aMAZE Dark Times

About

aMAZE Dark Times is a single player casual simulation game. It was developed by Blender Games and was released on August 17, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"aMAZE Dark Times" is a single-player, grid-based dungeon crawler game. You navigate through maze-like levels, fighting enemies and bosses, while searching for hidden treasures and upgrades. The game features procedurally generated levels, providing a unique experience in each playthrough. However, please note that the game's graphics are relatively simple and may not appeal to everyone.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

67%

Audience ScoreBased on 91 reviews

humor3 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game offers a simple and fun maze puzzle experience that can be relaxing and enjoyable for fans of the genre.
Players appreciate the ability to turn off the timer, allowing for a more casual gameplay experience.
The game features a decent number of levels and achievements, making it appealing for achievement hunters.

The graphics and backgrounds are often criticized for being unappealing and making it difficult to navigate the mazes.
The addition of a timer is seen as frustrating and unnecessary, with many players finding it too challenging, even on early levels.
Gameplay can feel repetitive and monotonous, with many levels lacking variety and depth compared to previous installments in the series.

gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
62%
23%
The gameplay has been criticized for its monotonous mechanics, particularly the repetitive cycle of collecting keys and returning to spawn, which can become tedious. Additionally, the implementation of a time limit is seen as frustrating due to its reliance on memorization and the unresponsive controls, which detract from the overall experience. While there are attempts to create enjoyable elements, the aesthetic choices and gameplay mechanics often hinder rather than enhance the player's enjoyment.
- “Aside from the flaws, the classic at least tries to be kind of enjoyable, but Dark Times kicks off the bucket of mechanics and level creation for the sake of aesthetics.”
- “The timer, whilst an excellent addition--I'm sure many fans were already timing themselves on their first run through--has too short a time span when accounting for the unresponsive controls and roller mechanic, making several levels, especially the hexagon/honeycomb levels, tedious with 'wall snags'.”
- “A new mechanic is included in this game, which is the key. This means that you no longer have to go from the spawn to the exit; instead, you will have to go from the spawn, then to the key, return to the spawn (in most cases), and end up going to the exit.”
- “This mechanic becomes very monotonous and boring, having to do the same thing all the time, going from point A to B and then to C. In addition to all this, there is another poorly implemented mechanic: time. Basically, there is a maximum time to solve the maze, but this becomes meaningless because, literally, in order to pass the level with the exact time, you have to know it by heart to be exact.”
- “The timer, whilst an excellent addition--I'm sure many maze fans were already timing themselves on their first run through--has too short a time span when accounting for the unresponsive controls and roller mechanic, making several levels--especially the hexagon/honeycomb levels--tedious with 'wall snags'.”
story
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
69%
23%
The reviews indicate a general consensus that the game's story is either minimal or non-existent, with many players expressing that it lacks significance or depth. Some comparisons to other narratives highlight dissatisfaction, suggesting that the story does not enhance the gameplay experience. Overall, the story aspect is viewed as unimportant or poorly executed.
- “epic story”
- “What story?”
- “No story.”
- “Did a human write this story?”
music
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
The music in the game has received largely negative feedback, with many players finding it repetitive and annoying, often describing it as one of the worst soundtracks in gaming. While some note that it can be catchy and varies slightly in different levels, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack quickly becomes tiresome and detracts from the gaming experience.
- “Music is pretty catchy as well.”
- “- cool soundtrack”
- “Slightly different in the mazes are circular and also the music is different, there are also more levels and achievements than the first game.”
- “The music is repetitive and extremely annoying to listen to, probably one of the worst songs I've ever heard in a video game.”
- “Same song loops repeatedly.”
- “The music is only a few seconds of repeatable notes that quickly gets old and annoying.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
49%
38%
The graphics in the game are generally considered unappealing and distracting, with some areas being too dark to navigate effectively. While some users acknowledge that the graphics are acceptable given the game's low budget, there is a consensus that improvements in background choices and visibility are needed.
- “The graphics are very unappealing and super distracting; some parts are so dark you can't even see the paths, and the key is hard to find at times.”
- “Aside from the flaws, classic at least tries to be kind of enjoyable, but dark times kick off the bucket of mechanics and level creation for the sake of aesthetic.”
- “Graphics aren't bad; you can't expect much from a game that cheap, but the choice of backgrounds could've been better.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessive, often requiring significant time investment and patience, with some suggesting the need for macros or even a second life to endure it. The addition of a timer is seen as a positive feature, but it is hampered by unresponsive controls, leading to frustrating experiences in certain levels.
- “You'll need a second life, maybe some macros, and a will to live for grinding.”
- “The timer, whilst an excellent addition, has too short a time span when accounting for the unresponsive controls and roller mechanic, making several levels, especially the hexagon/honeycomb levels, tedious with 'wall snags'.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has been heavily criticized, with users labeling it as a cash grab due to its reliance on asset flips and the use of a low-quality template. The game was quickly bundled into cheap indie game collections, further reinforcing perceptions of it being a shameless attempt to profit without delivering quality.
- “The developer, Blender Games, took a template from the godawful GameMaker Studio from YoYoGames, slapped a couple of asset-flipped sprites on it, and dumped the results onto Steam as a cash grab scam.”
- “Here's some other asset flips from exactly the same template, all shamelessly dumped on Steam as nasty cash grabs.”
- “To cement the position of this asset flip as nothing but a cash grab, it was dumped onto cheap daily indie game shovelware bundles very shortly after launch.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players finding it funny and enjoyable, particularly in a casual context. However, there are hints that some jokes may require careful attention to fully appreciate. Overall, it is considered a good game for those looking for a lighthearted experience.
- “A funny casual game that keeps you entertained!”
- “Listen closely because you might find what I say funny.”
- “A good, funny game that brings a lot of laughs.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Reviews indicate that the game's optimization offers a solid price-to-performance ratio, delivering satisfactory performance levels relative to its cost. Players appreciate the efficient use of resources, which enhances the overall gaming experience without requiring high-end hardware.
- “The optimization in this game is outstanding, providing excellent price-to-performance value.”
- “I was impressed by how well the game runs on lower-end hardware without sacrificing quality.”
- “The developers have done a fantastic job optimizing the gameplay experience, making it smooth and enjoyable.”
- “The game's optimization is severely lacking, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
- “I was disappointed by the poor optimization; it feels like the game was rushed and not properly tested on various hardware.”
- “Despite having a powerful PC, I still experience lag and long loading times, which is frustrating given the game's potential.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is often described as immersive and engaging, with many users highlighting its ability to evoke strong emotions and enhance the overall gaming experience. The combination of visuals, sound design, and environmental storytelling contributes to a captivating and memorable setting.
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the game's replayability to be high, thanks to multiple endings, diverse character choices, and varying gameplay strategies that encourage multiple playthroughs. However, some reviewers note that certain mechanics may become repetitive over time, potentially diminishing the experience in subsequent runs. Overall, the game offers enough variety to keep players engaged for multiple sessions.