Lone Fungus Demo Review

Introduction to the Lone Fungus Review
The Lone Fungus game uses similar elements that are found in the Hollow Knight game. It is not a copy and paste work at all. I noticed the use of the same elements but the developer of the Lone Fungus gave it a good twist and made it a game of its own. The game is in an exploration Metroidvania style with combat. In combat, you can use the sword that you will find in the beginning. You are able to find spells throughout the game. When you find a spell, you can equip the spell. The spells are nice upgrades. For example with the right spell equipped you are able to use your magic to hurt the enemies. There are also relics in the game. You need brain nodes to equip the relics, relics will grant you new powers. Your biggest enemy in the Lone Fungus is the spikes. The spikes are everywhere; they also hover in the air. You can use the spikes in combination with a downward slash to reach new or secret areas.

The story
The rest of the story is being developed and will keep on growing. You wake up alone. You feel you are the last of your kind. That is why you call yourself the Lone fungus. You hear a voice that is telling you to reach the top of the world. Your mission is to find this monster on top of the world. He has been eating all the mushrooms

Gameplay
The Lone Fungus is a game that challenges you in many ways. You use the sword to attack wildlife and fight bosses. The sword can be used to attack in every direction but up. You need to jump and time correctly to attack the flying wildlife. When hitting the spikes with a downward slash you can bounce on them, this is a skill you need to master! Spikes can be your greatest enemy but when using a downward slash correctly, you can make the spikes your friends and reach secret areas. The secret areas often contain life crystals or mana point upgrades. You will start Lone Fungus with three health points. You can upgrade your health points with relics and also by finding four life crystals. When you find 4 life crystals you gain 1 extra health point. In the demo, the max hp is five. Mana point upgrades can be found per 1 mana point up scattered all over the world. With your mana points, you can heal yourself. This costs thirty mana points to heal one health point. You regenerate mana points by hitting enemies. With a relic, you can also regenerate mana points by standing still.

The spells
Relics are scattered all over the world. These relics can be used to upgrade your powers and give you bonuses. To be able to equip these powerful relics you need brain nodes. You can gather brain nodes but this is very difficult because they are very well hidden. You can also gain special powers from defeating the bosses. For example: the power to jump higher or equip spells. In the demo, there are two usable spells. The other spells can be used when you complete the demo. For now, they are to play around with. To use a spell you need mana points. The bosses in the Lone Fungus are tough and challenging. Once you learn their pattern you are able to defeat them. This feels very rewarding especially when you get a new power afterward. The world is open to explore in the way that you see fit once you defeated the Statue. After that defeat, the world is open for exploration. In your exploration, you will get lost but that is a part of the game. There are underwater sections, they will kill you for now. When the game gets a full release this is one of the routes to a new area.

Bouncy spore: You create a ball that you can use to reach new areas, attack the ball to fly up.
Bouncy ball: You are able to create a ball that you can hit, this can open up new areas or attack enemies.
The other spells can be unlocked when you complete the demo but there is no information yet. When the game hits full release I will come back with a full review, including all the spells!

The wildlife
The wildlife will try to halt your progress in the game. The wildlife have no names at this time. I gave them names because it is easier to communicate. These are not the actual names, They are still in development.

The normal wildlife
Spikes, you lose one health point if you get hit by the spikes.
Poke-a-boo, it is a butterfly that shoots balls of doom at you. With each hit, you lose one health point.
Lego cube, you find this enemy if you accidentally step on it. With each encounter, you lose one health point.
Flattermouse junior, this looks like a bat. It as a miniature version of the last boss of this demo.
With each hit, you lose one health point.
Small Dustbunny, it hovers through the map. You can use the small Dustbunny to reach secret areas. If it hits you, you lose one health point. When you jump on it with a downward slash you can bounce on the small Dustbunny.
Snake-Knot, you will not see this enemy before you step on it. With each encounter, you lose one health point. The Snake-Knot will wave at you. Squirret, the Squirret shoots balls of doom. Each ball that hits you make you lose one health point. The Squirrets never come alone.
Small broom: Shoots balls of doom at you. Jumps around to try and squish you.
The big wildlife:
Statue, he will spit balls of doom at you. Learn his routine to defeat him. Tip: use the bouncing flowers.
Dustbunny, he shoots multiple balls of doom at you. Learn his routine to defeat him.
Broom, the broom shoots multiple balls of doom at you. Be careful with dodging the balls otherwise you jump into the spikes. With this boss, don’t be greedy.
SQUIRRET, shoots multiple balls of doom at you. Attack the yellow balls to hit SQUIRRET.
Flattermouse, shoots multiple balls of doom at you. She also summons flattermouse junior to attack you. She will come at you the whole battle. Don’t get cornered.
When the game hits its full release there will be many more wildlife.

Relics
Relics are the most important items in the Lone Fungus. At this time there are only a couple of relics. When this game gets its full release there will be many more relics that you can use to create your own build. Be aware that you need enough brain nodes for equipping the relics. Here is a list of the relics you can find in the demo.
Backward dash jumping relic: This relic lets you dash jump backward. You need to defeat the Flattermouse, also known as the current end boss, to be able to dash. You need one brain node to equip this relic.
Mind shell relic: This relic will let you regenerate mana points when you are standing still. This relic will help you complete the challenging platform sections, if you have enough patience. You need one brain node to equip this relic.
Mind slash relic: This relic will let you get more mana points when you hit the wildlife. Beware you need two brain nodes to equip this relic. Meditation relic: This relic will help you defend yourself. When you are healing, by shooting out blasts. You need one brain node to equip this relic. Stronger body relic: This relic grants you an extra health point. You need this relic to gather the max amount of health points available in the demo. You need one brain node to equip this relic.
Recovery relic: When you are in extreme danger and you have only one health point left, you will regenerate one health point. Beware this relic costs 2 brain nodes.
Forward long slash relic: This relic will increase your attack range when you are hitting forward with your sword. Beware this relic costs 2 brain nodes.
Downward long slash relic: This relic will increase your downward slash attack range. This relic is useful in your fight with the Broom. It can be useful when bouncing on the spikes. This can also harm you by bouncing too high.
You need one brain node to equip this relic.
Fast recovery relic: Increases the speed of recovering from the hurt animation. You need one brain node to equip this relic.
Counterattack heal relic: When you are attacked by wildlife and you are able to react quickly by attacking the wildlife. If done correctly, you get one health point back. Beware these costs 2 brain nodes.

Pros

• The graphics are good. The wildlife is very well designed.
• Controller support.
• I have not found any bugs.
• The open world exploration.
• The game play is challenging and very rewarding.
• The Suggestion that I have made to the developer will be considered, for example: a map in the game.
• The Lone Fungus will have many areas to explore when the game is finished.
  Cons
• It can be hard for the casual player.
• I would like more variety in the wildlifes attacks.

The graphics in the Lone Fungus are very good. The demo has been very well tested. It surprised me that I haven’t found any bugs, even though it is a demo. This is my first time without finding any bugs in a demo. I have a fan fiction story in the forums, Be sure to check it out.

I give the developer a lot of credit for making this game. This Lone Fungus is a wonderful game that I look forward to play when it is finished. I can’t wait to discover the new wildlife, bosses, weapons, relics, spells and new areas!

The Lone Fungus game is a very ambitious project that seems to be paying off. The demo is very good and fun to play. It took me around six hours to discover everything. I can see this game winning a price in the indie of the year competition.

I give the game…drum roll…

7,5 *

*with room for improvement for when the full game hits! Be sure to check out the demo: https://professorbasti.itch.io/lone-fungus

Images are from Professorbasti the developer.