Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Call for Heroes: Pompolic Wars delivers a straightforward yet satisfying action-RPG loop built around its signature soul-gathering mechanic. Every time you fell an enemy, you collect Dark Souls that can be invested immediately into boosting your character’s strength, armor, or health. This system offers a constant incentive to engage in combat rather than avoid it—pushing players to chain attacks and manage resources on the fly.

With 15 distinct maps and 18 enemy types, variation comes mostly from level design rather than depth of enemy AI. You’ll face skeleton warriors, impish arsonists, armored golems and more, each demanding slight adjustments in timing and approach. Despite occasional repetition, the gradual introduction of stronger foes keeps encounters from going stale, especially when you switch between the game’s two protagonists.

The dual-character approach—one a sturdy warrior, the other a nimble rogue—encourages multiple playthroughs. The warrior’s heavy blade and defensive perks make him a frontline tank, while the rogue trades raw durability for agile combos and stealthier strike options. Both draw from the same upgrade pool of Dark Souls, but their differing weapon sets and skill trees give each run a fresh feel.

Graphics

Visually, Pompolic Wars sits somewhere between mid-2000s polygon art and modern indie stylings. Character models are serviceable rather than spectacular, but strong lighting effects—especially around portals and soul-collection animations—lend the game an atmospheric edge. Searing reds and deep blues dominate the palette, reinforcing the theme of a world torn between light and darkness.

The environments range from craggy caverns to ruined keeps and scorched battlegrounds. Though textures can look flat up close, wide shots reveal decent object detail and layered scenery that draw you into the conflict. Particle effects for fire, magic spells, and corruptive auras are surprisingly well-executed, giving boss fights and set-piece moments plenty of visual flair.

Performance is generally smooth on mid-range hardware, and load times between maps stay reasonable. Occasional frame dips can occur when dozens of enemies swarm the screen or during elaborate portal sequences, but these stutters rarely last more than a second. Overall, the game’s graphics strike a solid balance between style and accessibility.

Story

The narrative thrust of Call for Heroes: Pompolic Wars is classic high-fantasy fare. A gateway to the Outer Worlds has unleashed Pompolic and his Dark Souls, corrupting the land and its peoples. This backdrop may not break new ground, but it sets up a clear “heroes-versus-demons” premise that drives you forward through 15 escalating stages of conflict.

Cutscenes are brief and functional, relaying key plot points without derailing the action. You learn Pompolic’s dark goals and the stakes for your world via short dialogues and environmental storytelling—tattered banners, scorched villages, and fallen comrades remind you exactly what you’re fighting for. Side notes and collectible lore scrolls flesh out the Outer Worlds connection but remain optional for players focused on combat.

Pacing leans heavily toward the gameplay, with story beats bookending major battles rather than woven into every map. Those craving deep character arcs or moral quandaries may find the tale a bit one-dimensional. However, if your goal is to hack through demons, level up quickly, and face an end-game showdown with Pompolic himself, the narrative framework is more than sufficient.

Overall Experience

Call for Heroes: Pompolic Wars shines as a pick-up-and-play action-RPG that rewards aggression and experimentation. The soul collection mechanic adds a strategic layer to otherwise familiar hack-and-slash gameplay, and the two-character system extends replay value. Fifteen maps offer a fair bit of mileage, while incremental unlocks and upgrades keep each hour feeling productive.

Combat remains the star attraction: chaining combos, evading heavy hits, and unleashing special abilities all flow smoothly thanks to standard third-person controls. If you’ve ever enjoyed other action-adventure titles but wished for more direct character progression, Pompolic Wars scratches that itch with minimal fuss. Even veterans of the genre will appreciate the tight feedback loop between defeating foes and seeing your stats rise.

While its story and graphics won’t redefine the genre, Call for Heroes delivers a solid, accessible package that should appeal to fans of fast-paced RPG combat. It’s best suited for players who value clear goals, steady progression, and demon-slaying satisfaction over narrative complexity. If that sounds like your ideal gaming session, Pompolic Wars is worth summoning into your library.

Retro Replay Score

4.1/10