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Welcome to our regular gameplay impressions and video post where we record our first 10-30 minutes with a new game, and provide some general impressions on that early playthrough. Today’s game is: Volgarr the Viking from Crazy Viking Studios and Adult Swim Games.

It's important to mention first and foremost that Volgarr the Viking is an extremely difficult game. That's not because the game has any noticeable control problems or graphical hiccups — it's actually quite polished mechanically — but purely intentional.

See, Volgarr the Viking, like many of the more recent Adult Swim published titles (Fist Puncher), pays homage to the classic games of yesteryear. In this case, Volgarr is an ode to those extremely difficult platformers like Golden Axe.

That means players are going to be dying a lot. And not just after several hours of playtime, but within minutes. The game doesn't shy away from its difficulty either, but fully embraces just how impossible it is to progress.

Volgarr the Viking Gameplay Video

So, someone who is looking for a casual platformer with an interesting Viking aesthetic - one that is punctuated by clever enemy and level design - will find themselves only partially satisfied. Because, while there is a lot to enjoy about Volgarr the Viking's design, most will fail to actually see it. Just look at the video above: I failed to make it to the second checkpoint. The second checkpoint.

At the same time, that doesn't mean I didn't go back to the well time and time again hoping to succeed. And occasionally I got on a run, collected enough chests for a full arsenal (shield, helmet, and flaming sword), and found myself unstoppable. But then the game unceremoniously stopped me. It doesn't take long for a somewhat troubling situation to turn horrible, especially in a game like this.

Some gamers will absolutely adore Volgarr the Viking for its no holds barred approach. They will love the challenge and will find themselves deftly dodging projectiles as if they developed the game. Others, however, will want to throw their controller through the TV, thereby sparing themselves from any further pain and frustration.

And so it all depends on which camp you fall into. If you're the type of gamer who thinks that we need more games like Golden Axe or Ghosts 'n Goblins, then Volgarr the Viking is perfect. Everyone else might want to take his or her blood pressure and watch our gameplay video one more time before deciding on a purchase.

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What do you think of Volgarr the Viking? Does it look like a game you might be interested in? Is the difficulty a turn-off? Let us know in the comments below.

Volgarr the Viking is available for $11.99 on Steam.