2 
0 Coridden is a new action RPG co-op game from Aftnareld, a small Swedish developer and published by Anshar Publishing (Gamedec, Weakless). Go on a shapeshifting adventure with up to three of your friends and become the very same creatures that you face in the wild. It is available now on PC via Steam or GOG for £16.75.
Who Needs a Mount when you ARE the Mount?
I am admittedly somewhat of a Diablo junkie. It’s hard to find something that scratches that same itch. Path of Exile, though enjoyable, is just too deep for me to really get into. Coridden looks to try and scratch that itch with a unique framework and focus on co-op play. Unfortunately I didn’t have a chance to play with anyone yet, but I’m hoping to have others join me soon!
Gameplay
Coridden is an isometric action roleplaying game with a heavy focus on co-op gameplay and tailoring the character to meet your personal playstyle. As a member of a family with inherited special gauntlets, you seek off to find out more about them and help out whom you can along the way. To be completely honest here I have not gotten very far into the story, as I’ve just been trying to fully absorb just how uniquely complex this game is. Completing quests and picking up loot drops gain you equipment in both the form of gear as well as creature forms. So I know I’ll always be looking for that next great drop!
It is readily apparent right from the start that Coridden gears toward personal playstyle above all else. Firstly, rather than having to choose between one of the four siblings to be stuck with, you can easily switch between them in the menus. Then comes your choice of classes between Hellion, Guardian, Surge, and Hunter. Though you may not switch between these classes, each has its own three branches of skills and abilities tailored toward different themes. For the time I have been playing the game I have been doing so as the Surge class and spending points in the Conductor branch, which focus on electric skills.
Now compound those options with the seven beast masteries in Coridden. But you wouldn’t guess that even those have their own specialization options too! Switching between beast masteries though is easy depending on if you have the creature form item to use them. I hope you can understand now how I easily got caught up in the details. To top it all off switching between human and beast is as easy as the push of a button and is encouraged, as each form has it’s own energy pool. Being able to fluidly switch back and forth in the moment is a definitive boon to the player to choose what is right for the moment.
Co-op Not Required, but Encouraged
Coridden is built from the ground up with co-op play in mind, allowing for drop in, drop out multiplayer. Sessions can be hosted locally or online in a private or public lobby. Playing with others provides a different approach by allowing players to ride atop one another for mounted combat. The game still plays well for the solo explorer too. I did also note that dialogue always refers to the character as a plural.
Co-op encouragement is also evident in how the game saves are set up. Coridden gives you the ability to swap between character build saves and world saves at the onset of every session. So spare no time helping your friend level up with your higher level build.
Graphics & Audio
The audio and visual quality are both beautiful in Coridden. Background music sets the atmosphere for exploring and combat subtly as the mood shifts. The environments and character models, npcs, and mobs all share vibrant colours that are a nice change from the dark, gloomy settings of those ARPG heavy hitters. I always amazes me the pure quality of work that can still come from a small studio.
Longevity
The sheer amount of time you could spend playing Coridden is extensive. There are at least 28 possible builds between the four classes and seven beast masteries. That’s not to even mention the additional branches and advancements in each as well. There are also four difficulty levels for even more flexibility depending on your confidence or who you have coming along. The developers estimate completing the main story takes around 15-20 hours, with 30 hours roughly to complete all side quests and achievements too. It does not sound like there is really an “end game” gameplay loop like others in the genre, but I feel like they are selling themselves short for someone that really wants to experience everything the game has to offer.
Final Thoughts
Coridden is without a doubt a complete hidden gem. It has a unique feel overall that I can’t say I’ve felt with others in the genre. I really feel that character build choices will only affect how I approach different situations rather than holding me back.
For it’s highly accessible build customization, emphasis on player cooperation and synergy, and downright innovative gameplay mechanics this is a game not to sleep on. Be sure to check it out, with a humble price point I may add, over on Steam or GOG today.
It would be a crime not to, and so I award Coridden the Thumb Culture Platinum Award. 
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
If you enjoy this review, be sure to check out my other reviews here.
YouTube |
Facebook |
Twitter |
Instagram |
Discord |
Podcast
About Author
