Developed by Selecta Play, Astrolabe Games, and Disaster Games, "Morkull Ragast’s Rage" is a 2D, hand-drawn Metroidvania adventure where, intriguingly enough, you step into the shoes of the villain. But there’s a fun twist: Morkull, the main character, knows he’s part of a video game. He’s aware you’re controlling him, and he knows he’s a creation of the developers. Pretty meta, right? Your mission is to guide Morkull as he attempts to escape Ragast and realize his grand ambition of world domination. After all, he’s not just any villain; he’s the God of Death and Darkness! The game tips its hat to the classics of the genre and gives a respectful nod to more recent titles like Hollow Knight. Let’s dive into our review of Morkull Ragast’s Rage!
When you jump into the game, you’re in command of Morkull using either the left analog stick or the D-Pad. Your B button is your leap of choice, and you’ll interact with the surroundings and characters with the A button. For combat, your go-to basic attacks are on the Y button, while the X button delivers heavier blows. You have a defensive ace up your sleeve with a bone shield activated by the R button—which can also reflect projectiles if your timing’s on point.
If Morkull takes a bit of a beating, he’s got potions to patch up with, accessible with the L button. The ZR button handles the dash move, a handy trick for dodging and leaping over those trickier gaps. Looking around your environment is crucial too, so make sure to use the right analog stick to peek upwards or downwards before taking any risky leaps. And since navigating the map is key in a Metroidvania, you’ll check it often with the – button.
As you cut through foes, you’ll rake in Anima, the game’s currency of sorts, which you can spend at save points to enhance or buy new abilities. You can unlock combos that ease your battles or gain the Power of Friendship—an interesting addition from a programmer fond of Morkull. This power makes Morkull invulnerable for a spell when his health dips below 15%. Among other perks, you might choose to enable enemy health bars or increase your potion capacity.
Progress through the game rewards you with new skills, expanding your exploration options at the cost of some energy from your purple meter. One striking example is the Noob Crusher. To execute it, press the downward direction on your left analog stick or D-Pad, along with the Y and X buttons. It’s your tool for busting through certain floors, crucial for reaching boss battles.
"Morkull Ragast’s Rage" invites you to undertake the role of a villain who’s not just self-aware but intends to dominate the world, embracing a blend of new and nostalgia-inducing gaming experiences. Despite its promise, however, it fails to fully deliver on its potential. The game’s map can get confusing, often losing track of your position in larger rooms. It’s frustrating that it doesn’t highlight new skill opportunities, an oversight for a Metroidvania title. The controls can be stiff, while enemy encounters feel both repetitive and lackluster. Level design might test your patience with an abundance of switches and keys. Moreover, graphical glitches show visible seams and trigger invisible barriers that can stall your movement until you dash to break free. If you’re curious, the game is available now on Nintendo Switch at around $17.99.
While "Morkull Ragast’s Rage" attempts to revive the classic Metroidvania spirit with a villainous twist, its execution leaves much to be desired. The journey, although packed with potential, hasn’t mapped a clear path out of its own pitfalls.
This review of Morkull Ragast’s Rage is based on a Nintendo Switch copy provided by Selecta Play.
