Players who enjoy couch co-op gaming can now try out an early demo for Roots of Fury, an adorable new hack-n-slash RPG that shrinks gamers down to the size of bugs and tests their ability to survive in an origami world. Highly reminiscent of It Takes Two blended with the Paper Mario franchise, Roots of Fury looks to bring a brand-new adventure with familiar mechanics in an upcoming launch for PC via Steam.
A number of recent releases have revitalized audience interest in local co-op, with 2021's Game of the Year It Takes Two among the most prominent games to bring back the couch duo gameplay format that was prevalent in the 90s and early 2000s. Following a similar formula while introducing combat-heavy mechanics, Roots of Fury is set to introduce players to an eye-catching world where strategy and cooperation will be key to their survival.
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Roots of Fury Trailer and Gameplay Demo
Touted as an action role-playing game, Roots of Fury sees players taking on the role of a "brilliant but eccentric" scientist whose thirst for knowledge leads them to shrink down to the size of bugs to battle it out against insect enemies that are threatening to harm their experimental plant research. Players can choose between botanist, chemist, physicist, or medical doctor builds, with each offering unique gameplay stats, including differences in strength, dexterity, vitality, intelligence, and wisdom, plus specialized abilities like healing. While dangerous bugs like locusts and grasshoppers will pose a threat, players will be able to team up with the local ant population and craft a variety of useful weapons constructed from the body parts of fallen foes. Combining the combat-heavy gameplay of traditional hack-n-slash games with the aesthetics of the Paper Mario series, Roots of Fury is now offering a playable demo on Steam.
While Roots of Fury encourages players to try out the local split-screen co-op, the game does also offer a single-player experience, setting it apart from games like It Takes Two and offering more similarities to titles like Grounded. Whether prioritizing bug battles, hive defense, weapon crafting, or garden exploration, this eye-catching origami-style world of shrunken scientists may be one for co-op fans to keep an eye on.
Audiences certainly have no shortage of co-op games on Steam to choose from, with newer hit titles like Split Fiction and older beloved entries like Castle Crashers keeping players engaged in multiplayer gaming across genres. While there is plenty of competition, the clever mix of dungeon-crawling gameplay and striking visuals may play into the favor of Roots of Fury as it prepares for an eventual launch.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 88 /100 Critics Rec: 93%
- Released
- March 26, 2021
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Animated Blood, Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence, Language
- Developer(s)
- Hazelight Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
