Striving for Light Impressions
Striving for Light’s execution obscures the game’s conceptual potential.
Striving for Light. Igniting Spark Games
I went into Striving for Light by German developer Igniting Spark Games expecting something that could scratch the same dungeon-crawling action RPG itch as Diablo, based on what I had seen of the game. I’m not crazy about build-crafting in games, but the idea of an infinite randomized skill tree in a roguelite context was intriguing. What I found was a game with ambitious ideas hampered by execution issues that made it difficult for me to appreciate the potential that might be lurking underneath.
The game is an action RPG roguelite with a procedurally generated world and skill tree. You battle through dark environments while collecting loot and shaping your character through this unique tree system that grows as you play. It's the kind of idea that sounds great on paper.
Striving for Light. Igniting Spark Games
The problem is that interacting with these skill systems feels like wrestling with the game rather than playing it. I assume the game was designed for mouse and keyboard first; attempting to use a controller to drive the menus turns the experience into an exercise in frustration. Sometimes the interface requires you to use a pointer-style cursor, other times it doesn't, creating an inconsistent experience that suggests the developer bolted on controller support as an afterthought. Aside from the control issues, Striving for Light doesn’t do a very good job of explaining the inner workings of the systems.
The gameplay itself feels stiff and clunky in ways that immediately turned me off. Movement lacks the fluid responsiveness you expect from this type of action RPG, and combat doesn't have the satisfying weight that would make it feel good, no matter the weapon type or attack speed my character had. Everything feels just slightly off. Attacks don't connect with proper impact, movement feels sluggish, and the overall flow never quite clicks into that satisfying rhythm. The sprite animations and visual effects don’t do anything to improve the feel of the gameplay and physics.
Striving for Light. Igniting Spark Games
The game had to work truly hard to get me hooked after how much the look turned me off. Despite the hand-drawn approach, Striving for Light simply isn't a good-looking game. The art style feels rough around the edges in ways that detract from the experience. Everything looks a little odd or goofy, made worse by the stiff animations. The colors are muddy, and there’s no sense of depth.
Striving for Light. Igniting Spark Games
I can see what Striving for Light is trying to accomplish, but the game made it unappealing for me to dig in further. Between the unwieldy and confusing interface, clunky gameplay, and unattractive presentation, I found myself bouncing off before I could get invested enough to explore Striving for Light deeply.
Striving for Light is available now on Steam.
Played on: Steam Deck
