1 person found this review helpful
Recommended
0.0 hrs last two weeks / 15.3 hrs on record (7.9 hrs at review time)
Posted: 27 Nov, 2022 @ 7:39am
Updated: 27 Nov, 2022 @ 10:22am

An entertaining, quick rogue-lite that works well for two player co-op; keeps you engaged with swift progress and ways to vary your setup. You play as two crew of a ship. Your job is to operate the cannons of the ship (load ammo, aim, and fire) as well as to whack things around with a paddle.

In each run, you select your path through randomised encounters. Enemies come in multiple classes. Each class exhibits similar behaviour through stages, but varies slightly on each stage. End bosses are distinct and each has their own pattern and strategies. Apart from the randomised encounters, each run varies through the ammunition, equipable items, and ship wide buffs you can find.

We played in shared screen co-op mode, using controllers. Controls work well, though there is some potential frustration in hectic moments (e.g., quickly abandoning a cannon to do repairs felt a bit finicky). Visuals are clear and indicators are well visible. Even if there is a lot going on on screen, enemy attacks and patterns are easy to track.

The game progresses rather swiftly. Your power curve is a bit steeper than I am used to from other rogue-lites; there is a lot of tangible power increase after each run. This draws you in and keeps you engaged (“just one more run”). However, it also means that the game is over rather quickly. It took us just under 8h to beat the final boss in two consecutive runs.

For me, this is the only downside to Ship of Fools. It’s over quickly, and there is no real “end game” that you can come back to. No modifiers to increase difficulty, no additional challenges. Beyond trying out new builds, and trying to unlock all characters and items, there is nothing to do.

Still, the game is well worth the EUR 15 for what it offers. Absolutely recommended for some shared screen co-op entertainment.
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