VonGarland Castle : Beyond Blood

I really really would like to recommend this game but at the moment it is a bit hit and miss. Its got a lot of nods to the head to the classic horror games, with the menu system, themes, puzzles, enemies and bosses. Its enjoyable but... It has a lot of little things that will make you wish it could have been done better. Things like the menu controls are D-pad only and you have to click every movement on the screen between the tabs and the 29th item in storage from the top every time. Then there is the mission, sure the game wants you to explore, but with the enemies respawning all the time you will need a lot of ammo or melee them. Sure you can by ammo and upgrade your guns but health items are what you find on the map and once you used it, that is it. Even the crafting herbs are a bit off as you don't know what you get until you craft it and must remember the results yourself even if you come back to the game a week or longer of absence. I got to the point where I'm supposed to go to some where but I need items and so far I have no idea how to get there between all the locked doors and respawning enemies. I spent 4hrs going back and refighting mobs and still have nothing to show for it. It is at the point where I don't know if the game is bugged or not complete but the steam achievements seem to say some people have completed it. Otherwise it is a beautiful and fun game, but it has issues...

На данный момент - игра - сплошное недоразумение. Играть рекомендуют с геймпадом, при этом навязчиво напоминают о клавиатуре. Локализация уровня прошлого века, и если примитивный сюжет и косноязычную болтовню персонажей можно (и нужно) игнорировать, то прокачивать навыки - та ещё лотерея, поскольку они без описания, просто пустое окно; гадай по картинкам. Боевая система сырая, оружие абсолютно не ощущается, а судя по его количеству и многочисленным слотам для улучшения, игровую валюту необходимую для полноценной прокачки хотя бы одной пушки, копить придётся на протяжении всей игры. Предметов восстанавливающих здоровье - минимум, что с одной стороны весьма нервирует, и в то же время подчёркивает дисбаланс между очень слабыми рядовыми врагами и занудно-живучими боссами, только для встреч с которыми «лечилки», по сути, и нужны. Графика и героиня симпатичные, музыка типичная. Из 14 часов проведённых в игре примерно три потрачено на блуждание по кругу (у меня много свободного времени, ага), поскольку ни текущее задание, ни точки интереса на карте не отображаются. Ну и ещё час потрачен на замечательную, оригинальную, интригующую... комнату с лазерами! Автор игры, видимо, сильно впечатлился аналогичным эпизодом из фильма «Обитель зла» (Resident Evil, 2002). Молодец! В этой самой комнате героиня игры подохла уже раз пятьдесят... Или сто? Точно не скажу. Но в какой-то момент, я поймал себя на мысли, что живописный и регулярный экран с надписью «You Died» тратит даже то время, которого мне (внезапно!) жаль. Самое забавное будет, если в конечном итоге выяснится, что для прохождения этой комнаты требуется не идеальный тайминг + фантастическое везение, а какой-нибудь навык, который я не успел прокачать... Оценка игре 3/10. Всем кто решит приобщиться - удачи и Терпения. И помните! если в инвентарь девушки не помещается зажигалка - это означает, что либо героиня должна быть голой, либо одно из двух.

VonGarland Castle: Beyond Blood is a 2D Metroidvania with Survival Horror theme and inspiration from the famous series "Resident Evil" games. The story is about Ransom VonGarland who is a descendant from the VonGarland family and she sets out to an abandoned island in search of her brother Wyce, little she knows the surprises that awaits her there!! The game offers a big interconnected world full of puzzles and secrets around every corner for you to discover and solve. The game just came out of Early access recently on 30th Jan and is playing pretty well, there are few bugs here and there but nothing major to stop you from playing through. The Dev is working non-stop and noting down those bugs and they will be fixed in the upcoming patches, the controls have improved since the previous game VonGarland Castle: Sacrilege of the Heart. I haven't faced any issues with the controls at all as the Dev has added keyboard and mouse remapping in the game as well for players who don't use a controller. Now for the gameplay, you will encounter many sort of enemies during your playthrough, from zombies to vampires to skeletons that will try to eat out your BRAINS!! you start with a simple pistol and a basic knife but as you play through and solve major puzzles, you will find stronger weapons and abilities that will help you traverse different areas of the island which you couldn't reach before. The music and OST matches well with the creepy horror vibe of the island which is pretty well composed. The boss fights were brutal and some can end you very quick if you're not using your mechanics of dodging and dashing correctly, screen filling bosses with unique design and attacks that will test you out and get that adrenaline rush! This is a really recommended Metroidvania with Survival Horror elements and is truly a spectacular game which I enjoyed alot. If you're a big fan of survival horror theme or metroidvanias in general then you should really give this a try especially after the recent v1.0 release. Overall Rating 10/10

Got the game at launch. Very fun and the dev is promising more work. Feels a little clunky to move around, but not frustratingly so, but so did resident evil. You can feel the inspiration and it is good. Will probably play more in a couple updates, but will def be playing it again.

Awesome game! The artwork is super cool and the difficulty is good. Great for the genre.

Любопытная метроидвания с прекрасной графикой, неплохим игровым процессом, но значительным количеством недоработок и просто багов. Скорее рекомендую с расчетом на доработку игры.

Great Resident Evil vibes! Gonna give full review after beating this, but plays well and its pretty so far.

VonGarland Castle: Beyond Blood, developed by Ash Jackson and published by Monster Robot Studios, is a dark, genre-blending indie title that merges side-scrolling exploration with survival horror sensibilities. It clearly draws inspiration from both Metroidvania classics and traditional horror design, attempting to fuse the two into a cohesive experience. The result is a game with a strong sense of identity and atmosphere, though one that occasionally struggles to fully refine its ideas. The story follows Ransom VonGarland, who journeys to a remote island in search of her missing brother, only to uncover a disturbing chain of events tied to a shadowy organization and a series of grotesque experiments. The narrative leans into familiar survival horror themes—corporate secrecy, biological horror, and personal stakes—but it provides enough context to drive the player forward. While the plot does not aim for complexity or deep character development, it serves its purpose as a backdrop for exploration, maintaining a consistent tone of mystery and unease. Gameplay is built around a hybrid structure that combines exploration, platforming, and resource-based survival. The world is interconnected, encouraging players to revisit earlier areas as they acquire new tools and abilities that unlock previously inaccessible paths. This loop captures the essence of the Metroidvania formula, offering a steady sense of progression as the map gradually opens up. At the same time, the game incorporates survival mechanics such as limited ammunition and resource management, adding tension to encounters and forcing players to think carefully about how they approach combat. Combat itself is deliberate rather than fast-paced, with an emphasis on conserving resources and choosing engagements wisely. Players have access to a variety of weapons, but the scarcity of ammunition means that every shot carries weight. This often pushes players toward close-range encounters or avoidance strategies, reinforcing the survival aspect of the experience. Boss fights act as key milestones, introducing more demanding challenges that require pattern recognition and precise execution. These encounters can be rewarding, though they also highlight some of the game’s balancing issues. Exploration is one of the more satisfying aspects of the game, supported by a structure that encourages curiosity and gradual discovery. New abilities open up additional routes, making backtracking feel purposeful rather than repetitive. However, the design of the world is more functional than intricate, and progression can occasionally feel unclear, leading to moments where players are unsure of where to go next. This can interrupt the pacing, particularly when combined with the game’s more punishing elements. Atmosphere is where Beyond Blood excels most. The environments are consistently dark and oppressive, creating a sense of isolation that aligns well with the survival horror tone. Visual design, while modest in scale, effectively conveys a grim and unsettling world, supported by sound design that emphasizes ambient tension. Together, these elements create an immersive experience that draws players into the setting, even when the mechanics falter. Despite its strengths, the game is held back by issues in execution. Movement and controls can feel inconsistent, particularly during platforming segments that require precision. Combat mechanics, while conceptually sound, sometimes suffer from awkward responsiveness, which can make encounters feel less fluid than intended. These technical rough edges are noticeable throughout the experience and can detract from the overall sense of polish. Balancing is another area where the game can feel uneven. Difficulty spikes occur at various points, especially during boss encounters or sections where resources are scarce. While this can add tension, it can also lead to frustration when the challenge feels abrupt rather than earned. The relatively short length of the game helps mitigate this to some extent, but it also limits the opportunity for the mechanics to fully develop over time. In the end, VonGarland Castle: Beyond Blood stands out as a bold attempt to combine two distinct genres into a single experience. It succeeds in creating a strong atmosphere and a compelling exploration loop, even if its mechanics do not always reach the same level of refinement. The game’s ambition is evident in its design, and while it does not fully realize its potential, it offers a unique and engaging experience for players willing to navigate its imperfections. Rating: 6/10

被画风吸引的，结果是坨大的半成品如下 [list] [*]中文机翻且翻译不全还有显示问题 [*]只能用键盘操作菜单，游戏内鼠标指针不隐藏，十字准星上还有鼠标 [*]键位别扭也不能改 [*]不能按着移动键的同时趴下 [*]优化很迷，退回主菜单给我卡死了 [/list] 上4399是精品，steam就算了吧

千言万语汇成一句话：一坨大的