Ezra favors melee weapons like blades, twin-tailed Ciara can dispense with powerful kicks, but enjoys weighty, ranged gear like Gatling guns. Unsurprisingly, each has their own distinct arsenal. Wheel of Fortune attempts to remedy that with a trio of playable characters who can be swapped at any time. On the upside, the banter can be amusing as times, with highlights such as Diablo’s request for a new body, which he’d like to have a “nice ass”.ĭespite the impressive array of available weaponry, combat in the previous game was a bit too simplistic.

At present, there’s also little sense of urgency to drive the action along, unlike most Metroidvanias. Largely, Wheel of Fortune is more interested in delivering slapstick gags than offering any real explanation of the world where Erza’s ship crashes. But the underlying issue isn’t the game’s reliance on tropes to drive the plot along, it’s the focus. Later, banter between Wheel of Fortune’s other characters becomes the emphasis, allowing for contrasting personalities to offer a bit of playfulness. The title opens with Erza in the middle of a Nico Nico-style broadcast, complete with messages from viewers scrolling across the screen. Eager to help the Empire explore new regions, she sets off to uncharted continents. But Frontier Hunter’s cinematics now deliver anime-style exhibition with attractive 3D character models, detailing Erza’s exploits after acquiring her hunting license. Beyond some mild banter between the lead and her sentient, skull-faced hairpin, Diablo, Tower Hunter’s focus was strictly on the action. Unsurprisingly, the Early Access of Frontier Hunter: Erza’s Wheel of Fortune hopes to remedy some of the shortcomings of its predecessor. Both critics and consumers appreciated IceSitruuna’s inaugural title, which sold more than 800,000 copies on Steam. Instead, Erza’s Trial was more of a linear trek elevated by a multitude of different weapons and abilities to wield.

Like Dead Cells, the game veered away from bestowing new abilities that granted access to new areas. With its hack-and-slash action set in a tangled tower, the game delivered many of the fundamentals of modern Metroidvania.

Undoubtedly, Tower Hunter: Erza’s Trial was a promising debut for IceSitruuna, a four-person development team from Chongqing.

Wheel of fortune game on steam