Enter The Gungeon

Bullet hell games have been around for decades, essentially since the rise of arcades began cropping up across the world. What is now perceived to be a great challenge, built for the most hardcore players was originally an attempt by gaming companies and arcade owners to extract every quarter they could get out of you. The harder the game, the more likely you were to die and would have to start over, prompting another couple quarters for each try.

Compared to the games of today, especially the popular genres, there’s clearly a different focus for most titles. They’re built to be enjoyed for long periods, have meticulous yet clever level design, and entice you to play longer (sometimes to get players to buy into microtransactions).

Then there are games like Enter the Gungeon that combine all of these elements (without microtransactions, for those curious) while also being just as punishing as its arcade-era predecessors. Even when it kicks you when you’re down, its overall charm, gameplay, and design will have you gearing up for another go just like the good old days.

Enter the Gungeon…Over and Over

I’ll preface the rest of this review by saying that, if you’re like me and love difficult, roguelike games but happen to be pretty bad at games, you’re going to die a lot. But that’s okay! The more you die, the more you learn – there’s no punishment for how many times you die, but death really is the end for each round. Those who have played The Binding of Isaac or Risk of Rain 2 will be quite familiar with how this game will play out. You start up a round in the Gungeon, choose a Gungeoneer (each with their own quirks), and set out to find the legendary gun that can kill the past. Like I said, this game is a bullet hell with foes to be reckoned with but the gameplay is phenomenal. The movement, weapons, and level design are smooth and promote tactfulness without ignoring the brute strength approaches.

Each gungeoneer has their own equipment at the start that makes them unique – there are 8 in total but four of them can be unlocked. There are over 30 bosses, some of them secret, and each of them has a interesting, intimidating design, and there’s plenty of opportunity to find new weapons, items, and other pickups to help you along the way. Again, what sets Gungeon apart from other roguelikes is the fluidity and addictiveness of the gameplay. Even when you are defeated, you’ll be raring to go again almost immediately.

A Tasteful Direction

Equally notieceable is the dedication that the developers put towards the art, music, and design of Enter the Gungeon’s settings and characters/enemies. Minor goons are animated in a detailed manner, each floor of the Gungeon has its own flavor and intriguing assets, and the bosses are equal parts comical, intricate, and terrifying.

Bottom Line

Additionally, the music, while incredibly hectic on each floor, is perfect for every situation. There’s never a dull moment in sight or sound, which has often been ignored in other titles for simplicity’s sake. All in all, Enter the Gungeon was wonderfully detailed and crafted in every manner.

Pros:

• Detailed art/music design
• Difficult but rewarding once you start learning the basics
• Easily addictive

Cons:

• Steep learning curve
• Lots of traps/enemies to track at once, even for a bullet hell title