I can’t tell if I’m not paying attention, but I’m surprised we don’t see more games like Hades. I thought by now we’d have a ton of similar games. Realm of Ink does try to put its own spin on this style of run-based hack-and-slash games. It’s been in early access for a while, and I managed to snag a code as it went into full release. There are some great mechanics and weaponry here, but it doesn’t do enough to mask the game’s shortcomings.
I guess there is a story
You play as Red, a mysterious character who seeks to escape what we’re led to believe is the underworld. Based on my understanding, this appears to draw influence from Chinese Mythology. Joining Red is her pet Momo. Later in the game, you can unlock extra characters to replace Red.
Now, I’m being vague with the story because, in all honesty, the story is not that interesting or engaging. The characters you interact with are far from memorable, except in some aspects. In most instances, you can skip most interactions without missing any key story beats. It’s strange because while Red is the main protagonist, you will unlock other characters to play as. The different characters act as your different attack options. For example, one character uses a bamboo staff to attack. I recently unlocked a character that uses ranged magic. But even though you might be playing as someone else, every interaction involves Red.
Meanwhile, your companion, Momo, plays an important part in your success in battle. This cat-like puff ball is vital in many ways. For starters, the key gameplay feature is the use of Ink elements based on actual elements. As you progress through a run, you will come across Ink Relics. These serve as either active or passive abilities.
While they have their own effects, they also affect how Momo acts in combat. You might get a Relic that transforms Momo into a volcano, which can spew fireballs for about 5-10 seconds. You might come across a Relic that adds a wind barrier around your character. This extra level of protection can reduce your damage, but also hit foes for significant HP. This aspect is cool and adds variety to the combat, but its implementation isn’t perfect.
Enter a room, defeat the enemies, and repeat
Yes, I enjoy this aspect of the gameplay. There are some interesting combinations you can build along the way. But you can only have two in a run. For me, once I had my two, I never bothered experimenting. Every Ink Relic can level up. They go up to Legendary. So, if you have a Rare or Epic (the two below Legendary), you’ll likely stick with them and aim to upgrade them. I found that upgrading isn’t that expensive. You break down the relics you find in your adventure. If you get to Chapter 4, you should have enough to upgrade Relics to Legendary.
From what I can tell, there is a lot more to the randomization of this game beyond the relics and other items you find. A run takes place across four chapters. The fifth serves as the game’s final boss fight (at least from my experience). While the first chapter is the same, the rest are random. There are at least a half-dozen different zones. Meaning that you likely won’t face off against the same bosses every run. Yes, it’s not super random, but this does allow for some interesting encounters.
Every stage is a frantic fight that fills the screen with foes and other hazards. While it can be a bit overwhelming at times, I was always able to keep tabs on the key enemies. Also, most attacks warn you. You will have a second or two of buffer space to dodge or get out of the way of an attack. However, when a ton of enemies attack all at once, it’s harder to escape unscathed, but it’s not impossible.
Coming back for the combat
I also enjoyed the boss fights. Each of them is unique and comprises two stages. This was a bit of a surprise at first, since I wasn’t expecting this. I didn’t protect myself enough in the first phase, so I died almost immediately once the second one began.
The game also feels like it gets easier the more runs you play. As you progress, you find elixirs, also known as Curios, which improve your stats. I would focus on redeeming ones that increase my HP or reduce damage taken. While some help your current run, others will include “permanent” in their wording. This leads me to believe that these help later runs. There are other ways to upgrade your base stats, and even Momo goes through an upgrade path.
Some boss characters can also drop Curios after a fight, and these can be beneficial in a run. Early on, I defeated a Monkey King-like boss. Afterward, they became an assist character. Anytime I hit the dodge button, they would appear, and it performs a quick attack. While every boss has a Curio, they don’t all drop one after a fight. There are ways to increase your chances. If you can, aim to get these since they stack.’
Gameplay almost does enough to mask the problems
The comparisons between this and Hades are unavoidable. The problem here is that, when you compare the two, this one falls short in many areas. As I already mentioned, the story is weak, marred by aspects that feel incomplete. I noticed spelling mistakes and audio issues.
This game is half-voiced, but inconsistent. There are story sections that should have audio dialogue, but don’t. Then, you might come across a random voiced conversation. Because of that, I still feel like this game is still in early access. The music is fine, but nothing stood out while playing.
One of Hades best aspects is the interactions and things you could do between runs. Their take on that at your “home base” is dull. There are no interesting characters and very limited plot progression. Sure, there is a lot of anime-fan service. But that “sex appeal” is more distracting than progressive.
Worth it for the game’s combat, but not much beyond that
Even with my praise of its action, it’s hard to recommend Realm of Ink to a wider audience. The weak story and audio issues overshadow the combat. I managed to finish a run and see one of the game’s six endings. But with my lack of interest in the story, there is no incentive to go through five more times.
