I knew as soon as I saw the first trailer for Death's Door that it would likely be right up my alley. This top-down action-adventure game takes clear inspiration from the Zelda series but yet it still leaves it's own mark. Despite death being a central subject of the plot it the game has enough humor and lighter moments to help balance mood. The art style is part of what helps this game stand out. The contrast between the bleak headquarters and the other, more vibrant, stages is really neat. While this game is certainly provides a decent challenge at times generally the difficulty curve feels very reasonable. Overall, all the pieces of Death's Door comes together seamlessly to deliver a very solid experience that nearly everyone can enjoy.
In Death's Door crows are responsible for the reaping of souls at the end of one's life. The particular crow you play as was just about to reap one of these souls when it is stolen away from him. Shortly there after he finds that someone is trying to use these powerful souls to open a mysterious door. At this point the only way you'll ever get your soul back is to collect enough giant souls to force open this door. Without the ability to turn in your assigned soul at headquarters you forfeit your immortality and are susceptible to ageing. Each of these giant souls you're tracking down are held by other creatures who in their attempt to cheat death have grown powerful and have been corrupted by darkness.
Exploration and discovery is a big part of your adventure. Every part of the world is connected to headquarters and you can return there any time as you collect enough souls to upgrade your abilities. As you progress through each level you'll come across doors to headquarters which act as checkpoints. While you can return to headquarters to heal the other way to recover your health is to plant flowers in various pots found throughout each stage. With enough exploration you can find soul orbs which grant you a one time boost as well as shrines which after visiting four locations permanently increase your max health and energy.
While your crow is very capable with his sword and other weapons he'll need energy to cast spells. In each of the three major stages you'll learn a new spell or ability that includes archery, fire magic, and grappling hooks. Since your weapons are only effective at close range these powers give you options for ranged combat. The amount of energy for these spells is quite limited but all you need to do it hit an enemy or break destructible objects with your sword to recover energy. Each of the three mains areas includes a boss fight at the end which are quite an enjoyable test of the skills you've learned.
This is exactly what I hope for when I purchase an indie game, especially one that is backed either by Devolver or Annapurna. The combat is very satisfying, the exploration is rewarding, and the story is fascinating. Not only that but it has a very charming and memorable art-style that is just unique enough to standout from its peers. While some may wish to play through and move on the game supports players who wish to go for completion by going so far as to offer an in-game hint system. I'm currently hunting down the last couple items I missed and while the backtracking is a little tedious I feel that it doesn't require too much effort. I really hope many people get to experience this delightful game and from I've heard so far that seems to be the case.