Review: Stupid Never Dies (PS5) -Flushing, Monster-Munching Roguelite Stands Out in a Stacked Genre

With a scribblecore style and a narrative so chaotic it’d make even Suda51 grin, Stupid Never Dies is certainly not your typical roguelite.

I believe this point is crucial, as this inaugural action venture from Japanese developer GPTRACK50 is stepping into a genre that’s rapidly filling up with choices.

Davy’s plunge into the depths of the earth’s infernal core doesn’t really innovate compared to its counterparts, but it offers such a peculiar mix that I feel it merits your focus.

You assume the role of the previously mentioned adolescent, a pop punk genius who’s been transformed into a staggering cadaver at the world’s end.

When he encounters the frozen figure of a beauty named Julia, he flushes himself down a toilet to confront a wicked deity named KOM, all driven by the desire to resurrect her.

The game’s initial hours are crammed with exposition, and I believe the developers could have exercised a lighter touch here, as I fear it might alienate players.

However, in essence, this is a run-based action title, where each trip into the restroom sees you navigate through “layers”, defeating foes drawn from various fantasy realms.

There are werewolves, cyclops, and harpies – to mention just a handful – many of which can be “consumed” by Davy so he can “inherit” their powers.

My first impressions of the combat were unfavorable, as it feels somewhat loose in Davy’s basic form. But once you begin disguising as several of the aforementioned creatures, it improves significantly. (Though it still lacks the impact of a true character action game.)

The more adversaries you defeat, the faster you’ll progress in leveling up, providing the game with that “just one more attempt” allure that the finest roguelites excel at.

I would argue that the title has a bit too much occurring, but there’s no denying it repeatedly incorporates mechanics which make subsequent runs somewhat more manageable.

 » …
Read More