I’ve heard about that and through multiplayer have been able to experience it. Honestly I prefer the base game without either DLC. Even the Void DLC is too chaotic for my taste.
My goodness this game feels like it was made for me. I feel the magic of Zelda (LttP, maybe Link’s Awakening) and Dark Souls, and I would say the game wears those influences on its sleeve.
The game drops you into the world with no explanation. Signs are in a foreign language. You can collect pieces of the instruction manual which includes map pieces. The manual is littered with the occasional word in English, just enough to guess at what you can / need to do. There’s basically no hand-holding at all. Combat is similar in that it can be difficult if you find yourself in an area you aren’t ready for yet (like I did).
There are lots of hidden pathways, ladders and chests to find. They do a good job of showing you treasure chests and shortcuts that are just out of reach, and you have to really observe and think about how to navigate to get there. To me the world design has big Dark Souls 1 energy in that way - already I’ve had that same “omg it’s Firelink Shrine?!” experience as I explore and open up paths.
The 100 hour mark is a tough one to hit - even some of the best games I’ve played aren’t that long or replayable, and the ones that are usually cost more than $10. Still, here are some to check out if you want. I’ll list the price on Steam in Canadian dollars and my current total play time.
The Messenger - on sale for $5.19 - 35 hours
Infinitode 2 - Free to play - 47 hours
Ori and the Blind Forest - on sale for $6.24 - 23 hours
Risk of Rain 2 - on sale for $9.56 - 81 hours (new to my library, less than 1 month)
Graphics have never been a priority for me, they’re more like an inevitable side effect of technology advancing. Luckily there is no shortage of good old games, and a lot of smaller studios are making amazing titles with older art styles / less demanding specs.
Not sure if it’s been done already, but Zelda LttP would be cool. I haven’t played Echoes of Wisdom though I like the art style and could see it working well.
I got stuck on a tough boss for a while, so I replayed some earlier levels to level up my character. We’re back in business. It didn’t even feel like a grind since each area/battle is short and gameplay feels great. Maybe 15 minutes to get the 2 level ups I needed. I’m enjoying the steady increase in difficulty and how new enemies are introduced. The game does a good job of making you assess the situation and use the techniques available to overcome it. There’s even some fire/environmental hazards that can be used to your advantage.
Fae Tactics
Also got stuck on a (boss?) fight, so I took some time to rearrange my party and spells to get some better elemental synergy and buffs and it worked! Definitely feels rewarding and, well, tactful.