Official Score
Overall - 50%
50%
Unsung Warriors - Prologue does not bode well for the final product. Platforming could use a lot of work, and the current aesthetics leave something to be desired.
Treasure awaits all those who seek to enter a crypt in the prologue of Osarion and Mountaineer’s Unsung Warriors. Should players step into the shoes of this Iron Age-inspired warrior, or should this quest be better off ignored?
Unsung Warriors – Prologue Review
Taking place long ago in Europe (in 300 BC to be exact), a barbarian village gets a visit from a mysterious stranger that tells of a treasure that lies deep in a crypt. A number of tribesman set out to raid the crypt, but they never returned. Enter the protagonist, a noble warrior named Einar who sets out to save the day.
Said story is relegated to the background for most of the title. The opening cinematic has some slight movement with each section, but the quality of the production is a bit on the low side. There are also text bubbles that pop up for NPCs, but don’t expect a deep and verbose tale.
Rather, once players enter the infamous crypt, the game puts the platforming action front and center. Einar has a three hit slash, a shield, a secondary function that starts players out with a bow and arrow (that ties to a rechargeable meter), a double jump, and a dash feature. Movement is a bit on the clunky side, with the protagonist sinking like a dead weight after each jump. As a result, it can be tough to nail certain sections that require pinpoint precision. Momentum proves to be a problem as well – not only do jumps limit mobility, the dash function provides an instant short burst and nothing more. It takes some getting used to, and the engine powering things could use some fine tuning.
Levels don’t fare much better. This crypt has sections with fireballs, crumbling caverns, watery depths, and a boss at the end, but everything comes off as generic. Timing is important in certain areas to avoid traps and spikes, and certain sections require the use of switches and boxes, but the majority of the time, the game feels like busywork. Enemies come across as uninspired as well – nondescript skeletons and bats are the name of the game, and even the final boss simply as the title “Skeleton Boss.” More variety, or even some creative flair with the current roster, would have gone a long way.
One area that does have variety is with its weapon arsenal. Using coins collected from treasure chests and fallen foes, players can pick up axes, spiked maces, witch blades, items that restore magic, and other accoutrements to make life easier. This is a short entry, taking around 30 minutes to complete, but this selection is most certainly welcome. Just be warned that some weapons can break the game – the lightning hammer had us coasting through most of the title through its spammy attacks.
Unsung Warriors – Prologue does not bode well for the final product. Platforming could use a lot of work, and the current aesthetics leave something to be desired.
