I can see the Switch version being the same, especially as I can sit and play anywhere in handheld, loving the exploration and subtle, environmental storytelling. I had already spent hours and hours and hours playing Salt and Sanctuary on PS4, filling the character slots completely as I tried out different character builds and weapon sets (including transmuted weapons, which is where you use special items such as the ear of a boss, to change a weapon into a more powerful version). Luckily this is extremely rare, but no less frustrating when it happens. Everything here is fine for the most part, except for rare moments when a button wouldn’t register, with one example leading to a long fall and a decidedly squishy end. You can have two sets equipped at a time I usually go for a sword and board set, with a larger, two-handed weapon as the second set. The controls fit the Joy-Cons very well, with the face buttons used for attacking and jumping the shoulder buttons used for rolling and blocking, as well as item usage and weapon swapping. That signature Ska Studios art direction helps to keep things looking darkly beautiful, no matter what. It’s still present when docked too, where it looks a bit blurry but nothing too detrimental. It’s rarely ever an issue though, as it doesn’t seem to drop below 30fps and it’s only ever for a few seconds at a time. ![]() It looks sharp and runs at a mostly solid 60 frames-per-second, with only a few dips during more particle-intensive moments, and especially when you beat a boss and the “vanquished” message takes up almost the entire screen. I spent most of my time playing Salt & Sanctuary in handheld, where it really shines. It’s a long run too, making you realise just how big the island is. The world is surprisingly huge and interconnected, with one particular shortcut heading back from the final area of the game, to one of the earliest places you visit. ![]() You can still dodge-roll and parry, but there’s more to it than being an homage to other titles. So far, so Souls, right? It’s true that the gameplay is very similar to FromSoftware’s games, even with a few nods here and there (there’s basically a Bloodborne outfit in there), but the 2D, sidescrolling perspective and the more platformy nature of the gameplay, makes for a more fast-paced experience. After washing up on the island, you’ll be forced to survive by battling said beasties and using their salt to make your character stronger and your weapons more deadly. Ska Studios’ game is a side-scrolling action RPG with platform elements, taking place on a mysterious island filled with undead beasties and Lovecraftian nightmares. It mixes together elements of Castlevania and Dark Souls, creating a game that is incredibly well designed and is easily as compelling as anything from either of the series that it draws inspiration from. Salt and Sanctuary is a game that deserves to be played. Originally released on PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and PC platforms and scored 9/10 All throughout, Ska Studios maintains their house style - hand-drawn sprites, inky blacks, and a droning metal soundtrack.This week’s Re:Port Review features Gary Bailey discussing how the fantastic Salt and Sanctuary is on the Switch while I look at tinyBuild’s Hello Neighbor and Cosmic Star Heroine from Limited Run Games and Zeboyd Games. It adapts the combat of both games and applies them to a massive 2D adventure reminiscent of Symphony of the Night. Salt & Sanctuary, meanwhile, splits the difference between the fast action of Bloodborne and the slow and steady pace of Dark Souls. A previous game of theirs, The Dishwasher, was a brilliant interpretation of Ninja Gaiden Black on a 2D plane. Ska Studios have mastered the art of the lovingly crafted 2D homage. Now, with the game’s arrival on Switch, and the Dark Souls Remastered release still well over a month away, it may be the perfect time to give this game another look. For many, that timing probably caused Salt & Sanctuary to fly under their radar. For a Ska Studios fan and Dark Souls-lover like myself, this was enough time that I still sing the game’s praises today. ![]() Back in March 2016, Salt & Sanctuary released a mere nine days before Dark Souls 3.
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