Many players see inventory management as the most tedious aspect of any given game, but many others see it as an engaging process. Games like Resident Evil 4 have received quite a bit of praise for how they handle their inventory systems, so although this feature is not for everyone, it at least has its place. Those who get particular enjoyment out of the feature will probably find something to like about Backpack Hero, an upcoming rogue-lite dungeon crawler centered entirely around inventory management. Players can try out Backpack Hero for themselves once it releases in Early Access on August 15.
According to a press release, Backpack Hero tasks players with navigating procedurally generated dungeons and fighting enemies using only items they can store in their backpacks. Notably, the importance of inventory management goes beyond ensuring you remain properly equipped with the right items. By placing items within specific areas in their backpacks, players can alter the items’ effectiveness in various ways. For instance, positioning specific items next to pieces of armor will provide a boost to that armor’s defense. Additionally, certain other items come with bonuses that activate “when they have empty spaces below or above them.”
Think before you pack
Naturally, some items inflict enemies with various status effects, like poison or slowness. Other items can come with even larger benefits, such as providing multiple heals for the player. On the other hand, some items have significant drawbacks, and enemies can place them inside the player’s backpack to waste valuable inventory space.
By purchasing the Early Access version of Backpack Hero, players can take advantage of some newly-added items and features, including two playable characters named Tote the Toad and CR-8 the Robot. Of course, whether or not players will enjoy these features will depend on if they find this inventory-centric gameplay interesting and rewarding.
