Fight for the environment

Rogue Spark is a free action game from MythStorm24. In this futuristic roguelike experience, you play as a hired mercenary tasked with recovering the Book of Alchemy from a company that plans to replace all natural forests and be the sole supplier of fresh air in the world. Explore each level and go to the highest floor, facing the CEO himself.

Its simplistic yet colorful graphics, challenging stages, plus overall retro gameplay makes Rogue Spark a cross between the games Castlevania Anniversary Collection or those in the Mega Man Legacy Collection.

Fight enemies and the environment

The retro design in Rogue Spark makes it easy to find various references to other classic games such as the main character’s ninja-like moves and long, flowing scarf reminiscent of Strider Hiryu from the classic arcade Strider. Also, its environment design incorporates a lot of traps that will require timing and precision. However, you have powers like electric fields and falling icicles, all to help keep you on your feet.

Although it’s a 2D platformer game, it’s not annoyingly difficult. You have a health bar that doesn’t deplete easily. However, you’ll have to keep yourself alive as you fight henchmen and stage bosses–all of whom also have health bars and are not one-shot adversaries. They also have different abilities, ranges, and animation behaviors that help make the game even more challenging.

Of course, as a roguelike game, there are no save points, and dying will definitely set you back several minutes of progress. Despite its various stages and increasingly difficult enemies, it has a relatively short playthrough. Also, it’s actually easy once you pin down the enemy move and attack pattern. Each foe sticks to a single pattern, making it easier as you get used to it.

A quick action fix

If you’re looking for a short, thrilling experience reminiscent of old-school action games from decades past, Rogue Spark is a great option. Despite its short playthrough, it manages to fill every inch of the game with tension and challenges thanks to its tough enemies and other environmental perils. The ninja-with-scarf is a good touch, lending credence to the game’s story. Overall, it’s not that memorable but still worth a shot.