Coming fresh off last year’s Dread Delusion, Lovely Hellplace is back at it, but this time with a tactical turn-based RPG. While sharing the same aesthetic as their previous game, I wasn’t entirely sure if it’s set in the same world, but it’s still just as enchantingly stunning with its Morrowind-inspired style.
A Haunting World of Demons and Despair
Entropy puts you in the shoes of a member of a traveling theater troupe who was performing in a town when demons swiftly invade it, and you’re slain. You’re mysteriously brought back to life and tasked with warning other towns of further impending invasions. As I explored the small area in my demo, I was able to meet denizens of this almost apocalyptic world and learn more about how hellish their lives have become over the years after repeated demon attacks. It’s a world that feels realized and honestly just makes you feel bad for these folks—’cause man, I’d hate to live here.
Combat itself is your standard affair, as you can position your party of six along two rows; melee characters can’t hit anyone in the back rows until the front is gone, but ranged back-row characters can hit anyone they want. If you’ve played any game in this style recently, then you know what to expect here. What I wasn’t expecting was a mercenary system: characters in your party who fall in combat have the potential of permanently dying (though not your protagonist), so you’ll need to replace them with other mercenaries you can hire at inns. You’ve got to keep them happy, too, as mercenaries need to be paid, so balancing your party’s finances seems to be a key aspect to avoid overspending on goons for your team.
Final Thoughts on Entropy’s Dark Appeal
My time with Entropy was brief but enjoyable, and while its combat was fairly standard, it was the world and its characters that had me eager to explore more. You’ll also be able to check the game out when it releases later next year.
