Vellum Review
Fix manuscripts by blasting the corrupted errors with magical ink in roguelite shooter Vellum from Alvios Games.
Vellum. Alvios Games
Vellum is a literary-themed, chaotic roguelite arena shooter. You play as a magical scribe battling corrupted story fragments, fixing the text with spells powered by magical ink. As you proceed through a run, you won’t just buff yourself with improved attacks and stats; you’ll also be forced to decide how enemies will grow more powerful through their own boosts.
The roguelite structure is familiar. From the hub world, you can choose the ink you’ll use, each one a class representing a different playstyle, and then select which spells from that color you’ll equip for attacks and movement. Choose a tome, then jump in to begin your run. Runs take around half an hour, during which you’ll earn currency to upgrade your spells and passives back at the hub.
Vellum. Alvios Games
One of the game’s most interesting systems is its enemy evolution mechanic. As you finish portions of a run, you’ll be forced to choose from a set of options on how enemies will become stronger. They can buff each other, arrive with shields, explode on death, and more. It forces you to carefully consider what buffs you’ll choose for yourself during the run.
Combat is fluid and fast, with spells that hit hard. I had an especially good time with the poisonous ink that damages over time. Enemies are relentless and fast, forcing you to move and dodge constantly lest you quickly get overwhelmed. I played solo, but the game supports co-op, and I could tell that it would be an excellent experience.
Vellum. Alvios Games
Vellum’s graphics are simple but vibrant. While enemies are monochromatic and feel a bit generic, the design of the scribes is creative. The fountain pen-shaped heads and the floating spell books give the scribes a distinct silhouette. A lot is going on during the chaotic battles, and I appreciate the choice to keep the visuals fairly simple, as it makes the action more legible. The colorful ink-based attacks you throw around and all the accompanying particle effects, as well as all the enemies, can create a lot of visual noise.
Within its simple structure, Vellum contains a lot of variety thanks to the ways it lets you shape your playstyle with its inks and spells. The game will continue to grow as the developers update and expand it. It promises to be even better with the online co-op supporting up to four players, which I plan to try soon.
Vellum is available now on Steam.
Overall Score: 7/10
Played on: Steam Deck
