Dandy Ace, the tried: Hades meets Dead Cells in a new rogue-lite
Dandy Ace, the tried
Rogue-lite has been one of the leading genres of the independent gaming industry for several years. Furthermore, the world public has recently been bewitched by Hades. Today, we bring you our tried-and-true Dandy Aces, a new rogue-lite coming out in March 2021 that will easily recall a fusion between Dead Cells and the work of Supergiant.Dandy Aces | Tested
Dandy Ace will be trapped by his rival, Lele The narrative incipit of Dandy Aces is very simple: Lele, a poorly skilled magician who immediately reminded us of the never too much appreciated Wario for both design and voice , is jealous of a colleague, Dandy Ace, who is skilled, attractive and appreciated. However, the man manages to find a magic mirror that allows him to trap his colleague in an ever-changing building. The only way out is to get to the end and defeat Lele.The palace that is the setting for Dandy Ace's adventures, therefore follows the classic rules of rogue-lite. Each area is created in a procedural way: we will find ourselves in a labyrinth in which a series of battles against various types of monsters will follow one another. Dandy Ace is therefore not simply divided into rooms, but into small maps with teleportation points inside that allow you to retrace your steps freely and quickly, for example to recover a previously unused cure. By advancing it is also possible to obtain keys that unlock gates, present in each map, which give access to additional parts for new rewards or even that open the way to alternative maps and allow us to decide our true Lele path.
Dandy Ace has a less linear map than expected By moving to the next area you have the opportunity to pass through a safe place where to spend a special currency (mirror shards, obtained by defeating monsters) to unlock upgrades that will remain also valid for subsequent sessions. When defeated, however, these fragments are lost. We are therefore talking about a progression structure similar to that of Dead Cells, proven to be effective. The upgrades allow, for example, to obtain some coins ("minor" currency that can be spent in the shops scattered throughout the levels) from the beginning of the game or to increase the number of heals that Dandy Ace is able to carry.
There are also a series of "trinkets", accessories that give bonuses for the current game, such as damage reduction or additional attack power if no damage is taken. It is possible to wear one at a time as you progress through the game, but by spending money you can reset our equipment: once again, a choice that will remind most of Dead Cells.
Dead Cells meets Hades
Dandy Ace is a rogue-lite with an isometric view If in terms of structure Dandy Aces easily recalls Dead Cells, as regards the combat system we are certainly in the Hades area. In other words, we're talking about a fast paced action game with an isometric view. Unlike the game of Supergiant, however, the protagonist does not have any abilities in and of itself.Dandy Ace in fact completely relies on his own magic cards. At the start of each game, we get one card for the dash, one for the basic attack (a five-card hit) and a third attack, for example an area hit around the character. Each card / ability must be equipped in one of four slots and by advancing in the game it will be possible to obtain new ones: therefore we can often change our moveset even during a game.
Dandy Ace is not lacking in dialogue and characters details The real strength of Dandy Ace, however, is the fact that each card can be used as an enhancement of another, thus creating combos of various kinds. For example, a single arrow shot can cause an explosion of additional bullets that do damage to nearby enemies, thus turning a 1 vs 1 match into a perfect shot for taking down entire groups. We will have with us four cards plus four power-ups and we will be able to pause and change our equipment at any time to adapt to new cards obtained. Already after a couple of games you begin to get interested combinations, taking advantage of altered statuses of various kinds that go in synergy with certain moves.
Beyond the reasoning on possible strategies, the various moves also allow you to opt for different fighting styles. We have various ranged attacks, some quick, some loading; there are melee attacks, area attacks and various evasive moves. We will therefore not be forced to fight in just one way and we will be able to change even during the match. The enemies also follow various strategies and we will have to be careful to eliminate the most dangerous first in order not to risk being targeted by too many attacks. As far as we have been able to try, the pace of play is fast and the controls responsive, especially with controllers (which use is also recommended by Dandy Ace).
Dandy Ace is an interesting mix between Hades and Dead Cells: maybe it is simplistic to reduce the game to a simple comparison of this type, but it is certainly the best way to understand its potential. This rogue-lite, in other words, has what it takes (sorry) to become an audience favorite. As is obvious, a single tried does not allow us to understand its long-term potential: it will be important that the number of cards, combinations, areas and enemies is adequate. The combat and power-up system is certainly very interesting and promises a great customization of the experience. The circus setting is interesting, even if what is seen in the first areas fails to keep up with the mythology of Hades.
