Project Warlock is a retro inspired FPS originally released in 2018 for GOG.com, and looked to be a successor to classics like Hexen and Heretic. Now it has come to consoles and this may be the cream of the crop for the retro FPS wave so far and something other throwbacks should aspire to be like.
The game uses 2.5D visuals and have a very stylized look to them that looks amazing in motion, and each stage has a surprisingly large amount of variety in terms of appearance and design. There are dark and dangerous dungeons, open and wide areas and more, that each have their own sense of identity that helps them stand out. The level of detail is well done, and if I have any complaints, it is that the earlier levels feel too short, something that does change the more you go along. The levels have a lot of interaction and secrets to find, and you can even be clever and use the mazelike layouts to lure enemies into traps or more advantageous positions.
Given the throwback dark fantasy setting, it should be no surprise that enemies in the game come in a wide variety, including creepy crawlers, winged demons, yeti’s and also robots. To fight them, you have access to spells, melee weapons and guns, each of which can be upgraded, along with your stats. You can find experience in the form of treasure and stats up points as well, in order to strengthen your character. Be careful though, as you are likely to get killed quickly if you rush in early on before you upgrade. Fighting will be brutal, but using the right tactics will give you an edge over the enemies and as stated, you can use the environment to your advantage this way if you are careful. The blending of RPG elements into the game is a great twist and when used right, you can build yourself into something special and spells can be found along the way like weapons.
In terms of controls, Project Warlock feels incredibly tight and responsive. There is a neat weapons wheel to use for changing weapons, and a tap of the button for switching different melee weapons. I was concerned when the game noted about potential photosensitivity risks at the start, but unlike other throwback fps games, Project Warlock seems to have taken steps to reduce the issues. I had no headaches this time, and instead enjoyed what I played. The transition from mouse and keyboard controls to console controls was handled well, and while some may need time to adjust, the controls are very easy to adjust to.
Th
Project Warlock on console is an incredibly well designed port that performs incredibly well, and is an excellent throwback to the classics of the past. I highly recommend this.