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0 Netherworld Covenant is an isometric crossover of souls-like and roguelite gameplay in development by MadGoat Game Studio with publishing by Infini Fun. Obtain souls of the fallen in the form of companion abilities and create unique builds to suit your preferred playstyle as you fight between realms. The game is now available in Early Access for PC on Steam and Epic.
Who Put these Dodge Mechanics in my Roguelite?!?
Yep. It’s me. Here with yet another roguelite. I will note that the game describes itself as a roguelike rather than a roguelite, and I was curious to see how it plays differently than others I have recently spent time with reviewing. Needless to say, Netherworld Covenant caught me a bit off guard with a more unique playstyle that took a little getting used to. Check out my thoughts on the current Early Access build below.
Gameplay
Netherworld Covenant is an isometric crossover between genres. The game is self-described as a “roguelike” but from my prior research and experience, that is not the case. I define the difference as such in a previous review of mine:
Generally, a “roguelike” is accepted to be a game where you complete a run either by triumph or defeat. Your next run starts just like the first run. Nothing carries over and you just start again. In a “roguelite” there is some sort of progression that saves from one run to the next.
It carries the roguelite components of gaining random power-ups during runs, as well as passive enhancements between runs. But it also features gameplay mechanics that one could more associate with souls-like games. These include dodge mechanics that lead to counters or critical hits as a response rather than just to simply move out of the way. Adding to those mechanics are relics that further refine your build, and ghosts of fallen comrades as lantern abilities for further customization. You play as one of four classes/characters (with only the first available to start) that each have their own unique playstyle as well.
Progression in Netherworld Covenant comes from gathering a combination of Legion Relics and Black Stone currency during runs. Legion Relics seem to drop only from the most powerful enemies, whereas Black Stone can come from either a bonus room or just as a currency drop throughout gameplay. The Black Stone currency allows you to level up passive skills, whereas the Legion Relics unlock additional passives. You also obtain amulet and weapon blueprints during runs that can then be crafted for use in subsequent runs.
I can’t recall another roguelite similar to Netherworld Covenant I’ve played recently that uses the dodge mechanic for more than just avoiding damage. KIBORG is really the only one that comes to mind. I did have some concern that because of my poor ability to play souls-like games, I would struggle with this one. Thankfully, the dodge and counter mechanics are fairly easy to pick up on and very satisfying to execute. I actually found myself enjoying the game more than I originally expected to because of this. I wasn’t dying nearly as much as I thought I would from failing to do so, either.
Graphics & Audio
Netherworld Covenant ran well on my PC with default settings. I also toyed around a little with it on Steam Deck and didn’t notice any issues there either. I did appreciate the choice to provide clearly distinct animations for identifying enemy attacks that you are able to counter or only dodge. The art style is a fitting aesthetic for the dark setting. The music and background effects also contribute nicely to the dark atmosphere.
There was one piece of audio that really stood out to me in Netherworld Covenant. And it wasn’t in a great way. When entering a merchant room, the sound that I presume is to provide the feeling of clinking coins and treasure, is ear-piercing. I personally cannot stand it and each time I’m going into one of those rooms I have to mute my audio. I did attempt to turn down the SFX setting, but then I couldn’t hear anything else, and it was really only this one sound effect giving me a headache.
Longevity
At this point, I can’t put a finger on roughly how much time one could spend with Netherworld Covenant. The game is just into Early Access, but already shows potential for as much replayability as any other roguelite. MadGoat Game Studio only expects it to be in Early Access for 3 to 6 months, so it seems the bulk of the content is already present. They have also put out a draft of what they intend to add and work on over the next few months, which includes an additional difficulty level among other refinements and additions. I think if you get into the game, you’ll spend plenty of time there.
Final Thoughts
Netherworld Covenant has hit early access with a promising look at what the full release will entail. With the combination of roguelite and souls-like elements, it stands out among its peers as something a bit more or extra than the ordinary. If you are a fan of both genres, or even maybe just one or the other, it is worth taking a look. If you’re not sure, there’s always the demo available to try out, too.
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this preview.
If you like this preview, be sure to check out my reviews here.
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