Pocket Pair, the developer behind popular titles such as Palworld and Craftopia, has announced its newest project – Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse. This game presents a fresh take on the side-scrolling action genre by incorporating Metroidvania and roguelike elements. While it is confirmed that the game will be available on PC via Steam this winter, specific consoles for the release have yet to be disclosed.
The game, as described on its Steam page, involves progressing through the story using a cursed hat, with gameplay that intertwines Metroidvania and roguelike styles. Players can employ an array of magic or take possession of their enemies to navigate through the levels. They are encouraged to retrieve loot, build new facilities in their village, and develop a sustainable living environment to strengthen themselves for subsequent battles. The game also offers multiplayer support for up to four players.
In terms of gameplay, players are challenged to identify enemy attacks, leverage magic, and occasionally use the terrain to their advantage. The dungeons, including various environments like ruins and botanical gardens, are auto-generated and change with each playthrough. These dungeons come equipped with obstacles and puzzles designed to test the player’s skills.
One of the unique features of the game is the possession system, which allows players to possess enemies using a cursed hat. This function provides players with the opportunity to harness unique abilities from their possessed enemies to further advance in the game.
Additionally, the game encourages players to rebuild a ruined village using materials found in the dungeons. These materials can be utilized to clear debris, construct new facilities, and cultivate crops. The village serves as the player’s home base, where they can produce food and potions to gear up for future battles.
The game’s design features a blend of Metroidvania and roguelike elements, with an emphasis on exploration. The player controls are designed to be intricate and tactile, adding depth to the gameplay experience. Hand-drawn limited animation, inspired by traditional Japanese art, is employed for character 2D animation, while the backgrounds are thickly painted to create an immersive and detailed environment.
Gameplay continues to evolve as players discover new actions like the double-jump from artifacts, allowing them to explore new areas. The combination of magic and items further affects the play style, introducing varying synergies of “traits”.
In addition to the main game features, Pocket Pair also promises intense battles with formidable bosses. Players will need more than just memorizing boss patterns to win these fights without sustaining damage. The multiplayer support ensures that up to four players can team up to tackle the dungeon together.