Blackfaun

This game was reviewed using a code sent by the developer/publisher.
Blackfaun is a roguelike game that was released in early December 2015 being developed by a lesser known team, Wild Guess Software. Roguelike is probably my favourite genre just behind RPG, so I was really looking forward to getting stuck into this game.
The game play is very similar to most top down dungeon crawler games, you have a top down view of your character and you have to navigate each level and reach the defeat the final boss on each stage. You have a regular attack (left click) and a special ability (right click); each of these will change throughout your run due to the best part of this game, the loot pickups. Your main attack will change in style, from single target damage, to AOE damage, to a more trap effect. Whilst your special ability can be all sorts of different attacks too, you really get to pick and choose how you play your character with the items on show in the game thus far. As you kill enemies they will drop a sort of potion, whether it is health or mana. Whilst exploring you will also find experience orbs, these orbs also offer the chance to give you a random increase to one of your stats. I thought this was a nice little addition that really makes exploring one of top aims whilst playing.
The game starts out without a tutorial, I would have liked to have seen one explain what everything does, but it is fairly simple to work out, and of course, since the game is still in Early Access, it could still be added. As you explore further into the dungeons, you will come across areas which have a shop keeper, allowing you to purchase access to loot chests using the gold you have looted. At the moment, there are only 5 or 6 item slots; I would really like to see this increased to include many other item slots, such as maybe an additional ring slot, capes, boots, and gloves. I think having tons of loot is what makes dungeon crawlers, and whilst Blackfaun has that, it would be just amazing to have even more!
The art style in Blackfaun reminded me very much of League of Legends, the bright colours and stunning looking environments just look awesome. The animations of all characters and sprites are spot on as well.
There is an underlying plot to Blackfaun, I was paying attention, but to be honest, I wanted to just continue the addictive gameplay. I couldn’t get enough of it! I really see this game blowing up big time if the developers keep going as they are. I would love to see some sort of daily challenge mode introduced, or maybe an infinite gauntlet based mode too on top of the story mode.
At the moment, the game has 2 stages, which have about four levels in each of them. This took me just under an hour to complete, and it really left me with a sense of wanting more, immediately. There is definitely a lot of room for replay ability just going off the fact that the game play is so addictive. Another cool feature that has been included is that collecting achievements in game actually rewards you with more items in game too! This is the only game I can think of right now that actually does that with achievements, and it’s something more developers should be doing!
I didn’t have any technical issues; I was playing at 1440p with a smooth 60fps at all times on full graphics. I was a little shocked to see the graphics options was just a slide bar, but maybe that’s just there because of early access, since it is a PC game, we really need to see proper graphics options though.
To sum up, even though Blackfaun is in early access, I can easily highly recommend this game. The last update for the game was on the 30th December 2015, so the developers are active. The retail price at the moment is £10,99 – if you are a little hesitant about picking up an early access title, you may want to wait for it to go on sale, but if you are a roguelike/dungeon crawler fan like me, I cannot recommend this game enough. I can really see this game being top-notch as the developers continue to update this game.
Tom's Score Card
1) Stay away
2) Not Recommended
3) Only recommended when on sale
4) Recommended
5) Highly recommended
6) This is a must play
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Blackfaun is a nicely done roguelike wich plays like a Diablo-game.
You move with WASD and use skills and aim with the mouse (or gamepad, if you so choose.)
You find all sorts of loot, which can be better or worse, depending on your skills that you use. When you level up, you can spend attribute points for damage, life or magic find.
Every stage has a boss you must fight. When you finish the last boss or die during the dungeon, you can start over with better passive skills to begin with. These passive skills are unlocked when you find them as itemdrops or as achievement rewards. They can alter your gameplay a little bit every time you play.
There are no bugs from what i experienced, and i finished the game a few times already. The music and sounds are well crafted and fit to the gameplay.
Graphics are nothing you buy this game for but they aren't too shabby. Unlike the performance, fps go below 60fps on my Nvidia Titan X, which is irritating.
On normal difficulty, the game is a bit easy, but it's a good difficulty to learn the mechanics. Then you can start with "blackfaun"-difficulty, which increases every time you finish the game.
This game by now is a great roguelike, if they add more content (like stages, loot, skills etc.), this will be a steal for the price they ask. If you like Diablo-like gameplay, you should definitely try this one out.

*posted in may*
Game is still in very early develpment and it shows. The photos of the game are quite misleading so please be careful about purchasing it. Combat is still clunky and getting stuck in rooms can be annoying. This aside the game shows some promise in terms of its core idea. What they are trying to do is very appealing.
*Update 11/6/2016*
Well I put in a run took me an hour, I can honestly say the game has drastically improved and I am quite impressed with the changes. The rooms are not glitched anymore and the items are very interesting your buld can change from one floor to the next. The candle system in the game is very strange but i think it can be gotten used to. Before you buy keep in mind the game is VERY simple. If you are expecting a Torchlight or Diablo experience you maybe disappointed, However in the time played, as of this point I find it to be fun and I hope it keeps getting better. I see the price of this game to be worth while for a few hours of fun for someone new to the ARPG genre.

This is a visually stunning game that flows wonderfully...I see some comparisons to Diablo and such, and there's some of that..in the best sense...and also has kind of a Torchlight feel as well, which is nice. Very happy to have gotten this game. It's in it;s early stages, and in a sense, so am I as I write this. Admittedly, it's quite a task to move around with ease (I'm using Keyboard/Mouse)...walking around feels like driving around in Grand Theft Auto III...that kind of wonky feel, yet still I am getting tremendous enjoyment from Blackfaun thus far. TL;DR: Comparisons to other games are much more blessing than curse; and the positives completely outshine the negatives. No regrets about getting Blackfaun, and lots to look forward to! Enthusiastic thumbs up from me! :)

Pre-ordered this game back at PAX East and just got a key a few days ago, so far am loving the game!
Coming from a Path of Exile & Diablo III background, I really found it to be a similar experience. (mind you, the loot seems only to be a drop from chests, which are from stores/in tilesets/boss drops)
Ranged attacks are what you'll be using most of the time, while your offhand can do things like push or shield you. (given whatever items you have at the time) This doesn't make combat stale, though; I found it to still be fast paced and enjoyable.
I'll condense the rest into a list here:
+ Bosses are varied and tough, but still easy enough to beat.
+ Items are varied and feel strong, but not strong enough to warrant not trying a new weapon.
+ Enemies aren't too plentiful but still enough of a challenge.
- Enemy AI, at times, is stupid. The archers in the starting forest zone will try to place traps too close to you in the middle of a fight.
I'd recommend this game and am definitely happy I purchased this early! Can't wait to see where it goes!

Pro's
Very pretty
Simple, classic Mechanics
Cons
Early game killing bugs (Area 1-2 floating untargetable goblins who prevented me from leaving the area
I didnt get far enough to really see much else in the game. Purchase with caution as it is very early access. Looking forward to future updates.
Edit: 3/31/16
After a very short window the issue with floating enemies was resolved in my case, and I actually got to play up to zone 2-2.
The game is of course a rogue like and as you play more of it you will unlock fancier gear which provides fancy new abilities most of which run off your mana.
These drops radically change your game and with a bit of luck mean you'll be set to the very end.
I've changed my rating on the game as it is quite a bit of fun with a beautiful styling. I'd love to see melee weapons implemented too, but that might be later in the game, or perhaps not the direction the dev's want to go in.
The game crashed after the face melting dragon shotgun dropped which is a shame, but now I know it can drop and I want to find it again.

I've been digging Blackfaun; it's casual, it's roguelike, and I dig seeing comparing gear and seeing how the stat buffs change things. I know some of the team and it's been great seeing the game get to where it is. It's fun and easy to pick up (and put down when I've got a lot going on).
I'm starting on Blackfaun difficulty now to see how that is but after that I'll probably try some speedrunning. It seems like it would be good for that.