SWORN Review

How much do you need to do to distinguish an inspired work from a copy in games? Is a change in looks and some additional mechanics sufficient to outweigh the criticism of plagiarism? And when does it even matter if a game has plagiarized another if it's just a blast to play? One such game is SWORN, and today we're going to take a look at it.

SWORN is a fresh roguelike action title from Massive Work Studio and published by indie publisher Team 17. It is not a follow-up, but it arrives on the indie scene where it is saturated by games like Hades, essentially being thrust into the same discussion due to the gameplay mechanics, progression systems, and overall visual aesthetic.

Unlike other small indie games designed by a small team of creative minds, SWORN has the polish and budget of a major publisher. This could mean that it was designed to appeal to a wide audience and include co-op multiplayer as its sole selling point. Its reception has raised questions and skepticism, with early players and critics who got their hands on this game praising its technical quality but criticizing how much it resembles Hades.

The context behind the game's development and release provides insight into its design philosophy. SWORN clearly intends to take the successful formula that Hades had used and add the mechanics of multiplayer to it.

On the surface, it does not appear to be an indie developer's experiment, but rather a product commissioned with some intentional design decisions made to appeal to genre enthusiasts. The early access model of the game provides space for enhancement, but even now, it boasts high production value, smooth controls, and pleasing combat audio. In the meantime, its derivative nature also sparks controversy over originality versus homage in game creation.

In terms of the story, SWORN is less heavy-handed than Hades, and its narrative serves as a supporting structure to the gameplay. The game draws from the Arthurian myth, replacing the Greek mythos gods from Hades with a new mythic cast of characters. The playable characters can be selected by the player to acquire upgrades and abilities; each character has unique abilities or weapons.

Each character brings out different dialogues from the gods in the game, and story points exist only as motivation for dungeon runs and not as resolved character arcs. This works for combat- and progression-minded players, but those who seek a rich narrative experience like Hades may find themselves let down.

The deities and characters are less well-known and less defined than those of Hades, and the dialogue is merely adequate, lacking any actual emotional impact. This sparse narrative exists to present gameplay in the forefront, with lore to relate to, but leaves the story as a relatively minor portion of the game.

The essence of SWORN's appeal lies in its gameplay mechanics, which combine roguelike dungeon crawling with action combat and cooperative multiplayer. Like any other roguelike, the maps are procedurally generated dungeons that are crammed full of enemies, traps, and occasional tactical obstacles, which players must navigate.

Combat is fast-paced, with a balance of light and heavy attacks, dashes, spells, and ultimate abilities. SWORN utilizes a lock-on system that helps the player direct attacks. However, this system introduces some quirks: when enemies are still in their spawn animations, the system can't engage the lock-on targets directly initially, which generates micro-stutters that occasionally disrupt the combat flow.

The pauses are apparent and might break the flow for some, but as I played, I did not experience much discomfort; this is another aspect where it differs from Hades. However, some may comment that this actually stilted the player's experience somewhat compared to the smooth gameplay of Hades.

In addition to its combat mechanics, the game features a diverse range of weapons, classes, and upgrades. This allows the player to experiment with various upgrades in various combinations to suit their preferred play styles. This expands the replayability, as no two playthroughs of the game will necessarily be the same.

However, something to note is that some of the class variations and weapon differences are cosmetic, and a large number of incremental upgrades can make the differences less apparent, making them less substantial than the world-altering boons from Hades. Still, it does work and does foster repeated playthroughs of the dungeons.

Fighting is fun and occasionally maddening. Players have to balance timing, positioning, and cooldowns on skills to emerge victorious, lending the fighting a strategic depth. There are certain interactions that introduce "puzzle-like" elements, similar to tactical challenges, where the ability-based application of skills and coordination with other players can be the difference between victory and defeat.

Progress and XP systems are the foundation of SWORN's game loop. Killing enemies, exploring the environment, and finishing dungeons give the player XP and unlock improvements. Weapon improvements, small stat increases, and new skills are some of the prizes. Together, they let players change their characters and test out different methods.

In SWORN, the design may often make it seem like you're just managing little changes instead of really developing your character. In Hades, every boon has an effect and feels like a big deal. Co-op gaming does help with this to some extent, because working together and making decisions together make upgrades more powerful and encourage teamwork.

SWORN has a polished art style that remains consistent throughout the game.

Aesthetically, SWORN has a polished art style that remains consistent throughout the game. The 2D hand-drawn graphical look is vibrant and readable, with smooth animation enhancing combat readability. Each environment is distinct, with enemies and hazards graphically distinguishable from interactive objects.

Although the graphics are not innovative, they serve well in assisting gameplay and help players predict attack routines and navigate dungeons. Attack animations, spells, and abilities all provide decent visual feedback, with some small glitchy delays to the lock-on system or ability animation that, here and there, disrupts the otherwise uninterrupted fight flow. 

The art style mirrors that of Hades in its color palette, character appearance, and overall aesthetic, which contributes to the impression that the game is more than just borrowing from its inspirations, bordering on what some might consider plagiarism.

Audio design in SWORN is sufficient and practical. Combat sounds are satisfying and serve to enhance the effectiveness of abilities. The background music is a proper atmosphere for dungeon delving and fighting. The soundtrack is less emotionally engaging and dynamically interesting than in Hades, being more of a utilitarian atmosphere than a narrative element.

Voice acting and character dialogue are scarce, aligning with the game-centered design rather than the narrative. Sound design is effective in complementing the player's actions and keeping them engaged, but it never elevates the experience beyond a functional level.

There are some strengths that stand out in SWORN. Its co-op multiplayer is an atypical feature of a roguelike of this kind, enabling cooperative dungeon crawls and collaborative strategies. The game's neat visuals, silky combat animation, and diverse combat options all contribute to an engaging gameplay experience.

Procedurally generated dungeons offer replayability, and players will be able to experiment with different weapons, classes, and powers on subsequent playthroughs. All these elements work cumulatively to create a game that is technically solid and engaging for players with an appreciation for gameplay and multiplayer interaction.

The design is extremely derivative, borrowing heavily from Hades in structure, combat, and progression.

There are, however, serious vulnerabilities that the game also has. The design is extremely derivative, borrowing heavily from Hades in structure, combat, and progression. This unfamiliarity can cause some players to feel that the game is more copy than tribute. The lock-on combat system introduces millisecond pacing issues, and the anemic story provides little depth or emotional investment.

Incremental changes, while numerous, can be less satisfying than the systems of transformation in similar roguelikes. Overall, these features can limit the game's appeal to players seeking a fresh and innovative experience or a rich, narrative-driven roguelike.

Despite these weaknesses, SWORN is an objectively good and entertaining game. Its polish-smooth mechanics, cooperative multiplayer, and procedural dungeon runs provide many hours of entertaining gameplay. 

Players of Hades looking for a cooperative experience will likely enjoy it, as it carries over many of the core gameplay elements that have made Hades popular. Tinkerers with weapons, abilities, and tactic-based combat will enjoy the depth that the game provides.

Overall, SWORN is a technically sound roguelike game that is focused on multiplayer co-op action. It borrows quite a lot from Hades, including central mechanics, structure, and progress systems, which will leave players questioning how new it actually is.

Combat otherwise feels enjoyable, but is occasionally hindered by minor lock-on issues. Progress systems are fun but rely heavily on a multitude of incremental improvements that have less of an impact than the defining boons of Hades. Graphics and sound are polished and helpful, but they do not advance the story.

Players who desire multiplayer roguelikes or fans of Hades who are seeking a co-op title can appreciate an alternative with SWORN. The game demonstrates that roguelikes can be a successful multiplayer experience, still featuring nice mechanics, smooth animation, and enjoyable dungeon crawls.

However, fans who prefer originality, narrative complexity, or quicker combat may find it less captivating. Objectively well but derivative, SWORN provides a solid and fun co-op roguelike gameplay experience, even if it leaves one with a bit of a sour taste for those seeking originality or depth in storytelling.

Overall, SWORN is excellent for those looking for something else to try out that is extremely similar to Hades, and want to try out playing Hades in co-op with their friends. It has a lot to offer, and I believe it is fun enough to overlook the bad taste that may be left due to its blatant plagiarism.