11
The Relic: First Guardian Review – Hidden Gem or Total Flop?
The Relic: First Guardian Review – A Promising Idea That Crumbles Up Close
TL;DR: The Quick Summary
The Gist: The Relic: First Guardian wants to be the next big "Soulslike" (games like Dark Souls or Elden Ring). It has fun combat ideas and some touching side stories, but it’s held together by duct tape and hope. Bugs, bad graphics, confusing design, and broken boss fights make it hard to recommend.
What Is This Game Anyway?
Imagine a game where you’re a knight exploring a dark, ruined world. You fight monsters, dodge attacks, and learn the patterns of big, scary bosses. That’s the "Soulslike" formula – and The Relic: First Guardian copies the homework but forgets to study for the test.
- Genre: Action RPG / Soulslike
- Vibe: Grimdark fantasy, Korean folklore influences
- Core Loop: Explore → Fight → Die → Learn → Repeat
The Good Stuff (Yes, There Is Some!)
Combat Has a Heartbeat
The fighting system is the one thing that works… mostly.
- Five distinct weapons – each feels different (staff, greatsword, dual blades, etc.)
- Rhythm-based attacks – you can’t just mash buttons; timing matters
- Aggression encouraged – only blocking/dodging costs stamina, so swinging is "free"
- Weapon Skill Trees – each weapon has two branching paths (e.g., staff = melee whirlwind or ranged mage)
- Relic System – equip stones that change your stats or give wild effects (like cheating death once!)
Pro Tip: You can respec (reset your skills) easily using a common item. Experiment freely!
Side Stories That Sting
Scattered notes tell Korean folklore tales – some are genuinely moving.
- A wife waits for her husband; pinwheels mark her fading hope
- Grief turns a woman into a monster you must fight
- Best ones subvert expectations – no boss, just a quiet, haunting ending
The Bad Stuff (Buckle Up)
Visuals: "Did This Load Right?"
| Issue | What It Looks Like |
|---|---|
| Character Models | Blurry, low-detail faces; glowing eyes = only expression |
| Environments | Three regions, all look samey; heavy color filters (mint green, yellow, vomit green, orange-red) |
| Caves | Screen edges darken artificially – hurts peripheral vision |
| Performance | Get stuck on geometry; spawn waist-deep in ground; fast travel points inside walls |
Important: The "bloom" fuzz around characters looks like a PS2 game trying to be artsy.
Exploration: A Buggy Treasure Hunt
- Loot is a lie – 99% of chests = 30–600 gold. You’ll be rich by Act 3 with nothing to buy.
- Map markers lure you in, but lead to broken geometry or dead ends.
- Environmental storytelling is overused – every rock has a note; every note has a tragically convenient diary entry.
Writing & Voice Acting: Lost in Translation
- Dialogue rambles endlessly – NPCs don’t know when to stop talking
- Subtitles ≠ Voice Lines – they often say different things
- Voice acting ranges from "flat" to "did anyone listen to this take?"
Combat Deep Dive: Good Bones, Rusty Joints
What Works
- Weapon variety – each has one combo string with strict timing
- Stamina system – enemies can be staggered… but you can’t see their stamina bar
- Group fights – require tactics (kill archers first, use elemental bolts)
What Doesn’t
| Problem | Why It Hurts |
|---|---|
| Sluggish controls | Inputs feel delayed; combos drop randomly |
| No enemy stagger feedback | You’re guessing when they’ll break |
| Janky lock-on + jittery camera | Target switching fails in crowds |
| Enemies become chores | Low rewards + high annoyance = run past them by late game |
Boss Fights: Quantity ≠ Quality
There are 75+ bosses. Most are optional. Many are broken.
The Good
- Better designs – cultist with brazier on head, miners with pickaxe helmets
- Puzzle-like patterns – require learning and adaptation
The Ugly
- Cheese mechanics – status effects, environmental hazards, uninterruptible combos
- Game-breaking bugs:
- Boss freezes mid-fight
- Boss doesn’t spawn – empty room, occasional phantom attacks
- Only fix: reload entire game session
Progression: No Levels, Just Relics
- No XP / Leveling Up – your stats come entirely from gear
- Relic Points – unlock skill tree nodes
- Only from: Boss rewards, quests, blue shrines
- Cannot grind – finite supply
- Respec freely – try new builds for each boss
Warning: Skill trees are huge. You won’t see a full build until very late game.
Equipment & Relics: Cool Ideas, Zero Explanations
| Gear Type | What It Does | The Catch |
|---|---|---|
| Weapons | Passive effects (e.g., 2H sword: block cheaper, dodge costlier) | Not explained in-game |
| Relics (Stones) | Stat boosts + wild effects (invincibility on fatal hit!) | No tooltips for "special attacks" |
| Combos | Some relics seem to combo | Game never tells you which attacks count |
ELI5: Imagine getting a LEGO set with no instructions. The pieces are cool, but you’re guessing how they fit.
Final Verdict: Should You Play It?
| Play If… | Skip If… |
|---|---|
| You love janky, ambitious B-games | You want polish, stability, or clarity |
| You enjoy theory-crafting broken builds | You hate bugs, bad cameras, or invisible walls |
| You’re curious about Korean folklore in games | You need good localization or voice acting |
Score: ☆☆☆ (2/5) – Combat saves it from a 1.
Summary
The Relic: First Guardian is a game that dreams big but trips on its own shoelaces. Its combat system has genuine depth, and its folklore side quests occasionally touch the heart. But technical bugs, visual mediocrity, confusing design, and broken boss fights bury the good parts under rubble. It feels like an Early Access game that launched too soon.
Bottom Line: Wait for deep sale + patches. Or watch a Let’s Play for the stories.
FAQ
1. Is this game like Elden Ring or Dark Souls?
Yes, but… It copies the structure (bonfires = checkpoints, estus = healing, fog gates = boss doors) but lacks the polish, readability, and fairness that make FromSoftware games work.
2. Can I play this solo? Is there multiplayer?
Solo only. No co-op, no invasions, no messages. Just you and the bugs.
3. How long does it take to beat?
~30 hours for main + side content. Longer if you fight every optional boss (there are 75+).
4. Does the game have difficulty settings?
No. One difficulty. You can respec builds to adapt, but you can’t lower enemy damage or HP.
5. Will the bugs get fixed?
The review doesn’t say – but with this many fundamental issues (camera, lock-on, boss AI, physics), don’t count on a miracle patch. Check recent Steam reviews before buying.
