[Preview] Realm of Ink

• DEVELOPER: Leap Studio, Maple Leaf Studio
• PUBLISHER: Leap Studio, Maple Leaf Studio
• PLATFORMS: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
• GENRE: Rougelite
• RELEASE DATE: TBD

In Realm of Ink, begin your journey as the swordswoman Red, gradually unlocking additional characters as you progress. She discovers that her life is dictated by fate within the world of the book, which is ruled by a mysterious spirit, but soon realizes that she herself can influence it. Only by liberating can she reveal the truth about her existence and challenge the limitations of destiny: "From ink and brush, life springs anew, in death's embrace, souls remain still." The old world will crumble as a new one forms, and the awakened spirits will reshape their true being amid endless cycles of destruction – hence the rougelite essence.

Yes, it truly is a roguelite game where you can never have enough action. At every step, you can be attacked by creatures inspired by Chinese mythology, whether they have special skills, use magic, or attack with weapons such as swords and arrows. At least in the demo, you'll have to defeat the same two bosses in each playthrough, but the loot will never be the same.

First of all, it should be noted that in the demo version there are three weapons that you can swing at enemies. The first weapon is a simple sword, there are also double blades, but also the Azura blade for ranged attacks. It certainly depends on your playstyle which weapons you prefer, but do not worry, you'll have plenty to explore and test, so this is just icing on the cake.

Regarding the gameplay, it centers around simple mechanics. There is a light attack, as well as a heavy attack, each inflicting a certain type of damage and capable of being combined with one another. Furthermore, collecting Inks grants you special powers that you can utilize. There are only two available at your disposal, so selecting the most effective ones or combining them for optimal synergy is crucial. Whether you prefer poisoning or igniting enemies, hurling a massive rock at them, or empowering yourself, the choice is yours in deciding how you want to play.

Additionally, you can dodge enemies by quickly dashing forward, and each of them has an indicator of when they will attack, which makes dodging much easier. However, there is a limitation in this regard, represented by gems displayed below your character; the less health you have, the fewer times you can use that mechanic. Mastering dodging will prove to be extremely useful, especially as bosses will demand proficiency in this mechanic.

During gameplay, you will be able to choose the routes you want to take. Each route gives certain bonuses or benefits, and they consist of the following elements:

• Silver Chest – a route to collect silver coins which are used to buy food, perks and for upgrading the Inks
• Elixir Hub – for different elixirs that can buff you or give you more health, and can stack on top of each other
• Gems Abyss – a place where you can pick up Inks for skills when you defeat enemies
• Perk Stand – you can choose perks in the form of items that remain throughout the game and give you certain bonuses
• Trial Valley – you are asked to pass a certain challenge in exchange for extremely good loot.

There are also cursed perks; these items have positive and negative effects, and once you decide on one, there are no regrets later. Whether you want to sacrifice the amount of loot you get or the health to hit harder, maybe it's better to avoid them in the end? Also, all items within the game have a rarity, the golden the color, the stronger the items or perks are. In addition, you will not be alone on your journey, you will have animal-like companions, each with special attacks and skills.

Verdict

Realm of Ink is a visually stunning game that immerses you in a world of ink. It is aesthetically pleasing, with meticulous attention to detail. The characters are well-designed, particularly in the main hub before actual gameplay. Are they attractive? Certainly! However, the game lacks comprehensive voice acting. While it is present in a few instances, it is relatively quiet, and only the main character appears to have spoken lines. It's possible that the full version may include voice acting for main sequences.

You might be wondering if this game is any good? It's good, but the gameplay is extremely simple and the enemies and even the bosses will never present a specific challenge. You'll spend more time avoiding enemies and it's strange to me that we're not limited there, that is, it fills up very quickly. At first, until you figure out which perks and skills are the best, the game may feel slow, but later on the gameplay becomes repetitive which may look different when the full version of the game comes out.

I'm not sure how useful our animal companions will be; the demo didn't provide a specific introduction to them. Also, Realm of Ink appears to be well-balanced, with skills and perks having their advantages and disadvantages. However, critical attacks are a concern for me; I felt like they didn't bring about any significant changes or simply didn't function properly.

I appreciate the enlarged text for improved readability, and the helpful indicators provide clarity. However, the game's difficulty may need enhancement, as the diverse enemies didn't pose much of a challenge. Realm of Ink excels in its perspective, offering a clear and visible gameplay experience, creating a sense of genuine control over our character and their fate.

I personally found Realm of Ink a lot of fun, the action is exactly what attracts players, and this game has a lot to offer. I didn't come across any bugs or difficulties, and I regret that the demo provided us with only a glimpse. With over a hundred Inks awaiting us, spanning four kingdoms and featuring a 100-thousand-word narrative, Realm of Ink has piqued my interest. It's worthwhile to see how this game will evolve in the end.