Worldless is a metroidvania focused on precise and hard-hitting action. It is also a platform and exploration game. And, furthermore, it has a magnificent visual section, minimalist and full of details. I’m talking about the first video game developed by the independent studio Noname Studios, located in Barcelona.
Sometimes, it is best to focus and cover what is necessary. With four clear and successful mechanics you can make a great game and it is not necessary to add layers and layers of superficiality that only cloud the experience. Worldless is basically this: 2D platforming, metroidvania-style exploration, and a lot of emphasis on combat.
And, it is precisely in combat, where all the elements intersect and make more sense. Worldless’s matchup system mixes turn-based with real-time action. To make it easy: when it is your turn, you can take offensive actions, while during the enemy’s turn you can only defend yourself. Depending on your skills and performance, your shifts last more or less time.
As you progress through this abstract world, you will find upgrades for the protagonist, which will help him during exploration and combat. Additionally, you can also unlock new abilities by defeating final bosses. On the other hand, Worldless’s combat is designed to be complicated, but without being frustrating. For example, there is no game over state if you fail against an enemy.
Behind this game and Noname Studios there is a well-known surname in the video game sector in Barcelona. Joel Roset, the creative and animation director of Worldless, is the brother of Conrad Roset, the creator of Gris. Although the last name seems to be not the only thing they have in common. Both Gris and Worldless are visual and auditory delights, quite different games that, in their own way, transport us to fantasy worlds where we want to be.
In Gris, perhaps, all the weight falls on the shapes, the landscapes and the music. While Worldless has a much more mechanical approach in which improving and learning is key to the gaming experience. In one of the promotional videos, Joel Roset says that “there is no traditional system to level up, but it is knowledge of the game that makes the difference.”
Here come concepts like a version of the style meter from the Devil May Cry franchise that encourages the player to try new combos and change their attack combinations to make them cooler and more effective. Additionally, enemies have various weaknesses and resistances that the player must be aware of and control. Each confrontation is full of small details that can make the difference.
Worldless arrives tomorrow, November 21, on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch and PC.