In recent years, side-scrolling “Souls-like” games are aplenty, but the one that started it all was Salt and Sanctuary. Immediately upon launching the game, you'll see the inspiration from the Dark Souls series. The dark mood of its decaying world, very few NPCs to talk to, similar death mechanics, fatigue system, the way armor works, and the difficulty of combat.

Like in the Souls games, you begin by picking your character's archetype class, race, and gender. These are just starting points, as later on the player can customize their character by spending points on a large skill tree, accessing a wide variety of play styles. The amount of items and equipment adds further to the freedom of developing your character, one of Salt and Sanctuary's stronger points. Do you want to be an agile roguish character, a mage, or a bulky knight? You can be one of those, or you can mix and match. Different bosses require different tactics, but all enemies are dangerous, as the player must dodge attacks and jump around platforms while keeping track of their stamina.

The game's death mechanic is also similar to the Souls series. When you die – and you will die a lot – your character respawns at the closest sanctuary. Blacksmiths, merchants, magic teachers, and other people inhabit these places, offering their services. One such NPC will allow you to play the game in two-player local co-op. I experienced this, and while things did get hectic and easier than playing alone, it was still fun. Certain sanctuaries are also tied down to factions, each offering unique bonuses and advantages.

As for the “Metroidvania” genre inspirations, your character will unlock new movement abilities that allow access to new areas while also making it worthwhile to revisit previous locations. These abilities can be everything from wall jumping, double jumping or exploring some areas while being upside down.