DaRmaZat Elder’s Will is an upcoming 2D platformer that blends traditional action-platforming with a minimalistic, surreal visual style. Developed and published by Rovln, the game is set to release later this year for PC. This preview is based on the currently available demo. Taking control of a disabled father who, after a tragic accident, you embark on a dangerous journey to find a cure for your severely injured son. Using modified crutches as both weapons and tools, you navigate hostile environments, solves environmental puzzles, and battles strange creatures.
A Tragic Beginning in the Woods
Elder’s Will opens with an emotional gut punch. A father and his young son are violently separated by a seemingly random car accident just outside their home. The son ends up gravely wounded, while the father suffers permanent injuries of his own. Refusing to accept the outcome, he sets out in desperation. A mysterious old man offers him a strange potion—and a pair of crutches unlike any other. These crutches serve not only to help him walk again but also to strike enemies and return when thrown like boomerangs.
His journey begins in the dark and eerie Threshold Woods. Elder’s Will its first moments emphasize platforming and destruction: burning barrels block your way, pits filled with spikes await careless steps, and twisted tree roots must be crawled under. Very quickly, however, the first technical issue arises—a softlock. The character freezes mid-animation, though the game itself hasn’t crashed. It turns out you were supposed to jump from a higher platform, but the visual cues failed to convey this clearly and a full restart is required. Unfortunately, the game lacks manual saves, and the auto-save checkpoints are not well-placed, often forcing players to replay long, unforgiving sequences after each failure.
Puzzles, Prompts, Platforming Woes, and Very Samey Enemies
Environmental hazards in Elder’s Will shift as you progress. The biggest threat early on is stray electricity, and light puzzle-solving is introduced: pulling levers, dragging objects, and uncovering hidden paths. Hints come in the form of rhymed inscriptions scattered throughout the environment. It’s atmospheric, but not always helpful.
Unfortunately, the control prompts still don’t align with the controller—they appear to be mapped only for keyboard users. Precision platforming doesn’t fare much better. One frustrating sequence involves moving through a sewer pipe against a current, trying to avoid a rotating saw blade, while waiting for just the right moment to advance. Meanwhile, your character constantly slides backward, jumps feel floaty, and collision detection is inconsistent. The level design encourages waiting and repeating pattern cycles, making gameplay feel slow, random, and unrewarding. It actively works against speedrunning or skill-based progression—two things that could have made the game far more engaging.
After pushing forward, the first enemy encounter emerges—a hostile monkey crawling out from behind a bush. The combat system kicks in: you’re given a health bar and can strike in melee or use your crutches for ranged attacks. The monkey is relatively easy to dispatch. A small spoiler: the second enemy is the exact same monkey, but now pitch-black and throwing objects at you from a height, forcing you to rely on ranged attacks. Enemies three, four, and five? Slight variants of the same monkey again. To say enemy variety is lacking would be an understatement.
Beauty in the Background, Emptiness in the Foreground
Visually, Elder’s Will has its strengths. Leaves drift through the foreground, and deer wander through the dim forest in the distance. The world is rich in small details, and the death animations are suitably gory and creative. Blood splashes freely, and each fatal misstep is met with a bit of stylistic flair.
But the audio is another story. Sounds sometimes glitch or repeat endlessly, and more importantly, there’s no music at all. The total silence strips the game of atmosphere and emotional impact. A story meant to be intimate and heartfelt ends up feeling sterile and disconnected because of it.
Preliminary Thoughts
Elder’s Will starts with an intriguing premise and a stylistic identity, but quickly slips into monotony. The platforming lacks polish, the controls aren’t tight enough, the enemy design is repetitive, and the lack of music makes the experience feel hollow. There’s potential here—especially in the emotional framing and surreal world—but the demo doesn’t fully deliver. To become something truly memorable, Elder’s Will needs serious polish in nearly every area before launch. As it stands, it lacks the tight design of genre standouts like Limbo or Bionic Bay, despite offering occasional new abilities that unlock alternate paths or ways to bypass enemies.
Additional Information
Release Date: TBA 2025
Reviewed On: PC. Download code provided by the publisher and PR agency.
Developer: Rovln
Publisher: Rovln
Relevant Links: Elder’s Will on STEAM
