Castle Agony
- April 6, 2018
- The Pompous Pixel
Get on SteamExplore the sprawling Castle Agony, battling monsters and uncovering secrets with your trusty canine companion, Harry. Engage in turn-based combat using aim or snap shots, and craft potions to aid you in your quest. With NES-inspired graphics and a chiptune soundtrack, this game promises a nostalgic yet engaging adventure.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features beautiful pixel artwork and a charming atmosphere that evokes nostalgia for classic NES titles.
- The gameplay combines elements of point-and-click adventure with survival horror, providing enjoyable exploration and puzzle-solving.
- Despite its short length, the game is a labor of love with engaging music and a satisfying progression through the mansion's layout.
- The game suffers from a lack of polish, with bugs and crashes that can disrupt gameplay and lead to lost progress.
- Movement speed is slow, making exploration tedious and frustrating at times.
- Combat is often unrewarding, with little incentive to engage enemies due to the lack of loot and resource management.
- music14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the 8-bit soundtracks as "fire" and fitting for the retro aesthetic, while others found it lacking or even horrible. Notably, the original soundtrack is described as breathtaking, particularly the first track, although there are minor issues like battle music continuing after fights. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, despite some inconsistencies.
“The level design is crisp, and the OST - though relatively sparse - is breathtaking, especially the first track.”
“Castle Agony tries to blend in simplified combat of JRPGs, the level and riddle design of the original Resident Evil, and the atmosphere of the old NES Castlevania games, all presented in a NES retro look with pleasant and fitting music.”
“Also, the 8-bit soundtracks were fire!”
“The music is horrible.”
“I kept expecting wooden planks to give way as I stepped across them instead of sending Harry (the aforementioned good doggo) across, or the pause of the music warning me of something very bad.”
“Some minor bugs, like battle music keeps playing after a battle, some tutorials not showing up properly and a mini-boss initiating a battle while I tried to loot a drawer, which forced me to restart the game because the game got stuck.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game feature beautiful pixel artwork that aligns well with its themes, reminiscent of classic titles like Zelda. However, some users criticize the overall polish, suggesting that while the aesthetic is appealing, it falls short in execution. The visuals complement the gameplay, which is a point-and-click style, but opinions vary on the quality of the pixelated graphics.
“The pixel artwork is beautiful, dialogues and plot are original with a nocturnal touch!”
“Graphics and sound really fit the theme of the game - not real horror but spoopy fun.”
“I love pixelated graphics, but this one is just bad.”
“While the graphics look more like Zelda, the gameplay is pure point-and-click using the mouse to interact with the environment and choose your next moves.”
“It's definitely not a horror game and matches the tone of Zelda more than Resident Evil, but the gameplay and aesthetic tie together really well.”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a pure point-and-click style, utilizing mouse interactions to navigate the environment and make decisions, with turn-based battles adding a strategic element. The aesthetic and tone are reminiscent of Zelda, creating a cohesive experience that avoids forced references, and while the game is relatively short at around four hours, players find it enjoyable and reasonably priced. Overall, the gameplay effectively showcases the game's understanding of its roots and offers a fun experience.
“While the graphics look more like Zelda, the gameplay is pure point-and-click, using the mouse to interact with the environment and choose your next moves.”
“Gameplay is completely with mouse in a point-and-click style, with the battles being turn-based.”
“While the graphics look more like Zelda, the gameplay is pure point-and-click using the mouse to interact with the environment and choose your next moves.”
“Gameplay is completely with mouse in a point-and-click style, the battles being turn-based.”
“It's definitely not a horror game and matches the tone of Zelda more than Resident Evil, but the gameplay and aesthetic tie together really well.”
- story8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's story is criticized for lacking depth, particularly during repetitive gameplay segments, which detracts from player engagement. However, the original dialogues and plot, complemented by beautiful pixel artwork, add a unique charm, and some players appreciate the surprising plot twists. Additionally, the "agony-mode" offers a more challenging experience with enhanced story and puzzle elements, providing replay value.
“The pixel artwork is beautiful, dialogues and plot are original with a nocturnal touch!”
“Sprites do not always mesh with the environment in a pleasing way; the trek through the haunted mansion lacks a robust enough story to keep the player interested through the monotony of dice roll face-offs against campy Halloween enemies.”
“One of my hunches was right on the money; a few surprising plot twists for a relatively simple little game.”
“I didn't acknowledge the agony mode, which seems to have more story and puzzle elements and is also way harder than the main game, so it does have replay value.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its effective blend of gothic horror and campy elements, reminiscent of classic titles like Castlevania and Resident Evil. Players appreciate the immersive journal entries and the retro aesthetic, complemented by fitting music, which together enhance the overall experience. The pacing is seen as a positive factor that intensifies the atmospheric tension.
“Castle Agony tries to blend in simplified combat of JRPGs, the level and riddle design of the original Resident Evil, and the atmosphere of the old NES Castlevania games, all presented in a NES retro look with pleasant and fitting music.”
“The atmosphere and journal entries are really something; if you like that sweet spot between gothic horror and cheese, you've come to the right castle.”
“To me, the pace wasn't a problem at all, and contributed to the atmosphere something fierce.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's stability is marred by visual glitches and oddities in the interface, along with somewhat unreliable directional controls. However, despite these issues, the overall gameplay experience is considered excellent for its price.
“The interface is riddled with strange, mostly visual oddities and glitches, making it difficult to navigate.”
“The controls are slightly wonky, which detracts from the overall experience.”
“There are numerous stability issues that disrupt gameplay and immersion.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its effective design, capturing the essence of 8-bit horror aesthetics. The enemy and character designs resonate well with players, enhancing the overall experience.
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by the main character's smugness and penchant for delivering painfully funny one-liners, which many players find hilarious. This blend of wit and self-assuredness adds a unique comedic flair to the overall experience.
“The main character seems to have a slight smugness to him that I found hilarious, and I like to think he's the sort who's constantly spouting really painful one-liners.”
