Loop Hero Review (vanvuur)
Lost in the Loop
Loop Hero has a really cool core-gameplay concept and a unique blend of roguelite as well as idle mechanics, but by the end of the main story, it felt like I was stuck in a grind-heavy time loop.
The music, art style, and overall aesthetic have a vintage, almost classic feel - like something ripped straight from an old PC game. The pixel art and individual character designs are fantastic, but as the map fills up, it starts to feel a bit messy. The detailed sprites blend together, making it hard to tell what’s what. The game’s UI does its job, but visually, things start to feel cluttered fast.
As for the characters, they felt pretty bland. The dialogue was generic, and the hero never really builds meaningful relationships - everyone just kind of exists alongside them. There was a lot of potential here, but it never really came together in a way that made me feel invested in the world or its inhabitants.
The core gameplay starts off strong, rebuilding the world and shaping the roguelite experience yourself is a really cool idea. But the novelty wore off when I realised certain cards (the buildings you place along your loop) were just way better than others. The first three bosses were decent and had really cool aesthetic designs. However, I personally found one class way stronger than the rest and was able to breeze through most of the game and bosses without any issues.
Until I ran into the final boss...
What an absolute grindfest. I had to farm buildings, cards, and supply items just to stand a chance. The majority of my total playtime probably came from prepping for that last fight. One run, I was destroying everything in my path, the board was packed with buffs and resources - I thought I was on a perfect loop. Then I reached the final boss and barely shaved off 1/10th of their health.
It’s not a bad game, but the difficulty spike in the last chapter is absurd. Maybe it’s a skill issue, but I had to watch guides and read up on mechanics the game never really explains. I also didn’t use any exploits or infinite farming loops, so maybe that’s why I struggled so much.
If the concept interests you, it’s worth trying. It’s an idle (but not really that idle) roguelite with a cool premise. Just be prepared - by the final chapter, it starts feeling more like a loot-farming extraction game than anything else.
Personal Overall Experience: Decent - 6/10