Deep Dungeons of Doom, a retro RPG game looking like it was built for the Dream caster but available on the IOS devices (ipads, iphones etc.). The game is also available for the more common platforms PC’s and Macs. Developed by Bossa StudiosLtd it’s a charming 32/64 bit style RPG. By this I am not being patronising like when you you’re a child and your parents put that picture of random assortment of squiggles and lines onto that luminescent food magician box that later becomes known as a fridge that as you get older gets filled with drinks that let you create those random assortment of shapes everywhere and not just on your fridge. No, it is genuinely charming.
You start as a paladin/knight in a quest to erm… well if I am honest it didn’t stick in my head too much as throughout the game I didn’t really question it too much and I think I must have placed it with arbitery knights quest of either you must save a princess or save a kingdom kind of quest or a little bit of both – he might be a crusader or paladin but his play style is that of a typical knight so sorry if I switch in this review. When I say the story is what you expect, I don’t mean that the game is a typical slog that is a clone of most fantasy RPG’s however it does firmly set its roots in the fantasy genre with the corrupt undead priest and various monsters. However you do not just play as the paladin as you can also play as a witch or even a mercenary which are given and introduced too you naturally through the story.
The game itself is interesting in itself for its very genre, I have called it an RPG In this review as it is the closest thing I can compare it too as it seems to be simplified in its genre. However in this game there is no levelling up which is the typical and most associated mechanic with RPG’s. Well that’s a slight lie as when you venture through the dungeons your level increases every couple of floors giving you an opportunity to place the points in one of four areas – attack, hit points, agility and magic. However this is not permanent. The only permanent changes made through the game are either items you can pick up in the dungeons that you can lose if you die or the skills you can by to increase elements of your character with the gold that you have collected in the dungeons. The combats fun and pretty neat if at first maybe a little frustrating as managing the timing of your attacks and remembering to block becomes key the more you progress into the game and adds a real interesting element. Especially in boss fights. This is due to most of the time the bosses being completely impenetrable until they reveal their weak spot which can be incredibly annoying especially in the case of the corrupt/undead priest making them feel like an actual boss rather than just another enemy to chalk up on the “crap I’ve killed this week” board hung up somewhere in the castle.
As I said the style of the game is charming, the 32/64 bit aesthetic gives the game a very retro feel with the fantasy chip tune music and even how the style in which the narrative is presented without those nasty irritating hiccups of a game of the bygone error. I was also pretty impressed on how the bosses moved in a basic 2D side view combat as it felt very natural and made the stages feel very un-staged.
The game can feel a bit short and limited at times with a very fixed way of doing things and playing in a specific way with each class using various skills and tactics but, a good or interesting experience does not need to be long and is often better the shorter it is and on one of these rare occasions I can happily say that there was enough here to feel like a very complete experience. There may be a slight issue with how much the skills cost with the sheer coinage needed to be collected in the dungeons which I guess would elongate the game if you wanted every skill. Hey- if you want to perfect something you’re going to have to feel the burn.
Overall if you want to play a nice neat short (but well crafted) RPG with a lot of heart than I recommend playing this. If not for its interesting combat mechanic, its brilliant retro feel or it’s fairly simple but charming story then for the hope of more decent games which seems to be developed more for a love of games then as a monetization of them. I’m thinking I may get a “crap I’ve killed this week” board for my room…. Guess that would be hard to explain to friends and family.
Disclaimer:All scores given within our reviews are based on the artist’s personal opinion; this should in no way impede your decision to purchase the game.
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