"Death's Door": Video Game Review
Written By Alex Greenbaum
Recently released on the Playstation 5 and Playstation 4 digitally, "Death's Door" is an imaginative and technically impressive feat. Created by just two individuals from the UK studio Acid Nerve, their new indie game made on the Unity engine is a thoroughly charming adventure. Fighting in its top down Zelda- like scenery adds an additional feel of unwavering nostalgia. Heavy inspirations from a list of classic video game titles, while maintaining its own unique identity, is what makes "Death's Door" so captivating.
One plays as a small crow whose corporate job of collecting souls is interrupted by the demands of a giant grey crow. The story is convoluted, and at times an esoteric adventure that works unexpectedly because of its fascinating mysteries. Through its many philosophical enigmas, the characters sparkle throughout the game, even though all the dialogue is text based, making this achievement even more impressive. By the end, I could easily name all the voiceless characters involved in the plot line which in turn made progressing through its story that much more satisfying.
Combat wise it definitely scratches that dungeon crawler itch, and has just enough depth to keep things fresh through its 8-9 hour story. Upgrades are usually minimal covering the basics such as strength, dexterity, magic, haste and being able to add certain benefits to your weapons arsenal can be fun to experiment with. But what really makes the combat flourish is the amount of enemy variety that exists, as almost every scenario is different, showcasing just how well designed each level is. It's a challenging game that will test your skills without becoming unduly frustrating, therefore testing your ability not your patience.
As the game proceeds, I did find a few drawbacks by the end of its run time. Enemy hit markers don't always register and its final hour meanders to a finish line that felt a bit lackluster in comparison to the rest of the game. Possibly one less boss fight would have counteracted that touch of tedium I felt and established a better fluidity. And lastly, its somewhat cheeky humor didn't land for me once, mostly because its subject matter of mortality and death did not fit with the oftentimes juvenile writing.
"Death's Door" has its issues but a fun combat system, engaging music, and varied level design warrant a definite play through. For $20 you are receiving a solid story and whole lot of content to chew on even after the credits role. I will definitely be revisiting the game for more secrets and to eventually max out all the upgradable abilities. It's one of the better games this year and a true must-play for those top down "Zelda" enthusiasts.
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