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Cross of the Dutchman

Based on a true story, Cross of the Dutchman is a historical action-adventure game recently released on PC via Steam, Humble and other distribution platforms. While the gameplay mechanics may not be looking to cause a revolution, the charm of this little game comes from its creative exploration of the life of a Frisian folk hero.
Cross of the Dutchman Game Cover
66%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
replayability, stability
75% User Score Based on 234 reviews
Critic Score 53%Based on 7 reviews

Platforms

Playstation 3LinuxXbox 360PCMac OSXboxWindowsPlayStation
Cross of the Dutchman Game Cover

About

Cross of the Dutchman is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Triangle Studios and was released on September 10, 2015. It received neutral reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

"Cross of the Dutchman" is an action-adventure game set in medieval Frisia, where players step into the role of Pier Gerlofs Donia. As Pier, you'll lead a resistance against Saxon oppressors who have invaded nearby villages, with your actions shaping Pier's transformation into the famous folk legend. This game is inspired by true events, offering a compelling blend of historical context and fictional storytelling.

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75%
Audience ScoreBased on 234 reviews
story90 positive mentions
replayability6 negative mentions

  • Engaging story based on a true historical figure, Pier Gerlofs Donia, which adds depth and interest to the gameplay.
  • Colorful and charming art style that enhances the overall experience, making the game visually appealing.
  • Simple and straightforward gameplay that is accessible for casual gamers, with easy achievements for completionists.
  • Combat mechanics are overly simplistic and can feel clunky, lacking depth and variety, which may lead to repetitive gameplay.
  • The game is quite short, typically taking around 3-4 hours to complete, which may leave players wanting more content.
  • Stealth sections are poorly implemented and can be frustrating, as they require players to restart if detected, disrupting the flow of the game.
  • story
    319 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Cross of the Dutchman" is based on the true historical figure Pier Gerlofs Donia, set in 16th-century Friesland, and is described as engaging yet straightforward, with a mix of historical elements and fictional storytelling. While some players found the narrative captivating and well-presented through cutscenes, others criticized it for being linear, simplistic, and lacking depth, with forgettable characters and a somewhat abrupt ending. Overall, the game is more focused on delivering a story than providing challenging gameplay, making it appealing for those interested in narrative-driven experiences.

    • “The story is captivating and kept me hooked, and the graphic style is really nice.”
    • “Cross of the Dutchman is an action RPG based on the true story of the folk legend of Pier Gerlofs Donia.”
    • “The story is well written and the drawing style is unique, if I do say so myself.”
    • “Ultimately, I didn't even care about the characters or story since everything is so simple and forgettable.”
    • “The story is pretty cliché and most of the time I was left feeling like there is something missing.”
    • “In the end, the story was so boring and forgettable I half-skipped all the dialogue.”
  • gameplay
    120 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Cross of the Dutchman" is characterized by its simplicity and repetitiveness, often described as a basic hack-and-slash experience with minimal mechanics and a lack of depth. While some players appreciate its relaxing nature and engaging story, many criticize the combat for being dull and the overall gameplay for being too short and linear, leading to a lack of investment and variety. Despite its charming art style and historical themes, the gameplay fails to offer a compelling experience, often feeling like a missed opportunity for deeper mechanics and player engagement.

    • “The gameplay is simple but very fun.”
    • “I found it relaxing to not need tutorials explaining complex game mechanics (or a large number of simple ones).”
    • “The game is absolutely great, the graphics are complete and the gameplay, smashing soldiers with punches at the beginning of the game already feels exciting and beautiful!”
    • “The gameplay is very repetitive and what variations come seem tacked on - there is a stealth section in between fighting sequences that literally makes no sense, punishing the player for getting seen even if you really know you could take the enemies on.”
    • “Sadly, while the folklore that the game is based on is interesting, the core gameplay here isn't that good; in fact, it's pretty mediocre.”
    • “Cross of the Dutchman holds true lore-wise, explaining the tale of Pier Gerlofs Donia, but as a video game, the hero falls flat on his face with crippled combat mechanics, bland gameplay progression, poor animation, and an overall lack of content and excitement.”
  • graphics
    113 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Cross of the Dutchman" have received generally positive feedback, with many players appreciating the vibrant, cartoonish art style that enhances the game's medieval setting. While some noted that the visuals show signs of age and have rough spots, the overall aesthetic is described as colorful and charming, contributing to an enjoyable gaming experience. Despite a few criticisms regarding performance and lack of variation in environments, the graphics are often highlighted as one of the game's strong points.

    • “The graphics and the environments are vibrant, bursting with color and have a nice medieval vibe.”
    • “The battle system feels powerful and satisfying along with the highly colorful and sharp-looking graphics style.”
    • “The art style is largely unique and full of color, textures seem to be of high quality and the characters have a lot of graphical personality, animations are smooth and plentiful.”
    • “The graphics are mediocre (not bad), the fighting system is awful and weird, and the story is weak.”
    • “Now here is where the game had a lot of problems, the performance was really bad for me; I tried everything and even when I turned the graphics all the way down, the game still had stutter and kept dropping to well below 20 fps.”
    • “The graphics are not very high-def and there is no real camera control, but for a hack-and-slash game, that really doesn't matter much to me.”
  • music
    42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many players praising the soundtrack for its fittingness and quality, enhancing the overall experience. While some found the music to be repetitive or forgettable, others highlighted its ability to complement the game's atmosphere and visuals effectively. Overall, the soundtrack is noted as a standout feature, contributing significantly to immersion despite some critiques regarding its variety.

    • “The soundtrack is pretty good.”
    • “What impressed me about this game was the soundtrack; some of the tunes were really good.”
    • “The orchestrals are a pleasure to the ear, and the music has a strong effect on my immersion in the game.”
    • “The music is forgettable.”
    • “In the first 10 minutes or so of playing, the single bland music track gets annoying, and with no voiced characters, there is no reason not to mute it.”
    • “A shame that the main battle music only got used towards nearly the very end.”
  • replayability
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game suffers from a lack of replayability, with many players noting its linear structure and straightforward gameplay that leads to a single, predictable experience. While some achievements can be earned, the absence of side quests and varied gameplay options means that players are unlikely to return after completing the game once. Despite being enjoyable initially, the limited content and repetitive nature significantly diminish its replay value.

    • “I wanted this game very badly, so I paid full price for it, but I'd feel a bit better about that if there was more content, or greater replayability.”
    • “Keep in mind this is a story-driven game, and won't offer much replayability, but it is very fun to play the first few times!”
    • “However, if you're looking for a game with great replay value, you're going to be disappointed.”
    • “Freezes at times, combat is pathetic, nothing special about the story; you can end the game in one run and there is no replay value.”
    • “By being so straightforward, unfortunately, the game does not provide any replayability value (aside from achievements, maybe).”
    • “Replayability is non-existent, as achievements are pretty easy to get and you can't really play it any differently than your original playthrough.”
  • humor
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is generally well-received, characterized as funny and lighthearted, with some players appreciating its ability to balance comedic elements with serious themes. While many found the dialogue and character quotes amusing, some noted that the humor occasionally felt forced or repetitive. Overall, the game's colorful art style and humorous writing contribute positively to the experience, making it a recommended choice for those seeking a fun adventure.

    • “It was funny and lighthearted, even though it did not shy away from the serious consequences of war.”
    • “Some of the characters have hilariously funny quotes, which breaks the somewhat serious storyline.”
    • “The graphics and humorous dialogue were my favorite parts of the game.”
  • optimization
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues, including stuttering and low frame rates, while others found it stable and well-optimized. Overall, the optimization seems to vary widely among users, with some enjoying smooth gameplay and others struggling with sluggish performance.

    • “The game was also stable and optimized well for me.”
    • “+ optimized and well made”
    • “Unique graphics with awesome performance as well!”
    • “Now here is where the game had a lot of problems, the performance was really bad for me. I tried everything, and even when I turned the graphics all the way down, the game still had stutter and kept dropping to well below 20 fps.”
  • atmosphere
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is praised for its relaxed and immersive quality, enhanced by vibrant cutscene art and a fitting medieval setting. Players appreciate how the visuals and sound design contribute to a cohesive and colorful experience, making the focus on story and atmosphere enjoyable alongside smooth gameplay. Overall, the combination of art, music, and environmental interactions creates a captivating ambiance.

    • “It's not difficult at all - the focus is on the atmosphere and the story, not the gameplay, but I enjoyed the gameplay also.”
    • “It doesn't lag for me, the gameplay is smooth and responsive, and it all works well with the atmosphere of the game, the feel of medieval-style Holland and how Pier interacts with his environment and his enemies.”
    • “I loved this game's cutscene art more than anything; I thought it all looked great, everything fit in so nicely, and it all just looked very atmospheric and colorful overall.”
    • “It's not difficult at all - the focus is on the atmosphere and the story, not the gameplay, but I enjoyed the gameplay as well.”
    • “It doesn't lag for me; the gameplay is smooth and responsive, and it all works well with the atmosphere of the game, the feel of medieval-style Holland, and how Pier interacts with his environment and his enemies.”
  • stability
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent freezes, particularly during combat with multiple enemies, and various bugs affecting movement and attack responsiveness. Players report poor optimization and a lack of balance, contributing to an overall frustrating experience.

    • “Freezes at times; combat is pathetic, nothing special about the story, you can end the game in one run and no replay value.”
    • “Short, boring, buggy, and badly balanced.”
    • “Crappy optimization; when there are more than 5 enemies, the game freezes.”
  • emotional
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game elicits strong emotional responses, with players noting that the well-written story fosters a deep connection with the main character, often leading to tears and a touching experience.

    • “I cried.”
    • “It was a bit touching, especially knowing where it came from.”
    • “The story was very well written and allowed for an emotional connection with the character.”
  • grinding
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and lacking in variety, particularly in combat, which contributes to a monotonous experience. However, some appreciate it as a welcome break from the more extensive grinding found in longer games.

    • “There's not much variety here, with the audio effects, and in turn, it makes the combat even more tedious than it already is.”
    • “Combat gets tedious due to its simplicity.”
    • “It was a pleasant break from the sometimes grinding slog of longer games.”
  • character development
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is noted as an area needing improvement, with players feeling that emotional depth and growth are only fully realized towards the end. While the action and hack-and-slash elements are appreciated, the overall narrative and character arcs could benefit from more depth and engagement throughout the gameplay. Additionally, the character design is considered decent, reflecting some effort in artistic presentation.

    • “Also, I'm calling the game an ARPG because there's action and hack and slash with character development.”
    • “Story and character development are also areas that can be improved.”
    • “Where emotions and character development finally start to take place, then roll the credits!”
    • “The art is alright and shows some care in the character design.”
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3h Median play time
3h Average play time
2-5h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Cross of the Dutchman is a role playing game.

Cross of the Dutchman is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows, PlayStation 3 and others.

On average players spend around 3 hours playing Cross of the Dutchman.

Cross of the Dutchman was released on September 10, 2015.

Cross of the Dutchman was developed by Triangle Studios.

Cross of the Dutchman has received neutral reviews from players and neutral reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its replayability.

Cross of the Dutchman is a single player game.

Similar games include Stories: The Path of Destinies, Dex, Omensight, The First Templar, Icey and others.