Recent reviews by Jerry

Game feels fresh and definitely gives a sense of challenge, but once you understand, it's quite doable.

Game is a work of art. Sure it's challenging and you will die, but it feels extra rewarding when you reach a new location, see new threats and piece together more of the lore. I also appreciate how the game is not completely linear, you are not forced to walk an intended path.

Pros

• If you like Rogue-like Deck-builders, such as Slay the Spire, then this game offers a great change of pace by including an inventory management mechanic.
  
• Loot Synergies are super satisfying and relics can completely change how the game is played.
  
• It easily has over a 100 hours of content, my first successful run took 5-7 hours.
  
• There are currently at least 5 different classes which each bring very different play styles.
  
• Different game modes that make runs easier or harder.
  
• Games still in early access.

Cons (At least in my experience with the Steam Deck)

• Occasional graphical issue: screen gets stuck in a dimmed state when swapping through differing menus.
  
• Controller Miss-Inputs: Menu will pop up with new inputs, but inputs will activate on the previous menu.
  
• There are some balancing issues, but I don't have enough playtime to justifiably confirm them.
  
• Dungeon road map could use more variety, each floor is basically a long path with 1-2 optional paths for loot/events. It'd be nice to have branching routes that give the option to spice up runs. It could give you more loot opportunities but at the price of harder encounters or maybe give up loot opportunities for a little bit of health or even an easier route, etc.

All in all, Backpack Hero is a great Rogue-like Deck-builder that brings a nice change to the formula. It's only in early access and it feels like it's just under a finished state, so I have high hopes for the future of this game. Sure there are some bugs and balancing issues, but other then that, it's hard to label this game as bad. I could easily play this for at least 100 hours on the Steam Deck.

Looks like a $20 game, feels like a $5 game.
I really want to like this game, but I've never run into so many bugs so easily.
- Has bug report option > cant use it on controller?
- Inventory randomly freezes > game runs fine while in Inv, I'm just unable to use any inputs.
- I'll work on a build and multiple blocks place when I only intended to place one. This has occasionally stuck my character between walls.
- I'll jump over a river and my character will still 'drown' when i stick a landing.

Combat is wacky, atleast in early game. Slimes are very punishing, you will get hit multiple times per second if you're not careful and they do quite a bit of damage without armor. Ranged enemies have near-perfect aim bot and their projectiles move too fast to avoid.

I feel that the game makes up for a lack of content by bloating the cost of recipes. I can't confirm the lack of content yet, but for example every bar costs 1 ore and 1 coal and recipes are already asking for 10-15 bars per item. When you find a node small nodes give 1 ore and bigger nodes have averaged about 4 ores each. I get exploring, but I find myself searching for ore way to often compared to doing content.

All in all the game looks good but there needs to be a bigger focus on fixing bugs and tuning the game instead of pushing content, I do worry a little for the future of the game since it came out of early access in this state. Also want to point out that the 1.0 release notes only stated 1 bug getting fixed. I'll continue to give the game a chance, if my opinion changes i'll update the review, but so far the art is really carrying the game.

Short but sweet game, especially good for its price. I enjoy hunting for the achievements because they feel doable and rewarding to complete.

It's hours of content under the Vampire Survivors formula for only $5. Also very nice to play on the Steam Deck.

Leaf me alone

Finally some good frickin food.