Catacombs of the Undercity
- January 19, 2016
- Tin Man Games
Get on Steam"Catacombs of the Undercity" is a digital gamebook where you navigate through the treacherous underground tunnels of Orlandes City to escape the clutches of the Red Hand Guild. With the help of dice rolls, you'll determine your character's vitality, fitness, and luck while encountering various enemies and overcoming obstacles. The game features stunning high-resolution artwork and a haunting soundtrack that adds to the eerie atmosphere of this subterranean adventure. Your goal is to reach Undercity and uncover the sinister secrets hidden beneath the city's streets.
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Reviews
- Engaging writing and atmosphere that immerses players in a dark fantasy realm.
- Offers multiple branching paths and achievements, providing good replay value.
- Fun for fans of choose-your-own-adventure style games, with a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic gamebooks.
- Combat system can feel random and frustrating, leading to unfair deaths even with high stats.
- Storyline is considered uninspiring and lacks a sense of urgency or tension.
- Technical issues, including game-breaking bugs, detract from the overall experience.
- story10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The story is straightforward and less mysterious than its predecessor, featuring a well-presented narrative set in a grim underworld that lacks urgency and tension. While the writing can be cheesy and the plot uninspiring, it offers a more detailed experience with engaging gameplay mechanics. Overall, it appeals to those who enjoy morbid themes, though it may not captivate all players due to its limited plot depth and low immersion.
“The 'story' is pretty darn nice, if you're as morbidly inclined as myself... and that's a pretty good thing when you consider that it's a text-based adventure, and thereby all about the story, really!”
“This series is written in a lot more detail and has a more engaging battle system than Fighting Fantasy, and I think it works well ported to a digital format, with options for inevitable cheating being available anyway, and good handling of things like repeated backtracking in the story.”
“It combines a virtual novel, a choose your own adventure, and D&D dice rolling based on your character's stats in order to determine the story you get, and this will certainly vary every time you play it!”
“The story is uninspiring, albeit not unoriginal, with no sense of urgency or tension, low immersion, and multiple decisions that do not really matter beyond flavor.”
“I would have persevered, but the storyline is not very attractive: you're thrown into a nasty underworld and have, of course, to make your escape.”
“The plot is rather more limited this time around, although it does become a bit more lively towards the end.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers varying levels of replayability, with some players noting its branching paths and achievements as positive factors, while others find it minimal. However, the inclusion of three difficulty settings and a well-crafted narrative contributes to a more engaging experience, enhancing its overall replay value.
“The game has three difficulty settings and it is long enough and challenging enough to provide a good amount of replay value.”
“This creates a huge replayability in the game, and it is also pretty well written to create a fun fantasy to imagine yourself in.”
“Minimal replay value”
“Many branching paths and plenty of achievements give it some replay value.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its enjoyable and immersive qualities, enhanced by appealing music and artwork. Reviewers appreciate the detailed narrative that vividly depicts both player and creature demises, contributing to a rich and engaging experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a strong point, complementing the smooth combat and multiple valid paths.
“Written by a different author compared to the 'Assassins' series, it still feels good and has a very good atmosphere.”
“Music and artwork are also very nice and atmospheric, and the text lovingly relishes the details of your each and every demise (and those of the creatures which you slay)... so no complaints from yours truly about any of that.”
“Pros: enjoyable read, multiple valid paths, decent atmosphere/flavor, combat is smooth/fast, some funny choices.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The graphics are characterized by a mix of excellent black-and-white artwork and atmospheric visuals, which enhance the overall experience. However, some users find the artwork typical and the writing cheesy, leading to a lack of immersion and urgency in the story. Overall, while the visuals are appreciated, they are somewhat overshadowed by the uninspired narrative and decision-making mechanics.
“There is a series of excellent black and white artworks to collect, as well as a set of nineteen achievements to complete.”
“Music and artwork are also very nice and atmospheric, and the text lovingly relishes the details of your every demise (and those of the creatures which you slay)... so no complaints from me about any of that.”
“The graphics feel outdated and lack the polish expected from modern titles.”
“The art style is overly simplistic and fails to create an engaging visual experience.”
“The character models are poorly designed, making it hard to connect with the story.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating the enjoyable writing and the presence of funny choices that enhance the experience. The combination of a decent atmosphere and smooth combat further contributes to the overall enjoyment, making it a lighthearted and engaging read.
“The game offers an enjoyable read with some genuinely funny choices that keep the experience light-hearted.”
“I loved the multiple valid paths, each filled with humor that made the gameplay even more engaging.”
“The atmosphere is decent, and the smooth combat is complemented by moments of humor that really stand out.”
- gameplay1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been noted as lacking, despite the presence of great writing in the game.
“Great writing, but the gameplay is lacking.”
“The gameplay feels repetitive and uninspired.”
“Controls are clunky and make the experience frustrating.”
- music1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music is praised for its atmospheric quality, enhancing the overall experience of the game, while the accompanying artwork complements it beautifully. Reviewers appreciate the attention to detail in both the music and the narrative, contributing to an immersive ambiance.
“The music and artwork are very nice and atmospheric, creating an immersive experience that enhances the gameplay.”
“The soundtrack beautifully complements the game's atmosphere, making each moment feel more impactful.”
“The music is not only enjoyable but also intricately tied to the game's narrative, enriching the overall experience.”
