‘Perennial Order’ is a 2D plant horror with challenging one-hit death combat. Developed and published by Gardenfiend Games and SOEDESCO, Perennial Order presents an atmospheric Dark Age world infested by nature-inspired horrors.

Set in an ambient world overtaken by natural monsters, Perennial Order is a 2D plant horror boss rush with a lore-filled land. Explore the troubled land in either singleplayer or two-player co-op that souls-like fans are sure to love, based on its fast, snappy combat. You play as an undying knight pieced together with plants, flesh, and metal. There are also other knights, like yourself, who possess telepathic powers to defeat powerful enemies.

First things first, if I didn’t mention before, any damage dealt to you is an insta-kill. There are various traps and platforming challenges for you to outmaneuver, as well as NPCs to interact with, between a multitude of boss battles. One boss in particular that I found annoying could only be damaged by parrying his attacks. This is also the first time parrying is introduced to you in the game, to add to the “wonderful” experience.

There is also another frustrating boss that is set on a chessboard. This fight has 10 phases, in which, by the final phase, you have to dodge 16 enemies at the same time, further adding to the frustration. Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy the rest of the game, but I found this in particular to be super annoying.

Controls are relatively easy to grasp off the rip, but it will take some practice with timing your parry or dodge. From the jump, you have three wisps that follow you around. As you dodge, you use one wisp until it replenishes. There are also various instincts (abilities) to unlock as you defeat bosses or find them scattered in the world.

These abilities have different uses, such as being able to double dodge, consuming only one wisp, and allowing you to customise your knight to suit your playstyle. As stated previously, there is also a co-op multiplayer so you can add a friend to join you in the fun and frustration.

The graphics are very well done. Detailed, unique environments inspired by a dark fantasy aesthetic create a fantastic yet monstrous atmosphere. It’s clear to see how Gardenfiend Games wanted the game to feel through its picturesque scenery and detailed boss fights.

Accompanying this is a superb orchestral soundtrack that matches the character of the game and makes you feel enveloped in the lore behind the knights and the plagued lands.

Overall, I didn’t mind Perennial Order. While it’s not my usual type of game, I still gave it a chance, and I was pretty impressed. Apart from the moments of frustration, I can see why this game has nothing but positive reviews on the Steam store page. I’m sure many more will love Perennial Order due to its snappy gameplay, superb graphics, and soundtrack. Still, I do wish the parry mechanic had been introduced a bit earlier in the game so you could get used to it before facing a boss that requires you to master the timing of the parry.

Written by: Larry