[Preview] Perennial Order

• DEVELOPER: Gardenfield Games
• PUBLISHER: SOEDESCO
• PLATFORMS: PC
• GENRE: Souls-like
• RELEASE DATE: 2024.

Perennial Order is a 2D boss rush horror game that revolves around plants, set in an atmospheric Dark Age world plagued by nature-infested horrors. It is a disgustingly good game. Whether you have a passion for plants and bugs or fall somewhere in between, you’ll likely find the game and its concept intriguing. I was pleasantly surprised by how seamlessly the game integrates its story, atmosphere, bosses, and the world.

You’re this weird looking plant creature that is considered a knight, entrusted by its creator with the mission to rescue the world from ravaging horrors. The game employs a one-hit mechanic, meaning you can be defeated with a single hit, urging you to exercise caution and evade enemies or environmental traps. I appreciate the gameplay style this game offers, as I was more challenged to use other mechanics for my advantage, such as dashing.

You can dash three times, and the floating balls around you, known as Wisps, recharge every 5 seconds, so you can’t just spam it. The demo I played featured three distinct bosses, each with its own uniqueness. These bosses have two stages and progressively get stronger as the battle unfolds. I was pleasantly surprised by the unique damage system – it involves a meter that charges the longer you hold it, employing twin-stick melee controls. If you release it earlier you can do quick attacks, but while holding it until the end and then releasing it results in dealing critical damage.

Rest assured because that’s not the only aid we’ll have on this journey; you also have instincts that function like skills. They can, for instance, grant you special attacks or enable interaction with the environment. Wisps are also used for instincts, and they may consume one or more. It’s worth mentioning that you can switch them during gameplay using Q and E, and the active one is displayed in the bottom left corner.

The bosses are scattered across the map, but they aren’t the sole inhabitants of this world. You may encounter intriguing characters, NPCs or discover hidden areas. Which means you’ll have to travel from one point to another, involving climbing or sliding down through different obstacles. We also have a notebook documenting discovered curiosities, and perhaps the cutest aspect of this game is the ability to emote.

While relatively simple to play, Perennial Order excels in its 2D style, dark atmosphere, and exceptional character design. The game looks stunning and disgusting at the same time. I’m looking at you plant lovers. The immersive experience is heightened by the accompanying music that guides you throughout the game, complemented by well-crafted and thoughtful in-game sounds. That’s why I can recommend you try this game while the demo exists during the Steam Next Fest, and you might enjoy it more than you should.