Gothic Metroidvania Usurper wants players to keep up the pressure on their foes, giving them a guarding shield that will absorb damage before their character starts to really get hurt. This shield is recharged by dodging through enemy attacks, encouraging players to keep rushing forward and doing damage.

A sequel to Shrouded in Sanity, Usurper takes players to London in 1898 as demons and horrors are loosed upon the city due to the presence of the Citadel and its maddening fog. Players must comb through this unholy tower using an array of axes, spears, swords, scythes, guns, and other weapons they find along the way to destroy the beasts and undo the Citadel’s power.

Usurper aims for a more aggressive play style by encouraging players to rush their foes with a powerful shield. This shield will absorb a set amount of damage automatically before the player starts to lose health, but players can recharge this shield by successfully doing a dodge roll through an enemy’s attack. By continually attacking and dodging forward, players can keep their shield charged as they mercilessly batter their foes, rewarding aggressive play and learning how each enemy attacks. Players can also use a reflective shield to bounce enemy attacks back, although this won’t recharge their guarding shield.

Players will find many hidden areas and varied routes through The Citadel, finding secret bosses, over ninety weapons, and other goodies. Players can also customize their character through eight different stats (which can be reallocated if players change their mind), or customize the game with the highly challenging one-hit mode or permadeath mode.

Usurper is available now on Steam Early Access.