Greedy sword swings are a quick way to get yourself killed here. The bigger guardians fling out so much trouble that half the fight is spent weaving between projectiles, waiting for a decent chance to strike. Weapons and upgrades give you reasons to rummage through Kalasdrine's gloomy backwaters, and the battered pixel scenery has a wonderfully rotten look to it. The full game content is unlocked, leaving the ruined lands, hidden companions, and tougher encounters open to explore. There's a grim story buried beneath all that wreckage, though the game doesn't seem keen on spelling everything out. Some fights are downright aggravating, but finally getting the better of a stubborn boss feels splendid.