Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Briganty: The Roots of Darkness delivers a robust side-scrolling action experience that seamlessly blends beat-em-up combat, platforming challenges, and RPG progression. Players primarily control Gady, a black magician turned brawler whose fast-paced punches and unlockable magic spells keep combat engaging. Occasionally, you’ll switch to Sephina, a skilled swordswoman whose swordplay adds a tactical twist to the fight sequences. This alternation prevents the gameplay from growing stale and encourages mastering two distinct combat styles.

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The level design follows a mostly linear progression, but at key moments you can choose between multiple stages on the overworld map. This branching structure gives you a modicum of freedom and replayability: tackling a stage out of order can reward you with extra experience or hidden items. Each stage throws in platforming hazards—spiked pits, moving platforms, and environmental traps—that demand precise timing and keep you on your toes.

Defeating enemies grants experience points, which you can invest in new combo moves and enhanced magic attacks for both protagonists. Gady’s mystical punches evolve into area-of-effect spells, while Sephina gains faster sword combos and defensive maneuvers. These RPG-lite elements inject a satisfying sense of growth and keep the combat loop fresh from start to finish.

Boss encounters serve as culminating tests of skill at the end of each chapter. They’re varied in pattern and difficulty, forcing you to adapt your learned combos and magic strategies. Whether dodging a giant elemental attack or weaving through a hail of projectiles, each boss battle is memorable and provides a genuine sense of accomplishment once conquered.

Don’t expect a breezy stroll through every level—platforming sections can be tricky, and enemies sometimes swarm in large groups. However, the game balances its challenge with in-town healing and save points, ensuring you can take a breather, upgrade your skills, and strategize before diving back into the fray.

Graphics

Visually, Briganty embraces a vibrant, anime-inspired aesthetic. Character sprites are well-animated, with combat moves feeling weighty and impactful thanks to fluid frame transitions. Gady’s magic attacks glow with rich hues, while Sephina’s sword slashes leave eye-catching trails, making combat feel cinematic even in the heat of battle.

Background art ranges from misty forest glades and hidden caves to bustling townscapes and ominous ruins. Each environment boasts unique color palettes that help convey mood—warm earth tones in the village give way to chilling blues and purples as you delve into dark dungeons. Parallax scrolling backgrounds add depth and enhance the side-scroll illusion.

The cutscenes stand out for their bold, hand-drawn visuals. While some players may find the explicit nudity unexpected, it adheres to the game’s mature tone and is handled with artistic flair rather than gratuitous detail. These scenes help underscore key narrative moments and are presented sparingly enough to remain impactful.

Enemies and bosses are distinct and creatively designed—ranging from enchanted woodland creatures to sinister cultists empowered by the Roots of Darkness. Their animations are smooth, and attack telegraphs are clear, which helps in reacting appropriately during fast-paced encounters. Minor visual hiccups happen rarely, but overall the performance remains stable, even in crowded on-screen battles.

On settings consoles and PC, Briganty runs consistently at 60 frames per second. Load times between stages are minimal, and the game allows for a quick restart if you fall prey to a particularly nasty spike trap. Graphical options let you toggle effects like motion blur and background detail to suit your hardware, making for a polished presentation across platforms.

Story

The plot kicks off when Gady, the self-proclaimed “pervert of the century,” and his fairy companion Leena stumble upon a desperate girl in the woods. What begins as a typical rescue quickly turns into a scam as the girl robs Gady of his funds and vanishes. This mischievous opening sets the tone for a story that balances comedic misadventures with darker, more mysterious threads.

Shortly afterward, they meet Sephina, a stoic sword master whose sister’s odd behavior—triggered by a mysterious sword—hints at a deeper corruption. Sephina’s mission to save her sister dovetails perfectly with Gady’s quest for cash and redemption. This unlikely trio forms the narrative backbone, and their banter offers both humor and heartfelt moments.

As you journey through each stage, snippets of lore about the Roots of Darkness unfold. Ancient rituals, cursed artifacts, and shadowy organizations all factor into the unfolding mystery. While the main thrust remains straightforward—defeat the darkness corrupting Sephina’s sister—the side dialogues and optional NPC interactions enrich the world-building, making it feel lived-in.

The characters grow on you over time. Gady’s cheeky one-liners and Leena’s exasperated reactions provide comic relief, while Sephina’s resolve and hidden vulnerability give emotional depth. Cutscenes punctuate the action, and though some players may find the nudity scenes surprising, they tie into character backstories and heighten the stakes rather than existing purely for shock value.

Plot pacing is well-balanced: you’re never stuck in lengthy exposition, and the story advances organically through missions and discoveries. When a major revelation arrives—such as the true origin of the sword—it feels earned, thanks to careful foreshadowing throughout earlier chapters.

Overall Experience

Briganty: The Roots of Darkness succeeds in delivering an action-packed adventure that appeals to fans of beat-em-ups, platformers, and light RPGs alike. Its satisfying combat mechanics, coupled with level-up progression and occasional branching paths, keep the gameplay loop engaging from start to finish. Casual players and genre veterans will find something to enjoy here.

The game’s mature elements—comic innuendo and occasional explicit nudity—set it apart from more family-friendly titles. While this may not suit all audiences, it aligns with the game’s cheeky, slightly risqué personality. Leena’s rebukes of Gady’s antics and Sephina’s more serious demeanor create a dynamic that’s entertaining and often laugh-out-loud funny.

Graphically, Briganty stands strong, with polished sprite work, detailed backgrounds, and smooth animations. Performance is rock-solid even during the most chaotic boss fights, and the musical score complements the action with energetic tracks and atmospheric themes in the darker stages.

Replay value comes from exploring optional routes on the map, unlocking all combo moves and magic skills, and chasing hidden collectibles in each level. For players eager to test their mastery, a New Game+ mode offers increased enemy difficulty and new challenges that demand perfect timing and full utilization of your skillset.

In summary, Briganty offers a multifaceted adventure that’s both entertaining and challenging. Its blend of humor, heartfelt moments, and intense action ensures that you stay hooked until the final boss fades into darkness—making it a recommended pick for anyone seeking a mature, well-crafted side-scrolling action RPG.

Retro Replay Score

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