There’s certain genres of games that I’ve never took a dive with. I see people raving about the likes of Hollow Knight and Celeste, and wonder if I’d even click with them. Well, in recent years I’ve been gaining a like for roguelikes, so what better way to get me trying one of these 2D platform fighters than to make it one? Which is exactly what Gentle Giant have done when making Spiritfall, which is one of the games of the Jingle Jam Games Collection.

Starting it allowed me to find the groove of movement and combat before getting into a first run. Utilising regular attacks, dashes, and launchers, I quickly got to grips with it all. And so I was ready as the Omenforged, a mystical being chosen by the perennial flame to head deep into the brink and unseal the gate that has slowly been draining the Divine Gods of their powers.

Jumping through a portal to the outskirts, the first combat room presents a few foes to defeat. Once they are, I get my first divine spirit blessing. These blessings add to my combat abilities, providing attack boosts, elemental powers, and bonus attacks through movement options. Each Divine God has their own element, including the likes of nature and electricity.

Through the portal, I get a choice of where I want to go next on the board of branching paths. Whether that be to get another blessing, gather some dust (the currency for shops), or meet with shop owners to get new powers. Or restore health. Which, on this first run, I needed greatly. Just unfortunate I never found anywhere to do so, which ended in my death and restoration back at the sanctum that holds the perennial flame.

Across the run, there’s other things to find that can provide permanent upgrades, and it is here in the sanctum that those are spent. Among the permanent upgrades are new weapons. For as good as the starting hammer is, I quickly swapped out to magical fists made of blocks. And after a few more runs, I had my eye on the link blades. And I’m happy with my new choice of weapon.

Every weapon is unique in how it handles, whether on the ground or in the air. The link blades became a favourite for their combat flow. While all weapons have great flow in combat, the link blades can be thrown and attached onto an enemy, allowing for them to be brought to me or for me to zip to them to continue slashing at them. Ranged attacking in general is great with them, which is another bonus for attacking enemies above or below me.

All of those permanent upgrades make it so my future runs can go better. Not necessarily easier, since the temporary blessings and other random events within the runs themselves are what decides that. But even so, I was doing better on runs through not only those, but also slowly mastering the movement and combat. Learning when best to use a launching attack, when to dash away, and the like. Soon enough, I was at the first boss.

Across the run, some regular enemies will have shield gauges. These whittle down when attacking, though can be broken faster with launching attacks. For bosses, the same applies. But while regular enemies don’t have many attack patterns, bosses do. Along with the ability to regen their shield gauge. While all the combat in Spiritfall has strategy to it, bosses need a lot more. As such, it took me many more runs before I could beat the first boss and progress to the new area.

A run that had me get lucky with health increases and attack boosts. So that, when defeating the boss and progressing through the next area, I managed to get all the way to the second boss and almost defeated it before falling. And then found on my next few runs I wasn’t getting that lucky again. This being a roguelike, every run starts at the first outskirts area. Repeated runs through that first area showed how improved at the combat I was getting, which is always a bonus.

Spiritfall has given me a chance to engage with 2D platform fighters, and I like what I’ve experienced. A very great introduction to 2D platform fighters. Fast, fluid combat. Varied enemy designs. A wealth of options to consider when in runs for many strategies to progress. And some rather fun bosses, too. It is an easy recommendation that I can give to Spiritfall. It has certainly kept me engaged for as long as I’ve played.

Spiritfall is part of the Jingle Jam Games Collection. Jingle Jam, running from 1-14/December, is a charity event that helps support various charities each year. Various fundraisers are streaming across these two weeks, all to help raise awareness and funds for the charities. For donating £35 or more to the cause, you will get the Games Collection, which features this game along with 14 others. And a few extras, such as a Fanatical Wheel Spin.

Images Taken From:
Spiritfall | PC