[h1]What is Shiny Gauntlet?[/h1]
Shiny Gauntlet is a combination of a few very specific genres. It Is part dungeon hack’n’slash, bullet hell and rogue-lite. It has been developed by Spitewrench, a Jamaican developer, and remains their first and only game on Steam. The game has been inspired by the likes of The Binding of Isaac and Legend of Zelda.
[h1]Expectations[/h1]
My expectations entering the game were relatively low. As of writing the game only has three Steam reviews and has escaped any publicity. Essentially, the game is a little-known title that has not been picked up in the gaming press. Because of this although I had minor expectations for this I was still interested in playing it and giving it an opportunity. Consequently, you could suggest that I was hoping to discover a hidden gem.
[h1]Flash Quality[/h1]
Unfortunately, my first impressions of the game are that it is essentially a flash quality game. It is clear what the game is attempting to achieve but its production values fall far below the expectations of a game of its type. Games such as The Binding of Isaac where it draws its inspiration from are not necessarily known for their production values – more so their playability – yet they feel head and shoulders better than that available here. Consequently, the production quality is a bit of a let down.
The game does not load at full screen. There are no options to change the game’s resolution or sound. The only options that the player has is to customize the keys. However, I don’t see a reason why many players would want to change the game’s settings because you essentially used the WSAD keys to move and the arrow keys to attack in that direction. Further, the E key swaps weapons, Q performs an action and the spacebar enables you to use your ability.
[h1]Lacks a Tutorial[/h1]
I found the game to be difficult. This is in part because of the less than full screen resolution. Even as someone who has spent many hours playing similar games I struggled to find my bearings within the game. It also doesn't help that the game essentially throws you in at the deep and expects you to know what you are doing. Therefore, I would suggest that the addition of a tutorial would serve as a big boost to the game. Consequently, until then I cannot recommend the game to newcomers to these types of games.
[h1]Varied Game Modes[/h1]
Working in the game's favor is the fact that it has a number of different game modes. There is the fully fleshed out story mode. But for those of you seeking a different type of challenge beyond just a main campaign type deal you have access to an endless mode and a challenge mode. In endless mode you endeavor to get to the lowest possible dungeon level. Challenge level enables you to play for fabulous prizes.
[h1]Is it Steamified?[/h1]
The game has Steam achievements. However, it lacks Steam trading cards. The addition of trading cards will result in an increase of sales. As a result of a lack of features the game doesn't require any of the other features that Steam has to offer.
[h1]Verdict[/h1]
Although I believe that there is a market for this game I don’t believe that I or a sufficient number of Steamified users would fit within the niche to make it an easy recommendation. There are better games available to purchase on Steam that fit within the specific genres that Shiny Gauntlet fits within at about the same price point. However, if you’re a fan of those genres then you may consider checking this one out in an indie bundle or at a sale.
