Endless Alice | The Good, The Bad, and The Potential (Overview)
0Endless Alice is a promising new roguelike heavily inspired by Risk of Rain 2, but this is far from a negative. The game introduces enough unique features and enjoyable mechanics to stand on its own. Its anime-inspired style, diverse characters, and creative builds make it a promising addition to the genre, though it’s not without its flaws.
The Good
1. Unique Characters and Playstyles:
Each character in Endless Alice is distinct, offering a variety of skills and abilities. Players will enjoy learning their unique playstyles, and with five skills per character, there’s plenty of depth to explore. Characters like Takehime—who shares similarities with Mercenary from RoR2—bring familiar mechanics with a refreshing twist.
2. Build Variety and Item Upgrades:
The game’s diverse selection of items and skill upgrades allows for a wide range of builds. Whether you prefer critical-hit-based damage, defensive tanking, or balanced versatility, Endless Alice encourages experimentation.
3. Built-In QoL Features:
Incorporating popular elements from RoR2 mods, such as Minimap, NoBossNoWait, and Bazaar between stages, the game enhances the player experience with thoughtful quality-of-life improvements.
4. Affordable Price Point:
Priced at $10, Endless Alice offers great value for fans of roguelikes and anime aesthetics. For those willing to overlook its early access quirks, it’s a solid investment.
The Bad
1. Translation Issues:
The English translation relies on machine translation (MTL), making item descriptions and ability texts unclear or outright incomprehensible. Some text remains untranslated, which could frustrate players who don’t read Chinese.
2. Visual Clarity Concerns:
Enemy designs lack distinctiveness, often blending into the chaotic combat as neon-colored blobs. Improved visual clarity is needed to help players identify threats during intense battles.
3. Level Design Flaws:
Portal indicators can be misleading, particularly on maps where jump pads (necessary for navigation) aren’t marked on the minimap.
Some boss arenas feature environmental hazards that can feel overly punishing or unfair, such as damage-dealing tiles or inaccurate AoE indicators.
4. Early Access Jankiness:
Bugs such as camera clipping through the map disrupt immersion.
Balancing issues, like Alice’s heavy mode attacks being underpowered, impact gameplay satisfaction.
The UI feels mismatched with the anime aesthetic and could benefit from a cohesive redesign.
The Potential
1. Translation Improvements:
Clear and accurate English translations are essential for accessibility. If addressed, the game could attract a much broader audience.
2. Enhanced Visuals:
Redesign enemies to make them more distinct and visually striking.
Align level textures with the anime style to create a cohesive aesthetic.
3. Polished Gameplay Mechanics:
Refine environmental challenges to ensure they are engaging without feeling unfair.
Adjust character abilities and damage outputs for better balance, particularly for Alice’s heavy mode.
4. Expanded Features:
Adding features like 16-player lobbies would significantly enhance multiplayer enjoyment.
Additional content, such as more characters and maps, could further enrich the game’s replayability.
Final Thoughts
Endless Alice is a charming roguelike that borrows from Risk of Rain 2 while carving out its own identity with anime-inspired visuals and unique mechanics. Though it faces issues typical of early access titles, the game’s core strengths—diverse characters, engaging gameplay, and thoughtful design—make it a promising project worth following.
Recommendation: For fans of RoR2 and anime, Endless Alice is an enjoyable experience despite its rough edges. If you’re comfortable navigating translation issues, it’s a fun addition to your library. With its engaging gameplay, unique anime-inspired charm, and room for growth, Endless Alice is shaping up to be a hidden gem in the roguelike genre. Whether you jump in now or wait for future updates, this is a game worth keeping on your radar.
Read the latest full patch notes here:
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1425000/view/544472700657074286
Endless Alice - Early Access Launched on January 15, 2024!
Platform: PC (Steam) Price: $9.99 USD
Link:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1425000/Endless_Alice/
Endless Alice is a third-person action-adventure game combining Roguelite elements, anime aesthetics, and endless possibilities. Choose characters with unique combat styles and embark on adventures! Play solo or with friends in cooperative challenges for up to 4 players!