Review of Rogue Waters on PlayStation 5

Tripwire Presents and Ice Code Games has brought us Rogue Waters, a turn-based tactical roguelite RPG steeped in pirate lore and touched by the supernatural, rated M for mature audiences. Let’s delve into our thoughts on what this game has to offer.

When you first dive into the world of Rogue Waters, you’ll step into the boots of Captain Cutter, a pirate entangled in a perilous pursuit of power and retribution. The adventure kicks off as Captain Blackbone orders you to seize a coveted treasure from the Temple of the Goddess. But as you grasp this prize, a mystical voice penetrates your thoughts, and the drama escalates when you sacrifice an eye to a magical crystal that begins to exude a strange blue light. Captain Blackbone, irked and distrustful, demands a knife to extract the stone from your head. But you won’t go down that easily, planning a daring escape that thrusts you into a new life of assembling your own crew to challenge your treacherous rival. And as fate would have it, you’ll return from the dead after fourteen years—into a world that is both familiar and alien.

You have four levels of difficulty to choose from as you embark on this swashbuckling quest: Story, Normal, Hard, and Heroic I. Story mode prioritizes narrative flow with milder foes, while Normal provides a balanced difficulty, offering reasonable challenges with a 10% bonus to XP, Blueprints, and Glass. Hard mode ramps up the intensity with fiercer adversaries, rewarding you with a 20% bonus, and Heroic I invites the bravest to endure even tougher trials, offering a 30% increase in rewards.

Battles in Rogue Waters are integral to the journey. As you navigate this pirate-filled world, you’ll confront not only the seas but hostile skirmishes where each side takes turns attacking. Your objective is straightforward: vanquish all enemies. Each character can move and execute an attack, typically ending its turn. Ordinary attacks inflict modest yet steady damage, and clever positioning allows you to push foes into hazardous situations for greater impact. Skirmishes begin with deploying up to four of your units, strategically placed to maximize effectiveness. Use the left stick to control your movements, wielding your cursor to command units, while the right stick adjusts your camera view. Units can travel up to two cells, which might be modified by buffs or debuffs in effect.

Skills such as the Prepare ability help units withstand impending strikes, removing bleeding, healing, and providing temporary armor. The layout of each battleground offers strategic elements like ropes, enabling swift movements, enhancing your tactical arsenal. Winning is either through complete enemy defeat or filling a fear gauge—each point of extra damage contributes to intimidating your foes into retreat.

Post-combat, you’ll return to the Region Map, guiding your ship to various nodes reminiscent of classic roguelikes. These can lead you to strategic encounters like enemy ships for plunder or ports for trade. Engage in sea battles by spending Command Points wisely to execute cannon attacks or target vulnerable enemy ship sections. Raids introduce thrilling interpersonal combat scenarios with a touch of mythical intrigue—enlist the fearsome Kraken for massive battlefield disruption!

Back at Pirate’s Cove, your robust journey hub, you can upgrade your ship or crew using gathered resources. Equip your vessel with modules to enhance performance, and level-up your crew with earned experience. Gold allows for purchasing essential gear, while the precious resource Glass is spent on fortifying your team and augmenting ship capabilities. With the diverse specialty skills each pirate brings, strategic planning is both crucial and rewarding.

On the achievement front, Rogue Waters features a comprehensive trophy haul including a much-coveted Platinum trophy. Tasks range from completing vital narrative chapters to reaching maximum levels for various character classes, and purchasing comprehensive upgrades across your maritime experience.

Rogue Waters captivates with its Mature-rated blend of strategic combat and supernatural flair, thrusting players into the intense world of Captain Cutter—a pirate driven by revenge against a treacherous world. Available now on PlayStation 5 for $29.99, this adventure invites you to reclaim your honor and reshape the seas under your flag.

Disclaimer: This review is based on a PlayStation 5 copy provided by Tripwire Presents.