For all the players hankering for a Dark Souls 4, or a Bloodborne 2, Another Indie and Dark Star Game Studios are providing a game to quell said hankering. Their game Sinner: Sacrifice for Redemption, is a boss battler that is quite similar to the caliber of Dark Souls or Bloodborne. It is similar in both play style, as well as the gothic horror art components that make these games so memorable, and sickeningly captivating. Falling in line with other typical aspects, Sinner: Sacrifice for Redemption is incredibly hard. Not only that, but it streamlines arguably the hardest parts of Dark Souls and adds its own unique twists.
As much as this game has been compared to Dark Souls in the last paragraph alone, it is still its own game. One of the unique takes this game provides is the idea of sacrifice and redemption ( as the name may suggest). Now these ideas themselves are not what is unique. Rather, it is the notion of having to give something up after defeating each boss. Thus, the more you go on the weaker you will be. And thus the game also becomes harder the more successful you are. The entirety of the game is like a cruel joke that God is playing on you. Instead of being rewarded for the many hours you spend taking out the bosses, you are crippled, forcing you to reevaluate your strategy. This also adds the effect of having to fight harder to overcome the next boss.
Speaking from personal experience there is not a moment in this game where the player won’t feel like swearing, except for maybe the title screen. When I was talking with the developer he told me (with a hint of pride) that there had not been anyone at PAX who had completed one of the bosses in under 45 minutes. For the sheer number of people who were at that event, that was an impressive time. And it spoke volumes to the level of difficulty that this game contained. However, a certain boss should prove too challenging, then it is possible to revive a boss to gain back whatever was sacrificed. Thus, there is a quite a fair amount of strategy involved in finding the correct, or most efficient order to take out the bosses. Although, most of it involves trial and error.
Additionally, there is certainly religious undertones hidden beneath this game’s gritty exterior. The story of this game unfolds with the player taking control of a soldier named Adam as he struggles to seek redemption. The further along that Adam progresses, the more his story is revealed to the player. This including his dark past, and his relationship with these bosses. Moreover, each of these bosses has a unique twist, making each a vastly different challenge to overcome.
Finally, the dark and grim composition of this game adds another layer into the game that might perhaps be my favorite part. Sure challenges are enjoyable when they are done well. But for me, the game has to look good as well. The artistic design provided by Sinner: Sacrifice for Redemption is what sets it apart from other games. The vaguely dystopian style art sets the perfect pace for such a grim storyline. And this happens to be my favorite kind of art style. So I might be biased, but irregardless, for more information about Sinner: Sacrifice for Redemption visit the official website, check out the Another Indie Discord or follow the game on Twitter and Facebook.
