Iratus: Lord of the Dead
Release Date: April 23, 2020
RPG, fantasy, turn-based, roguelike, 2D, crowdfunding, indie games, side-scroll, singleplayer
OpenCritic
Steam
Independent RPG with roguelike elements, inspired by such titles as Darkest Dungeon, Dungeon Keeper or Disciples. Russian Unfrozen studio is responsible for creating Iratus: Lord of the Dead.
Iratus: Lord of the Dead is a fantasy RPG with roguelike elements set in a fantasy world. The game shows far-reaching inspiration with the popular Darkest Dungeon from Red Hook Studios. Independent Russian studio Unfrozen is responsible for creating Iratus: Lord of the Dead.
Story
The player takes on the role of the title Iratus - a powerful necromancer once defeated and "killed" by great heroes. Having awakened again to life and freed himself from eternal prison, the sorcerer decides to take revenge and remind the world of what true evil is.
Mechanics
In the game from Unfrozen Studios our task is to conquer the world with the help of undead armies (e.g. skeletons, zombies, banshees or vampires). Like in Darkest Dungeon, we will lead our troops (up to four units) into the battle within the expanded turn-based combat system. The clashes are characterized by a high level of difficulty. During the breaks between them, we develop our base and gain access to subsequent types of units and abilities. Due to the characteristic profession of the main character, we have, among other things, the ability to create new soldiers from ... pieces of fallen enemies.
Iratus can be developed through three skill paths - alchemy, tactics and magical skills. Each of them offers a different kind of profits (our necromancer can participate in combat). What is important, our tactical decisions are of great importance and consequences, because - typically for the roguelike species - the death of a character is irreversible.
Game modes
Iratus: Lord of the Dead features single-player mode only.
Technical aspects
Iratus: Lord of the Dead features attractive two-dimensional visuals, based mainly on hand-drawn maps and figures. Although from the point of view of technological advancement the game is unlikely to impress the enthusiasts of spectacular graphics, the game's interesting and very atmospheric artistic style will find some fans.
Last updated on February 17, 2020
Videos and Screens
[1:34] Iratus: Lord of the Dead early access trailer
[1:05] Iratus: Lord of the Dead trailer #1
Cubed3: 9 / 10
Unfrozen's Iratus: Lord of the Dead is one of the greatest tactical rogue-likes one can enjoy right now
TechRaptor: 7.5 / 10 by Luigi Savinelli
Iratus: Lord of the Dead is dark, grim and great fun. It's not perfect but it provides an interesting spin on gameplay that will keep players interested for many runs.
PC Invasion: 7 / 10 by Nicholas Montegriffo
Iratus: Lord of the Dead tweaks the team tactics formula of Darkest Dungeon but cuts down on the management aspect to focus firmly on moving quickly from combat to combat. It lacks the narrative flair or emotional punch of its inspiration but makes up for it with satisfying tactical options and a balanced challenge level.
The main pros of the game
- Fun Gameplay: Many players find the game enjoyable, especially the ability to play as a necromancer commanding undead minions.
- User-Friendly: Compared to similar games like Darkest Dungeon, Iratus is considered more accessible and less demanding, making it suitable for casual gamers.
- Art Style and Animation: The game's art style is praised for being cool, and the animations of the units are noted as clever and engaging.
- Diverse Units and Strategies: Players appreciate the variety of units available and the strategic depth in combat, allowing for different team compositions and tactics.
- Balanced Difficulty: The game provides a well-balanced challenge, keeping players engaged without becoming overly punishing.
- Tactical Elements: The ability to upgrade units and manage resources between battles adds depth to the gameplay.
The main cons of the game
- Limited Replayability: Once players master the game, they feel there is little incentive to continue playing, as the challenge diminishes.
- Repetitive Dialogue: Some players find the dialogue and one-liners to be cheesy and repetitive, detracting from the overall experience.
- Slog Fest: The gameplay can become monotonous, with players feeling they are just clearing rooms repeatedly without much variation.
- Writing and World-Building Issues: The writing is often considered cringeworthy, with poorly executed jokes and a lack of depth in the story.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Lack of Diversity in Gameplay: After completing the game, players feel the gameplay doesn't offer much variety, leading to a predictable experience.
- Meta Progression Limitations: Some users expressed frustration with the meta progression system, feeling that it restricts access to units and strategies until certain challenges are completed.
- Unit Balance Issues: There are concerns about the balance among units, with some being clearly more powerful than others, which can affect strategic choices.
- Limited Narrative Depth: Players desire more engaging storytelling and world-building to enhance the overall experience.
Summary
- Overall, while "Iratus: Lord of the Dead" has been well-received for its fun gameplay and strategic elements, it faces criticism for its lack of replayability, repetitive content, and narrative shortcomings.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 120 votes. 27 players anticipated the game.
Iratus: Lord of the Dead Summary
Early Access:July 24, 2019
Platforms:
PC / Windows
Developer: Unfrozen
Publisher: Daedalic Entertainment
Age restrictions: 18+
Iratus: Lord of the Dead System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz, 1 GB RAM, graphic card Intel HD or better, 3.5 GB HDD, Windows 7 64-bit
Recommended: Intel Core i5 3.0 GHz, 4 GB RAM, graphic card 2 GB GeForce GTX 760 / 3 GB Radeon R9 280X or better, 3.5 GB HDD, Windows 10
Daedalic Entertainment Will Publish Iratus Lord of the Dead
Daedalic Entertainment announced that Iratus: Lord of the Dead has been added to their publishing portfolio. It's an RPG with roguelike elements, developed by people, who previously worked on the iconic Disciples series.
video games
Christian Pieniazek
February 20, 2019