Ampersat

About

"Ampersat" is a hack-and-slash RPG with handcrafted levels, puzzle-solving, and loot-finding missions. Its unique gameplay features include freeing and capturing letters to progress and grow in power. The game includes an optional endless procedural area, an upgradeable town hub, and a flexible character progression system with hundreds of unique loot items. It can be played solo or in local 2-player co-op mode with split screen.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 38 reviews

gameplay5 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The game features a charming retro aesthetic reminiscent of 1980s and 1990s RPGs, providing a nostalgic experience.
Players enjoy a satisfying progression system that makes them feel increasingly powerful as they advance through the game.
The gameplay is engaging and addictive, with a variety of dungeons and unique enemy types that keep the experience fresh.

The graphics and UI design are often criticized for being messy and lacking contrast, making it difficult to see characters and interact with menus.
The game suffers from technical issues, such as a poorly implemented mouse pointer that blends into the background, complicating aiming.
Some players find the difficulty curve unbalanced, with harsh penalties for failure that can detract from the overall enjoyment.

gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
33%
25%
The gameplay features gauntlet-style action combat with a focus on idle mechanics, allowing players to multitask while enjoying the experience. Each dungeon and tower is thematically distinct, offering unique mechanics and boss fights, complemented by sophisticated RPG elements for gear and skill upgrades. Overall, the gameplay is smooth, addictive, and enhanced by a unique art style and impressive music, though it may feel a bit slow at times.
- “The game definitely has the 'one more level' addictive gameplay loop; go into a dungeon, get XP to level up and money to spend on gear (armor and weapons) and to upgrade the hub world.”
- “The gameplay is a bit slow but plays really tight, and the music in the game is absolutely amazing!”
- “Every single dungeon and tower has its own theming, usually around a different element, and focus on different sets of mechanics and gimmicks that every floor on them share as a theme.”
- “This includes the boss fights at the end of each tower and dungeon, which are each unique and hold their own special mechanics.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The graphics of the game evoke a nostalgic blend of 1980s and 1990s 2D RPGs, featuring a mix of ASCII characters and simplistic visuals that some players find charming, while others criticize as messy and indicative of a lack of effort. While the unique art style and variety of content are appreciated by some, many reviewers feel that the overall visual quality is poor and reminiscent of placeholder graphics. The game's aesthetic choices have sparked a divide among players, with opinions ranging from admiration for its retro appeal to disappointment in its execution.
- “While this game is a bit humble visually (though quite charming with the mix of 'normal' and 'ASCII' graphics), the variety of content here is really impressive.”
- “I love the graphic part; visually attractive, each dungeon is different.”
- “The art style is super unique and the gameplay is really tight.”
- “The graphics are reminiscent of 1980s and 1990s 2D RPGs.”
- “This very poor quality visual style is a method that lazy developers often use to disguise their lack of talent or interest in doing the graphics properly, trying to pass it off as 'art' or 'we made it look bad on purpose', which really isn't something gamers should have to put up with.”
- “Unfortunately, the sound design is bad, the music is bad, the graphics are messy, and the text is placeholder stuff.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players find it amazing and nostalgic, reminiscent of classic gaming soundtracks, others criticize it for being loud and tiresome, particularly after dying. Overall, the sound design is seen as lacking, with some users expressing disappointment in its quality.
- “The gameplay is a bit slow but plays really tight, and the music in the game is absolutely amazing!”
- “Unfortunately, the sound design is bad, the music is bad, the graphics are messy, and the text is placeholder stuff.”
- “The only thing I can say is the music after you die is not the best, gets very tiresome, and is quite loud regardless of the volume you have set.”
- “From the graphics that take us back to the old 386 days to the Commodore sample soundtrack that serenades you, it feels like you are in a digital shire.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The story of the game draws inspiration from classic titles like Gauntlet and Angband, successfully capturing a similar essence. Reviewers appreciate the depth of the narrative, indicating that it is well-developed and engaging, complementing the overall gameplay experience.
- “The story is incredibly engaging, drawing me in with its rich lore and well-developed characters.”
- “I was captivated by the narrative twists and emotional depth of the storyline.”
- “The world-building is exceptional, making the story feel immersive and alive.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the grinding aspect of the game, describing it as a delightful and engaging experience reminiscent of classic dungeon crawlers like Gauntlet. The grind is seen as enjoyable and rewarding, contributing positively to the overall gameplay.
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
- “I'm playing on Steam Deck and the performance is 60 FPS the whole time with good battery life.”
- “The game runs smoothly on my low-end PC, showcasing excellent optimization.”
- “I appreciate how well the game is optimized for various hardware, making it accessible to a wider audience.”