May 13th 2024.
Have you heard of V Rising? It's the hit vampire simulation game that has finally emerged from its years in early access. But the real question is, does it have what it takes to attract new fans?
Most video games cater to simple fantasies, like driving a race car or being a soldier. But being a vampire is not something you see every day in the gaming world. Yet, it's a concept that has been explored in various ways. However, V Rising takes it to a whole new level by combining the vampire experience with survival and base-building elements. And it's a combination that works, evident in its huge success during its early access phase and now as it reaches version 1.0.
One can only imagine that the idea for V Rising came to the developers at Stunlock Studios while playing Castlevania and wondering who decorated Dracula's giant castle. As it turns out, Dracula probably did most of the decorating himself, as players in V Rising must gather resources, defend against humans and other vampires, and build and fortify their own castles.
V Rising started off as a fun idea, but it was a bit clunky and had too much ore smelting and not enough neck-biting. So, the question now is whether the game has reached its full potential with this full release or if there's still more to come.
In the game, you start as a newly turned vampire with all the typical weaknesses of your kind: an insatiable thirst for blood, and an aversion to sunlight and garlic bread. While you need to feed on NPCs regularly, your main priority is building and fortifying your castle to defend against enemies controlled by the computer or other players in multiplayer mode.
Although V Rising is best played with others, you can also enjoy it on your own. Even when playing with others, you may not see your teammates for a while, as everyone is busy building their castles and battling bosses.
The combat in V Rising is similar to a Diablo-style dungeon crawler, which may seem like an overused indie game trope. However, the action is precise and weighty, with a variety of weapons to collect or create. The only downside is that the combat relies on cooldowns, making it feel more like an MMO. This can leave players without any moves for a few seconds, which can feel artificial.
Defeating each of the 50+ bosses in the game unlocks new resources, crafting recipes, and vampire powers. Your abilities are also determined by the type and quality of blood you drink, which varies depending on the source. Blood types work as character classes, with tank, rogue, and healer types that can use spilled blood to heal themselves in battle.
Just like in real life, V Rising has a day and night cycle, with daylight inflicting damage on your vampire character. You can still be active during the day, but you'll need to stay indoors or in the shadows to avoid being harmed by the sun's rays. This can be challenging when you have vampire hunters on your tail.
The game's open world features five distinct areas, each with its own castle. To establish a castle, you must first plant a castle heart, which will decay if not regularly fed blood essence. With proper maintenance, you can create a multi-level castle filled with traps and fun cosmetic items.
However, because V Rising is a persistent game, you'll need to log in regularly to keep your castle alive in most multiplayer modes. If not, it will eventually starve and be taken over by another player. But with the various options available, including co-op and competitive modes with different loot rules, the game offers a fun and unique experience for players.
The full release of V Rising has added even more customization options, including the addition of Rift Incursions - timed events with their own set of enemies and rewards that can be used to craft more powerful weapons.
It's no surprise that V Rising has been a success, despite its unusual mix of gameplay elements. The key to its success is its high level of customization, which allows players to play the game in their own unique way. However, for players who are not particularly interested in the castle-building aspect, the single-player experience can feel a bit lacking, as none of the individual elements are exceptional compared to other games in their respective genres.
But overall, V Rising offers a fun and entertaining experience, especially in co-op mode, where players can define the game's parameters and enjoy a vampire-themed version of Minecraft. We can't wait to sink our teeth into the console version and the upcoming Castlevania DLC.
In Short: V Rising is a unique and well-conceived game that combines various gameplay elements to create a customizable vampire simulation. While some elements may not be as exceptional as other games, it's still an entertaining and engaging experience.
Pros: Solid combat, role-playing, and survival elements, combined with complex base-building and customization. Great artwork and presentation.
Cons: None of the individual elements are particularly original or exceptional, and the single-player experience can feel a bit lackluster. No dungeons for your castle.
Score: 7/10
Formats: PC and PlayStation 5
Price: £29.50
Publisher: Stunlock Studios
Developer: Stunlock Studios
Release Date: 8th May 2024
Age Rating: 12
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