Hello, everyone! Today, I want to share my thoughts on Below the Stone, a new pixel art roguelike game developed by Mike Strollart. A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of interviewing Mike for an episode of Fritzy's Indie Spotlight, and today's post is a recap of that interview. After our interview Mike provided me with a copy of the demo to try out. If you're interested in learning more about the game's creation process, make sure to check out that episode.
One of the standout features of Below the Stone is the ability to explore a deep and mysterious world full of secrets and treasures that only the most determined players will uncover. The game's punishing roguelike gameplay, which challenges players to descend deeper into the depths with each playthrough, creates a sense of tension and excitement that keeps players coming back for more.
A feature of Below the Stone that really stood out to me was the variety of creatures that players encounter in each biome. With each descent, the game pits you against more cunning creatures and more dangerous biomes. However, this is also where you'll find greater rewards to mine and uncover. It was exciting to see new creatures in each biome, each with their own distinct challenges and attack patterns, making each descent feel like anew adventure. Whether you're battling giant spiders in a dark cave or fending off a group of goblins while trying to escape, each encounter keeps you on your toes and adds to the overall sense of danger and excitement in the game.
A future exciting aspect of the game is the ability to mine rare gems that grant magical buffs and can be socketed to your weapons and armor. Although this feature was not available in the demo I played, the planned ability to merge gems together to create more powerful versions adds another layer of depth and strategy to the game.
