Lichdom: Battlemage - Early Review @PC Gamer

PC Game has a new review for the Early Access version of Lichdom: Battlemage.

Lichdom: Battlemage review (Early Access)

Although Xaviant plans to add more enemy types and several additional levels, the alpha’s already-mature magic system is Lichdom’s real draw at the moment. The developer’s claim to offer up to 12 hours of game time in the alpha feels about right, depending on how long it takes to learn the basics of spellcrafting. The version I played was stable, but had at least one spell upgrade bug and an issue that saw NPCs sometimes disappear when replaying a level.

Lichdom is an unfinished, but pretty-looking and complex action RPG. The story’s focus on revenge pushes me to seek out power and devise new ways to burn, smash, and corrupt my enemies. It’s a classic wizarding tale, but one that fits Lichdom’s look and feel almost perfectly. With a lot more guidance from the game for a player’s initial playthrough, I’m hopeful the full release will live up to its obvious ambition.

Verdict

A punchy and difficult first-person action RPG with a story I want to see to the end. I’d wait for the full release so that all the time invested in mastering the game’s deep magic system can be used to experience the complete adventure.

Outlook

Good. Lichdom is set to enter beta in late July before its August 26 launch. The full game should see multiple new levels, more varied enemies, and additional tutorials. With more explanation in-game about the workings of its crafting mechanic, the result could be spectacular.