Perennial Order brings a new flavor to the world of hard-core action games. It mixes plant life with creepy creatures, creating a dark and strange world.
If you’re looking for something far removed from the “Casual gaming” category, Perennial Order is exactly that. Here’s our review of this game –
Amazing Dark Visuals
The game looks stunning. Perennial Order’s world is like a living, sad painting. Its dark landscapes and scary monsters bring to life a bleak, creative vision, similar to games like Shadow of the Colossus and Bloodborne. Each area is unique, with trees and plants often blocking your view, making you feel closed in and uneasy.
The bosses are incredible to see, often bigger than the screen. From the tall Corpse Orchard with its creepy moving core to the frightening Abyssum hiding in a maze-like cave, these designs are exceptional.
These nightmare creatures look and act differently, creating unforgettable, heart-racing fights.
Sound and Compatibility
The music and sound effects are top-notch, making you feel like you don’t belong in this world. It also works well on the Steam Deck so that you can play it differently.
Story and World-Building
Rather than focusing on a personal journey, Perennial Order’s story is about the world itself. You play as a Perennial Knight, a hybrid of plant and human created by the Monarch Mother.
Your mission is clear: end the horrors that plague your beautiful garden. The writing is poetic and vague, leaving much for the player to interpret, which adds to its intriguing nature.
How the Game Works
Perennial Order does things differently from other souls-like games:
- Fighting: Use the right stick to attack, with perfect timing giving you stronger hits.
- Dodging: You can only dodge a few times before needing to wait.
- No Health Potions: One hit and you’re done, making the game more intense.
- Special Abilities: Get new powers by beating bosses and completing tasks.
Game Difficulty
The game is super difficult. Most bosses took many tries to beat. But a few things make it bearable:
- Save Points Before Bosses: You mustn’t travel far to try again.
- Checkpoints During Boss Fights: Some bosses have midway save points.
- Choose Your Path: If one boss is too hard, you can try another and come back later.
- No Punishment for Dying: You don’t lose anything when you die, so you can focus on getting better.
Perennial Order Pros. and Cons.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Reimagines the genre with a plant-based, parasitic theme. | The game is extremely challenging, which may not appeal to all players. |
| The game is really nice to look at, like a spooky painting come to life. | Local and online co-op increase difficulty too much. |
| Combines compelling boss fights with exploration and platforming. | Simplified combat mechanics might not appeal to all players. |
| Focuses on the world rather than the protagonist. | A lack of difficulty settings might turn away casual players. |
| Great music and ambient sounds enhance the atmosphere. | |
| Accessible across various setups. | |
| No consumable healing adds to the game’s intensity and challenge. | |
| The checkpoint system reduces redundancy by minimizing the time between boss fight attempts. | |
| Instincts mechanic adds variety and enables different play styles. |
Final Thoughts
Unlike a Soulslike game, Perennial Order brings a new flavor to this gaming genre which makes it fantastic.
It’s very challenging and does things in a new way beyond your imagination. It might not be for everyone due to how hard it is, but it pushes you to do your best without wasting your time.
