Battle Shapers offers a unique spin on the roguelite FPS genre. It combines vibrant visuals, challenging gameplay, and layered progression mechanics to create a memorable experience. While its potential is clear, it stumbles in some areas, affecting its overall appeal.
The Good
The art style is one of the game’s standout features. Drawing comparisons to Mega Man, the game’s aesthetic is futuristic yet colorful, with well-designed enemies, environments, and bosses. The dynamic combat mechanics are another highlight. Movement feels fluid, and the variety of elemental weapon types, fire, shock, and vibration, adds a strategic layer to battles. Punching enemies into terrain using your massive arm is particularly satisfying. These core mechanics give the game a strong foundation for enjoyable gameplay.
Meta-progression is engaging but demands commitment. Unlocking weapons, abilities, and Shaper Cores that influence playstyles requires grinding. However, this progression keeps players hooked, especially those who enjoy unlocking new content over time.
The Challenges
Despite its strengths, Battle Shapers has notable shortcomings. Performance issues are a major concern. Even on robust hardware, frame drops and noisy particle effects are frequent, especially during chaotic battles. The developers have acknowledged these issues and promised optimizations in upcoming updates, which brings hope for future improvements.
Another issue lies in the repetitive nature of its map design and puzzles. Players have reported encountering the same rooms and challenges across multiple runs, diminishing the game’s replayability. This lack of variety extends to enemy types, which become predictable over time.
Boss fights are intense but can feel disproportionately difficult, especially early in the game. Their ability to summon mobs, combined with their high damage output, creates a steep difficulty curve that some players find frustrating.
Long Play Sessions
Full runs in Battle Shapers can last up to two hours, which can feel excessive for a roguelite. This length, combined with the repetitive content, makes it challenging for players to stay engaged throughout an entire session. A shorter, more concise experience might improve the game’s pacing and replayability.
Final Thoughts
Battle Shapers is an ambitious game that successfully blends vibrant visuals and dynamic combat in a roguelite framework. However, its current iteration suffers from technical and design issues that hinder its potential. For those interested in the game, waiting for updates or picking it up on sale might be the best approach. With further refinement, Battle Shapers could evolve into a must-play for fans of the genre.
