Gatekeeper: A Promising Roguelike with a Unique Perspective

Gatekeeper draws clear inspiration from Risk of Rain but manages to carve out its own unique identity. During my time with the Steam Next Fest demo, I had the opportunity to dive into Gatekeeper’s world, shoot down enemies, and collect valuable items to enhance my abilities.

One standout feature of Gatekeeper is its captivating soundtrack. The drum ‘n bass tracks add a pulsating energy to the gameplay, creating an immersive experience. Even as I write this article with the demo paused in the background, I can still feel the rhythm urging me to return and face the inevitable challenges that await.

Gatekeeper’s gameplay mechanics strike a balance between intuitive and challenging. The abilities have enough bullet magnetism to make landing attacks feel natural, but not so much that players can mindlessly spam attacks. From slow-moving golems to homing droids, the enemies require players to strategically kite and prioritize targets. This adds an element of strategy to the fast-paced bullet hell gameplay.

Leveling up by collecting XP in Gatekeeper is a significant aspect of the game. Players can enhance their HP, damage, regeneration, movement speed, and cooldown reduction, which influences their item preferences and provides a sense of character progression beyond the items themselves. Additionally, abilities can be upgraded, increasing their area-of-effect or adding additional effects such as burn damage.

The game offers a variety of objectives to keep the gameplay engaging. In my playthrough, I encountered a miniboss, defended charging totems from waves of enemies, collected and deposited ancient keys, and endured horde modes with specific kill counts. While the levels may lack some depth, their design complements the flow of the game, ensuring that items and enemies are easily visible.

Gatekeeper may not be the most groundbreaking roguelike, but it adeptly combines various innovative ideas into an enjoyable experience. Its inclusion on my wishlist ahead of its Q1 2024 launch is well-deserved. Furthermore, players can also try the free prologue version, which boasts an impressive ‘very positive’ rating on Steam with nearly 3,800 reviews, offering a taste of what the full game has to offer.

In conclusion, Gatekeeper’s unique perspective, engaging gameplay mechanics, and captivating soundtrack make it a promising addition to the roguelike genre. Whether playing solo or with friends, this game offers an exciting and challenging experience that is worth keeping an eye on.