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Heart&Slash

Heart&Slash

AHEARTFULOFGAMES · released Aug 9, 2016

ActionAdventureIndiePCPlayStation 4Xbox OneNintendo Switch

Fight as Heart, an innocent robot fighting to escape the grip of mindless machines in a future where humans are no more. A fast-paced 3D brawler with roguelike elements set in a colorful yet desolated world.

74
VGC Score
·No trend datamedium confidence
72%
At launch
81%
Steam all-time
70%
Press
100%
Recent sentiment

Screenshots & trailers

Review sentiment over time

Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.

How this score was computed

The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (OpenCritic)707
All-time Steam reviews81%75321
Metacritic user ratings0
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)100%971
Calibration prior (typical game)7250

Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 2 reviews sampled · 2 total reviews in window · weighted 1.9 up / 0 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (29)

Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.

  • 60
    trust 70Dec 24, 2017

    Overall while Heart & Slash has some issues, the most concerning being that it is currently a bit crash-prone, it does a fairly good job of applying roguelike concepts to a brawler. While permadeath is obviously a guarantee the fact that you can carry over upgrades between games is a great benefit and since you’re consistently rewarded with new gear unlocks you’re heavily encouraged to continue to take on fights that are tough. If you love a stiff challenge and are willing to be patient with it Heart & Slash does pay off with some hard-won fun.

    read full review ↗
  • 60
    trust 69Aug 1, 2016

    Heart&Slash has some enjoyable moments. The weapon and armour unlocks coupled with the randomly generated levels will keep you coming back, but ultimately, the experience is let down by unfair encounters and repetitive combat. It's a quirky combination of roguelike and brawler that will leave fans of either genre disappointed.

    read full review ↗
  • 50
    trust 69Jan 5, 2018

    The first number of rounds that wasted my time, the multiple crashes and camera problems are just too big to overlook. It is such a shame, because the arsenal and action feels so grand. Maybe in time, and with an update, Heart&Slash is something I could adore.

    read full review ↗
  • 60
    trust 68Jun 28, 2016

    Heart&Slash is a fun game marred by issues that should not plague this type of game. Frame rate stutters, a sporadic camera, and a seemingly useless dodge roll are almost dealbreakers in an action game of this type. Still, when I had a good run it felt good, and I can see the intentions of what the team was trying to achieve.

    read full review ↗
  • 75
    trust 65Jul 7, 2016

    All in all, Heart&Slash is a fun brawler rogue-lite with a quirky and charming presentation, it has a good sense of humour and a lot to offer fans of both genres. The unique elements it brings to the table definitely make the genre more approachable.

    read full review ↗
  • 40
    trust 65Aug 10, 2016

    Hearth&Slash has a lot of great ideas. On paper, a Devil May Cry roguelike is probably one of the most amazing ideas ever. Unfortunately, the reality of that idea never lives up to that promise. The roguelike features were relatively basic compared to games like Rogue Legacy.  The action gameplay was nowhere near as satisfying as Metal Gear Rising. In the end, Heart & Slash just made me wish I was playing one of those games instead of this one.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 64Nov 24, 2016

    This game is a perfect example of what a Kickstarter games should be. The controls are responsive, it looks amazing, and they understood their scope of production. A great Rougelike that can appeal to so many different aspects of other action genres, it makes for a good entry point of roguelike gaming. Hands down, this has to be one of the best games to come out of Kickstarter, and one of the better roguelikes release.

    read full review ↗
  • 75
    trust 63Aug 12, 2016

    A fun third person roguelite that you will pick up to play a round and spend far too long trying to get just that bit further.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 61Jul 5, 2016

    Heart&Slash successfully transitions roguelike gameplay into the third-dimension with its fluid, fast-paced (and challenging) combat

    read full review ↗
  • 40
    trust 61Jul 5, 2016

    Heart&Slash probably would be a lot more fun if it wasn't a roguelike. Its weapons are really cool, the combat has some potential and the light RPG elements are rather neat. If the level design was more deliberate and there were checkpoints instead of permadeath, it may have negated some of Heart&Slash’s biggest issues. A good roguelike is constantly challenging but always fair., This one is just provides cheap frustration.

    read full review ↗
  • 68
    trust 61Jun 23, 2016

    An interesting roguelike proposal that falls flat because of its combat mechanics and dull graphics. Besides that, it's an excellent choice for those who seek a challenge.

    read full review ↗
  • 75
    trust 61Jun 27, 2016

    Overall, Heart&Slash is a fast-paced 3D brawler with roguelike elements that will kick your behind and leave you with a big smile on your face.

    read full review ↗

…and 17 more tracked reviews.

Patch history

  1. UPDATE #61: CAMERA AND SOUNDS
    Feb 28, 2018significant · resets scoring window
  2. UPDATE #61: CAMERA AND SOUNDS
    Feb 28, 2018significant · resets scoring window
  3. ENDLESS DUNGEON UPDATE #2
    Dec 18, 2017significant · resets scoring window
  4. ENDLESS DUNGEON UPDATE #2
    Dec 18, 2017significant · resets scoring window
  5. UPDATE #48: HEADS LOCK-ON, BALANCING AND FIXES
    Aug 6, 2016significant · resets scoring window
  6. UPDATE #48: HEADS LOCK-ON, BALANCING AND FIXES
    Aug 6, 2016significant · resets scoring window
  7. UPDATE #46: RELEASE DATE AND PRICE, LEVEL 3 CHANGES AND OTHERS
    Jul 31, 2016significant · resets scoring window

…and 54 earlier patch announcements.