Game:

Vanguard (1981)

Category:

Review

Duration: 28:41

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15

Ghost Vanguard is an Indie, Hack and Slash, light RPG Sidescroller that reminds me of the old D&D sidescrolling beat ‘em ups, like Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara combined with a Vampire Hunter D influence: ok, I’m interested.

Like Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara?
Yes, though in Ghost Vanguard, the lvls are randomized and not always the same.
Unlike Chronicles of Mystara, there are no alternate classes to select, at least currently, but there are random upgrade scrolls to find in the cleared rooms and chests, giving the player some real choice in terms of how their character evolves as they play.
This is in contrast to the traditional character lvls you gain in Chronicles of Mystara as you complete quests, but which offer little choice otherwise aside from what you buy at shops.
Also, unlike that old great action sidescroller, in Ghost Vanguard, you can hit downed enemies; no more waiting until they get up like a chump; pound em while their down!

A Side Scrolling Beat ‘Em Up RPG:
When you take the portal into the random dungeon you get a spell at the start.
This spell you charge up by beating the crap out of enemies; fun and handy!
Clear rooms and kill monsters; get loot.
Double jump and dash around, as you get a super cool Alucard like the after image whenever the player character jumps or dodge rolls; it impacts a very nice sense of their speed, and is a very nice visual homage to Castlevania: Symphony of the Night; it looks really good.

Every room you clear you get a reward: could be gold, some hp healing food, another spell, or a scroll.
The scrolls offer a pick of 1 of 3 upgrades, their all passives; like in Vampire Survivors.
Unlike Vampire Survivors, these boons do not stack infinitely.
You can have 1 weapon rune, 1 boot rune, 2 spells, and 5 relics: ye must choose slayer!
Any drops you do not want can be instantly sold via slayer magic for gold, gold used with-in the run at the shop to buy food, mana potions, or other upgrades; nice.

There are also three alternate weapons planned for the full game: the starting arming sword, duel daggers, and greatsword, along with a locked monument in the HUB area; which very likely has Meta Progression power-ups within…

Controller Support is present, which is very good, as Mouse and Keyboard controls are flat out not present in-game!
At least you can use the mouse on the menus, but if you want to play this absent a controller, it will be 2 hands on keyboard; no thanks!
Due to the above, I used a gamepad in the above video.

Note: This is an early look at the demo for Ghost Vanguard so any bugs or other oddness is not representative of the final product.
Still, Ghost Vanguard is an Indie, Hack and Slash, light RPG Sidescroller that reminds me of the old D&D sidescrolling beat ‘em ups, Vampire Hunter D, and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, and is easily well worth a wishlist and a watch.
Watch?

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2577430/Ghost_Vanguard/
#SideScroller #ARPG #Roguelite