Heroic Kingdom: Origins

First-Ever Review – Forgive Any Typos/Formatting! Heroic Kingdom Origins was a huge and unexpected surprise for me! I stumbled upon it through the RPG gamers subreddit — saw a combat showcase and, as a Souls vet, knew I had to try it. 60+ hours later, I feel like I've barely scratched the surface. TL;DR: Heroic Kingdom is a true open-world, action-combat RPG. Explore a beautiful world, take on tough bosses with Soulslike combat, grab epic loot, get stronger, rinse and repeat! What I Love: - A Game for Gamers, by Gamers Heroic Kingdom is clearly a passion project — you feel the inspiration from games like Skyrim, Diablo, Souls series, and MMOs, yet it’s truly in a league of its own. High fantasy, open world, action combat — sign me up! - Soulslike, Without the Hardcore Punishment No losing your "death orb" on second death NPCs can't be attacked Pause function without combat cheese Classic stamina management, block, parry, dodge roll (with i-frames) Minimal NPC dialogue, no handholding Rare mob drops (grinding for loot, like the Balder Side Sword in DS1) - Secrets and Exploration Hidden items, secret doors, breakable crates, boxes, and containers — I love this. Exploration feels rewarding. Suggestion: Maybe even more secrets, please! - True Open World Freedom One of my top three favorite aspects. You can go anywhere, take on bosses way above your level — the world is truly your oyster! I couldn't stop smiling when I found the Air Temple, it's what open world gaming is all about. Suggestion: Introduce fog of war (but keep quest markers visible) Maybe add mini-bosses at the 100 attribute nodes and Temple locations? - Combat Weighty, satisfying, and very Soulslike. Far from perfect, but incredibly fun. Suggestions: Add more/different skill animations A melee gap-closer (like a charge or leap) Slightly nerf to staggers vs enemies— it can feel cheesy sometimes Lock heavy attack animations for risk/reward moments - Sound and Music High fantasy vibes on point. I have so much B-roll just vibing to the soundtrack. Suggestions: Add more character phrases during exploration/combat Improve combat music triggers (especially for bosses vs regular mobs) - Enemy Variety Tons of different enemy types: knights, bandits, wizards, undead, specters, dragons, demons, and more. Bosses have unique mechanics and patterns — love this. - Quality of Life / Gameplay Loop Heroic Kingdom respects the player's time: Generous bag space Loot recap screen Fast travel points No stamina drain out of combat Minimal menu tedium It's the little things that keep you playing, the Devs know what's important and that's to keep you out of menus and immersed in the world. Huge kudos. - No Level Scaling = True Power Fantasy Crushing early-game mobs after exploring and leveling up feels amazing — no level scaling nonsense. Thank you, Devs! - Visual Progression You feel stronger and look stronger. Rare drops and transmogs add a whole new grind layer beyond "beat boss, move on." Suggestion: More skins/gear appearances Traditional transmog system to mix/match gear looks Miscellaneous Highlights: Dynamic weather and day/night cycle Destructible environments Great build/skill variety Few crashes (less than 3 in 60+ hours) "FAFO" open world philosophy — no rails, no hand-holding, true player freedom Devs are super responsive (join the Discord!) Frequent updates Souls veterans will feel right at home Miscellaneous Feedback / Suggestions: Add aim assist for ranged abilities (controller) Full controller support (eventually) Make the "Create" button in character creator bigger Unsheathe weapons with light/heavy attacks Allow character rotation while mining/climbing Escape key should exit menus/talent trees Double-click to equip gear Allow depositing of locked items Fix clunky stair movement Add a mantle/climb-up feature (even a basic one) Fix "Wait" mechanic timing accuracy Add sorting options for storage Hybrid skill bars for multi-weapon setups Polish Notes: Sure, the game could use more polish (especially UI), but it never lacks detail. It's clear where the devs put their heart — and that makes all the difference. Conclusion: Heroic Kingdom Origins is a hidden gem. I honestly can't believe it’s only $10 and built by a two-person team. I didn’t expect to get so hooked — 60+ hours later, I’m still going strong. Massive shoutout to the Devs — thank you for your hard work and vision! I look forward to the future of Heroic Kingdom: Origins!