Bite-sized Review:  Vampire Survivors


Developer: Poncle

Release Date: 21 October, 2022 

Platform: Windows, MacOS, Xbox One/S/X, Linux

Genre: Top-down Shooter

By Chris Picone, 29 November 2022


I snoozed on Vampire Survivors for the longest time.  It looked like a decent enough top-down shooter but never struck me as anything special.  But after a recent update I thought I'd better finally check it out and all I can say is:  How wrong I was!  Vampire Survivors is exceptional.  And super addictive!


Aesthetics

The art style initially comes across as a little "budget" - the sprites themselves look decent, animations are minimal and sometimes feel like the sprites are simply cut-outs moving around in front of the map screen, and the levels are okay but extremely spartan - but as you start actually playing the game, you quickly realise this is as much out of necessity as anything else.   Once you get past level 10 the game gets absolutely bonkers and starts throwing insane swarms of monsters at you that would kill even the most powerful processors out there if the devs hadn't done their best to keep it all clean.

 

Gameplay

This is very much a horde game.  You're on your lonesome, fighting off an endless swarm of monsters that attack you wave after wave.   Surprisingly, the devs have opted for an "idler" style of gameplay where all your weapons automatically shoot on a timer.  You have a little control over some of them as they shoot directionally but others strike randomly or the closest enemy or have areas of effect and so on.  Whenever you kill an enemy they drop a shard; picking it up gives you XP, and every time you level up you choose an upgrade from a randomised selection.  There is a staggering variety of weapons and upgrades.  The monsters may all look very different but essentially they all follow the same attack pattern and the only thing that really changes is their health points and damage output.  Occasionally you get to kill a glowing monster that will drop treasure, giving you money and a bonus upgrade.  This is where the game gains its replayability; the levels and upgrades you gain in each run drop off but the coins can be used to buy permanent upgrades.  Also, as you progress you will constantly unlock new weapons, characters, and even maps, meaning you have a constant stream of new toys to play with.  The developers have absolutely nailed the "curve" of the game; aside from the constant dopamine hits, the game seems to know when you're about to get bored of it and then throw something new at you, effectively creating a "one more turn" effect.

 

Verdict

If you're a fan of bullet hells or zombie horde-style top-down shooters, you won't want to miss Vampire Survivors.  It's a master class in its genre.  You'll load it up for a quick go after dinner and before you know it the sun's coming up.

 

Links: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1794680/Vampire_Survivors/

DLC: Legacy of the Moonspell

Legacy of the Moonspell is superb. Honestly, this one's worth it just for the new map alone, but it also comes with a stack of  cool new characters and weapons. If you already buried yourself for hours in Vampire Survivors and it's finally starting to get stale, this DLC will give it a breath of fresh air. 

DLC: Tides of the Foscari

Tides of the Foscari is another worthy addition to the Vampire Survivors franchise. This one comes with another large and interesting fantasy-themed map that features a maze, amongst other interests. There's also three new characters, some new (and flashy!) magic-based weapons, and a cool new mechanic in the Academy Badge.  If you (like me) still can't get enough of Vampire Survivors, this one's an easy purchase!

DLC: Emergency Meeting

This DLC is all kinds of cool.  I never spent much time playing Among Us but I love the concept and it's one of my kids' favourite games.  Emergency Meeting is a fantastic cross of the two games so any Among Us fans are going to love it.  More importantly, it's an awesome DLC in its own right.  The new Polus map (the Polus Outpost map from Among us) is decently sized and one of the more interesting maps in the game, with its own map, relic, and coffin to collect.  And of course there's music from Among Us to really set the mood.  What's really cool though is the 9 new characters and 15 new themed weapons. The Emergency Meeting (ultimate upgrade of Report) is particularly cool ("who is the impostor!") and having little mini crewmates and skinned hats and things flying everywhere is super fun.

DLC: Operation Guns

Operation Guns is a massive DLC and totally worth the price even if you know nothing about Contra (and of course there's a huge nostalgia bonus if you are familiar).  It comes with two new maps; the main map is huge and I think one of the most interesting in the game with different regions separated by bridges, buildings, secret passages through forests, and of course it's populated by hordes of Contra baddies. The big mecha bosses are particularly cool.  Also, Operation Guns comes with a whopping 11 new characters (and of course I absolutely love Bill Rizer with his long gun), and 22 new weapons - machine guns, homing missiles, and some cool new passive upgrades that don't take slots. As if that wasn't enough, there's also a new adventure.  Oh! And the new music is bangin'!

DLC: Ode to Castlevania

I feel like I probably say this every time but Ode to Castlevania is my favourite DLC for Vampire Survivors.  The map is huge, and also gated out the wazoo. You'll have to explore and defeat bosses in order to collect artefacts that allow you to open new doors and access different sections of the level. There are also a stack of hidden rooms and passages and the level features far more enemy variety than previous maps so it stays interesting.  It doesn't matter if you're playing through with end-game characters, it'll take multiple runs to collect all the hidden goodies and beat the map. Everything about this DLC is big - 20 new characters, 40 new weapons.  And I guess the team is running out of "simple" ideas because these ones are a little more complex than we're used to. The Alchemy Whip, for example, strikes in three directions. When evolved into the Vampire Killer, it also creates holy light blasts that only target bosses. Oh, and one unlockable character can create familiars that follow around and attack with you.