Chained Beasts: what a clever title, and what an equally interesting concept. Set in a colosseum, you don an animal persona and duke it out with soldiers to earn your freedom. Think Gladiator meets Free Willy. Alright, so there are no killer whales, but there are some killer beasts on offer.
After showing your potential in the area, you’re thrown into the pits to earn your keep, rather, your freedom, by fighting all comers in a brutal rogue-like. Combat is a steady-paced twin-stick shooter where you’ll apply melee combat, though also utilise throwables and lobbing your current weapon using the right stick and its lit trajectory.
What makes Chained Beasts different isn’t the animals you get to play, though they each have their traits, from lions to wolves. No, the USP for Featherweight Games’ upcoming title is the chains of the title. Connected by the ankle of your comrades, you have to work together to fight off the enemies, all the while fighting against the resistance of the chains that bind you.
As a solo player, I was hoping that there was the option of a bot to join me, but that was not the case here, and instead, I got a hefty ball at the end of the shackles. Ok, playing local co-op is a lot of fun (up to four players can literally link up), though the gameplay took me back to the likes of Golden Axe and having to collaborate with others when all you want to do is smash.
Initially, the playtest was a little simple, though entertaining. There are basic attacks and charged ones, plus the aforementioned throwables. Completing a round will award both buffs and debuffs, and earn enough coin through the stages, and you can buy new weapons and armour. After each wave, you can also complete an automated levelling-up that gives a selection of perks.
The four weapon choices and traits of each character are decent enough, but Chained Beasts is a little hard when there are no in-game pickups besides the objects to throw. Foolishly, I didn’t make use of the chains of the title until about the third run. Yes, the point of the chain is the restrictions of being a slave, but… you can trip up your opponents. Frequently!
Using this tactic, but foot soldiers and harder enemies hit the deck, allowing for some backstabbing and swift kills. Add the perks where you gain vigor and more damage from these nasty tactics, and you’ll be laughing. Chained Beasts shows a lot of promise, though the most fun will be had through the co-op options. You have until next year to make some friends for when this is expected to be launched. Don’t say I don’t give you good advice.
