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Forget saving the world through diplomacy. Kernel Hearts takes a rather more direct approach, sending a squad of super-powered android magical girls up the Tower of Babel to punch its way through biblical monsters and dethrone God.
Available for £15.74 on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch, this action RPG and roguelike hybrid also launches day one into Game Pass for Ultimate and PC subscribers.
With Xbox Play Anywhere support and co-op for up to four players, Kernel Hearts offers plenty of opportunities to bring friends along for the heavenly beatdown.
At A Glance
- Game: Kernel Hearts
- Formats: Xbox Series X|S, PC, Play Anywhere, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch
- Price: £15.74 / Game Pass Day One
- Publisher: Whitethorn Games
- Developer: Ephemera Games
- Genre: Action RPG / Roguelike
Climbing The Tower Of Babel
The world of Kernel Hearts is already drowning in ashes, leaving the M.A.H.O.U Unit as one of humanity’s last hopes. Playing as a member of this elite force, you’ll begin your ascent from the base of the Tower of Babel, battling increasingly dangerous enemies as you attempt to reach its heavenly heights.
Each run provides opportunities to combine attacks, spells and movement abilities with temporary powers. The goal is to create devastating combinations capable of clearing groups of enemies before facing the guardian waiting at the end of each domain.
It sounds like a challenging climb, particularly when the tower itself is determined to make your life more difficult.
Build Your Unit Between Runs
As with any good roguelike, defeat isn’t necessarily the end of your adventure. After each expedition, your unit returns to a laboratory located near humanity’s last holdout, where rewards can be used to improve your capabilities.
Kernel Hearts allows players to unlock and equip up to 256KB of skill chips onto their MAHOU.OS unit. These can be arranged to suit different playstyles, giving you opportunities to experiment with abilities and create more effective builds over time.
The tower also carries a curse. Spending too long in one area attracts increasingly powerful enemies, although players can harness the tower’s energy to dispel the curse and briefly transform into a more powerful magical form. This transformation provides a devastating attack against nearby enemies, potentially giving you the breathing room needed to survive.
Bring Friends And Find A Little Romance
Kernel Hearts can be played alone or alongside up to three other players. Co-operative teams will need to combine their skills and abilities if they hope to overcome the tower’s tougher challenges and guardian battles.
Combat isn’t the only way to spend your time, either. Each celestial domain contains distinctive inhabitants who can become allies. By interacting with them and giving gifts, you can deepen relationships, with the possibility of romance entering the picture.
That creates a curious contrast between the game’s apocalyptic combat and its more personal moments. One minute you’re attempting to destroy a god, and the next you’re worrying about whether you’ve brought the right gift for a potential companion.
With its combination of action RPG combat, roguelike progression, magical transformations and four-player co-op, Kernel Hearts offers a colourful and suitably chaotic journey through the Tower of Babel. Whether you’re climbing alone or bringing an entire squad, the objective remains the same: reach the top and settle the argument with God.
- Tags
- Game Pass
- Kernel Hearts
- Playstation 5
- Xbox Game Pass
- Xbox Series X
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