Divinum Review Summary

Polished, fun combat and gorgeous pixel art shine, yet lackluster bosses, sparse content, and a brief runtime hold this back from greatness.

Combat is highly praised: Players consistently highlight the combat as fun, smooth, and satisfying, with many noting its Devil May Cry style and well-designed mechanics. The combat is described as snappy, responsive, and rewarding, making it the standout feature of the game.

Gameplay is polished and fun: The overall gameplay is described as very good, well-polished, and excellent, with a pleasant and fun experience. Players appreciate the balance and quality of the core game loop.

Pixel art and visuals praised: The pixel art style is consistently praised as well done, clean, and pleasant, with beautiful art and impressive visuals. The graphics are noted for their quality and nostalgic rotoscoped animation feel.

Solid metroidvania experience: The game is recognized as a solid metroidvania with fluid and fun combat. Players find the map design, exploration, and level design to be well-executed and enjoyable.

Combo system is satisfying: The combo system is highlighted as great and satisfying to pull off, with a fun and engaging mechanic. Players enjoy the variety of moves and the depth it adds to combat.

Bosses are lacking: Players mention few bosses, low difficulty, small movesets, and repetitiveness, making boss fights feel trivial and unengaging. Some also note final bosses are not fought.

Content is barren: Players describe the content as extremely barren, with no story, map design, character arcs, equipment diversity, or exploration experience.

Game is too short: Multiple players report the game is on the shorter side, with one noting it may be too short. This suggests a lack of content relative to expectations.

Boss health too high: One player states boss health is excessively high, which may contribute to tedious fights despite low difficulty.

Player damage too low: A player reports that player damage is too low with no way to increase attack, making combat feel underpowered.

Combat is core and varied: Multiple clusters highlight extensive combat mechanics including boss fights, combos, parries, and air attacks. The game encourages maximizing combos and offers a range of moves from the start.

Metroidvania with exploration: The game is identified as a metroidvania with exploration and old-school map exploration. It includes a map given immediately and a linear structure, blending classic and modern elements.

Abilities and upgrades to unlock: Players can unlock abilities, runes, and improvement items, providing progression. Two ability slots and a talisman for healing on ability use are specific features.

Platforming with Celeste feel: Platforming sections are present and described as having a Celeste feel, indicating precise and challenging movement. This is a notable feature alongside combat.

Rune system with passive abilities: A rune system allows equipping passive abilities, similar to Hollow Knight's amulet system but simpler. This adds customization depth.

Performance issues on low-end PCs: Players on low-end hardware report performance problems, indicating the game may not be well optimized for weaker systems.

Steam Deck frame rate drops: The game fails to maintain 60 FPS on Steam Deck, with one player playing at 45 FPS, suggesting optimization issues on this platform.

Lack of graphics settings: The absence of adjustable graphics settings limits players' ability to improve performance on their hardware.

Rare gem worth playing: Some reviewers describe the game as a hidden gem and highly recommend it, suggesting it exceeds expectations. This is a strong endorsement.

Recommended for metroidvania fans: Multiple reviewers recommend this game to fans of the metroidvania genre, highlighting its action elements. This is the most common positive sentiment.

Not for platforming haters: Reviewers caution that the game involves significant platforming, which may not appeal to those who dislike that mechanic. This is a clear warning for potential buyers.

Worth the price: Several reviewers mention the game is fairly priced for its content, comparing it favorably to a cinema ticket. This suggests good value for money.

Good combat experience: Reviewers highlight the 2D hack-and-slash combat as a strong point, recommending the game for those who enjoy action-oriented gameplay. This is a key selling point.

Game completion: 6.0h.

Story completion: 8.0h.

Combat Combo Seeker: Focuses on combat mechanics, experimenting with combos, unlocking skills, and seeking high-skill play. Motivation: Mastering the combat system and pulling off complex combos. Stance: buy.

Indie Value Hunter: Assesses game length and price, appreciates craftsmanship, and recommends based on value. Motivation: Getting good value for money and supporting quality indie/solo dev work. Stance: buy.

Short campaign length: Reviewers report the game can be completed in about 5-6 hours, with campaign length estimates ranging from under 8 to 10 hours. This suggests a relatively short experience.

Compared to Silksong and Hollow Knight: The game is frequently compared to Silksong and Hollow Knight, with one reviewer calling it 'anti-Silksong' and another noting it cut out annoying parts of Hollow Knight. The rune system is also compared to Hollow Knight's amulet system.

Combat compared to Devil May Cry: Multiple reviewers compare the combat system to Devil May Cry, with one preferring it over souls-like elements. The comparison is noted even in pixel art style.

Positive solo dev impression: One reviewer considers it one of the better solo dev games, while another notes rough hallmarks of untested developers or a shoestring budget. Overall, the solo dev effort is recognized.

Visuals reminiscent of rotoscoped animation: The visuals are described as reminiscent of old rotoscoped animation games, which may appeal to fans of classic animation styles.