Platform(s): PC (version reviewed), PS5, PS4
Genre: 2D, Retro, Action, Castlevania tribute

Old-school players yearning for the days of 2D NES-style platform and vampire-killing action are in a good place, with dozens of indie games (usually on PC) mimicking and/or paying tribute to that formula throughout the years. Lillymo Games’ latest, Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege, is no exception. It goes the very traditional route of linear stages with multitudes of challenges, some reworked controls so that the experience isn’t completely frustrating yet tethered between fun and challenging, and even options to forgo all that accessibility nonsense and just stay “classic”.

Soldier On

You play as ex-soldier Rudiger who ends up wielding the Spear of Sacrilege (instead of the tried-and-true-to-90s super-powered whip), saving the Holy Roman Empire from corrupt priest Father Pacer. The way the game is paced out narratively is well-done, as each stage you go through from start to finish shows a lot of the supernatural escalation Rudiger has to experience without breaking 2D immersion. The writing, while brief, is also as eloquent though it knows to let the pixel art do the talking. And it is detailed and full of life, while also game-affecting. Interactable switches, enemy corpses that leave putrid meat that hurts you when accidentally collected, killable villagers if you are too trigger-happy with your spear, and even your corpse on display if you died on the same level over and over. Lillymo Games had a history of making lovely and arcade-centric 2D games, and it’s safe to say they haven’t lost their touch.

Ditto the gameplay too, which is a combination of old and new 2D action tropes that would fit well in today’s retro-savvy crowd. Rudiger has reach with his attacks, can use a pogo-stick move to get through spike traps, and even collect Rosary Beads to use powered-up moves. The currency you collect for buying power-ups and tips to level secrets carries over level to level, so you can either spend early for easier gameplay, or just save it all for the last few gruelling sections.

Level design is creative and punchy, while not relying on repetition so that each stage gimmick does not wear out its welcome. There’s a maze stage involving a giant torture dungeon as its backdrop. There’s a giant hallway that you have to go from bottom to top, with failure to make the jumps meaning you have to start from the bottom. My favourite stage involves a gondola you have to manually operate while spearing flying foes left and right, ready to push you off.

Did I also mention that this is the type of 2D retro throwback title where you get pushed back if you get hit by anything? Add that and you already have a methodically-planned slow-paced action game where pausing and thinking does help once in a while amidst the onslaught of flying ghosts and dogs that transform into tanky werewolves. Frankly, it’s all really fun for the first few hours or so thanks to its controls that hearken back to the “stiff” old days and its love for the source material which is clearly Konami’s Castlevania titles, albeit with that needed Roman Empire twist.

At Stake

Replayable as heck thanks to its multiple endings alongside an extra playable character, you’ll have a ball with the spear-stabbing action and downward thrusting going on in this clear ode to NES Castlevania 1 to 3, complete with a rockin’ Ricoh 2A03-esque synth soundtrack. This is provided you jive with that period of gaming. Lesser players need not apply, though there’s a code for 99 lives you can input if you have no shame with these assists.

Final Score: 80/100

Review copy provided by publisher.