Chaotic new roguelite puts a unique 2D slash-em-up spin on Vampire Survivors at just $4 on Steam
The publisher of Vampire Survivors, the fast-paced bullet-hell roguelike that rose to popularity thanks largely to the Valve Steam Deck and other gaming handhelds, just released its latest game, which was developed by indie studio, Nao Games. Berserk or Die is a mash-up of the premise of Vampire Survivors, the 2D side-scroller gameplay of a Metroidvania, and the fast-paced spectacle combat of a slash-em-up.
Berserk or Die features some strange combat mechanics
The general premise of Berserk or Die is quite simple: You are the last remaining soldier, and you must fight your way through hordes of approaching enemies for as long as you can. However, there is more to it than that. For starters, the control scheme is unorthodox, to say the least; instead of precise controls dictating movements, attacks, and combos, Berserk or Die asks players to mash the keyboard to attack. Given that you're on your last leg, attacking is your only way to move — hence "Berserk or Die" — and you can only attack to the left or right. That's not to say there's no nuance to attacking, since mashing more keys at once means your attacks go further and affect more enemies.
It isn't all button mashing, either, since players can buy better gear and upgrade their skills at the store — if they survive that long, at least. There are also special moves that players can use by stacking combos and timing attacks just so. Berserk or Die also supports gamepads, so handhelds, like the Lenovo Legion Go (curr. $599.99 on Amazon) would also be a viable option.
Players can also choose between a number of historical figures to play as, and the weapons selection includes swords, katanas, greataxes, and staves. The visuals of Berserk or Die are a unique mix of pixel graphics, smooth, flashy animations, and chaotic particle and lighting effects.
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