Sancticide Early Access Impressions

Sancticide arrived on PC in Early Access, presenting a compellingly dark vision of a biblical apocalypse, but with the expected rough edges of an unfinished product. It’s a game that promises a potent blend of intense melee combat and roguelite progression, but whether it fully delivers on that promise at this stage is a complex question.

The unique, twisted setting serves as a backdrop to the tale of Ezechiel – a fresh recruit to the Sin Collector Corps, haunted by remorse and guilt as he embarks on one of his most essential missions yet. Explore the unforgiving world in which death is not the end but merely another beginning.

•  The main storyline follows Ezechiel’s trials and tribulations during his most demanding assignment yet. At the same time, the sidequest presents the day-to-day life of an officer serving Them at The Top.

• Explore and learn the rules governing the world of the biblical Apocalypse, which is filled with agony, suffering, struggle, and a glimmer of hope and humanity in the least expected places.

Atmosphere and Setting:

• The game excels in its atmospheric presentation. The world of Sancticide is bleak and oppressive, effectively conveying the sense of a world on the brink of destruction. The visual design, while needing further polish, successfully establishes a grim and unsettling tone. The dark, religious themes are woven throughout the game, creating a unique and often disturbing experience.

Gameplay:

• Sancticide focuses heavily on its combat system. The developers aim for a blend of “old-school arena fighter intensity” and modern action mechanics. This translates to a combat experience that can be challenging and rewarding, demanding skill and precision.
• The rogue lite elements add a layer of replayability, but the depth and variety of these elements are still being refined. Each run offers a chance to experiment with different weapons and abilities, but the overall progression system is still under development.
• The game uses a “Kosherness System” that changes how NPC’s and enemies react to the player, which is an interesting concept that could add alot of depth to the game, as it is refined.

Early Access Caveats:

• As an Early Access title, Sancticide is inherently a work in progress. Players should expect to encounter bugs, glitches, and unfinished features.
• The developers have been communicative about their plans for the game, indicating a commitment to addressing player feedback and expanding the game’s content.
• The voice acting is an area that needs improvement.
• The story while interesting, is not delivered in a way that is very engaging.

Overall:

• Sancticide has the potential to be a truly unique and engaging action rogue lite. Its dark atmosphere, challenging combat, and rogue lite progression offer a compelling foundation.
• However, the game is still in its early stages of development, and players should be prepared for a potentially uneven experience.
• If you are a fan of challenging action games and are willing to support an Early Access project, Sancticide may be worth checking out. But it is important to go into it with realistic expectations.
• If the developers continue to listen to the community, and refine the game, then Sancticide could become a very good game.

In essence, Sancticide is a game with a lot of promise, but its full potential remains to be seen.