Talented – Videogame Review

🐾 Review: Talented Video

Played on: [Steam/PC] · Release: [2024] · Designer/Studio: [Turtlefox Games] · Time: [⏱ 60m] · Players: [1] · Store Link : Talented

TL;DR: A chaotic and entertaining roguelite shooter where every run feels different, sometimes brilliantly so, sometimes not quite as planned. It shines brightest when the talent choices line up and the screen explodes with energy.

Would I play this instead of tidying the kitchen? [Absolutely].

What is it?

Talented is a 2D roguelite action game where you choose a class, fight through waves of enemies, and build a brand new talent tree each time you play. The randomised talents give the game its identity and make every run unpredictable in ways that can be either exciting or frustrating.

How it Plays

You complete nights by surviving waves of enemies while moving around a conveyor belt arena. After each night you level up and select from a random list of talents that can change how you deal damage, how fast you move, or what special abilities you gain. Some runs grow into powerful and satisfying builds, while others feel weaker because the talent choices do not line up well. The core shooting and movement are simple to learn, and the pace is quick from start to finish.

Metric	Rating	Notes (Video)
Tail-Wag Fun 🐾	🐾🐾🐾🐾☆	Good fun, especially when a build comes together.
Fetch-Depth 🎾	🐾🐾🐾☆☆	Moderate, core loop is simple but builds add depth.
Belly-Rub Accessibility ❤️	🐾🐾🐾🐾☆	Excellent, very newcomer friendly.
Drool-Worthy Presentation 💧	🐾🐾🐾☆☆	Good, nice clean pixel art and readable effects
Zoomies & Flow 💨	🐾🐾☆☆☆	It’s fast and exciting early on, repetitive later.
Treat Value 🍪	🐾🐾🐾🐾☆	Good, its cheap and good fun, especially if you want to play something in short bursts.

Good Doggo (Pros)

• Strong replay variety thanks to fully randomised talent trees.
• Multiple classes offer different playstyles and encourage experimentation.
• Low barrier to entry and very easy to learn.

Ruff Spots (Cons)

• Talent choices can feel too random which leads to weak early runs.
• Enemy waves and combat patterns begin to repeat after many hours.
• Some talents lose value once certain stats reach their caps.

Verdict

Talented is a lively and unpredictable roguelite that succeeds when you embrace the chaos. It is not the deepest game in the genre and the randomness can frustrate, but its creativity, its brisk pace, and its willingness to let you try new builds each run make it well worth a look for fans of short, energetic shooters.

Recommendation Tier : 🐾🐾🐾 🐾- Good Doggo

Legend: 0 🐾 Ruff · 1–2 🐾 Patchy · 3 🐾 Solid Sit · 4 🐾 Good Doggo · 5 🐾 Chef’s Kiss