Castle of no Escape
- August 19, 2015
- Xitilon
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Castle of no Escape" is a challenging dungeon crawler where you explore a mysterious castle filled with monsters and treasures. With no option to exit, your goal is to collect all treasures and defeat the main boss, in a never-ending quest. The game is inspired by the 1986 text adventure game "Leygref's Castle" and offers a refreshing take on the classic genre. Use the Enter key to start playing.
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a charming retro aesthetic that appeals to fans of classic dungeon crawlers.
- It offers a unique experience with random level generation and a variety of character classes, providing some replayability.
- Many players found the game to be a fun and nostalgic experience, reminiscent of old-school gaming.
- The gameplay is very short, often completed in under an hour, which may leave players wanting more content.
- There are significant issues with controls and lack of guidance, making it difficult for new players to understand how to play.
- The game suffers from technical flaws, including poor graphics options and glitches that detract from the overall experience.
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Castle of No Escape" is criticized for being a simplistic and shallow imitation of rogue-like games, lacking depth and tutorial guidance, which can make it challenging for new players. However, once players grasp the mechanics, the game can become addictive and enjoyable, despite its short playtime and retro aesthetic. Overall, while the gameplay may be brief, it offers a satisfying experience for those willing to invest time in understanding it.
“It takes some time to understand how the game works, but once you can see the full picture, it becomes an addictive game with a pleasant vintage look and gameplay.”
“When I finally got to the end, I was pretty satisfied, even though the gameplay is quite short.”
“Primary, I just want to be precise: don't worry about my low time gameplay on Steam; I played it a lot on an itch.io version before :)”
“Castle of No Escape is a badly made, weak ripoff of rogue/hack, but with dumbed down 'consolesque' gameplay and significantly less depth.”
“The gameplay is very short.”
“There wasn't a tutorial; there wasn't a 'bunny slope' to learn the mechanics; there wasn't a flashing cursor telling you where to go.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a retro pixel art style that some players appreciate, while others find it overly simplistic and lacking in modern enhancements. There are no options for resolution adjustments or significant graphical tweaks, leading to mixed feelings about the overall visual experience. However, some users commend the artwork's quality, despite its basic execution.
“I love the retro style graphics, but there isn't much in terms of gameplay.”
“On the upside, I thought the artwork was very well done considering they apparently used MS Paint.”
“A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
“There's no option to change the resolution and no useful graphics tweaks.”
“Too simple graphics.”
- music5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as relaxing and catchy, with a limited selection of three songs that effectively enhance the experience. The chiptune style is particularly praised, contributing to an engaging atmosphere. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, with players appreciating the option to toggle it on or off.
“The soundtrack is quite catchy, even if it's just 3 songs.”
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
“Music is also quite catchy, even if it's just 3 songs.”
“The OST is lit.”
- story2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The story emphasizes resilience and the unpredictability of life, encouraging players to persevere despite challenges. Set in a mysterious castle filled with monsters and secrets, the narrative revolves around a quest for treasure that offers protection against curses while ultimately leading to a confrontation with a main boss.
“The moral of the story is that you never know what life has in store for you. If I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
“Explore the mysterious castle full of monsters and secrets in a quest to collect all the treasures, which will also protect you from the curses on your way, and crush the main boss.”
“The story feels disjointed and lacks a coherent narrative, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“Character development is shallow, leaving players with little emotional investment in their journeys.”
“The plot twists are predictable and fail to deliver any real surprises, making the overall experience feel stale.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of "Castle of No Escape" is criticized as a cash grab, priced at around $5 USD, which many users feel is unjustified due to its defects and the availability of superior free games on Steam. Overall, the game's pricing strategy is viewed negatively, particularly in the context of its quality and the market alternatives.
“Gamemaker Studio is most commonly used to make retro pixel shovelware and cash grabs.”
“"Castle of No Escape" has the cash grab price of around $5 USD. It's not worth it given the defects and shortcomings of the product, especially considering the sheer number of completely free, much higher quality games on Steam.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its humor, with players finding it both entertaining and engaging, regardless of difficulty level. The inclusion of a "broken" wizard character adds to the comedic experience, enhancing its appeal as a classic dungeon crawler.
“This game is super funny! It can be super hard or easy as heck. If you use the wizard, he is broken. Lovely game, a great classic dungeon crawler.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players note that the game's emotional impact stems from the developer's intention to create a sense of doom, where the struggle and eventual triumph after numerous failures evoke strong feelings. This design choice emphasizes perseverance and the satisfaction of overcoming challenges, enhancing the overall emotional experience.
“If I recall correctly, the developer has stood behind his philosophy that you're supposed to feel doomed, and winning that one time after 100 tries is the emotional impact he was aiming for.”
“The game masterfully captures the essence of struggle and triumph, making every small victory feel monumental and deeply emotional.”
“I was genuinely moved by the character's journey; the emotional depth of the story left a lasting impression on me.”
