El Coco for PS5, developed and published by Recotechnology S.L., delivers a haunting descent into a dreamlike abyss through a protagonist named Ky, a fragile lost soul navigating The Uncertain, a twisted limbo of forgotten memories and festering fears. This 3D action roguelike casts players in a nightmare-fueled struggle against mythical horrors drawn from folklore, blending folklore-inspired dread with relentless combat in a genre that thrives on repeated plunges into procedural peril.
The Gameplay ...
The roguelike gameplay loop revolves around diving into The Hole (or Pit), a multi-layered dungeon where each run demands survival through escalating challenges before a boss showdown. Players gather candles as a core currency to fuel progression, unlocking better gear and abilities mid-run while fending off swarms in arena-style encounters. Death resets the run, but persistent meta-upgrades ensure gradual empowerment, turning initial fragility into empowered rampages over time.
Core mechanics push fluid, high-stakes action. You can dodge-roll through enemy barrages, chain strikes in real-time hack-and-slash combat, and adapt via randomized loot like weapons, power-ups, trinkets, and relics that synergize for wild builds, perhaps a fairy-inspired projectile barrage or goblin-like tricks. Roguelike features shine through procedural level generation for fresh layouts each time with permadeath forcing quick learning, and risky "El Coco's Deals", or pacts with the titular nightmare king offering massive boons at steep costs, like temporary power spikes that might curse your mobility. Bosses cap runs with pattern-heavy fights, rewarding the mastery of crowd control and resource juggling.
The Presentation ...
Presentation impresses with an artistic style evoking pop-up storybooks and watercolor sketches, including simple, cartoonish shapes craft familiar yet eerie dioramas of corrupted fairy tales, from moon-confusing spirits to tooth-obsessed rodents, all warped by shadow. With environments pulse like living nightmares, and hand-drawn UI strokes enhancing the mood. The soundtrack weaves ethereal dread into tense rhythms, amplifying the descent's psychological weight without overpowering the action.
The Verdict ...
El Coco earns a strong buy for its tight content with dozens of runs unlocked by layered progression, folklore-rich lore, and build variety that keeps victories feeling earned. Replay value comes through endless randomization and deal gambles, though shorter campaigns might leave ultra-hardcore fans craving more endgame depth. It's perfect for roguelike enthusiasts craving atmospheric action with bite-sized terror sessions.
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