Vagante Review: Not for the Faint-Hearted

In a time where a lot of indie games overshoot or come up short on release, Vagante paints a different picture. Still in development and available through Steam Early Access, Vagante is a platformer, rogue-like featuring permadeath, co-op and randomly generated levels. The plot of the game is that you are an adventurer coming to explore a dungeon in search of treasures. However, everyone that enters never comes out…

One thing above all, Vagante is gruelingly difficult. Not for the faint of heart, it is expected for one to die the first ten times you try playing it. There are numerous traps, enemies and hazards that can lead to an unexpected end, and the random nature of the levels means there will always be something to surprise you. Thus, it is ultimately skill, patience and strategic thinking that will determine if you survive or not. Weapons and armor are randomly generated, with unique stats and benefits, as well as demerits. This allows for varied gameplay and an element of risk and reward since certain items might be beneficial for the situation at hand but leave you open to dying from another. Another caveat sometimes items are cursed, forcing you to be cautious with how you approach new equipment, and making you seek out a way to undo the curse or be left with a permanent disadvantage.