Well, this was unexpected. A pixel art adventure where bunnies are the focus is not a game that would typically appeal to me. Add to the fact the cute lil’ rabbits in Sephiria live in Bunnyville just sounds so vomit-inducing, that I thought I could dodge a bullet that this as initially going to be an Early Access write-up. However, after my first run, I opted to unlock the full game as this is ace. Still cute, though.
Team Horay (should be Hooray, seeing how initially upbeat this is), have already dabbled in a similar title named Dungreed. I have no experience of this, so skimming over that fact and judging this on its own merit. It all kicks off on the Day of Destiny – an ominous title already, and living up to its name, a prophecy predicts that a horde of demons are going to slaughter the population of Bunnyville unless you step up.
Sephiria is serene and welcoming – they’re bunnies after all. After the fateful day, you step into the dungeon and while it’s hardly something to take in your stride, it’s immediately playable and moves beautifully. Armed with a slightly large sword, you take on the first bunch of goons that include the likes of bomb-throwing moles and centurion-like rodents. As a twin-stick, ahem, shooter, you can aim your slashes with finesse and the combat is very satisfying. However, going on the offence isn’t always the best tactic, so you can dash for evasion (though also to combine with an attack), parry, and pull off charged attacks.
Navigating the dungeons is intuitive and a mini map is on hand at all times, indicating possible routes you can take to further descend. As always, exploration is encouraged to level up on your run as either each level, you can stack artefacts that add buffs to attacks, elementals and a lot more. I wouldn’t say Sephiria is simplistic, it’s just intuitive and works really well out of the box.
The levelling system does feel a little overboard at times and with each new run, overcomplicated. I get to the point where I wasn’t paying as much attention to my power-ups so much and simply scanning for the fastest effects, such as damage. Granted, that’s not the best strategy, but you can pretty much jump straight in a run and it’s instantly playable, presenting itself more of a rogue-lite than a rogue-like.
As always, I didn’t cover the multiplier side of things, preferring to go solo. If you’re antisocial like me, there’s plenty on offer. There are six chapters, I believe, with a wealth of enemy types, and as mentioned, the inventory system/artefacts and talents on offer are slightly overwhelming. Repeat plays will make these features clearer, or you could apply the sensible approach and simply reach the tutorial and tooltips for items. Unlike me, who dived in headfirst.
Even with this clumsy approach, Sephiria is instantly accessible and thoroughly enjoyable. There’s no real learning curve outside of the inventory system, and the loop here is a natural and enjoyable one. Paired with the six weapon styles, customisable bunnies and welcoming locals, this is a rogue-lite you must check out. At the very least, download the demo and try for yourself – I was pretty impressed with how enjoyable this actually is.
