Enotria: A Review of The Last Song

Enotria: The Last Song distinguishes itself from the typical dark and brooding action RPGs by offering a sunlit, vibrant world inspired by Italian folklore. Developed by Jyamma Games, this title combines classic From Software-style mechanics with unique twists that bring both excitement and challenges for players seeking a fresh take on the genre. With its scenic environments, engaging combat, and intricate RPG systems, Enotria has the potential to stand out but struggles with certain performance and gameplay design issues that hold it back from true greatness.

A Breathtaking World to Explore

One of Enotria’s standout features is its lively setting. Unlike many soulslike games that immerse players in dark, eerie dungeons and shadowy swamps, Enotria embraces light and color. Players journey through sun-soaked mountains, golden fields of sunflowers, and picturesque coastal shores, creating a refreshing atmosphere. Even the darker regions retain bold, eye-catching colors with massive trees and whimsical landscapes. This vibrant world is further enhanced by detailed NPC and enemy designs, though the flat textures occasionally detract from the overall visual experience.

The game’s lore revolves around a dark corruption that traps characters in a cycle of monotony and repetition, which is thematically tied to stage plays and the idea of everyone playing roles. However, much of the story is left vague, hidden behind cryptic dialogues and fragmented lore, which may frustrate players who prefer more direct narratives.

Combat and Boss Fights: A Mixed Bag

Combat in Enotria follows the familiar soulslike formula, with light and heavy attacks governed by stamina. While there’s no blocking mechanic, the parry system adds depth, allowing players to build up a gauge to unleash powerful counterattacks. The forgiving parry window makes it accessible for newcomers, but the difficulty ramps up as the game progresses, testing players’ reflexes and patience. However, the camera and lock-on system can feel clunky, particularly in tight spaces or when battling multiple enemies.

Boss fights are where Enotria shines, offering diverse and often creative challenges. From giant hermit crabs to golden conquistadors, the bosses inject variety into the game. Unfortunately, some bosses are recycled with slight variations, leading to a sense of repetition in certain areas.

RPG Systems: Ambitious but Overwhelming

Enotria’s character progression is rooted in masks, which act as both cosmetic items and sources of passive bonuses. Players can further customize their builds with roles and perks, aspects of enemies that grant stat modifications and additional abilities. While this deep system provides a lot of flexibility for creating unique builds, it can be overwhelming for those not inclined to min-maxing every stat. Moreover, the lack of clear feedback on the impact of various upgrades can leave players guessing about the effectiveness of their loadouts.

The inclusion of status ailments adds another layer of complexity, with each ailment offering both benefits and drawbacks. For example, inflicting dizziness weakens enemies’ defenses but makes them recover stamina faster. This push-pull mechanic encourages players to think carefully about their strategies, especially in tougher battles.

Exploration and Performance Issues

The three main zones in Enotria are filled with branching paths, hidden loot, and shortcuts. However, the game’s linear structure and occasional gimmicks, such as glyphs that create temporary platforms, limit the sense of true exploration. Red glyphs, which trigger optional combat challenges, are a notable addition, but the inconsistency in how the game handles surprise boss encounters can be jarring.

Unfortunately, Enotria suffers from performance issues that detract from its otherwise stunning visuals. Even on high-end hardware, frame rates can drop significantly, particularly in outdoor areas with lots of sunlight. These slowdowns are especially frustrating during intense combat sequences where smooth performance is crucial.

Verdict: A Solid Foundation with Room for Improvement

Enotria: The Last Song brings a refreshing visual style and some exciting ideas to the soulslike genre. Its vibrant world and varied combat encounters are engaging, but the game’s performance issues, overwhelming RPG systems, and occasional design inconsistencies prevent it from reaching its full potential. For fans of action RPGs looking for something new, Enotria offers a solid experience, but it may not yet be the breakout hit it aspires to be.

Just like Astro Bot managed to pay homage to classic PlayStation games by blending nostalgia with innovative gameplay【source】, Enotria could benefit from streamlining its systems and focusing on its unique strengths. By optimizing its features and polishing its performance, Enotria could evolve into a standout entry in the crowded soulslike market. As it stands, it’s a game with great promise yet to be fully realized.