There are many beat ”em-up games released these days that come out and fade out of memory quickly. Many go for a retro pixel style in the hopes of catching the eye and forgoing actual quality, but then there are games that actually put more effort into how they play. Then there are the hand-drawn beat ’em ups that by necessity, must have quality gameplay or else risk losing a return on investment and that is where Josh Journey: Darkness Totems comes in.
Josh Journey: Darkness Totems sees you take control of four different characters, with friends controlling different characters or just one player alone switching between the four characters at the press of a button. Each character has their own unique attack style and ability and understanding each one is key to succeeding in single-player. The goal is to destroy the various encroaching darkness by defeating its totems and the journey to get there is surprisingly satisfying.
Like many of the best beat ‘em ups, Josh Journey: Darkness Totems has a lot of RPG elements integrated into its mechanics and they actually work well here. Characters level up and become more powerful for instance, and the progression is quite noticeable from beginning to end. The combat is also deep and satisfying and has the OOMPH factor that a good beat ’em-up needs so you can feel the impact of the attack when hitting an enemy.
The one thing that brings the game down is that the music is not the best, but that is a personal preference and others may find it more to their liking. For this reviewer though, it just did not feel exactly right for the type of game this is, albeit not in every section. That said, if this is the worst complaint, that should tell you how much this beat ”em-up fan really enjoyed the game.
This may not be the biggest or best modern beat ‘em up, but the unique elements it has, such as how the levelling system works for each character, manage to give it its own identity. Add in the amazing and beautiful hand-drawn artwork, and Josh Journey: Darkness Totems has so much going for it. This is the kind of indie game that you just love to see, as it is a love letter to past games, but manages to understand it needs to stand on its own merits as well.
Josh Journey: Darkness Totems does a lot right as a beat ‘em up and at the price that QUByte Interactive is asking for it, this is a great game to have. It gives just the right amount of action and challenge, a variety of new ideas and a great art style. This one is extremely easy to recommend.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided