Gunnhildr Preview (PC)

A Norse myth-themed shooter with some rogue-lite elements

I dash around the combat arena as fast as my recharge timer lets me, combining this with some double jumps when space allows it. My shield is depleted and, while moving, I try to think if it’s better to try and take out the final two enemies or if I should try to get some halite from the environment to recharge it. My dilemma disappears when I dumbly move under a set of stairs and an enemy grenade ends my run.

Gunnhildr is a combination of first-person shooter and rogue-lite that casts the player as a former champion of Niflheim. She is aiming to get revenge against its leaders after she was sent on a doomed mission to Asgard. She plans to exact revenge by means of powerful weapons, grenades, and finishing moves. There are no swords or Vikings here, only superior firepower and fast movement.

The narrative, delivered mostly via voice-over narration, is intriguing but relatively limited at the moment. But the core FPS and rogue-lite mechanics are solid and create a very fast and action-packed game. Gunnhildr herself relies on a shield for survival. It can only be recharged using halite and one hit when it’s not active takes the player out. Two weapons can be carried at a time, which do not use ammo but overheat relatively quickly. Dashing and double jumping both avoids enemy attacks and cools down weaponry.

The weapons are very varied, with each run made more unique by the upgrades that enemies leave behind, which boost capabilities in small but meaningful ways. The battle arenas and enemies are also randomized and surprising.

It’s always a good idea to stay moving and avoid damage instead of trying to get the best shot on an enemy. Thinking too much or moving haphazardly leads to death in Gunnhildr. Once that happens gamers can get upgrades from a mysterious figure using the halite they got and then run the gauntlet again.

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Conclusion