DeVuego ES_COR

Overall, while for a vintage gamer like me Lords of Exile checked a ton of boxes, I’ll concede that retro throwbacks like this don’t have guaranteed appeal. People used to more modern titles like Dead Cells that are true descendents of this mold, rather than looking to emulate it directly, may not be as enthused. Initially, settling back into the old-school and more 2-button style of controls and limited character versatility can be a challenge, but to be fair this is an implementation choice and not a flaw. Keeping that in mind, if you’re willing to embrace the look and feel of yesteryear, this is a terrific option.

Lords of Exile is a solid old-school-style 2D action game on Nintendo Switch. It’s a game that mixes 8-bit visuals and a 16-bit gameplay feel with a Sega Genesis/Megadrive soundtrack for an excellent experience that you should definitely check out. Once you beat the game, you’ll unlock the additional character, Lyria, along with Boss Rush Mode and Speed Runner Mode. 

When I reflect on my initial engagement with Lords of Exile, I was so excited and genuinely thrilled to be playing a retro metroidvania that both captured the feel and the thrill of being in that classic headspace, and that’s the position I want to remember. While I can’t recommend stopping and starting this game, it’s best to approach it as you would any NES game. Get fully immersed in the darkness and the frustration and just enjoy that momentum that comes from singularly reliving a time where gaming was simpler. Just rock out to the violence and know that not every game has to be a sixty hour long campaign. For just a handful of hours, be Vengeance, and then go back to your spreadsheets. It’s worth it.

Lords of Exile is a relatively fun, but not particularly noteworthy, NES-like. If you’re itching for some old-school Castlevania gameplay, you’ll probably find something to like here, but for the rest of you, there are more robust offerings out there.