Madshot – Spotlight

While navigating the increasingly difficult monsters of the constantly shifting lovecraftian landscape toward Cthulhu, players will face off against otherworldly eldritch creatures in this fast-paced, acrobatic platformer shooter with rogue-lite elements.

You can take a different path through the map each time you play, and each stage (Encounter) is completely random (akin to FTL). Each stage/level has a distinct Encounter and enemy type. Map and Encounter are all that is required to complete each level, until the first boss fight. The stage’s theme will then shift to another part of the terrible world.

In order to move on to the next Encounter node and defeat it, you must defeat a variety of monsters and their variations until the portal opens. Your weapon or anything else you can interact with is your best defence against the clever creatures. Use these items to your advantage as you may need to reload, and that enemy head could stutter or kill an oncoming enemy, or a shield that was dropped by a dead enemy could protect you from the onslaught of enemies that are attacking you. These items could be the difference between life and death.”

As you progress through the game, the rewards you receive from Encounters (stages) are critical. Branching paths on the map can either provide a Store from which you can purchase items that will enhance your current run or an Encounter from which you must defeat enemies before receiving the reward of the room. A perk called Alteration can give you a variety of benefits, from increasing your attack rate for every kill streak to boosting your health when you inflict critical damage on multiple enemies.

Gold, an increase in Max Health, an enhancement to your Alteration, and Aether, a currency you keep when you die that you can use to buy and upgrade your Transmutations, could also be available as stage rewards. This depends on the equipment you’ve selected for your run. Using the Aether, you can expand your Transmutation capacity. Which, among other things, can help you gain more health at the start of the game or increase your attack rate. Rites are challenges you complete to gain access to more Transmutations.

As a result of a wide variety of enemies, attack types, and visual differences, this is a positive. Fighters don’t become stale because there is enough variety. Because of the “Abominations,” or boss fights, which help to keep things fresh.

Each Encounter has a slightly different stage and fight, grotesque art style for the stages, enemies, good controls that aren’t complicated, and the unknown possibilities of how each run will play out, you’ll always be begging for one more damnation to be unleashed. Follow Madshot’s progress towards a full release to learn more about the eldritch realms he intends to delve into.