PLATFORM: PC, SWITCH (REVIEWED) | RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
As far as unexpected revivals go, GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon must surely be somewhere near the top of the list. A follow-up to the 1987 Japanese Famicom exclusive Getsu Fuma Den, Undying Moon is a side-scrolling hack ‘n slash roguelite that follows the chosen leader of the Getsu clan as he tries to locate and rescue his brother in a world that is nearing its end after the seal between Hell and earth has been broken and demons have flooded the land. The story doesn’t really concern itself with taking up too much of your time, instead just giving you enough reason to get on board with the world you’re inhabiting and then slowly revealing more about what’s happened as your adventure progresses.
There’s not really any getting away from it, but as far as Undying Moon‘s gameplay goes, you’ll be in very familiar territory if you’ve spent any time at all with 2018’s roguelite hit, Dead Cells. From the opening hub area, you’ll travel through a variety of procedurally-generated levels full of monsters, treasures and upgrades, hunting for a randomly-located exit that leads to a boss and (presuming you survive the fight) the entrance to the next area. Combat is also similar, with the ability to carry two weapons along with two additional subweapons. Any others found along the way can either be equipped in place of an existing weapon or broken down into crafting materials, which are essential for upgrading your currently-equipped weapons and unlocking new ones that will then have a chance to appear in future playthroughs. Some upgrades, like the ones to your health, strength and other character-based stats, are permanent and will eventually (after grinding for a fair amount of time) give you a fighting chance of getting to the end in one piece, while others are lost upon death…
Where Undying Moon really stands out is in its art style – it might sound like an over-exaggeration but this is easily one of the most attractive games to have ever graced the Switch. Using an incredibly vibrant take on the 17th century Japanese ukiyo-e art style, the sharp and crisp almost storybook-like visuals look tremendous in portable mode (if you’ve got an OLED, prepare for your eyes to pop right out of their sockets) and even better when playing on a big screen. The amount of detail that has gone into every aspect of the visuals is just tremendous, with the gigantic bosses looking particularly imposing and fearsome yet absolutely beautiful at the same time.
While the gameplay loop is certainly addictive and the breathtaking artwork is a huge feather in Undying Moon‘s cap, the game as a whole doesn’t benefit from the few years’ worth of updates and refinements that its peers have already been through, leaving it slightly behind the more established titles in the genre. Having said that, it’s an excellent starting point and there are plenty of solid foundations that could potentially be built upon over the coming months. Absolutely worth a try if you’re keen on roguelites, Undying Moon‘s simplicity (relative to similar games, at least) and the decision to include an easy difficulty option could also make it a good choice for newcomers to the genre. Oh, and in case it didn’t come across earlier in the review, it really is absolutely stunning to look at. The sheer beauty of it alone is worth the price of admission!
