Although still a young studio, Supergiant Games
has been celebrated for their beautiful and recognizable style
style in their first two titles Bastion and Transistor.
Now, after three years of development, they deliver Pyre,
which is not only their biggest game to date,
but presents an altogether different take on RPG combat.
Pyre is set in a fantasy world
where books and literacy have been outlawed by the Commonwealth.
The journey begins as the Reader is sentenced to the Downside,
a vast purgatory into which the Commonwealth
casts its convicts and enemies.
Upon meeting a small band of travelers
it’s soon revealed that by participating in battles known as Rites,
you can earn your way back to the Commonwealth.
The cast is a significant component of the narrative.
Initially you join forces with three companions,
and you meet more to expand your roster as the game progresses.
The banter and relationships among the fellowship
quickly becomes the heart and soul of Pyre.
Information is thoughtfully doled out, and while there is an overarching plot,
the relatable characters add an emotional urgency to the expedition.
While moments during the final act are slightly long-winded,
learning about each character’s past deeds and possible future is fulfilling.
Combat is more like a sport than a battle,
featuring three on three clashes set in small arenas
with varying aesthetics and obstacles.
The goal is similar to basketball, and tasks you to put a glowing orb
orb into the opponent’s pyre until it’s extinguished.
You only control one hero at any given time,
but you can switch or pass to them with the tap of a button.
Some characters move more quickly,
while others move slowly, but deal more damage.
Furthermore, each character has an aura around them
that banishes opponents for a short amount of time.
If a character controls the orb, they become vulnerable and lose their aura,
emphasizing patience and strategy
when attempting to assault the opposing pyre.
Each character has different abilities, strengths, and weaknesses.
The Demon Jodariel has a large aura and deals high damage,
but walks painfully slow.
Pamatha is a harpie with the ability to fly over dangerous hazards and auras,
but who can be knocked down with a well-timed jump.
When you begin to take all these variables into account,
the strategy becomes increasingly complex despite the simple objective.
Mastering movement, positioning, and timing are the keys to success.
On normal difficulty, the battles are not too challenging,
but activating Titan Stars before each rite increases the difficulty and XP rewards.
However, unlike most games which have you retry until you succeed,
Pyre is in constant progression.
Whether you win or lose a Rite, the narrative continues to advance,
changing based on the result.
Certain Rites are much more important than others,
and by losing certain battles, the outcome for the group may vary considerably.
Initially, traversal is fairly linear
with different routes leading to the same destination.
Certain party members may favor one path over another,
rewarding you with items or stat buffs.
Additionally, some routes offer the option to train in Vocations.
You can read the Book of Rites to gain permanent stat buffs for the entire party,
search the area for items,
or train an individual party member for a large amount of XP.
Since each of the vocations feels important,
it helps add extra strategy when navigating the world map
and choosing the appropriate training.
Each character can gain up to five experience levels
by earning XP from battles or vocation training.
After each level, you can choose one of eight skills
with a maximum number of four active at any time.
Skills add various buffs and stat increases that alter the gameplay in slight ways.
At certain points, the group may also encounter Falcon Ron,
the proprietor of a traveling item shop.
Each character can equip one talisman which can bestow simple stat boosts
or more drastic changes like maintaining aura as an orb holder.
There is enough variety to cater to different play styles,
and since money is somewhat rare,
talismans have a welcome impact on character development.
The visuals are a stunning assortment
of hand drawn backgrounds and colorful animation.
From the toxic Flagging Hanos, to the desert of Jomuer Valley,
each location has a distinct aesthetic
that plays into the vast history of the Downside.
Pyre also has a great versus mode,
which you can play against the computer or locally with a friend.
The ability to play as enemy combatants from the single player adventure
brings fresh characters to experiment with
and adds extra incentive to keep dueling even after the main story is completed.
Sadly, there’s no online mode,
as battling against real world players is far more alluring than the AI.
Pyre offers a unique blend of storytelling and thrilling arena combat.
The ability to duel against friends adds incentive to keep playing
even after the game is finished
but it’s the cast of characters that steal the show.
They are unquestionably worth investing in
due in part to the sprawling history and noble journey they embark upon
which you won’t soon forget.
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