After facing my third failure in 33 Immortals, I quickly realized that embarking on this adventure solo was more perilous than I had initially thought. My arrogant self-assurance was thoroughly tested as I wandered through the Inferno, themed after Dante’s “Divine Comedy.” This realm was teeming with hideous beasts and tormented spirits, all meticulously animated with stunning hand-drawn detail. Despite my extensive ARPG experience, I found myself overwhelmed by the relentless onslaught of enemies. Relief finally came when I teamed up with other Rebel Souls – other players battling beside me – making my hellish journey significantly more bearable.
33 Immortals bills itself as a concentrated MMO raid experience, a roguelike that pits you in the thick of action with 32 other players. Together, you traverse a vast map, strewn with the remnants of incinerated buildings and sharp stone formations surrounded by ceaseless fires and a plethora of monsters.
Diving into the game, it becomes a tactical endeavor to conquer Hell. The ultimate goal? Bring down Lucifer, the Inferno’s formidable boss. However, the road to him is a collaborative effort. You’ll need to complete an Ascension Battle, which requires you to clear 12 Torture Chambers. These are akin to mini-raids, teaming you with up to six players to fend off waves of monstrous foes. Successfully clearing these challenges rewards you with valuable loot and resources, helping you beef up your character to tackle progressively tougher chambers.
This multi-layered structure turns each run into an engaging challenge, despite the many times I found myself torn apart by creatures after clearing just three chambers. Each venture back into Inferno has a cumulative effect – the more chambers cleared, the better your chances in future attempts. Teaming up with a large group of fellow Souls exponentially boosts your survival odds, leveraging each other’s unique abilities to mount a coordinated assault is crucial for success.
Understanding and optimizing your abilities in harmony with your allies’ skills is essential. Upon entering Inferno, you choose from four weapons, each defining your class: the Bow of Hope for shooters, the Sword of Justice for tanks, the Daggers of Greed for fighters, and the Staff of Sloth for specialists. These weapons offer primary and secondary attacks that charge up as you deal damage, opening up opportunities for powerful specials.
For instance, wielding the Sword of Justice allows you to accumulate ‘Justice’ points, fueling attacks like Heavy Slash or Guard. Meanwhile, the Daggers of Greed build ‘Greed’ points on hits, dictating the impact of your takedown attacks. Personally, I favored the Bow of Hope as it kept enemies at bay. The Guiding Light feature was particularly effective – returning arrows slicing through enemies added a thrilling strategic layer, maximizing damage with careful positioning.
Managing resources in 33 Immortals is another critical aspect. You’ll collect Dust for upgrading attributes like Attack or Vitality at Dust Shrines. Bones, found in Urns and chests, let you purchase healing items or teleport stones. Shards, earned in Torture Chambers, are crucial for enhancing weapons and more in the Dark Woods – but more on that shortly.
Strengthening your character while collaborating with your team is key to braving Inferno. The game does an excellent job of integrating cooperative dynamics, which I found unexpectedly enjoyable despite being more inclined towards solo gameplay. As someone often distracted by real-life responsibilities, I appreciated the game’s setup where 33 players are always ready to join at any time, ensuring seamless action and a chance to earn key rewards.
In 33 Immortals, the narrative cleverly supports its gameplay mechanics – you’re never short of companions, epitomizing the idea that this endless battle in Hell will always attract souls seeking redemption or merely some enticing loot.
The Dark Woods presents a reprieve from Inferno’s chaos. This enemy-free zone allows players to upgrade their Souls between runs by interacting with iconic literary characters. Here, Shards become essential for unlocking Perks and other enhancements.
Consulting Dante allows for Perk upgrades like Fortitude of Heart for increased vitality, while Beatrice helps track and progress through your varied achievements. As you complete objectives like defeating waves of monsters, you gain Feat Points, leveling up your character and unlocking even more potential.
Meanwhile, Charon oversees the in-game shop, where you can personalize your Soul with cosmetics, including companion pets – I’m particularly eyeing a beagle companion. And Virgil, based on the storied poet, keeps the Compendium for quick game refreshers or learning more about the critters that recently bested you in battle.
The Dark Woods emerged as my favorite hub, offering a much-needed breather and adding depth to the unfolding story of 33 Immortals. Despite appearing a simple rougelike, the game’s complexity sneaks up on you, with many aspects still to be uncovered. I’m eager to experience the Ascension Battle, confront Lucifer, tackle Purgatorio’s challenges, power up my arsenal, and maybe even traverse hell with a loyal canine companion.
33 Immortals makes its grand entrance on March 18 in Game Preview for Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Cloud. The anticipation is palpable – March can’t come soon enough.
