Vampire Survivors
Vampire Survivors. Poncle (2021). Screenshot by C. A. Ramirez
By C. A. Ramirez
Sweet Lovely Death, I Am Waiting for Your Breath
Developer and publisher, Poncle, released a top-down blockbuster on December 17th of 2021, and it is the greatest homage to the Castlevania franchise you’ve never heard of.
Vampire Survivors came out with little fanfare last year, emerging from the crypt like a desiccated creature of the night. It took mere hours for this title to ascend to a “very good” rating on Steam, rare for any Early Access title. The setup is deceptively simple; choose your character, select stage, survive. The twist is in the execution. Classic side scroller shooters like Gradius (PC) or U.N. Squadron (SNES) have the player control a vehicle that can be upgraded to shoot projectiles, in Vampire Survivors, you are the vehicle, producing a blinding number of enemy projectiles as you saunter around pixelated backgrounds, tearing through relentless hordes of classically styled enemies of the undead. Vampire Survivors turns you into Walter White of the Night. You Are the danger!
“It’s not easy being Belpaese.” Meet the family. Vampire Survivors. Poncle (2021). Screenshot by C. A. Ramirez
AAA studios can produce top-notch gaming experiences, dripping with 4K resolution and packed with detailed assets, but they can’t seem to corner the market on stripped down gameplay. Minimalist and wonderfully retro, Vampire Survivors excels at delivering an experience that contains modern gaming flair with a pixelated package. The music is a retrograded BGM soundtrack that adds the last piece of the puzzle to this stellar title, drawing you into a time before dial-up modems and social media. My initial twenty-minute playthrough quickly turned into a two-hour marathon; what black magic is this?
The two-hour sojourn into Vampire Survivors was glorious. Anyone who enjoyed the side-scrolling Nintendo era of Castlevania games will appreciate how Poncle condensed the era into a bump of digital cocaine pure enough to send any member of Mötley Crüe to the moon. The game mechanics are simple but layered, balancing impossible odds with sublime domination. The enemies you kill drop power up crystals. These crystals act as chunks of experience that will advance your character to the next level. Reaching new experience levels will prompt the player to choose from one of three upgrades, allowing you to upgrade weapons and abilities. The choices are randomized and are based on what power-ups you pick up during your playthrough, making each session a unique experience that keeps you on your toes. The randomization adds a chaotic factor to the gameplay and makes each attempt at surviving the hordes of undead seem like your first. Vampire Survivors is a tight little package of retro saturated, 8-bit bliss. The replay factor is strong, easy to understand yet difficult to master, perfect for any gamer of any level.
Grab the gold. Survive the night. Vampire Survivors. Poncle (2021). Screenshot by C. A. Ramirez
Addictive gameplay mechanics and a smooth execution are obvious necessities when it comes to the success of any video game title, but blending the two concerns in a way that sustains that level of attention is an art form. The stages in Vampire Survivors last thirty minutes, no more, no less. Surviving the never-ending hordes of enemies is the only goal, and developing your character in that time frame is tantamount to being thrown into a pressure cooker. The screen is never empty, the hordes are everlasting and ascend in difficulty alongside your own progression. Enemies range from zombies and bats to reptilian hybrids and cruel beasts – all of them illustrated in a style that tips the cap to Konami’s Castlevania series. The entire experience is relaxing as it is frenetic, a mix of calm urgency that reverberates with masterful gameplay and retro nostalgia.
Surviving the night horde is just the beginning. New characters can be unlocked, and each has special abilities. Some are given area of effect boosts while others may suffer a diminished rate of speed that boosts an increased rate of attack or more health. Unlockable stages vary in design and hold secret locations that can unlock even more playable characters. Each one can be leveled up by purchasing status. Enhancing perks prior to each level start and each character has their own pros and cons. Once you find your stride with one character, unlocking others leads you down a rabbit hole of new possibilities. You will find that mixing and matching the right character, upgraded in just the right way, is the only way to play Vampire Survivors correctly; anything else would be a blasphemous assault upon the good people at Poncle, and the Castlevania legacy as a whole.
Original ideas and brilliant execution are what made minimalist arcade titles like Asteroids and Missile Command so beloved. Poncle has hit a supple vein of video game gold. Vampire Survivors represents new hope for gamers, the renaissance of stripped down, addictive gaming is nigh dear gamers, gird your garlic cloves and hit start.
