PlayStation 4 Critic Reviews

The developer Red Blue Games has managed to give us one of the most interesting and careful titles of recent years in the roguelike genre. Very simple gameplay, an interesting story, charismatic characters and graphics that capture the attention of any player. It is an ideal game for dungeon lovers, as the constant change of landscapes, enemies and scenarios could confuse those players who never touched a title of this style. Similarly, do not expect a work of art, because the title does not add anything new and is repeated constantly.

What makes Sparklite noteworthy isn’t so much its gameplay ideas, which will certainly be familiar to fans of the genre. Rather, it does an admirable job of putting an engaging pick-up-and-play spin on a simple formula of roguelike elements fused with classic sensibilities, and becomes something greater than the sum of its parts. It isn’t incredibly lengthy, but each moment feels like progress made toward a larger goal, with plenty of inherent replayability baked right in; a top-tier soundtrack and pixel art presentation are just icing on what’s already a tasty RPG cake.

Though levels are procedurally generated, Sparklite succeeds in building a cohesive world that feels as though it has been carefully designed, making it a great entry point for those apprehensive about this trait of roguelikes.

Those who enjoy gradually powering up while conquering procedurally generated Zelda-style dungeons will have a blast with Sparklite.

Put simply, Sparklite is best enjoyed as a single player experience, and to that end, it excels.

Sparkle might look a little bit Zelda-ish, but it’s actually a roguelike with no big surprises. If you enjoy the genre, you’ll have a good time with it.

Inspired by classic Zelda games Sparklite’s strengths are its motivating character development as well as the hunt for loot, while the co-op-mode leaves a lot to be desired.

For fans of the Rogue-like genre, Sparklite is a cute, easy-to-learn title. If you’re looking for a single-player adventure and you don’t mind spending some time grinding in order to upgrade your character, then this is a great title for you. The controls are smooth and sleek, its characters intriguing, and its boss battles ingeniously challenging. The fun soundtrack is also worth a mention, channelling classic adventure games of the 90s. Just don’t expect much from the co-op elements of the game, and you’ll have a good time.

Sparklite is a pretty fun game. It’s vibrant and cute and as a fan of pixel art, I admit that I may be a little biased. However, thanks to its rogue-lite elements, you can play in short spurts or sit down for a few hours at a time which is a real plus in my books.

Sparklite is, for the most part, successful at being an accessible, enjoyable roguelite. It falters in terms of pacing and, whilst the tale can sometimes feel brisk, the final area really forces you to hunker down for the last challenge. It's a fun ride that stalls towards the end but there's a good sense of progression as slice and save towards the big upgrades.