Death’s Door or DD is a fairly straightforward dungeoncrawler-metroidvania, taking some heavy inspiration from older Zelda titles. You play as a Reaper Crow, tasked with gathering dying souls under the service of Death. However, one such assignment goes awry and you find yourself uncovering the secrets behind your job, all while trying your best to capture a soul that escaped your grasp.
DD takes seemingly simple game mechanics and polishes them to perfection. You have your attack, ranged attack and dodge roll. You unlock more ranged attacks as you progress. There are also quite a few weapons to collect, often found off the beaten path. Even if it is simplistic, the combat offers you exciting moments, especially as you fight bosses. The game never really becomes difficult however, unless you place some restraints on yourself. DD’s combat complements its true excellence: exploration.
Figuring out the secrets of DD’s world is the most fun I’ve recently had. The game never holds your hand and lets you build associations and learn its language completely on your own. This can’t help but remind me of how older dungeon-crawlers left you to your own devices. DD never tells you about its endgame secrets or the hidden puzzles unlocking new weapons and power-ups. You are expected to figure them out by paying close attention to NPC dialogues, the collectibles you find and exploration.
The most striking thing about DD, for me, was how it treated death. Throughout the game, you defeat creatures that have long overstayed their welcome in the world. The most fearsome of them are the bosses, the Giant Souls that you take down. Yet, their death at your hands is never really celebrated in the conventional sense. Instead, you become a part of a cutscene celebrating their life, their achievements and their wishes in a poignant sendoff. The game never shies away from such sombre moments with characters mourning their immortality, all while being supported by an exceptional and atmospheric soundtrack. Pure vibes.
Vibes is what Death’s Door does best. Every part of the game — from the impeccable soundtrack to the cute artstyle — lends itself to the atmosphere and the vibes. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the calmness that washed over me every time I went back to the hubworld and heard the mellow tones of The Hall of Doors. I must’ve spent at least 10 minutes every day just chilling there while listening to the track.
VERDICT: In spite of simplistic combat and a somewhat predictable story, Death’s Door makes an impact on the player with its visuals, the amazing exploration and its gentle vibes. If you want to scratch that old-school metroidvania exploration itch, don’t miss out on this one. I give it an eight out of 10.
