Games worth discovering

Volzerk: A Game that Could Have Been Great, But Wasn’t. Is about to be shut down.

2K View2024-02-03

Volzerk: Monsters and Lands Unknown

Volzerk: Monsters and Lands Unknown is a 3D action RPG that was released in 2023 by COLOPL, a Japanese game developer and publisher. The game is available for both mobile and PC platforms and features a unique monster breeding and crossbreeding system, as well as a diverse skill system and combat mechanics. The game is set on the island of Fort Lemuria, where strange animals called monsters live. The player takes on the role of Fina, a young girl who loves monsters and wants to reunite with Volzerk, the island guardian who disappeared 10 years ago. Along the way, the player meets other characters who join the Research Commission, an organization that investigates the island and the monsters.

Unfortunately, the game has recently announced that it will end its service on March 29, 2024, due to various reasons. This is a sad news for the fans of the game, who have enjoyed its innovative features and engaging storyline. I will discuss why the game failed based on its pros and cons.

👍 Pros:

- **Innovative Skill System:** The game allows the player to mix and match monsters with different riders, who are the human characters that can bond with monsters. Each rider has a different weapon type and skill set, and each monster has different abilities and attributes. By switching between riders and monsters during combat, the player can create various combinations and strategies to deal with different enemies and situations. The skill system is also flexible, as the player can customize the skills of the riders and monsters by equipping skill cards that can be obtained from various sources. The skill system adds depth and complexity to the gameplay, as well as diversity and fun.

- **Breeding and Crossbreeding System:** One of the most appealing aspects of the game is the ability to breed and crossbreed monsters. The player can obtain monster eggs from different methods, such as completing quests, exploring dungeons, or using the scout feature. The player can then hatch the eggs and raise the monsters as their own. The player can also breed two monsters of the same species to produce a new monster, or crossbreed two monsters of different species to create a hybrid monster. The offspring will inherit the abilities and attributes of their parents, and sometimes have unique traits that are not found in the original species. The breeding and crossbreeding system allows the player to collect and create a variety of monsters, and experiment with different combinations and outcomes.

- **Combat Mechanics:** The combat in the game is engaging and challenging, as it requires the player to use their skills and strategies wisely. The player can control the rider and the monster separately, and switch between them at any time. The rider can use their weapon skills and items, while the monster can use their abilities and special attacks. The player can also perform combos by timing their attacks and skills, and activate the bond mode, which enhances the rider and the monster's performance for a limited time. The combat also has strategic elements, such as exploiting the enemy's weaknesses, using the terrain and environment, and managing the stamina and cooldowns. The combat is satisfying and rewarding, as it tests the player's skills and tactics.

👎 Cons:

- **Graphics:** The game's graphics are mediocre at best, and do not match the standards of modern games. The game's graphics are low-resolution, pixelated, and blurry, and the textures are bland and dull. The game's graphics also suffer from glitches, bugs, and lag, especially on mobile devices. The game's graphics fail to immerse the player into the world of Volzerk, and detract from the overall experience.

- **Camera Angles:** The game's camera angles are problematic, especially during combat. The camera angles are often obstructed by the environment, such as trees, walls, or cliffs, and make it hard to see the action and the enemies. The camera angles are also fixed and do not follow the player's movements, and the player cannot adjust or rotate the camera manually. The camera angles make the combat frustrating and confusing, and sometimes lead to unfair deaths or losses.

- **Lack of Diversity in Monsters and Items:** The game suffers from a lack of diversity in monsters and items, making the gameplay monotonous and repetitive over time. The game has a limited number of monster species, and most of them are variations of the same animal, such as wolves, bears, or birds. The game also has a limited number of items, such as weapons, armor, accessories, and consumables, and most of them are similar or identical in appearance and function. The game does not offer enough incentives or rewards for the player to collect and use different monsters and items, and the player ends up using the same ones throughout the game.

- **Weak Storyline:** The game's storyline is weak and uninteresting, and does not captivate the player's attention or curiosity. The game's storyline is poorly written and developed, and the characters lack depth and personality. The game's storyline also has many plot holes, inconsistencies, and clichés, and does not explain the background and lore of the game's world and monsters. The game's storyline does not provide enough motivation or emotion for the player to care about the outcome or the characters.

- **Loading Time and Technical Issues:** The game has long loading times and technical issues that affect the gameplay and performance. The game takes a long time to load between screens, such as the main menu, the map, the dungeon, or the combat. The game also has technical issues, such as crashes, freezes, errors, or disconnects, especially on mobile devices. The game's loading time and technical issues interrupt the gameplay and cause frustration and annoyance for the player.

- **Limited Exploration Options:** The game has limited exploration options and does not offer enough freedom and variety for the player. The game's world is divided into small and linear maps, and the player cannot travel between them freely. The game's world also lacks towns, villages, or other places of interest, and the player cannot interact with the environment or the NPCs. The game's world is bland and boring, and does not encourage the player to explore or discover new things.

Conclusion

Volzerk: Monsters and Lands Unknown is a game that has a lot of potential, but also a lot of flaws. The game has some innovative and enjoyable features, such as the skill system, the breeding and crossbreeding system, and the combat mechanics, but it also has some major drawbacks, such as the graphics, the camera angles, the lack of diversity, the weak storyline, the loading time, and the limited exploration options. I think also lack of advertising, polishing and care are other factors in the lower number of gamers picking it up and resulting in the death of this game.

The game is a 5/10 for me. Volzerk: Monsters and Lands Unknown is a game that could have been great, but sadly, it is not.

Mentioned games