In V Rising, players assume the role of a newly awakened vampire in a perilous world. Navigate dangers ranging from sunlight exposure to encounters with formidable creatures, such as giant spiders. Engage in combat, develop your vampire’s abilities, construct a personalized castle, and ultimately, strive to challenge Dracula, the world’s most infamous vampire. The game features an open world spanning seven distinct regions and a total of 57 boss encounters. Players can choose to play solo or join others in online multiplayer.
V Rising is a product of Stunlock Studios, a Swedish game developer based in Skövde. Initially released on Steam on May 8th of this year, V Rising is now also available on Playstation 5. This review is based on our experience with the Playstation 5 version, tested both in solo and online modes.
One of the most compelling aspects of V Rising is its exceptionally well-crafted and immersive gothic atmosphere. Each region exhibits a distinct visual style, making it easy to become engrossed in the environmental details. A significant portion of the environment is destructible, providing resources essential for constructing your castle and upgrading equipment. Players can craft various types of armor, weapons, and other items crucial for survival.
Categorizing V Rising precisely proves challenging, as it draws inspiration from established games within similar genres. Its isometric perspective and combat mechanics bear a strong resemblance to the Diablo series. The control schemes and functionalities can feel strikingly familiar. However, V Rising distinguishes itself with a rotatable camera, a feature absent in Diablo.
V Rising offers both solo and online multiplayer experiences. Players can choose to cooperate or compete with one another. Construct your castle, a haven where you can find refuge in your coffin during daylight hours and develop your equipment in preparation for nocturnal expeditions. The game operates on a day-night cycle, requiring players to avoid direct sunlight by remaining in shaded areas or within the confines of their castle during the day.
Despite its intricate design and expansive scope, V Rising occasionally suffers from a sense of repetition. As an open-world game, the narrative progression relies heavily on player agency. However, this can lead to a cyclical gameplay loop: engage in combat, gather resources (wood and stone), construct buildings, and repeat. During our online cooperative playtests, we found ourselves searching for meaningful objectives rather than organically progressing through compelling story missions.
In conclusion, V Rising demonstrates impressive scale, ambition, and design quality. However, due to a persistent feeling of familiarity, it falls short of earning a strong recommendation.
Stunlock Studios provided a review code for this evaluation. The provision of review materials does not influence our editorial independence or the outcome of our reviews.
