Turning Over a New Card: The Light Brigade’s ‘Memories of War’ Update

Gone are the days when you could finish a game and never look at it again. With the ever-changing landscape of gaming technology and user expectations, games now continue to evolve long after their release. Funktronic Labs, the team behind the excellent VR roguelike The Light Brigade, understands this. Funktronic Labs co-founder Eddie Lee yesterday unveiled their significant new update, “Memories of War,” in a detailed devlog.

Why This Update is Important

Launched initially in February, The Light Brigade was already an extremely fun and immersive title for fans of the roguelike genre. In a realm where replayability is king, Funktronic Labs seeks to keep the game “alive” by continually adding new content and mechanics. The “Memories of War” update is more than just a few bug fixes—it’s a sizable expansion that breathes new life into the game and greatly enhances its replay value.

Tactical Items: The Choice is Yours

One of the first things Eddie pointed out in the devlog was the introduction of new tactical items. Previously, players were limited to essential items like med packs and grenades. Now, the update brings a more diverse selection, giving players a wider range of meaningful choices. From defense helmets that can absorb a single shot to different types of syringes that provide various buffs, the game now offers players a few more things to consider when filling their already limited inventory. The update also introduces changes to the health system, allowing players to sip health potions incrementally, echoing the Dark Souls canteen mechanics.

New Player Classes: The Breacher and the Engineer

The “Memories of War” update also brings with it two brand new player classes. The Breacher class introduces the much-requested Winchester 1897 shotgun, designed for high-risk, high-reward close combat situations. The Engineer class is perhaps the most exciting addition, featuring a pilotable drone and a side-loaded MP35 submachine gun, adding a whole new layer of strategy to the game.

Handcrafted Levels: Best of Both Worlds

Funktronic Labs has also introduced handcrafted levels alongside the game’s procedurally generated stages. Using Waveform Collapse Function (WFC) for procedural generation is innovative, even in a modern VR game, but the introduction of handcrafted levels adds a more personal touch to every run. These unique levels break up the routine, providing players with challenging layouts and mini-bosses.

Shooting Range

Eddie also revealed a new shooting range, featuring various mini-games to test players’ shooting skills in time-based challenges. This area provides players with a fun way to sharpen their skills, as they attempt to make their way up the leaderboard.

Future Plans

Funktronic Labs isn’t stopping here. Eddie mentioned that the team is “immediately jumping into our next upcoming update,” underlining the studio’s commitment to continually evolve The Light Brigade.

Conclusion

The Light Brigade was already an immersive and highly replayable title, but the “Memories of War” update takes it to the next level. With new classes, tactical items, handcrafted levels, and challenges, this update significantly enhances one of this year’s best releases.

The Light Brigade is available now on Meta Quest 2, Steam VR, and PlayStation VR2 at a price of $24.99.