Key Takeaways
1. Game Overview: Wicked Seed, released by Ryan from Dead Right Games, combines exploration from Resident Evil with tactical RPG-style combat, featuring Ella, a private investigator in a Maine forest.
2. Unique Combat Mechanic: The game employs a hybrid combat system allowing real-time movements and a slowed-down command menu for strategic attacks, focusing on targeting monster weak spots for permanent stat boosts.
3. Abundance of Content: Players can unlock over 50 outfits and utilize a complex weapon modding system, along with a Randomizer and New Game Plus mode for replayability.
4. System Requirements: Despite its retro look, the game demands significant system resources, requiring 16 GB of RAM to start and suggesting 32 GB for optimal performance.
5. Player Reception: Wicked Seed has received a 93% “Very Positive” rating from players, who appreciate the engaging gameplay despite some optimization challenges.
If you’ve spent the last two decades questioning why there hasn’t been another game similar to Parasite Eve, your wait could be over. Independent creator Ryan from Dead Right Games released Wicked Seed on January 23. This game combines the classic exploration features of Resident Evil with tactical RPG-style combat. You play as Ella, a private investigator searching for her brother in a Maine forest that has certainly seen better times. The game encourages more than just shooting; it asks you to carefully calculate the path of your shotgun shot in slow motion.
Unique Combat Mechanic
The combat system here is anything but a typical turn-based affair. It incorporates a “hybrid” style, allowing you to move, dodge, and parry in real time, much like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. However, when you access the command menu, time slows down. You use stamina to queue attacks, which regenerates over time. The strategy relies on the “Bestiary” system: each monster has a distinct weak spot. If you target it repeatedly, you can earn permanent stat enhancements for Ella. This shifts the usual survival horror instinct of “fleeing” into a mechanic focused on “hunting for rewards.”
Abundance of Content
A lot of the early commendations are about the vast array of “stuff” available in the game. There are more than 50 unlockable outfits (all obtainable through gameplay, not purchases) and a complex weapon modding system. You can take a standard pistol and modify it with found parts until it becomes an extremely powerful weapon. Wicked Seed also includes a built-in Randomizer and New Game Plus mode, allowing you to shuffle item and enemy placements after completing the 13-hour storyline for a fresh experience.
System Requirements
Despite its retro aesthetics, the game’s requirements are unexpectedly demanding. You need 16 GB of RAM just to start, and the developer suggests 32 GB for the best settings. On the Steam Deck, currently priced at $665 on Amazon for the 512 GB/OLED version, it’s labeled as “Playable,” but don’t anticipate achieving 60 FPS right away. You will have to lower the resolution to 900 x 600 and set a 45 Hz cap to prevent frame drops, which are fairly common in the more expansive forest areas. While it may be somewhat unoptimized for a solo development, the game boasts a 93% “Very Positive” rating, indicating that most players are willing to overlook any optimization issues in favor of the engaging gameplay and other aspects.
For further details, check out Wicked Seed’s Steam store page, where you can purchase it for $15.99, following a 20% launch discount.
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