Salt & Sanctuary

Supports Linux: Yes

Developer & Publisher:

Store Page:

Price: $17.99 ( as of this writing )

ESRB: M for Mature

Description: A fun 2D platformer with a hint of scary and some great retro gameplay.

Genre: Metroidvania

Social:

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Score

10/10

Breakdown

Salt and Sanctuary is one of the best video games of 2016. It is an action adventure game in the metroidvania style with a dark and gothic art style, excellent audio, and fantastic game play. I recently purchased this game with my own money and feel strongly enough about the quality of this work that I am inclinced to review this game. I am not being compensated for my views.

This is a must-buy game if you enjoy action role playing games. The major draw for me was the fact that the game came with native Linux support. I am playing this game on an Intel NUC I7 and it runs flawlessly at 1080P on the integrated graphics. It also supports the Xbox One Controller and I found that to be absolutely plug and play. I had no issues with purchasing the game on steam, installing it, and using my controller without configuration or hassle.

The gameplay is similar to games like Castlevania or Super Metroid with crisp and beautiful art, haunting music, and excellent sound effects. The actual playstyle rewards patience and intelligence. You are not strong enough to simply beat on most of the creatures. You must use the environment, tools, and your wits to survive in this world. Something that many gamers are probably not used to with games like Call of Duty where you need only find cover and wait a period of time before slogging back into battle.

Your character has finite resources and must survive or you will loose all of your experience points (salt) and must return to defeat what ever foe fell you before recovering. It is a fun mechanic that punishes the foolhardy and rewards the meticulous in kind. I found the game to be the right combination of challenging and rewarding.

There is multiplayer but I do not know another person who owns this game yet, so I have not tried it myself.

The Bottom Line

Do yourself a favor and add this game to your library. You owe it to yourself to purchase an amazing game that has native Linux support.