Deathless: The Hero Quest (PS5) | REVIEW | A Slavic Deckbuilding Roguelike With Character!!!

Deathless: The Hero Quest is a Slavic deckbuilding strategy RPG developed by 1C Game Studios and published by Fulqrum Publishing. This roguelike deck-building adventure based on real world mythology thrusts players into a vibrant world inspired by ancient tales, where they assemble powerful card decks, uncover mystical artifacts, and battle formidable foes to restore balance to the land of Belosvet. 

The Story ...

At its core, the game revolves around four distinct heroes including Varvara the Fair, a sly treasure hunter skilled in battlefield manipulation, Vasilisa the Wise, an elemental sorceress who summons ethereal aides, Dobrynya Nikitich, a stalwart bogatyr focused on defense and raw power, and Alyosha, a young warrior wielding starsteel weaponry and magical wands all of whom embark on epic quests to thwart encroaching darkness.

The included narrative weaves a compelling tale of heroism against tyranny, centering on the malevolent Koschey the Deathless, an immortal tyrant whose undead legions and monstrous minions ravage the realm. The four heroes, each with their own backstory and motivations, are summoned in a last ditch effort to traverse perilous paths, rally allies, and ultimately confront Koschey to shatter his grip on Belosvet. 

Deeply rooted in Slavic folklore, the story draws from mythic figures like bogatyrs and creatures such as vampires, witches, and basilisks, infusing the plot with whimsical yet eerie elements. Think enchanted braids, dragon-hide shields, and cursed forests. Things that evoke the rich oral traditions of Old Rus, blending fairy-tale charm with strategic depth.

The Gameplay ...

Navigating the game's menus reveals thoughtful design for progression and discovery. The Hero's Path serves as the backbone, outlining a multi-stage questline for each hero, typically spanning five key phases that build toward the final showdown, unlocking deeper lore and abilities along the way. Complementing this is the Lore Corner, a comprehensive hub functioning as both a reference guide and bestiary, cataloging collected relics, encountered creatures, and card details to immerse players in the world's mythology and mechanics.

A typical playthrough unfolds as a "Journey," where you select a hero and navigate a dynamic map with branching path options that are often presentd as three directions, each laden with randomized modifiers that can boost rewards like extra loot or impose challenges such as empowered enemies. These choices lead to encounters offering tangible rewards, including new cards or upgrades, while escalating toward mid-boss skirmishes against elite foes and climactic boss battles that test your deck's synergy. 

Core to the experience are the card mechanics, where combat is turn-based and revolves around managing AP (Action Points), a resource pool you spend to deploy cards for attacks, buffs, or debuffs, with opportunities to recover or expand it through clever plays. Cards can be upgraded to enhance their effects or transformed into variants within the same category as post-battle rewards, adding layers of customization. Each hero individually wields a deck tailored to their fighting style, from Vasilisa's summon-focused arsenal to Varvara's debuff-heavy tricks, ensuring varied strategies. 

Defeating enemies yields relics or potent passive items that provide buffs like armor boosts or enemy weaknesses, and consumables which are single-use tools for mid-fight advantages without costing AP. The stats system meticulously tracks your exploits, logging each Journey's battles, accumulated EXP for unlocks, defeated bosses, and fully completed questlines per hero, while tallying feats like challenge completions to generate an overall performance score that encourages optimization.

The Presentation ...

Visually, the game shines with a polished, colorful aesthetic that employs cartoon-style animations to bring its Slavic-inspired designs to life. The heroes and monsters boast expressive, folklore-infused models, from grotesque undead to enchanting sorceresses, all rendered in a cheery yet atmospheric palette that nods to traditional tales. The soundtrack elevates this with evocative compositions reminiscent of epic fantasy scores, blending folk instruments and orchestral swells to heighten tension and triumph.

The Verdict ...

Ultimately, Deathless: The Hero Quest delivers a robust package of strategic depth and narrative flair, bolstered by high replay value through its roguelike randomness, hero variety, and feat-driven challenges that invite countless runs to master every path and unlock all secrets. It's best suited for fans of deck-building roguelikes like Slay the Spire who crave a folklore twist, or anyone drawn to tactical card battles with a cultural heritage tied to it. It's something perfect for strategy enthusiasts seeking bite-sized yet addictive sessions.