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Perennial Order is a cruel and melancholy affair jam-packed with captivating lore. Furthermore, it has an all-consuming claustrophobic edge. This mixture of uncomfortable environments and spectacular storytelling has you hooked immediately. However, the unfair and never-ending boss battles will test even the most battle-hardened veterans.
This plant-based horror souls-like was developed by Gardenfiend Games and published by SOEDESCO. Furthermore, it is a single-player or cooperative title that will make you scream over and over and over again. Yet, it is this bullish and brutal approach that makes it spectacularly addictive. Additionally, the sense of reward when you finally overcome your adversaries is euphoric.
Perennial Order highlights an epic battle.
Man Vs. environment is something that we are all familiar with. At every opportunity, we decimate every tree, plant, and living thing in our path. However, the plants are fed up and they are fighting back. Consequently, humanity is on the brink and the titular knight must lead this final charge to restore order between man and plant.
The Monarch Mother reanimates your broken soul into a mutated Perennial knight. This half-plant half-human hodgepodge is remarkably nimble, but horribly vulnerable as well. Though they may be a deadly killing machine, their fragile body only takes one hit. Subsequently, the stomp of a foot or the slash of a blade is enough to end your life. It is this vulnerability that keeps you on your toes and makes you scream like a banshee throughout.
Exceptional gameplay.
This love letter to Dark Souls and Hollow Knights is borderline unfair. Yet, if you can master each pattern of the bosses that you encounter, you’ll enjoy a phenomenal and rewarding boss rush experience. It isn’t this endorphin-inducing action that stands out, though. No, it is the wonderful, albeit linear adventure and the beautifully punctuated lore that makes Perennial Order special and spectacular.
NPCs are dotted around the world and are more than happy to burden you with their stories. These poetic encounters are strange but interesting. The bitty lore moments take some piecing together, but with a little effort, you soon understand what has happened and why you are bringing peace to a plant-based apocalyptic world.
The Birchwood stinger and your instincts.
The hero has a Birchwood stinger infused into their arm. This razor-sharp weapon slashes and thrusts each boss like a rapier. Furthermore, they can time a perfect attack by filling an action bar. Though this was undeniably simple, it helps when you are mastering every hellish boss attack pattern. The stinger has a full 360° range that is controlled via an analogue stick. This accurate and responsive approach keeps you in tune with the hero whilst helping you find the balance to complete each encounter.
Alongside your weapon are 3 wisps that represent a form of stamina. As you dash, you use a wisp’s power. They quickly replenish, but you must be mindful not to leave yourself exposed by dashing and dodging unnecessarily. This was great as it added another tactical layer that prevented hack-and-slash action from creeping in. Thankfully, you can unlock instincts that improve the efficiency of your wisps to improve your chances.
The instincts form the basis of your ability tree. Each instinct enhances your character and changes your play style. Furthermore, they consume memory slots so your initial build is limited. However, as you explore or complete challenges, you can increase your memory slots and the abilities of the hero. This was a great way to balance the challenging action without removing too many souls-like touches.
Perennial Order looks incredible.
I haven’t touched upon the hulking beasts or the deadly nature of the surrounding world. Perennial Order does a fantastic job of creating unique and hideous monsters. Moreover, the hero has a twisted aesthetic that is strangely alluring. The half-plant, half-skeletal human finish is grim to the eye. However, it is nothing compared with the bosses you fight. These huge entities leap, stomp, and squelch across their lairs.
The attack patterns are often challenging to memorise, but the developers have made each movement clear and this was appreciated. Before every attack or traversal section is a telltale sign. Though it may not be obvious at first, a keen eye will spot the clues. Between each boss encounter you must explore a grim and claustrophobic world. The overbearing plants encroach upon your path and avoiding them is essential. The spiky tendrils will cut you down in a heartbeat. As such, you must remain alert even when you are not tackling a boss.
The atmosphere is enhanced by the incredible audio. The soundtrack has a daunting and sinister edge that highlights your impending doom. Like the surrounding world, there are few glimpses of hope. Accordingly, you must endure each melancholy track as you traverse the uncomfortable world. The sound effects enhance the brilliant soundscape with their crunching edge. The slash of your sword and the whoosh of your feeble body as you dash were fantastic.
Excellent controls.
Though the world can be challenging to navigate, the top-down perspective and the excellent controls keep you on track. Additionally, there is a pleasant learning curve and a thorough tutorial to get you started. This was amazing as the first few bosses felt accessible and easy to overcome. However, as I quickly discovered, this sense of simplicity was short-lived and every boss quickly kicked my ass.
The boss rush mode and cooperative action enhance both replay value and longevity. Though I spent a lot of time playing this alone, I enjoyed the smooth nature of the cooperative action. If you are a perfectionist, Perennial Order will push you to your limits. The one-strike-and-dead rule is unbelievably tough to swallow and an unbeaten run against each boss will be a remarkable feat.
Perennial Order is a top game from a tiny team.
Creating a game in this harrowing genre is no mean feat. Getting everything right is challenging as its fan base knows what they want. Thankfully, Perennial Order gets its approach just right. The vulnerable hero must use their new abilities to overcome their weaknesses. Furthermore, avoiding deadly plants and other obstacles in a harsh environment will push you to the edge. The boss battles are tough but fair and the drip-fed lore is interesting and captivating. Accordingly, I love it and I recommend buying it here! Are you tough enough to complete your task? Study your foes, master your abilities, and bring peace and order to a broken world.
