Welcome to EXPlay, (Explain & Play) the review series where we care not for scores but tell it how it is when it comes to every game we get our hands on, whilst also taking the time to include some lengthy gameplay, to give you the reader, the chance to shape your own impressions and views whilst watching and reading.
In this explanatory review, we’re covering Die After Sunset by developer PlayStark:
Die After Sunset (The Explanation)
I want to start my EXPlay with a comment that ran through my head during my time with the game. It is hard to recommend the lackluster third-person shooter adventure game Die After Sunset for the bevy of issues and lack of polish that I saw within the game. To kick things off the tutorial training leaves a lot to be desired in letting me know what and why I am doing anything in the game. The initial intro just goes over the basic moves for your character but doesn’t tell you much in terms of what you are supposed to do.Â
Die After Sunset seems to be a roguelight game where each run allows you to gain experience and upgrades for your character with some being permanent while others are specific to the run you are on. But the game doesn’t explain that all too well. Along with the shoddy introduction to the game, the overall appeal of the game is broken up by a disjointed gameplay loop of shooting at (if you can aim properly) the Murkors, a weird alien race that wears inflatable ducks and other swimming floaties on their heads.
Developed by Playstark and published by PQube, Die After Sunset, attempts to captivate players with its stylized visuals and vibrant colors. On the Switch, the game lacks depth and weight to everything as shadows seem non-existent or pop-in. This gives the game a floaty feeling as your characters run animation and movement abilities are hindered by the camera zooming in close to the action and not having smooth panning capabilities.Â
This roguelight experience unfolds in a third-person perspective, reminiscent of Fortnite in its appearance. However, the similarities end there, as Die After Sunset presents a single-player adventure, steering clear of the battle royale genre. Despite the absence of irritating player interactions and cross-promotions, the game stumbles in providing an engaging experience.Â
In each run you play through you are given a list of objectives that aren’t effectively communicating in how you are to complete them, leaving players somewhat bewildered as they progress through its five stages. Most of the time I just ran around shooting at anything that moved and jumped or double-jumped to avoid the barrage of alien Murkors.
The central focus of the game revolves around preparing for boss battles. Powering up your character involves locating chests scattered throughout the stages. The challenge lies in choosing between yellow-aura chests, offering mediocre perks, and pink-glow chests, which provide slightly better rewards but are guarded by spawning enemies. Additionally, the game presents “events” with mini-challenges, adding variety to the gameplay. Unfortunately, the lack of clarity in these events makes progressing through Die After Sunset feel like a tedious task.
The narrative pits players against Murkors, cartoonish aliens that have devastated the planet. Whether playing as April, Rido, or Hune, combat feels uninspiring, lacking the excitement expected from a game of this genre. The gimmick of enemies becoming tougher in the shadows adds potential but falls short in execution, with minimal noticeable impact.
Boss battles, while crucial to the game’s progression, suffer from uninteresting treks to their lairs. The urgency to reach the bosses’ burrows is marred by uninteresting environments, making the journey more of a chore than an engaging experience.
Die After Sunset’s most significant flaw lies in the lack of compelling power-ups. Character-specific passive and active assists are stackable, but they fail to create a sense of an overpowered build, a vital element in roguelike games. The standard perks lack potency, and the anticipated spectacle of overwhelming foes with an arsenal of weaponry remains unfulfilled.
While Die After Sunset introduces an element of absurdity with Murkor “mukus” as currency, providing a reason for replay, the overall experience falls short of its potential. The game, despite two years in Steam Early Access, feels more like a beta than a polished product. Playstark’s title lacks the excitement found in rival action roguelikes, making it difficult to recommend in its current state. With considerable improvements, there may be hope for Die After Sunset, but as it stands, the game fails to shine among its genre counterparts.
Die After Sunset (The Gameplay)
Game Specifications:
Developer: PlayStark
Publisher: PQube
Platform: Nintendo Switch (eShop)
Category: Action, Adventure
No. of Players: 1 (Single System)
Release Date: NA| EU: August 17, 2023
Price: $19.99
File Size: 2.8 GB
Nintendo.com Listing
