In April 2024, Moon Studios, known for the metroidvania hits Ori and the Blind Forest and its sequel, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, released their new game, No Rest for the Wicked, on Steam Early Access.
Transitioning from pure platforming to an isometric soulslike with survival elements, the developers have preserved the dark, fairy-tale ambiance and the stunning, illustrative graphics that defined their earlier works. After spending numerous hours in Early Access, we are eager to convey our thoughts on this fresh experience.
Ancient Plague and Holy Warriors
Centuries ago, in the game’s world, a mystical plague ravaged entire cities, transforming inhabitants into monstrous beings. The sacred warriors of the Cerim averted the disaster then, but after several centuries, the plague resurfaced.
The initial outbreaks emerged on Sakra Island, once home to a Cerim monastery. The islanders already face numerous challenges | the city of Sacramento’s administration is contested by rebels, and Selina, a mainland church minister, views the plague as an opportunity to fulfill her ambitions.
The Island’s Guardian dispatches a plea to the Cerim, hoping a Sacred Warrior will rescue Sakra. This warrior is the player’s character. However, a shipwreck leaves the hero stranded on the shore. The journey to the island’s capital is fraught with dangers from hostile wildlife and rebels.
The premise, while not overly complex or novel, sets the stage for the first act available in Early Access. Previous Moon Studios games have offered intriguing plot twists, and the full narrative will unfold with the release of subsequent chapters.
The Big Wilds of a Small Island
In the opening act, the city of Sacramento serves as a central hub with NPCs and shops, surrounded by explorable areas such as the Orbán Marshes, Seaside Fortress, Dark Shore, and Nameless Pass. Additionally, the Black Ditch sewer system and the Random Challenge Zone within the ancient Cerim ruins are accessible.
The island’s map features narrow pathways, secret routes, and hidden treasures. Occasionally, simple puzzles must be solved to discover new paths. With progression, the environments evolve and new monsters emerge in previously explored areas, reminiscent of classic metroidvania and soulslike games.
Beyond the shops, Sacramento is home to characters who assign story quests and challenges. However, during Early Access, numerous concealed passages and placeholders for future content are visible, which will be unlocked with story progression or through game updates.
Our Hero and His Belongings
In the game, the player’s character isn’t predefined by the developers; instead, you have the freedom to select your own facial features, hairstyle, hair color, and skin tone. The character design is intentionally grotesque, resulting in an angular hero with elongated arms and slender legs. However, the isometric perspective helps players quickly adapt to this unique appearance.
“No Rest for the Wicked” doesn’t feature distinct classes. Players can enhance any fundamental attributes, gaining three experience points with each level up, which they can allocate as desired. During Early Access, progression is capped at 30 levels, yielding a total of 90 points maximum.
As experience points are non-reallocatable, players must strategize their build from the outset to suit their preferred playstyle and gear. With no class-based restrictions on weapons and armor, different stats become crucial for various items; for instance, strength is key for wielding axes, while dexterity is vital for rapiers.
It’s hard to fight
While the isometric camera might suggest that combat in “No Rest for the Wicked” resembles that of “Diablo” or “Path of Exile,” the reality is quite different. The gameplay is infused with the essence of “Dark Souls” and “Sekiro | Shadows Die Twice,” demanding mastery of blocking, rolling, and timing parries precisely.
The choice of equipment significantly influences these actions, as it prescribes your combat style. For instance, wielding heavy swords and armor hampers swift dodging and rolling, necessitating more frequent blocking. It’s crucial to remember that weapons degrade and may unexpectedly break.
During Early Access, the weapon balance is questionable. Archery depletes valuable concentration, and arrows lack sufficient combat power, allowing enemies to close in on an exhausted knight. Spears and halberds are more effective for maintaining distance.
Concentration is vital for mages as well, yet experience is finite. Opting for concentration and intelligence at the expense of stamina and carrying capacity may not always pay off, making the journey more challenging.
True to the nature of soulslikes, players must meticulously learn enemy and boss patterns to strategically position themselves, dodge, and counterattack timely. However, in “No Rest for the Wicked,” when a hero dies and respawns, previously defeated foes do not return, and resources crucial for crafting gear and city development are retained.
Peaceful life in Sacramento
In today’s gaming landscape, resource gathering, basic crafting, and construction elements are nearly indispensable for engaging a broad audience. In “No Rest for the Wicked,” even the mighty hero tasked with saving the world must engage in mundane activities such as mining for ore and clay, felling trees, and fishing. These tasks are crucial not just for preparing to face formidable bosses but also for rebuilding the island’s devastated capital.
The Early Access version includes several quests for restoring Sacramenta. A local architect will be eager to receive your collected resources. Utilizing these, he will restore vital structures like the elevator and stairs, as well as repair the tavern and various shops. This reconstruction effort will not only create new pathways throughout the city but also broaden the assortment of goods offered by the merchants.
The city features shops run by blacksmiths, carpenters, alchemists, cooks, and seamstresses. Each shop can be upgraded to offer new goods. Additionally, workbenches are available to upgrade items, with the highest possible upgrade being level three.
One week post-Early Access release, the game is experiencing issues with harvesting certain rare resources. For instance, acquiring antlers, hooves, and other deer parts essential for crafting leather armor is nearly impossible. It often takes over three days to locate a single deer skull, and deer only yield meat and skin when found in the game.
Upon defeating the second boss, players have the option to purchase a house, where they can store loot chests and various pieces of furniture, including a bed that allows the character to rest and regain health.
It works
Steam reviews highlight issues like frequent crashes, poor optimization, and bugs. The complaints could stem from players who prefer using a keyboard and mouse, as the game currently doesn’t allow button remapping, which can be inconvenient for many and may even result in unintended character deaths. Using a gamepad is advisable.
The developers, Moon Studios, have been proactive, releasing multiple updates to address these issues and plan to continue refining the game with new patches. They also intend to expand the game’s features, including four-player co-op, PvP mode, additional narrative chapters, new environments, and bosses.
Moon Studios has successfully crafted a compelling “soullike” game with an isometric viewpoint and survival features. “No Rest for the Wicked” is a visually stunning and atmospheric title that has garnered an 8 out of 10 rating from some players. However, the developers have considerable work ahead to further develop and enhance the game.
