SKALD: Against the Black Priory

Item: SKALD: Against the Black Priory
Rating: 91
Author: VaporLens

Last updated: 2025-05-11

Summary

Balances retro charm with modern design elements.
Simple, intuitive, and engaging combat system.
Appealing retro pixel art style.
Engaging, well-paced story with cosmic horror themes.
Great soundtrack enhances the immersive atmosphere.
Uninspired story, rushed and unsatisfying ending.

Categories

RPGTurn-based CombatTactical CombatExplorationSingle-player StoryCharacter CustomizationParty-based CombatAtmospheric Horror

Reviews (sample size): 2000
Helpful reviews: 82%
Unhelpful reviews: 18%
Protest reviews: 0%

91%
Helpful reviews with positive sentiment
9%
Helpful reviews with negative sentiment

Positive points: 4498
Negative points: 1969
Gameplay points: 594
Perf. points: 73
Rec. points: 1362
Misc points: 193

Point	Description	Importance
Balances retro charm, modern design Description The game successfully blends old-school RPG elements with modern design sensibilities, offering a streamlined and accessible experience. It captures the charm of classic CRPGs while incorporating quality-of-life improvements and avoiding frustrating mechanics. This balance makes it enjoyable for both veterans and newcomers to the genre. Importance 96%	The game successfully blends old-school RPG elements with modern design sensibilities, offering a streamlined and accessible experience. It captures the charm of classic CRPGs while incorporating quality-of-life improvements and avoiding frustrating mechanics. This balance makes it enjoyable for both veterans and newcomers to the genre.	96%
Simple, intuitive, engaging combat Description The game features intuitive and straightforward combat mechanics that are easy to learn, making it accessible to new players. The combat system offers enough depth to remain engaging, rewarding strategic thinking and tactical decision-making. This balance ensures that combat is both enjoyable and challenging. Importance 64%	The game features intuitive and straightforward combat mechanics that are easy to learn, making it accessible to new players. The combat system offers enough depth to remain engaging, rewarding strategic thinking and tactical decision-making. This balance ensures that combat is both enjoyable and challenging.	64%
Appealing retro pixel art style Description The game utilizes a retro pixel art style that evokes nostalgia for older games while still being visually appealing. The graphics are well-executed and contribute to the game's unique atmosphere. The art style is a primary reason for playing the game, suggesting it's visually appealing and engaging. Importance 40%	The game utilizes a retro pixel art style that evokes nostalgia for older games while still being visually appealing. The graphics are well-executed and contribute to the game's unique atmosphere. The art style is a primary reason for playing the game, suggesting it's visually appealing and engaging.	40%
Engaging, well-paced story Description The game features a well-written and engaging story that is appropriately paced for the game's length. The narrative effectively conveys emotion, tension, and gravity without being overly long or complex. The writing is a strong point, especially in delivering horrors through descriptive text. Importance 38%	The game features a well-written and engaging story that is appropriately paced for the game's length. The narrative effectively conveys emotion, tension, and gravity without being overly long or complex. The writing is a strong point, especially in delivering horrors through descriptive text.	38%
Strong Lovecraftian/cosmic horror themes Description The game masterfully incorporates Lovecraftian and cosmic horror themes into its story, world, and atmosphere. This creates a unique and unsettling experience that resonates with fans of the genre. The Lovecraftian elements are well-integrated and enhance the overall gameplay. Importance 26%	The game masterfully incorporates Lovecraftian and cosmic horror themes into its story, world, and atmosphere. This creates a unique and unsettling experience that resonates with fans of the genre. The Lovecraftian elements are well-integrated and enhance the overall gameplay.	26%
Great soundtrack, enhances atmosphere Description The game features a well-crafted soundtrack and sound design that enhances the overall atmosphere and immersion. The music effectively conveys the emotional elements of the scenes and complements the game's gritty setting. The audio is great, with satisfying sound effects. Importance 25%	The game features a well-crafted soundtrack and sound design that enhances the overall atmosphere and immersion. The music effectively conveys the emotional elements of the scenes and complements the game's gritty setting. The audio is great, with satisfying sound effects.	25%
Strong, immersive atmosphere Description The game creates a strong and immersive atmosphere through its visuals, music, and writing. The atmosphere is often described as dark, foreboding, and creepy, enhancing the overall experience. The game is dripping with atmosphere. Importance 17%	The game creates a strong and immersive atmosphere through its visuals, music, and writing. The atmosphere is often described as dark, foreboding, and creepy, enhancing the overall experience. The game is dripping with atmosphere.	17%
Evokes nostalgia for classic RPGs Description The game successfully evokes nostalgia for classic RPGs from the 80s and 90s, reminiscent of titles like Ultima and Gold Box D&D games. It captures the essence of these older games while incorporating modern quality-of-life improvements. The game is a digital loveletter to old school RPGs. Importance 10%	The game successfully evokes nostalgia for classic RPGs from the 80s and 90s, reminiscent of titles like Ultima and Gold Box D&D games. It captures the essence of these older games while incorporating modern quality-of-life improvements. The game is a digital loveletter to old school RPGs.	10%
Fun and enjoyable experience Description The reviewer is having tons of fun with the game. The game features well-done horrific endings for party members, fitting the horror setting. Enjoyed the occasional movie references throughout the game. Importance 9%	The reviewer is having tons of fun with the game. The game features well-done horrific endings for party members, fitting the horror setting. Enjoyed the occasional movie references throughout the game.	9%
Varied character customization, replayability Description The game offers a variety of character customization options and party compositions, adding to its replayability. The ability to create a coordinated team of characters adds to the replayability. The game can be replayed multiple times. Importance 6%	The game offers a variety of character customization options and party compositions, adding to its replayability. The ability to create a coordinated team of characters adds to the replayability. The game can be replayed multiple times.	6%
Adjustable, customizable difficulty Description The game offers adjustable difficulty settings, allowing players to tailor the experience to their preference. This includes options to adjust enemy power, encumbrance, and the need for food to rest. The game is challenging. Importance 5%	The game offers adjustable difficulty settings, allowing players to tailor the experience to their preference. This includes options to adjust enemy power, encumbrance, and the need for food to rest. The game is challenging.	5%
Impressive solo developer effort Description The game is good, especially considering it was apparently developed by a single person. The game has a respectable presentation. The game developer's work is exceptional and innovative. Importance 5%	The game is good, especially considering it was apparently developed by a single person. The game has a respectable presentation. The game developer's work is exceptional and innovative.	5%
Creepy and depressing vibe Description The game has a creepy vibe reminiscent of games like Darkwood. The game is very depressing in a way that the reviewer finds appealing. Game rewards players for engaging with the story, exploring, and understanding the horror elements. Importance 5%	The game has a creepy vibe reminiscent of games like Darkwood. The game is very depressing in a way that the reviewer finds appealing. Game rewards players for engaging with the story, exploring, and understanding the horror elements.	5%
Fun, rewarding exploration Description Exploration is fun and rewarding, with lots to uncover. The game avoids useless minimaps and quest markers, encouraging exploration. The adventure and discovery of areas is enjoyable. Importance 5%	Exploration is fun and rewarding, with lots to uncover. The game avoids useless minimaps and quest markers, encouraging exploration. The adventure and discovery of areas is enjoyable.	5%