bit Dungeon II
- December 15, 2014
- Kinto Games LLC
- 4h median play time
"bit Dungeon II" is a challenging action-adventure game with permadeath and permanent leveling. Explore a randomly generated overworld filled with dungeons, demonic enemies, and powerful weapons. Upon defeating the final boss, the game restarts at a higher difficulty, allowing you to grow stronger and potentially become a god. Features include ranged and magic weapons, Steam Play support, and original chip bit music.
Reviews
- Fun and addictive gameplay reminiscent of classic Zelda games.
- Great pixel art and soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
- Randomized loot and character progression add replayability.
- Controls are clunky, with multiple functions assigned to the same button.
- Lack of a map and clear guidance can lead to confusion and frustration.
- Boss fights are often too easy, lacking challenge and variety.
- gameplay274 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity, often relying on single-button mechanics that make it easy to pick up but can lead to repetitive and shallow experiences. While some players find it fun and addictive, particularly for short play sessions, others criticize the lack of depth, meaningful decisions, and variety in mechanics, making it feel more like a time-waster than a fully developed game. Overall, it appeals to those looking for casual, fast-paced action but may disappoint players seeking a more complex and engaging gameplay experience.
“I don't know how to explain it perfectly, but the simplicity combined with the ingenious mechanics and dungeon designs is great.”
“The gameplay is simple--you only use one button--but it still manages to be fun even though it's not complex.”
“Overall the gameplay is addicting and fun.”
“Shallow gameplay, this is something you'd play on a phone to pass 15 minutes.”
“The game mechanics are poor at best, the game design is elementary, the 'plot' is spare and uninteresting.”
“The gameplay absolutely ruins this game.”
- music170 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its catchy chiptune style and nostalgic 8-bit vibes, while others criticize its repetitiveness and lack of variety. Many noted that the soundtrack enhances the gameplay experience, although some felt it was poorly integrated, often fading out during combat or becoming annoying over time. Overall, while the music is generally appreciated, it could benefit from more diversity and consistency to maintain immersion.
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
“This is a must-get if you're into 8-bit style art and dungeon crawling gameplay, and the soundtrack of this game is amazing, setting you into the 8-bit adventure mood.”
“The score is amazing, and sometimes I just stopped playing to listen to the music.”
“The music is terrible!!”
“The soundtrack leaves something to be desired.”
“The music is generic and doesn't fit with the game.”
- graphics124 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a colorful pixel art style that appeals to fans of retro aesthetics, with many praising the engaging sprite animations and varied environments. However, some reviewers noted a lack of graphical polish and originality, with certain elements feeling repetitive or reminiscent of classic titles like "The Legend of Zelda." Overall, while the visuals are generally well-received, opinions vary on their execution and the game's overall graphical quality.
“The game has beautiful pixel graphics, engaging gameplay and a wide variety of gear.”
“The graphics are great and true to a 16-bit style.”
“I can honestly say the graphics are enjoyable for what it is - it's supposed to be a retro inspired game.”
“The graphics are awful, and glitch out often.”
“There is no way to set controls, the game does nothing to explain how things work, there is nothing but crappy graphics and shitty sound.”
“Aside from the theme change in the few different areas (forest, snow, desert, dungeon), there's very little graphical variation between rooms.”
- story104 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely criticized for being minimal or non-existent, with many players noting a lack of direction and engagement. While some appreciate the simple premise of clearing dungeons to reunite with a lost loved one, the overall narrative feels underdeveloped and fails to provide a compelling context for the gameplay. Players seeking a rich, immersive story will likely be disappointed, as the focus is primarily on gameplay mechanics rather than storytelling.
“The actual story is that your loved one has passed away and you want to meet with her again, so you clear the dungeons, etc.”
“The story is minimalistic but gives the game a purpose nonetheless.”
“Its amazing and the story is well done once you start hearing what bosses and others have to say.”
“Story-wise, it's non-existent and does not feel engaging.”
“There's no story presented in the game, there's no direction about where to go, the controls weren't good and the combat is automated.”
“The plot is weak and there’s no great story behind the scenes.”
- replayability64 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is mixed, with some players finding it enjoyable for a few hours due to scaling enemies and loot collection, while others note a lack of depth and minimal incentive to replay after the initial run. Although there are elements that can enhance replay value, such as different weapon types and challenges, many reviewers express that the game does not offer significant long-term engagement. Overall, it seems best suited for short-term fun rather than extensive replayability.
“Good replayability with scaling enemies.”
“The game is challenging and has 'infinite' replayability.”
“Extremely enjoyable, tons of replay value and an interesting speed run.”
“Replayability is, at the moment, reserved for collectors of loot/achievements or whatnot, but since characters have one line of dialogue in the entire game (two, tops), there is not a rich history to be explored.”
“There isn't much replayability.”
“Replayability: after one (almost completed) run, I didn't feel like going back to it again.”
- grinding36 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is polarizing; while some players enjoy the mindless farming of items and bosses, many find it tedious and repetitive, especially with the constant respawning of enemies and the lack of inventory management. The game often feels overly reliant on grinding for stats, which can detract from the overall experience, making exploration and progression feel laborious. Despite its roguelike elements and potential for fun, the grinding can overshadow the gameplay, leaving players longing for a more engaging narrative and smoother mechanics.
“Boring and tedious.”
“At times it felt like the whole game was just about grinding.”
“What will decide if you or the enemy wins appears to be only influenced by stats alone, which means the game is all about grinding.”
- stability22 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is plagued by numerous bugs, including freezing issues and problematic movement mechanics, which significantly detract from the overall experience. Many users express frustration over the lack of fixes and communication from the developers, leading to a consensus that the game is not worth its price, even when discounted. Overall, the stability of the game is considered poor, making it difficult to recommend.
“This is to name a few of many more glitches, and they have been around for months with no fixes at all and little communication from the developer.”
“The game in general is very archaic flash-design, especially for Steam, and quite buggy and way too fast at parts.”
“Between the slow progression early on and the buggy movement for the character as well as the monsters, this is just not worth the money, even at $5.”
- humor16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted as a key aspect, with players finding it both amusing and entertaining despite its simple appearance. The witty dialogue from NPCs and the game's tongue-in-cheek references contribute to its charm, while even minor bugs elicit laughter rather than frustration. Overall, the game is described as a fun and humorous experience, especially given its low price point.
“Bit Dungeon II is a tongue-in-cheek mash-up of The Guardian Legend and Dark Souls, with a rogue-like perma-death consequence system and a Diablo-style 'loot treadmill' that propels you (at hilarious speed) through its semi-procedurally generated dungeons.”
“There are very few bugs in the game, and even when you do come across them, you find yourself laughing.”
“NPCs have a sense of humor and say what they have to say.”
- atmosphere12 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is described as a blend of nostalgic SNES and classic Zelda vibes, set in a haunted forest filled with ghostly enemies. While some players appreciate the overall aesthetic and concept, noting it creates an engaging environment, others criticize the repetitive visuals and lack of distinct atmosphere. The soundtrack receives mixed feedback, being deemed unremarkable yet not bothersome.
“I like the overall atmosphere of the game and the concept behind it, which is to say it puts you in a haunted forest filled with ghostly enemies and resets your level and equipment if you die.”
“A really pretty and atmospheric Zelda-esque kind of thing, except for a bizarre design choice, which is that your character auto-attacks when you walk up to an enemy.”
“This is something else, a very good game with great music and atmosphere.”
“Lots of things look the same and there's no real atmosphere or environment.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's controls are poorly optimized, as they are primarily designed for touchscreen devices, leading to confusion and frustration for players using other input methods.
“The controls don't make any sense because they are optimized for touchscreens.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews do not provide any specific information regarding the monetization aspect of the game, focusing instead on its promotional trailer and thematic comparisons. Therefore, no insights on monetization can be summarized from the provided texts.
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is influenced by its nostalgic graphics, which evoke memories of classic titles like "Zelda: A Link to the Past." However, this resemblance has sparked debate among players, with some feeling it straddles the line between homage and plagiarism, potentially impacting the overall emotional connection to the game.