and the catacombs beneath the village have been infiltrated and shut down by paranormal forces, as you are about to find out. Not only that, but you are also stuck underground until you manage to solve the problem.

Other than the slightly strange platformer mechanics, the game plays very much like your average roguelike, which means that your main strategy should be to keep moving and picking up everything of value. Enemies are spread all over the dungeons and they range from meager rats to giant monsters, so you always need to be prepared for a battle. Weapons, potions, and various other items can be picked up as you go along, all of which come in handy at one point or another.

As mentioned earlier, the game jumped into the procedural wagon as well, which means that the levels are always random and unique, or at least they try to be. The level design is not yet top-notch and you may often feel like visiting the same rooms over and over again, but the game is still under heavy development. The low-resolution graphics engine should bring quite a lot of fond memories to more experienced players.

Although Chasm has quite a long road ahead, it’s already quite entertaining to play, and it certainly holds potential. However, there are still some problems that need to be fixed before it can be considered a great game, because some of the elements may not sit well with the crowds.