Trial by Viking

The fact that this game is level based already disqualifies it from being a "metroidvania" game as the developers like to claim. the controls are smooth, the momentum makes sense, but if an enemy hits you, you can get sent back into a crevice with no way of getting out. As a whole, I do feel this game is fun, but they suckered me in by saying it was a metroidvania style game which is such a blatant lie that I will no longer trust the devs of this game.

If you fancy playing a decent 2D platformer, consider putting Trial By Vikings somewhere near the top of your shopping list! This review is also available, incl video, on : http://bammsters.thang.dk/wordpress/review-trial-by-vikings/ Style With both visual style and gameplay mechanics reminiscent of The Bitmap Brothers’ 1991 game GODS (Into The Wonderful), Last Life Games’s developers may have been inspired by the old classic, but have clearly modernised both aspects to stay more up-to-date with development in gaming. Where GODS put you in the leathery footwear of Hercules, with a Greek pantheon to address, Trial By Vikings heads north and into Norse and Germanic mythology. You play as a viking who looks like a cousin to Erik the Swift from The Lost Vikings (1992), taking on the jotun Loki and his minions across a set of nine realms, created by Loki and seeming quite unlike the original ones. Story Loki has, we learn, destroyed the sunstone, and scattered it across his new realms, and our fearless viking is chosen by the Alföðr (aka Odin) to collect these and restore order. Oddly enough, you can use these sun-stones to trade for upgraded equipment; You were meant to g…

Trial by Viking is an ambitious indie action-platformer that blends classic 2D side-scrolling gameplay with exploration-heavy design and a strong thematic pull from Norse mythology. Developed and published by Last Life Games, the title places players in the role of a chosen warrior tasked by Odin to survive a series of brutal trials scattered across a dangerous, interconnected world. From the outset, the game signals that it aims to be more than a straightforward platformer, layering combat, traversal tools, secrets, and progression systems into an experience that rewards patience, skill, and curiosity. At the heart of the game is a demanding but engaging gameplay loop built around precise movement and situational awareness. Running, jumping, and attacking form the foundation, but these basics are quickly expanded through unlockable abilities such as wall jumps, dashes, grappling hooks, bombs, and temporary transformations. These tools are not just optional extras; they are essential to navigating the increasingly complex environments. Levels are packed with traps, spikes, collapsing platforms, and timed hazards that force players to combine movement and combat fluidly. Success of…

That naughty Loki has done it again - he's gone and nicked the magic viking rocks. What ever can you do? Jump around for a bit.

This really is an excellent game. The platforming is tight with a good selection of tools and weapons. A great feature is that, although you buy the unlocked tools and weapons with the gems you collect at any point you can reset your purchases and spend your gems differently at no penalty. This allows you to take different approaches to a level if a certain loadout isn't working. There is a huge variety of levels and while it can seem tough at first it is doable. I would describe this more as a puzzle platformer than a metroidvania though. One negative : the default controls are pretty awful so be sure to remap them.

It's like the Dark Souls of platformers. Fun and frustrating. I really thought it was innovative and thought outside the box. I'd like to see where the developers go from here.