Karma Exorcist is a Chinese Mythology Metroidvania That Caught Me Off Guard

Karma Exorcist is a 2D Metroidvania that immediately captivated the reviewer with its hand-drawn environments, challenging enemies, and the expanding abilities of its stylish demon-slaying protagonist. The game is set in Dau, a Chinese folklore equivalent of hell, where players control a demon hunter who emerges from a giant petrified hand with no memories, only a soul-severing blade and a drive to cleanse the realm of evil karma. The protagonist, known as the Slayer, embarks on a journey through 11 distinct biomes, with new abilities unlocking access to more areas. Early exploration reveals a gloomy underground cave, a ruined sandswept structure with crumbling platforms, and an optional tomb featuring Indiana Jones-style boulder traps and animated golem statues. The game promises further exploration through diverse locations like red spiderlily-lined river shores, cavernous halls of kings, and the rocky peaks of the five ghost emperor mountains. Initially, the Slayer's combat abilities are basic, consisting of sword combos, a dodge roll, and a modest jump. A more powerful sword thrust requires successful regular attacks to recharge, and defeating enemies fills a gourd that replenishes health, similar to Hollow Knight: Silksong. While sufficient for early, less threatening deputy demons, the game boasts over 100 enemy types that quickly escalate in difficulty. Examples include lantern-toading bats with flame attacks, spear-wielding soldiers emerging from the ground, and lumbering skeletons with heavy hammers. To combat these threats, players can find 20 different weapons. The combat system allows for mapping up to three weapons to attack buttons, enabling a balanced approach. The reviewer found success with a player sword for fast slashes, an oversized axe for slower, heavier damage, and throwing daggers for ranged attacks. The full game will allow for up to eight preset loadouts, crucial for adapting to the expanding enemy variety and boss encounters. Boss battles in Karma Exorcist are described as progressively more complex. The first major boss, a hungry ghost king, is relatively manageable by dodging its charges and attacking after it crashes into a wall. However, subsequent bosses present greater challenges. A teleporting warrior monk unleashes lightning and homing swords, while another demon, escaping from a chained coffin, uses a grappling hook to quickly close distances. The game embraces a Souls-like approach, with repeated deaths being a core part of the experience. Upon death, the Slayer is teleported to the last visited shrine, losing their soul, which temporarily caps health at three bars instead of the usual five. Players can either fight back to retrieve their soul and regain full strength or summon it to the shrine by spending collected coins. This penalty system maintains tension throughout the game. Defeating bosses rewards players with new weapons or abilities. The grappling hook, or "soul snatching chain," obtained after the second major boss, is a key example. It's used for traversal, allowing access to previously unreachable areas by aiming at ledges and suspending the Slayer in slow-motion. In combat, it can be used to hook onto flying enemies or pull past the defenses of heavily shielded demons to attack from behind. This expanded maneuverability also aids in uncovering secrets, such as pages from a "book of life and death" that can be traded for coins to purchase soul gems for stat boosts, or single-use talismans for temporary buffs. Despite its strengths, Karma Exorcist has some rough edges. The menus appear to be works in progress, and the map system was unreliable during the hands-on preview, not always accurately reflecting the player's position. The reviewer also encountered a boss that glitched out, allowing for an easy victory, which felt like a "hollow victory." Developer Cyclos has time to address these issues before the game's planned 2027 launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Based on the initial hours, Karma Exorcist shows immense promise as a magnificent Metroidvania, potentially appealing to fans of Hollow Knight. The review also briefly mentions other games based on Chinese mythology, Black Myth: Wukong and Phantom Blade Zero, and a preview of Wolfhound.