Have A Nice Death Brings Stylish Roguelike Action to PS4 in 2024
As an avid gamer and industry follower, I‘m excited to provide the full scoop on Have A Nice Death‘s upcoming PlayStation 4 release. This indie darling enchanted players on Switch and PC in early 2022 with its magical 2D world full of chaotic hack-and-slash combat. Now Death is ready to reap souls on Sony‘s console in 2024!
Release Date and Platform Details
Developer Magic Design Studios has officially confirmed Have A Nice Death will launch on PS4 alongside Xbox One on March 22, 2023. The roguelike action game originally hit Switch and PC via Steam on March 8, 2022. Allowing for a full year of early access and feedback, the console ports aim to introduce Have A Nice Death‘s distinct humor and tight gameplay to a broader mainstream audience.
Gamers can expect feature parity across PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC. The 2D animated environments and arcade-style combat transition smoothly across platforms. However, PS4 Pro and high-end PCs will deliver visual enhancements like 4K resolution and smoother 60 FPS framerates. But fear not, the vibrant art direction shines even at 1080p/30 FPS on base consoles.
Step Into the Shoes of Death – Literally
Instead of terrorizing mere mortals, players take on the role of the Grim Reaper himself in Have A Nice Death. Though, you may not recognize the overworked, underappreciated incarnation toiling away here. Death serves as a middle manager in his own monstrous corporation managing the afterlife. But when an error crops up corrupting soul processing procedures, he must venture from his desk to set things right!
This novel premise combines workplace satire with an absurd take on the supernatural. As Death, you‘ll hack, dash, and cast magical spells against rampaging office supplies brought to life. These animate staplers and raging fax machines reflect the drudgery of corporate jobs – giving players cathartic chills while slashing through themed levels like "Accounting" or "Human Resources."
Hectic Combat Mixed With Roguelike Progression
Have A Nice Death delivers wildly entertaining room-to-room encounters. As a middle manager, Death wields fast melee weapons like scythes appropriate to his station. Players will need to utilize quick reflexes to dodge incoming attacks and juggle crowds of enemies at once. Combos, dash moves, and short-range abilities add satisfying options for laying waste to troublesome office constructs.
But like all good Roguelikes, balance remains key. Each area introduces new environmental traps or menacing monsters that inspire cautious and methodical play. Some skirmishes provide exhilarating highs…while unexpected deaths teach harsh lessons through lost progress. Luckily, patterns slowly emerge across Have A Nice Death‘s semi-randomized levels to make repeated runs more predictable.
Limbo coins collected from fallen foes can permanently unlock game-changing upgrades too. More weapons, exceptional magical talents, and combat modifiers help develop Death‘s abilities between attempts. Players choose which bonuses to activate before starting runs, allowing customization of strengths and playstyles. Diversified builds prevent repetition even while revisiting branching stage paths.
How Does Have A Nice Death Fare Across Platforms?
| Platform | Resolution | Framerate | Loading Times | Visual Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PS4 | 1080p | 30 FPS | 5-10 seconds | Good |
| Xbox One | 1080p | 30 FPS | 5-10 seconds | Good |
| Switch | 720p | 30 FPS | 10-15 seconds | Average |
| PC | 4K | 60 FPS | 2-5 seconds | Best |
Reviewers praise Have A Nice Death‘s charming 2D presentation no matter the system. Clean animations and a muted color palette reflect corporate drudgery. The Linux-inspired UI offers playful worldbuilding touches for Death‘s Dystopian office environment. These details shine on high-resolution displays while retaining coherence at lower fidelity settings too.
Console load times generally hover between 5-15 seconds when restarting runs or moving between zones. Players will experience more lag on Switch compared to PS4 and Xbox One. But the pace slows enough to accommodate brief pauses across versions. My playthrough faced no noticeable frame rate dips or performance issues outside extreme effects-heavy scenes.
What Critics Are Saying About the Roguelike Action
Critics largely compliment Have A Nice Death‘s success blending action-platforming with roguelike progression systems. Reviews particularly praise the nuanced combat and striking visual aesthetic.
| Publication | Score | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| IGN | 8/10 | "Charming roguelike action distinguished by stunning visuals and ingeniously designed combat." |
| GameSpot | 9/10 | "Satisfyingly complex combat paired with unlockable skills, mutations, and weapons make each run unique." |
| Polygon | 7/10 | "Flashy style and responsive controls create epic encounters, but cheap deaths and grindy progression frustrate." |
Early adopters on PC and Switch laud the magical abilities and wide selection of melee weapons. Combat complexity develops further as various attacks chain together. While the brutal difficulty spikes in later areas proved controversial at launch, recent patches tone down excessive punishment to emphasize enjoyable replayability over hardcore punishment.
For Fans Of Stylish Fast-Paced Roguelikes
Have A Nice Death should appeal to gamers who enjoy:
- Hades: Similarly structured Roguelike with godly powers, unlockables, and ever-increasing challenges
- Dead Cells: Quick and demanding 2D combat emphasizing skillful play
- Curse of the Dead Gods: Another Roguelike with a skill tree and dangerous relics set in a Mayan labyrinth
- Bastion: Action RPG with gorgeous hand-painted fantasy backdrops
The irreverent tone and striking figural designs help Have A Nice Death stand apart as a thematically coherent experience. Combining customizable action, short session times, and plenty of humorous writing, Death‘s journey offers light-hearted escapism perfect for either short bursts or extensive binges.
Give Have A Nice Death a Shot on PS4 Next Year
Have A Nice Death‘s vibrant art direction, nuanced combat mechanics, and satirical storytelling have earned praise within the crowded Roguelike genre since launching on PC and Switch. The upcoming March 22, 2023 debut on PS4 opens the floodgates for new console audiences to join Death on his quest to reorganize his corrupted underworld company.
Approachable progression systems and varied weapon options support differentiated builds to keep the hack-and-slash gameplay fresh across repeated attempts. Despite punitive spikes, Have A Nice Death finds a commendable balance making failure entertaining. The self-aware writing and intuitive controls go a long way toward keeping players in good spirits for just one more run.
So brace for impact when Death brings his chaotic office to PlayStation next year! Let me know in the comments if you plan to play Have A Nice Death or have any other questions about what to expect from the PS4 version.
