Conan Chop Chop is one of the best additions to roguelikes anyone could ask for. Not only does it have its own unique spin of roguelikes, but it is done rather easily. Developer Mighty Kingdom did something unique that a majority of newer roguelikes have yet to master; a four-player co-op from online to on the couch. Allowing for a seamless and exciting experience, this game is the pinnacle of a great and challenging time with friends.
The premise of Conan Chop Chop begins with the sorcerer Thoth-amon trying to resurrect the elder wizard Xaltotun. Thoth is unable to complete the spell and realizes he needs more souls to finish the spell to its full effect. Thoth’s solution for gathering the souls is to set up an event called Wrath-a-Thon: a contest where warriors will fight through Thoth’s servants for rewards beyond their riches. This is where the four playable characters Conan, Valeria, Belit, and Pallantides, decide to join in for all the fame and riches.
After you pick your character, you travel through four different zones and defeat Thoth-amon’s four servants before challenging Thoth himself. Each zone is randomly generated and features a plethora of treasure, enemies, and gear before entering the dungeon. This is where each servant awaits to be defeated by the players. Here’s the catch, players must defeat all four servants in and Thoth-amon in one run. It is a task that can be difficult but is what truly makes it feel like it can compete with bigger predecessors like Hades.
Conan Chop Chop does a fantastic job with gameplay. Each character has their own individuality and their own unique abilities. For example, each character has their own style of dash ability and an ultimate ability. They can even pick up new skills along the journey. From there, all characters can parry to stun enemies, use bombs, and defend against attacks to name a few. No matter who you pick, each character brings their own flair to the table and allows you to try new things or look for certain builds.
The game still will dictate how you play due to what kind of gear it offers. Gear can be found in the battle areas and locked treasure chests. In between zones, the village can be used to purchase gear at shops with the treasure you start with and the treasure you find between servants. This helps the player find the perfect build throughout the run. It is easy to say that luck plays a huge factor in how your run can go. You can either have terrible luck and be wiped from the run, or you can have an unheard-of run where you are able to power through with little effort.
For those who have terrible luck, you can rely on the experience you get from each run. Let’s say you get through a few zones and die to the third servant. You will keep the experience and steel fire from the run which can be used to improve your characters with better starting equipment, increased health, and unlocking more advanced material which can allow for better drops in later runs. The only issue with this is that you can only use the experience until after you die which leaves a lot of abilities locked until you die.
The main feature that truly grabs the attention of the average gamer is the ability to have friends join in from every aspect of multiplayer. Friends bring a lot of benefits to an already great game. With friends, you can deal a lot of damage, switch up tactics to easily overwhelm the enemy, and try out new builds without the fear of a dead run. Conan Chop Chop is very much a solo roguelike that can give you quite the challenge, with the capability of being a fun time with friends as you save the land.
Conan Chop Chop does everything right in the world of roguelikes. The premise may be underwhelming compared to others like Hades but is made up strictly with gameplay. The variety between characters and builds allows for several exciting runs that have different kinds of success. Death grants you a second chance with more benefits than struggling to live. Plus, if you do not like the odds or just feel a little lonely, nothing can stop you from having a friend grab a controller and join from across the couch or via remote play. Conan Chop Chop is highly addictive and fully recommended for everyone to pick up today!
