By far, one of my most anticipated games going into 2022 was Berzerk Studio and The Arcade Crew’s Metroidvania title, Infernax. Though its name may sound utterly ridiculous to some, the game itself deserves to be recognized. Melding clear-cut gameplay with its platforming sections and light RPG elements, Infernax is the exact game I needed in my life. It’s a fun romp that is as gorgeously grim as it is fiendishly addictive.

Story

One aspect of Infernax that I did not expect to resonate with me was its story, but gosh was I wrong. From the get-go, the story is intriguing and pretty original. You play as this sort of knight/priest who comes to this land that has demons and monsters running rampant throughout it. Luckily, the game takes these themes on the litter side, though not going too heavily into satire territory. It’s more in the vein of Mel Brook’s Young Frankenstein. The game realizes exactly what it is and has fun with it but retains its earth-rooted core.

Though there isn’t an exuberant amount of dialogue throughout the game, you have very many choices to make in some RPG choice sequences that are simple in approach but can heavily influence aspects of the gameplay and story. I’m usually a player that tends to go the heroic route but I found that this title really does an insanely great job of showing off how much fun it can be to be bad. There are even various multiple endings, each with its own bit of flair.

Gameplay

As far as gameplay goes, this title is solid when it comes to combat, platforming, puzzles, and customization. I can’t remember the last time I felt so addicted to a game where I truly felt that I had to unlock everything the game has available to me.

Fighting against enemies is clean, precise and most importantly, feels fair. Even during boss fights, I felt like I was as formidable to them as they were to me. Now, of course, there is a hardcore or a casual mode to play on. I tried both and can honestly see the pros and cons of each one.

Quite possibly one of the most useful tools in your arsenal is your magic spells. These range vastly between shields, a pet, or even the ability to teleport yourself. I found myself using these more than I would’ve expected as the game really forces you to use every aspect of its combat system in order to succeed.

Moving around the world is very fun to do as you bob and weave around enemies, obstacles, or even into secret areas. As it’s a Metroidvania there are many areas that can only be accessed once you pick up the needed special ability. They’re obtainable by locating each one within a boss’s castle (dungeon). Though it is worth noting that these dungeons can be pretty unforgiving too so proceed with caution and a lot of health items.

There are also alters that you can use to save at any point of the game to ensure that you don’t have to backtrack too far if you die. And aside from the special abilities needed to access areas or solve puzzles, there are even some light RPG elements directly tied to side-missions that can be picked up throughout the world. While being called “side-missions”, most did actually have a bigger part to play in the actual story though and I enjoyed every single one of them.

Every part of the game is painstakingly created to work in tandem within the larger picture, and what better way to tie that present together than with a pretty ribbon? And by ribbon, I mean customization options. Though simple in approach, I always felt like I achieved something when it came to unlocking something new. There are armors, better versions of your weapon, new magic spells, and even improvements to your health and mana.

Audio and Visuals

Infernax features audio and visuals that are just as good as its gameplay loop. I never once got tired of hearing the game’s title them or any of its other tracks for that matter. They all offer a sense of nuance for the various areas of the game and can change depending on your morality as well. It’s another aspect that was a lot deeper than I had expected.

From the First Impressions piece I did a few months ago, I absolutely loved the visuals that the game offers. The best though are the moments you meet a boss or when you have to make a hefty choice. The art is masterfully done to the point where I’d love to have any image from the game hanging in my office. I’m a sucker for a game that uses a heavy amount of purple.

Replayability

Going off of fun-factor alone, Infernax is rock-solid. I’ve already talked about how much I love its gameplay loop and world. That alone is enough for me to have already started another playthrough. That doesn’t even include the multiple endings and the fact that you can choose to play as good or evil too, only furthering the unique gameplay moments that can happen during a playthrough.

What It Could Have Done Better

My single complaint about this game is that twice during my playthrough I experienced moments where the game wouldn’t trigger an event. This forced me to close the game and restart it in order to continue. Once was during a boss fight but luckily I was able to bounce back fairly quickly.

Verdict

Though not coming as a complete shock, Infernax is one of my favorite games of the last decade, and one of the best games I’ve ever played. It’s a title that has been fully thought out by its dev team and fleshed out with perfected gameplay and a really fun story that sinks its teeth in without trying to win an Oscar. Infernax is a game that I honestly think encompasses exactly what gaming is at its core and I believe it’s an essential title to have in your library.