Jupiter Hell
Jupiter Hell is a roguelike video game developed by ChaosForge and published in 2021 by Hyperstrange. It is a spiritual successor to DRL and adapts first-person shooter gameplay to a tactical roguelike.
Jupiter Hell | |
---|---|
Developer(s) | ChaosForge |
Publisher(s) | Hyperstrange |
Platform(s) | |
Release |
|
Genre(s) | Roguelike |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Gameplay
Players control a marine, technician, or scout on a demon-infested science base on the moons of Jupiter. The labs are procedurally generated and tile-based, shown from a top-down perspective. Combat is turn-based and tactical. Multiple weapons are available, each of which has different strengths, such as stopping power, accuracy, and ammunition capacity. A queue controls whose turn it is. Shooting, reloading, and other actions push one's next action later in the queue depending on their cost. Fast players or enemies who perform low-cost actions may act multiple times before their opponents. Cover provides protection, but players are encouraged to move around.[1] Characters can be customized through skill trees.[2]
Development
ChaosForge previously developed DoomRL, which reimagined the first-person shooter Doom as a traditional ASCII-based roguelike. DoomRL was renamed to DRL after Zenimax, Doom's rights-holder, complained. Jupiter Hell is a spiritual successor to DRL, using a similar premise in an original setting with 3D graphics.[3][4] Zenimax's cease and desist letter about DoomRL, which was sent during Jupiter Hell's Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign in 2016, ignited widespread coverage on high-profile gaming websites, but ChaosForge said it did not translate into nearly as much interest as the existing community built up around DoomRL.[5] Jupiter Hell entered early access in August 2019[6] and was released on August 5, 2021.[7]
Reception
Jupiter Hell received positive reviews on Metacritic.[8] RPGFan made it an editor's choice and said "while being any good at it requires a time commitment, the rewards are exhilarating".[2] NME called it "a must-have for strategy fans and curious Doom fans alike".[9] Bloody Disgusting said the mash-up of genres "works well" and "provides a compelling game" whether played in short bursts or long-term.[10]
References
- Hogarty, Steve (2019-08-13). "Premature Evaluation: Jupiter Hell". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
- Richardson, Bob (2021-08-29). "Jupiter Hell". RPGFan. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
- Frank, Allegra (2016-12-08). "Facing down copyright claims, Doom roguelike fan game goes open-source (correction)". Polygon. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
- Walton, Jarred (2019-05-09). "Jupiter Hell is a tasty turn-based blend of Doom, roguelikes, and heavy metal". PC Gamer. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
- Handrahan, Matthew (2017-03-03). "You need a community before doing something like Kickstarter". Gamesindustry.biz. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
- Vega, Sin (2019-08-01). "Jupiter Hell, the Doom-inspired roguelike, is now in early access". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
- Bolding, Jonathan (2021-07-18). "Grab a shotgun, demon slaying tactical roguelike Jupiter Hell has a release date". PC Gamer. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
- "Jupiter Hell (PC)". Metacritic. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
- Brown, Andy (2021-08-09). "Jupiter Hell review: a riotously fun rampage of turn-based demon slaying". NME. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
- Bolt, Neil (2021-08-06). "[Review] Jupiter Hell Makes Ripping and Tearing a Tactical Turn-Based Affair". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 2023-06-01.