Neorj Demo

Fantasy worlds are not easy to create if your goal is to amaze players, given the fact that there are hundreds of examples already available out there. At the moment, most new concepts in the genre feel like copycats when it comes to the races, the locations or the lore. However, every now and again someone manages to create something unique, and all it takes is to forget about orcs and elves for a moment.

Neorj is an interesting 3D platformer with fixed camera perspectives, in which you control a woman and her dragon companion as they travel between worlds and use powerful magic to defeat enemies. Even if the game is still an early prototype at the moment, it’s worth mentioning that a lot more work is needed in terms of interface, controls and gameplay, because there are quite a few shortcomings to keep an eye on.

As mentioned before, the main character is a girl, and her name is Heli. Her goal is to save the entire world and free a variety of creatures from enslavement along the way. In order to do that, she must use portals to travel to a variety of locations, as well as learn all sorts of magic spells to keep herself safe from nasty enemies. Thankfully, her dragon companion can lend a helping hand as well.

The spell system is fairly interesting, given the fact that you learn new magic by visiting special statues spread across the environment. The combat is all about combining Heli’s defensive spells with her dragon’s offensive magic, which is a neat tactical approach to battles. However, there are some issues that make it difficult to enjoy yourself along the way.

The main problem is the camera itself, because it’s fixed in the worst possible angles most of the time, making it difficult to explore the environments. Since you often have to navigate bridges and narrow paths, you find yourself falling a lot, and there’s no way to get a better view of your surroundings. Thus, frustration enters the picture from the first few minutes of gameplay, which is not a good thing at all.

In the end, Neorj has potential in some areas, but in its current state it definitely won’t make anyone too happy. Thus, a better camera system is needed, and maybe more types of puzzles and missions as well. You can support the developers by participating in their Kickstarter campaign.