Two months after leaving Early Access, vampire survivors launched its first paid extension yesterday. Its name is Legacy Of The Moonspell, and it adds a new map as well as new characters, enemies, and weapons, all inspired by Japanese folklore (including a variety of yokai and oni). For only €1.50, it’s perfect. Do you love Vampire Survivors and want more? Dude, it’s right here.
It’s a bit damning vague to say that Legacy Of The Moonspell is more Vampire Survivors, but it is what it is, and it’s great. I just want more vampire survivors, and these are decent vampire survivors. The new map is the prettiest and most interesting yet, an open mountain landscape with a snowy forest, icy crevasses and treacherous winding paths, a giant abandoned castle, temperate plains with fields, temples with cherry trees and mazes, and other pretty bits. It feels much more like a location than other levels, which are largely video game levels. The new monsters are fun, especially the eight-headed dragon boss. And while I haven’t unlocked all the new characters and weapons yet, I’m enjoying the ones I’ve seen. It’s good. That’s what I want.
For me, Vampire Survivors never overstayed its welcome (unlike Matt Cox, who in our Vampire Survivor Reviews resigned at the end of the game). I fully completed it several times during its year in early access, always coming back after each content update to unlock, craft, and earn achievements for what’s new. Then I would go play other games until the next update. This expansion feels like a few months of early access updates at a time, and it’s great, and certainly priced at £1.43.
It’s crazy that I paid £2 for this game in early access. Even its finished and complete price of £4 seems cheap. I’m more than happy to pay £1.43 for more. In the DLC launch announcement, developers Poncle even repeat a question I’ve seen many ask fervently of a game they’d be happy to pay more for: “Why only $1.99?” Why indeed.
“While I’m very grateful for the sentiment, just like the main game, the DLC has a price that’s ‘right for me’ and reflects its production value,” says Poncle.
“For the past few months and for the DLC, we’ve had amazing artists like Glauber Kotaki and Pitavant for the new graphics, Daniele Zandara and his new bangers with live recordings, that little surprise in the DLC trailer, a whole company to be supported to be able to launch on all current platforms, and yet Poncle still needs time (and key people!) to be able to provide higher production value.the price and frequent discounts just seems fair . »
Poncle also plans to continue releasing new items in free updates. While future paid DLC packs may add additional levels, characters, weapons, monsters, and more, all new “items, power-ups, gameplay mechanics, and more will continue to be added to the base game.” free. They also plan to continue releasing free updates “like that of the small bridge.”
At some point, Poncle might create bigger add-ons that cost more. They say, “We’ll charge more for new stuff when we have something even better to offer, don’t worry and thanks again!” So far, great, adorable, very happy with it.
Legacy Of The Moonspell is out now on Steam with a 10% introductory discount bringing it down to £1.43/€1.79/$1.79 for next week. It is also on the Microsoft storewhere it’s not included with Game Pass (the base game is), but subscribers get a 20% discount.