Children of Morta
11 Bit Studios
Roguelike
Nintendo Switch
Dungeon crawlers can be hit or miss, and they are certainly becoming a frequent thing on the Nintendo Switch. Roguelike games are also quite common on the console as well. Fortunately, there are a lot of quality titles that utilize these genres. Children of Morta manages to be a solid experience while dancing between both roguelike and dungeon crawling.
In Children of Morta, the player takes control of the Bergson family as they try to defend their mountain from a devastating corruption. The game explores themes such as duty, sacrifice, and hope as players get to know the family and their relationships. It’s a compelling narrative that is full of fantastic beats and emotional highs and lows.
Levels in Children of Morta are procedurally generated, making every gameplay experience somewhat unique. Like most roguelike games, players will need to find a way to work their way through an entire dungeon without dying. Failing sends players back to the Bergson house to choose and upgrade characters or choose a level to explore. Children of Morta clearly wears its influences proudly, with action roleplaying elements that hang with the best of the games in the genre. It has the polish and excitement of Diablo and Gauntlet while successfully utilizing trial-and-error gameplay.
The controls utilize a twin-stick system for moving and attacking monsters. Players have a variety of weapons available to them depending on what character they use. One character specializes in swords and shields while another utilizes bows. Players can dodge around, use magic, and other little skills to help them survive the variable stages. The gameplay loop is entertaining enough, but it does risk wearing down the players as they constantly play the same stage over and over again. Even if the stage changes, the aesthetic never do, making the game visually tiring at times.
Fortunately, the story does a fantastic job of keeping players invested. The family story is compelling and I always wanted to see what was next for the Bergson family. The game also stays entertaining when playing with a friend, which is when Children of Morta is at its best. While cutscenes don’t acknowledge that two players are playing, the rest of the game feels like it is catered to a cooperative experience. Children of Morta is a completely different game as far as enjoyment goes when played with a companion. Since every character plays so differently, cooperative play allows players to practice essential teamwork while they play separate roles in battles.
The progression system utilizes the usual skill trees that games in the genre often use. Players can choose the skills that they think will aid them most throughout the game. Players can play to their strengths or find ways to compensate for their weaknesses. The system isn’t anything special on its own, but the skills available and the progression itself is satisfying and allows everyone to play how they like. Some skills in the progression system even affect all of the members in the family, encouraging players to give every character play.
The sounds of Children of Morta are the highlight of the game. The mellow tunes bring a wonderful amount of atmosphere to the game. The soothing voice of Children of Morta‘s narrator reinforces that atmosphere, making the story and world even more fascinating. The sound effects are all passable, with nothing really standing out or offending.
Visually, Children of Morta has simple graphics that are a blend of retro and hand-drawn. The sprites are appealing and every character has a bit of personality in their appearance.
Children of Morta
Children of Morta is a neat experience that combines solid action roleplaying with a fair, roguelike approach. Come for the fun gameplay, stay for the emotional story.
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