Warning: I may be biased as I received this game for free - there was a small giveaway at the release. This review is long and in disorder due to me expressing naked impressions.
As a foreword, I must say I am in awe. I've never yet realised that we are spoiled. Spoiled by unfiltered cheap indie crap made by people who have no idea what a game is, that made us unwilling to search for nuggets like this game. We are spoiled by AAA games, that cost much and yet bring all the same things over and over again because we tolerate it and are slightly amused by high production values. This game is what gaming was when I first became a gamer, evolved and better.
You see, for a small price the devs ask you receive two games, that will last forever. The trailer and the store page fail to capture the full greatness of Behold! Yeah you are shown a twin stick shooter, sure there is mayhem, adrenaline filled combat, waves of enemies, elements of randomness. It is just a quarter of what you get. Devs who have made this are either blind not to promote the masterpiece or are humble geniuses waiting to be recognised.
You see, if you watch someone play it - you will never know this game for what it really is. To the stranger watching it - it is a Crimsonland-like in a different setting and alternate pace. This onlooker will also deem it kind of limited and will think that this game exhausts itself quite quickly. Let me explain what it is without spoiling any fun for you.
Firstly the devs made a great move - they've only included a tutorial for controls, not how to properly use them in combat. It makes every playthrough a research, a learning session to become a better player. Your monster is limited - it shoots five kinds of fast reloading rays which produce different effects on the enemies, you can shoot two at a time or alternate between them. Every time the rays are chosen randomly, so you always have to adapt, as not every ray is useful in every situation. You can jump and smash enemies underneath you. this ability has an AoE and a kind of slow recharge rate. It can get you places fast (sometimes very, very wrong places) or help you clear stacks of enemies. You can also eat enemies one at a time, chewing quite some time, regaining a token of HP and becoming vulnerable - you have to get close to swallow an enemy, but if a second one touches you, while you are chewing - it is a hit, and you can't withstand much of those, and, and while you are fast you have to deal with a significant deal of inertia. You can also use power-ups to gain temporary benefits and perks - mutators that make you trade one advantage for another, gained after a while in the game. You see - this game is hard. It is fun to play mindlessly, blazing rays at squishy enemies, listening to their screams and stomping crowds. But few enemies and minibosses (I think I've already seen them all, but whatever) and composed in waves that start providing big challenge very soon. Yes, there are not too many kinds of foes, but the combination of their abilities and numbers always makes this a game of puzzles with urgent decision making. You start feeling weak, you start to play tactical.
There are two game modes here story and arcade, both of which are great. Story mode is a game, where the devs are unleashing pre-constructed balanced waves at you, providing you with space to learn basic and advanced tactics without simply telling you them. As you progress further and further you start getting familiar with game concept and how it works at a pace the devs want you to go at and it is a great pace, always challenging and fun. The Arena mode is random at its best. You just never know what the game will throw at you, and it is always fun to try and resolve this mess.
Yes there is just one Arena, just a few enemies, kind of enough abilities to deal with them, but for me it is more quick strategy game, rather then just a bloody shooter, and I feel I will be trying to beat it again and again as soon as I have time.
The graphics are great, they don't exploit pixel art, they are really good and stylishly designed on themselves. Animations are cool too. Though I am not a fan of heavy music - it gives you a needed rhythm. The gameplay is really great.
I can't wait to get home and go at it again. I hope you found my review useful.
