It’s incredible how indies excel when it comes to innovation. They always bring sensational ideas, and today’s game is a prime example of that. Moonlighter is the debut game from developer Digital Sun, which took RPG concepts to create a unique gameplay experience. The game was published by 11 bit studios for PC, Xbox One, and PS4 on May 29, 2018, and for Nintendo Switch on November 5, 2018.
Moonlighter is an RPG with roguelite elements that presents a fascinating paradox as its narrative. You control Will, a young man who is forced to take care of his family’s shop, as all of his predecessors died in their quest for items to sell. To find these items, they ventured into dungeons — the famous dungeons. This great challenge now falls on the protagonist’s shoulders. He is undeterred and aspires to be a great adventurer, to become the hero of the town, even though he is just a shopkeeper. You assume his role, get to know his routine, and pave his way to a life-changing moment.
The game follows a cyclical pattern, but it never becomes dull. You hunt for treasures and valuable items during the night and sell them when you wake up the next day. It may seem simple, but it is highly complex. There are five dungeons, each increasing in difficulty and changing visually, but that’s not what prevents repetition. The game utilizes procedural generation in these dungeons, and that’s what makes it so addictive. Its system is clearly inspired by the classic Legend of Zelda franchise and is reminiscent of one of my favorite games, Enter the Gungeon. This aspect works perfectly, although the bosses in each dungeon are slightly disproportionate. Interestingly, only the layout and order of the rooms are randomized.
The other addictive part of the gameplay takes place inside the shop. The products do not have fixed prices, so you have to experiment and take risks, judging the customers’ satisfaction from their facial expressions. Basically, if they’re happy, it means the price is good and affordable; if they’re angry, it means it’s expensive. There are various facial expressions, adding intrigue to this aspect of the game. It’s great to see a game turn a concept like working as a shopkeeper into something so enjoyable and satisfying. Moreover, it’s an activity I never expected to encounter in a game. It was certainly the premise that caught my attention the most this year.
Admittedly, at the beginning, I struggled a lot with the normal enemies. It gave me a feeling that with each house I advanced, the difficulty level increased slightly. However, understanding the controls better saved me. After playing for a while, you become accustomed to the balance, but if you haven’t played anything similar before, you will struggle. It’s not a game that caters to all types of players, in my opinion. It’s a game that honors its genre and encompasses everything it can offer, from armor customization to purchasing items like potions and resources available to upgrade your shop or the town itself — even though the town feels empty and somewhat “lifeless,” if I may say so.
That being said, the replayability factor is excellent. I finished the game in about 10 hours, but I could easily spend hundreds of hours playing it. I played on PC with the review copy provided by 11 bit studios, but I will buy it for the Nintendo Switch and forget about my social life there. Jokes aside, the game keeps you so focused on your objectives that you truly feel like young Will. The soundtrack reflects the tense and classic aspect of the game. It’s not exceptional, and perhaps its quality is slightly lower than what I expected, but it’s acceptable. As for the sound effects, they are good, diverse, and complement the pixelated design.
The art direction, in my opinion, is one of the best of the year. Its 2D art is highly detailed and charismatic. The color palette is light and soothing. It immediately caught my attention, and for good reason. All the varied and elegant design applied to each part of the game is the result of the developers’ immense love for their craft. You can perceive their dedication in every sprite. I admit I tested every possible armor just to see how they would look on the character. Even the animations are well-executed. They are all smooth and natural.
Moonlighter turns a monotonous activity into an innovative gameplay experience. Its concept is unique and revolves around overcoming challenges in various ways. Its flaws, such as the lack of boss balance, are minor and almost go unnoticed. It’s a charming adventure that you must experience.
9/10 — Great
A download code was kindly provided by 11 bit studios for this review. How do our review scores work?
Originally reviewed on December 2, 2018, by Gabriel Carli.
Games in Orbit 
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