Rogue Waters, developed by Tripwire Presents and Ice Code Games, immerses players in a pirate adventure that blends tactical, turn-based roguelite RPG elements with a supernatural twist, earning it a Mature rating. In our detailed review of Rogue Waters, we explore what makes this game intriguing!
In Rogue Waters, you step into the boots of Captain Cutter, a pirate entangled in a fierce battle for supremacy and revenge. Your journey kicks off at the Temple of the Goddess, where Captain Blackbone identifies a treasure he’s desperate to claim and urges you to seize it. As you comply, a strange event unfolds—you hear an eerie voice in your mind, and before you know it, one of your eyes is claimed by the mystical crystal, unleashing a surge of blue energy. Captain Blackbone isn’t pleased and demands a knife to remove the stone from your skull. But you’re not about to let that happen. You manage to evade him, although now, you’re on your own. Determined, you must recruit a crew to confront the treacherous Captain Blackbone. Oh, and after spending 14 long years in the realm of the dead, returning to the living world won’t be a smooth sail!
Jump into the game across four difficulty levels: Story, Normal, Hard, and Heroic I. Story mode is perfect for those who enjoy narrative-driven gameplay with less aggressive adversaries. Normal provides balanced challenges along with a 10% boost in XP, Blueprints, and Glass. If you’re looking for a tougher challenge, Hard mode is your go-to, offering a 20% bonus in rewards. Heroic I cranks the intensity to the max, giving a hefty 30% boost as you unlock even tougher difficulty loops.
Throughout your adventure in Rogue Waters, you’ll encounter numerous skirmishes. These face-offs pit your pirate crew against daring adversaries. Each skirmish round features turns for both your crew and the enemies, and your aim is simple: wipe out the foes. Each unit has the ability to move and usually perform one attack per turn. Regular attacks inflict modest yet reliable damage and often push enemies back. Utilize this mechanic to deal extra damage by bashing foes into obstacles. Even after taking a collision hit, they might try to reposition unless the damage is fatal. Units can also be knocked into one another.
As a skirmish begins, you’ll deploy up to four units, selecting their positions and confirming your choice by holding down the Triangle button to initiate the fight. Engage your enemies by commanding units with a cursor controlled by the left analog stick. Use the right stick to adjust the camera view and zoom level. Units can traverse up to two cells within their movement range, which can fluctuate based on applied buffs or debuffs.
Each unit has a “Prepare” ability to brace for attacks, removing any bleeding effect, healing a single HP, and granting one armor point for a turn or until damaged. This tactic is particularly useful against enemies boasting long-range attacks. Observing each ship’s layout is crucial to discovering handy objects, like ropes which facilitate long-distance movement, but once utilized, they disappear. Victory is achieved either by eliminating all foes or by filling the fear gauge. Extra damage beyond what’s necessary to defeat an enemy contributes to this gauge, culminating in the enemies’ retreat when full.
After a battle, you’ll navigate the Region Map, directing your pirate ship towards new destinations. These nodes can be likened to waypoints found in other roguelites or roguelikes. Potential stops include hostile ships ripe for plundering, ports to purchase gear, event nodes presenting unique challenges, or spots ripe for a raid.
Encountering an enemy ship triggers a sea battle, entailing a few rounds of strategic decisions. Close in on your adversary’s vessel using Command Points (CP) for various actions like firing cannons. Each cannon type varies in range and damage potential. Pay attention to the red indicators revealing the enemy ship’s intentions. Larger ships boast more CP, making them formidable foes, though the rewards could be significant. Battle strategies might involve damaging enemy cannons for a direct advantage or incapacitating units aboard before boarding. Raids allow maximum utilization of your combat units and mythical sea beasts you command—summon the Kraken for a tentacle-based battlefield attack!
Pirate’s Cove serves as your central hub, where you can allocate resources to expand and upgrade. At the shipyard, inspect your ship and assign essential cannons and modules like the Fortified Quarterdeck, enhancing Captain Cutter’s durability, or the Pennant of Toughness for increased crew HP. Quarters let you manage your crew, leveling them up with earned XP. Besides gold for in-run purchases, you collect Glass, a valuable resource for crafting ship upgrades, improving Pirate’s Cove, and empowering sea monsters. Glass also helps in recruiting more pirates, each offering unique skills and attributes, reflecting the unpredictability inherent in roguelites.
Rogue Waters offers a complete trophy roster, including a prestigious Platinum trophy for dedicated players. Tasks include completing the prologue and three acts on any difficulty, reaching maximum levels across different classes such as Cutter, Grappler, Cook, Cleaver, Musketeer, and Spearmaiden. You’ll also acquire all ship, equipment, crew, and sea monster upgrades, making for an extensive achievement journey.
Available on PlayStation 5 at $29.99, Rogue Waters blends the allure of pirate life with tactical roguelite RPG elements and a supernatural twist. As Captain Cutter, you embark on a quest to enact revenge on Captain Blackbone, assembling a loyal crew and intriguing items along the way. Your return after 14 years demands adaptation to a changed world, requiring strategic foresight to achieve your goals. Rogue Waters is an enthralling choice for lovers of pirate lore and tactical gameplay.
Plus, remember, this review is based on a PlayStation 5 copy provided by Tripwire Presents, so everything discussed comes from hands-on experience with the game!
