Star of Providence

Very addictive and fun, like a less gory/disturbing Binfing of Isaac mixed with classic NES shmup vibes. DUNKEY YA DONE IT AGAIN

this is a sleeper best game of all-time. if you like roguelikes that compel you to press on to discover the weird and wonderful secrets of it, then buy this game. it now comes with the massive DLC expansion (that truly makes the game what it is when i got into it) as part of the full thing, with apparently another on the way if I do remember correctly! there's a lot I wish I could put into words about this game, but it is truly special... though to highlight somethings: it has an amazing OST, incredible spritework, well-polished and intricate unique gameplay mechanics, fun shmup/bullet hell combat, a surprisingly compelling narrative and world, some very stupid but fun humor, and A LOT more than what meets the eye. if you must pick it up on a sale go for it, but at $15 USD, it is an INSANE steal

Any roguelike bullet hell is always going to have a tough time impressing me because I have to ask "Why not play Gungeon instead?" Fortunately, Star of Providence is one of the few that had a compelling answer. Simplicity. It's a short and sweet roguelike. It's very easy to blast through several runs because floors are quick to clear, upgrades are easy to understand, and bosses make very short work of you. My average run of this game probably ranges in the 20-30 minute range. That's not to say that is has no complexity. The weapon swapping mechanic specifically comes to mind in how it keeps you on your toes, and Star of Providence always encourages you to clear areas faster and cleaner with each run. However, where this game really shines is the boss fights. There is an impressive variety of classically-inspired, but innovative shmup boss fights. It's a real treat to see these fights play out for the first time, and they're hard enough to keep your skills sharp through repeat runs. However, Star of Providence does really keep to the short and sweet style. Beating the true final boss once or twice only took me ~10 hours to do, and I was done with it by that point. I'm sure there's more optional content, but the simplistic loop of its runs does grow a bit old. Not every rougelike is meant to be played forever, and Star of Providence is a good example of that idea. However, if you do like shmups or bullet hell games, then it's a pretty fun time!