Monolith Review


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Roguelite Majesty-A  Monolith Review

Monolith is a blatant hidden gem, and a concept I haven't seen done much recently. Yes, it is a roguelite, the superhero movie genre of video games, but it employs mechanics from most modern bullet hell space shooters to create a more unique experience. 

You are a little spaceship in search of exploring the procedurally generated vault of levels to reach the end and obtain the power that lies within the monolith. Ain't much more than that, and what else is needed?

Claustrophobic Combat

The game has a great sense of space, forcing you to make split second decisions and rely partially on your instincts. As you improve, you learn to utilize all of the space you've been given, no matter how tiny the room. By shrinking the scope of the playable screen, combat is always active and keeps you focused through an entire run. 
Couple this combat with expert visual design and a killer soundtrack, and each combat encounter is both appealing and vastly challenging. 

Hard, yet Fair

Don't get it twisted, this game is very difficult, but a large health pool (not at all standard for most shoot em' up games) and various weapon types help to lower the overall challenge. Certain weapons, like the sword, can deflect bullets and give you just a bit more of a chance in this complicated labyrinth. Each random weapon pickup can have a variety of extra effects, ranging from doing extra damage to certain enemy types to freezing enemies in place. Every weapon is extremely satisfying to use, and they are each so unique that picking anyone up is just delightful. 
Monolith also holds a shop, in which you can purchase new weapons to appear in the depths and additional features permanently in exchange for all the money you accumulate during your runs. Again, each mechanic in this game feels so purposeful that you can't help but continuing your play session after a tough death. 

Verdict

Monolith is an absolute masterpiece, and it is a shame that it is so hidden within the general depths of the "roguelite" moniker. It presents so many things to the table in such a neatly bound package that it's hard to turn it off and get back to real life. A stunning addition to one of my favorite genres and a solid starting point for anyone who wants to dabble in it. 

10/10-Superfluous Space Shooting






 




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