Hack Slash Crawl is an action RPG game much like the recently released Torchlight. You go around slaying goblins while at the same time, you're upgrading your weapons and armor in order to fight more menacing enemies along the way.
There's no story to this game unlike with console-based RPGs. As you start the game you're already transported inside a dark and depressing dungeon expected slay pretty much everything that moves. The controls are fairly easy to master since everything is controlled by the click of a mouse.
To move all you have to do is highlight an area using the mouse and click. It's fairly simple although it can get a bit tedious sometimes if you're trying to move away from baddies all the time. But the easiest thing about the game is combat.
There are no complex controls for you to memorize as your character automatically fights enemies that you highlight over with the mouse. As long as the enemy is in range of the main character, he will keep fighting until everyone around him is dead. The only way to stop him from fighting is to simply run away.
It's advisable that you use this technique because some areas there are time where the enemy can overwhelm you in big numbers. They can surround you and even chase you for several meters! Don't worry you can eventually get your revenge as this game has arguably the best feature ever in a RPG game - that is a recoverable health bar.
Your health bar replenishes over time much like your magic bar does too. This feature should be implemented on all RPG games in my opinion. I find it very annoying having to use items all the time to replenish your health and magic points like in most other RPGs. Bear in mind, not all character possess the ability to replenish health. If you choose to be a skeleton at the start of the game, he won't have this ability but he is immune to poison. It's advisable you choose which type of character you'd like to be as each of them will have different strengths and weaknesses.
All your gear can be picked up after you've killed your enemies. You can pick up pretty much anything as long as you keep yourself alive and defeat groups of baddies. Within seconds I was wielding a huge axe while I picked up a helmet and plate armor for my chest. This is similar to Torchlight which came out on the Xbox 360 not too long ago.
The 2D isometric visuals are pleasing to the eye. The only limitation to the isometric view is that you cannot always see everything that is ahead of you. There were often times I was running away trying to replenish my health only to stumble upon more baddies right in front of me. Although the graphics are nice the dungeons look a little boring. Small dark and grey hallways are not what you call a fun place to be all the time. It would have been nice if other environments were included such as ice and jungle worlds like those seen in other RPGs.
Another thing I disliked about the game is that there were no continues. Once I died there was you're only presented with a high score. I'm guessing the longer you play, the higher the score you'll achieve. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but I hoped the game had some sort of save feature as it took me quite a while to complete only the first dungeon...
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