Let’s find out together, in this review, if it is worth buying Lost Epic, the 2D side-scrolling action-rpg created by EARTHWARS and oneoreight and recently arrived on PC and PlayStation console
The approach to minor titles, or those that can be considered as such, is very delicate if you have to review these specific video games. On the one hand we must remain objective, put every single playful and technical aspect on the plate as we would most commonly do for the AAA, on the other we must know how to weigh the aforementioned aspects with the size of the project, and therefore the probable budget of the studio that has it developed. Recently we were quite happy with Little Noah: Scion of Paradise, for example, a little less a few months ago with Winter Ember. In short: it is necessary to know how to place each work in its context.
We also asked ourselves the question when we approached Lost Epic, 2D side-scrolling action-rpg created by EARTHWARS and oneoreight, recently arrived on PC, PS4 and PS5. The hack’n’slash mechanics have been mixed with souls-like and metroidvania elements, in a combination that has certainly already been seen and derivative, but not necessarily unpleasant. After spending a few dozen hours inside Lost Epic, we put aside our Hamletic doubt and decided to sit down at the pc and write this review down. Is it worth the purchase? Let’s find out together.
Prism Flare
The authors of Lost Epic have worked, in the past, on Earth’s Dawn, another derivative title, but set in a purely sci-fi world. Having abandoned science fiction, in Lost Epic the guys from EARTWARS and oneoreight threw themselves into fantasy, mixing the classic stylistic features of the genre with some characteristics of the Japanese world. We find ourselves in a world unknown to the protagonist, whose appearance we can choose from among some predefined (and let’s face it, not very captivating), in which we will wake up without any memory of previous events. A witch will brief us on our task: defeat the six deities who rule the world, to rebuild it from its foundations.
The six deities will be found at the end of as many different environments, all characterized by a rather intriguing level design and interconnected to the other areas. It is useless to deny, however, that they will be really all too similar to each other, except one set mainly in the sea depths (and not excessively frustrating, we must admit), as well as the variety of enemies is essentially repetitive, all practically identical to each other except for one or two specific to the area we are exploring. The settings, as well as the creatures that we will face, will change just for the characteristic element, nothing more.
In to the Sanctum | Review Lost Epic
From the point of view of the simple script, we can safely admit that the strong point of Lost Epic is definitely not the narrative. Although the souls-like elements are all there also in this case and the developers have been able to well insert a game world that tells itself, the story of our protagonist itself will be rather trivial and obvious, without even remotely the charm of ‘equally obvious Story of the Chosen one from the first Dark Souls, for example. Why always remember: it is not so much the depth of a narrative that is striking, as how it is told.
After a short and not very exhaustive tutorial, which puts just a sword in your hand to start beating your hands with the first creatures you will meet, the world of Lost Epic will open up in front of you and show you its many facets, some of which definitely interesting and fun. Pad in hand, in fact, the title of oneoreight has the advantage of being, at least for the first ten hours, rather pleasant and intriguing. Nothing new under the sun, beware: light attack, heavy attack, special abilities (called “Divine”, in this case), dodge and a sort of parry that can be activated by using the special abilities at the right time.
Enemy | Review Lost Epic
The increase in the armamentarium and the possibility of switching between two completely different weapons rather quickly, as well as the use of special gloves that allow you to fire magic bullets significantly increases the possibilities for customization. All together with a modest amount of equipment, accessories and armor, available by exploring every narrow corner of the game map or crafting them. Yes, because in Lost Epic there are also many secondary activities: from fishing, to cooking, through the crafting of objects (enhancement and care), aesthetic accessories, weapons and equipment of various kinds.
Here, the lack of the tutorial and a little more specific information has begun to be felt here. Starting from understanding, for example, what are the “Medicinal Herbs” necessary for crafting healing potions, or experimenting (failing) different types of bonfire recipes to get a few more items. Nothing that is too exhausting, we have to admit: the way to regenerate our health in Lost Epic is quite easily found, but if, for example, we finish the healing and we are defeated by a boss, the game will give us only three small potions at the next respawn. A little ‘few, very few.
God Slaying Knights | Review Lost Epic
Once we passed the first game areas and entered the world of Lost Epic, the woodiness and limitation of the combat system began to be felt heavily, complicit in the animations decidedly a couple of generations ago and the increasing presence of flying enemies or more aggressive in general. The increase in difficulty is partly balanced by the development of the character, which, obviously in a title with souls-like elements, will get “Souls” for every enemy killed. These souls will then be spent at sanctuaries to level up, which will each donate a skill point that can be used in the various skill books.
We will then be able to learn new skills or increase our basic parameters, thus increasing the Health Points, Attack or Stamina. In short, all rather classic and nothing too exciting, from this point of view. Even the choice of equipment was mainly based exclusively on the “best performing”, as There didn’t seem to be any optimization or variety in the builds in Lost Epic. Obviously there are also a plethora of secondary missions, which will all turn out to be simple fetch quests or will require, more simply, to take down certain groups of enemies.
Sacred Corridor | Review Lost Epic
The Metroidvania component, which will allow us to unlock new roads and find new treasures once certain skills are unlocked, is also rather basic and devoid of any creative flair. In the first play area you will often come across wooden walls that are impossible to break down until you have mastered the Charged Heavy Attack, and so on. The feeling is therefore that the developers wanted to create a very vast title, full of things to do and to experiment, without taking care of even one of them thoroughly and making it just sufficient in every respect.
The technical sector is also just sufficient, which if, as we have said, at the level of animations it arises in a couple of generations ago, from the aesthetic one slightly raises the bar. The backdrops, in particular, are particularly inspired, colorful and suggestive, with some really brilliant glance. Too bad we can not say the same for the models of the enemies, as already said very repetitive, and for those of the NPCs (who with the excuse that the witches are all sisters have saved by making them all the same).
Nothing to complain about the soundtrack, without infamy and without praise, which accompanied us for the many hours of play spent in Lost Epic without ever being annoying. On the other hand, the audio balance with the ambient sounds and the shots of the weapons is very bad: watch out, if you play with headphones, turn down the volume from the Settings.
Lost (and not) Epic
In short, to conclude this fleeting review of Lost Epic, the title of EARTHWARS and oneoreight tried to be more than it could afford. The elements put in place by the developers, albeit derivative, are all very interesting and, during the first hours of the game, even fun. As the exploration of the game world and its gameplay continues, however, the knots come to a head and net of many good ideas, Lost Epic proves to be little more than enough in every respect. Next time even less is enough, but better!
Lost Epic is currently available on PC, PS4 and PS5. Let us know if you have purchased and played it below in the comments, we will continue to keep you updated with all the news, guides and reviews on videogame and tech! And if you are interested in game keys at advantageous prices, we recommend that you take a look at the InstantGaming catalog!
Points in favor
- Artistically valid
- Captivating gameplay in the first hours of play …
Points against
- … but then gradually more and more woody and banal
- Technically a couple of generations ago
- Too many underdeveloped elements
- Patterns of enemies and NPCs repeated beyond belief