Introduction

Let me just start by saying Hellboy Web of Wyrd is a game that exists. Released on October 18, 2023, it boldly asks the question, 'What if you took a beloved comic book character and gave him a roguelike adventure filled with combat so basic even your grandma could beat it?' Spoiler alert: she probably wouldn't want to.

Gameplay

At first glance, the gameplay seems to emanate the kind of punchy punchy vibes that roguelikes are known for. Hellboy, the capitalized embodiment of hell issues in a trench coat, can deliver physical and ranged attacks like he's just finished a particularly rowdy birthday party. He chains attacks together for combos, as any half-listening fighter might do, but the catch is that both Hellboy and his foes come equipped with 'Toughness.' This handy-dandy shield is like a safety net but probably less useful than you'd hope, since it's designed to keep annoyance levels down rather than actually save your sorry butt from certain doom. The real kicker, however, is the 'Payback' special move. You know, just in case Hellboy's been treated unfairly and needs to spill a huge dose of anger onto his enemies. So on one end, it's like an anger-fueled buffet, and on the other, it's a misshapen plate where the food doesn't really seem to go together. The Butterfly House, your hub area, takes you through levels that are procedurally generated-cue deep sighs from no-ones without the internet lore explaining what exactly that means. Basically, it's a lot of drifting through environments that seem vaguely reminiscent of Hell but with less flaming pit and more 'I really should've packed snacks.'

Graphics

If you were expecting a graphically groundbreaking experience, prepare for a bit of a letdown. There's a charm in Hellboy Web of Wyrd, crafted in a hand-drawn style mimicking Mike Mignola's artwork. It feels nostalgic, but then so does your old middle school hoodie. Remember how cozy that was? Yeah, that's what these graphics evoke. They are visually striking, yet the overall graphics remind you of 3rd generation retro instead of full-on next-gen. The aesthetics are there, yet they sometimes feel like they whispered 'let's be a little less great' while walking past a dark alley.

Conclusion

To sum it all up, Hellboy Web of Wyrd shows potential trapped in a loop of underwhelming execution, akin to a famous chef opening a food truck that only serves gas station sandwiches. Reviewers collectively decided it was 'mixture of mixed reviews'-and that's not just because they were fighting over leftover pizza while critiquing. If you're a die-hard Hellboy fan, you'll probably find some joy here. Everyone else? You could spend your time on something with a bit more... pizzazz? Maybe check out the sequel in two years if you feel particularly generous with your time and bandwidth. Here's hoping Hellboy finds his way back into a game that makes me ask, 'How did I enjoy this so much?' rather than 'Why did I finish this with ten minutes left to spare?'

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