9th Dawn II
- October 17, 2016
- valorware
- 65h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store
Get on Apple Store"9th Dawn II" is an epic RPG set in the rich world of Caspartia, where you must aid in the reclamation of your homeland from the Hydra Dragon. Explore diverse landscapes, battle monsters, and collect an array of weapons and armor. Engage in carefully crafted puzzles and decide the fate of mankind in this expansive adventure.
iPad
iPhone
PC
Phone
Windows
Android
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- The game offers a large world to explore with lots of dungeons and hidden loot.
- The graphics and music are enjoyable, providing a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic RPGs.
- The character progression system allows for flexible builds, rewarding players for using different skills.
- The game suffers from serious design flaws, including navigation issues and a lack of crafting despite abundant resources.
- Combat can feel clunky and unbalanced, with enemies respawning too quickly and some mechanics feeling incomplete.
- The quest system is poorly implemented, with no clear tracking and NPCs often repeating dialogue without updates.
- story56 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 86 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story in "9th Dawn II" is generally considered weak and lacking depth, with many quests described as uninspired and repetitive, often revolving around item collection. While some players found the main plot engaging enough to complete the game, the overall narrative experience is hampered by poor quest tracking and a lack of immersive storytelling elements. Reviewers suggest that significant improvements are needed in future installments to enhance character development and narrative cohesion.
“That said, it was engaging enough for me to complete it start to finish, and to get 100% achievements, as well as complete all quests in the game.”
“Finding and exploring new dungeons, following the story, completing quests, finding new armor and weapons, unlocking new spells... this game is huge fun and really neatly compiled rogue-like RPG.”
“The main plot so far is pretty good, but I really haven't played enough to see much of it, although I saw the word 'hydra' during an NPC conversation and I hope there are hydras in the game as they are my favorite fantasy beast.”
“The story is... average.”
“What's clear about 9th Dawn II is the story-related elements are lacking, (or more honestly - they are just terrible).”
“- no story to speak of”
- graphics42 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as simple and retro, reminiscent of older titles like Ultima, which may not appeal to those seeking flashy visuals. However, many players appreciate the unique art style and smooth scrolling, noting that the graphics complement the enjoyable gameplay and immersive world. While some mention minor graphical glitches, the overall aesthetic is considered charming and fitting for the game's old-school vibe.
“A huge world with smooth scrolling Ultima-style graphics and clever writing; you could get lost in this game for hours.”
“I would give this game, for its price, lush 2D graphics, amazing sound score, and RPG feel, a solid 9/10.”
“The art style is unique and makes you enjoy looking around, even if there isn't much to interact with.”
“Graphics and art design are retro and quaint, but are also over-used and monotonous.”
“Graphics are average, not great but not painful to look at.”
“The art style may put off those looking for flashy graphics, as this reminds me of older games like Ultima.”
- gameplay30 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
Gameplay is generally well-received, with players enjoying its fun mechanics reminiscent of classic titles like Zelda and Runescape, despite simplistic graphics. Exploration is highlighted as a key strength, though some players find the combat dull and the lack of clear mechanics frustrating. While there are some bugs and issues, particularly in cooperative play, many appreciate the game's addictive nature and value for its price point.
“Gameplay reminds me of Zelda mixed with RuneScape.”
“The graphics might not be amazing, but the gameplay is very good with lots of loot, monsters, and traps.”
“This is being developed by 2 people and the content and gameplay are far more addicting than some full-price/released games.”
“- The game is crying out for a less restrictive fast travel mechanic.”
“- No explanation of the game mechanics (what do stats/skills do?).”
“Some bugs were just too awful that affected the balance of gameplay when playing co-op that my friend and I didn't play for weeks sometimes until the dev fixed it.”
- music16 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received positive feedback, with many players finding the soundtrack enjoyable and well-composed. While some describe it as "alright," others highlight its stunning quality and how it enhances the overall gameplay experience. Overall, the music is a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
“The soundtrack is super enjoyable!”
“Simple graphics but awesome music, well done gameplay.”
“And the music is stunningly wonderful.”
“The music is alright.”
“The music is alright.”
“I enjoyed the music in the game, as well as the scrappy feel of the whole thing.”
- stability14 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed, with some players reporting minor glitches and bugs, particularly in the multiplayer mode, while others have experienced significant issues that hinder gameplay, such as crashes and unresponsive features. Despite these problems, many users still find the game enjoyable and worth purchasing.
“I like the fact that they added in the multiplayer side of things and that it has a cross-platform feature, but the main problem is that multiplayer seems to have more glitches than the single-player side.”
“All of my game time was spent trying to get this game to work. I deleted the Steam appcache and tried every other troubleshooting option, but it continued to crash before I could even see the options on screen.”
“It's a bit buggy; on one of my saves, I cannot see item stats, which forced me to plug in my 360 controller and scroll through my items.”
- grinding14 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Grinding in the game is a mixed bag; while some players enjoy the old-school RPG experience and the camaraderie it fosters, others find it tedious and unbalanced, particularly in the early hours where grinding is necessary to progress. The repetitive nature of tasks, such as finding switches and battling numerous enemies, can detract from the overall enjoyment, especially for newcomers. However, the game is still considered fun by many, especially when played with friends, and there is potential for improvement as it is in early access.
“Some players may find this to be a strength of the game, but in combination with the other issues it can make the otherwise solid old-school RPG experience feel very tedious.”
“The game isn't balanced very well, and if it weren't for a friend playing an archer with a rapid fire macro, we'd probably still be grinding away until this game became too tedious to continue.”
“The first few hours require grinding in the first cave to better equip yourself, which may turn off new players.”
- character development4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted for its flexibility and the expansive world it offers, encouraging exploration. However, many users feel that it lacks depth and complexity compared to other series, leaving the character development feeling somewhat incomplete.
“While not nearly as complex as any of the aforementioned series, it offers an expansive world, flexible character development, and an experience that greatly rewards exploration.”
“Character development feels incomplete.”
“Character development feels incomplete.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a mixed perception of the monetization strategy; while some players appreciate the low price and feel that microtransactions do not detract from gameplay, others perceive the approach as a cash grab. Overall, the sentiment suggests that the monetization model may benefit some players while alienating others.
“It becomes obvious (at least in my opinion) that this is just a cash grab.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The optimization aspect of the game suggests that assigning stats has minimal impact on battle performance, allowing players to plan their character builds more strategically. Focusing on specific attributes, such as wisdom for mages or dexterity for assassins, is encouraged, while attempting to be a "jack of all trades" is generally ineffective.
“Assigning stats has little impact on your battle performance, so you can plan ahead. If you want to be a mage, focus on wisdom to unlock new spells. If you prefer a swift assassin, focus on dexterity. Trying to be a 'jack of all trades' does not really pay off.”
“Assigning stats has little impact on your battle performance, so you can plan ahead. If you want to be a mage, focus on wisdom to unlock new spells. If you want to be a swift assassin, focus on dexterity. Trying to be a 'jack of all trades' does not really pay off.”
“The optimization system feels unbalanced, as the choices you make in character development don't significantly affect gameplay. It leads to a lack of meaningful strategy in building your character.”
“The lack of impact from stat allocation makes the optimization aspect feel shallow and unengaging, as players are not incentivized to explore different builds.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the replayability of the game due to the availability of multiple character builds and types, which encourages experimentation and varied gameplay experiences.
“There are several character builds and types possible, which adds significant replay value.”
“The game offers a variety of character builds and types, enhancing its replayability.”
“With multiple character builds and types available, the replay value is impressive.”
“Several builds and character types are possible, giving some replay value.”
“Several builds and character types are possible, giving some replay value.”
