Deep Dungeons of Doom
- October 14, 2014
- Bossa Studios
- 6h median play time
Monster killing dungeon crawling fun with terrific art direction and surprising depth all built around a simple core mechanic.
"Deep Dungeons of Doom" is a turn-based roguelike game with pixel art graphics. You play as a hero exploring randomly generated dungeons, battling monsters and collecting loot. The game features permadeath, ensuring each playthrough is a unique challenge.
Reviews
- The game features simple yet engaging mechanics that make it easy to pick up and play.
- The pixel art style and soundtrack are charming, adding to the overall nostalgic feel of the game.
- There is a good amount of character customization and skill trees, allowing for different playstyles.
- The game can become grindy, requiring players to replay dungeons multiple times to earn enough gold for upgrades.
- There are issues with the game's balance, particularly in the late game where difficulty spikes can be frustrating.
- The lack of a mute option for sound effects and limited control customization detracts from the overall experience.
- gameplay171 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity, primarily relying on basic mechanics such as timing attacks and defenses with minimal controls, making it accessible yet repetitive. While some players appreciate the challenge and fun derived from mastering these mechanics, others find the gameplay tedious and lacking depth, often feeling like a mobile port designed for casual play. Overall, the game offers a mix of enjoyable elements like humor and visuals, but its shallow mechanics may not satisfy those seeking a more complex gaming experience.
“The gameplay is very simple, you are basically playing with two keyboard keys and the whole point is to time your attack and defense actions, sometimes you have an item you can activate to add attribute points, heal or cause some effect.”
“The core gameplay is solid and makes for consistently tense battles.”
“Simple mechanics, but timing is key.”
“There's a lack of gameplay here.”
“The combat mechanic is too simple and there's not much else to this game.”
“The gameplay loop is extremely short and gets old fast.”
- graphics109 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by charming old-school pixel art, which many players find appealing despite some criticisms of simplicity and lack of depth. While the visuals are generally praised for their nostalgic aesthetic and good animations, opinions vary on their execution, with some considering them average or lacking in detail. Overall, the pixel art style contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, complemented by a fitting soundtrack.
“The graphics are charming, especially the cutscenes.”
“Good little game, nice pixel art visuals and atmosphere, very well put together, engaging and fun to play.”
“Graphically, deep dungeons of doom is brilliant with incredible pixel art capturing the essence of the original games we call retro that paved the path before it.”
“The graphics almost scared me away at first as I'm not a fan of pixel graphics (I find it a cost-effective way at the expense of the visuals), even though I must admit there are some beautiful games with very nice pixel art out there.”
“So, we have a terrible game with lazy pixel graphics, no movement, lame combat, and nothing to do but grind that combat endlessly.”
“The graphical style comes off as lazy or lacking skill, rather than retro.”
- music95 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its catchy, retro-inspired soundtracks that enhance the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. However, some players find the music repetitive and note issues with volume control, as it can be too loud and lacks the ability to adjust sound effects independently. Overall, while the music is generally well-composed and enjoyable, it may not suit everyone's taste and can become tiresome over extended play sessions.
“The soundtrack is retro-awesome: brooding, doom inducing, dark, fantastical and adds to the atmosphere brilliantly.”
“Great soundtrack, great pixel art and animation, and incredibly fun and simple gameplay.”
“The graphic style and music really fit the tone, story and the gameplay - gothic-y yet funny and lighthearted at the same time.”
“The music is obnoxious.”
“Even on the lowest volume the music is still way too loud, and you can only turn that off from the main menu, not in a dungeon, and there is only that option for music, not sound effects.”
“Another con is there is no music volume control, except on/off.”
- story88 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story in "Deep Dungeons of Doom" is generally considered simple and functional, serving primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a focal point. While some players appreciate the humor and charm in the narrative, many find it lacking depth and coherence, with a mix of enjoyable elements and repetitive grinding that detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the story is seen as a light addition to the game, providing some context but not enough to elevate it significantly.
“Even though the story wasn't that big or powerful, it was more than I expected.”
“The story and lore, while deceptively simple, are tied to interesting secrets and external references that are worth searching for.”
“The graphics are crisp and clean pixels, the animations are done well, the gameplay is quick and responsive, and the music and sound effects are very fitting with the setting of the excellent storyline.”
“The story is a bit all over the place too.”
“Deep Dungeons of Doom has no noteworthy story as it is not the main focus of the game.”
“There is not much story to be told in Deep Dungeons of Doom, and whatever story it has is told mainly as an excuse to get the main cast together to go to the Deep Dungeon of Doom.”
- grinding63 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's grinding mechanics have received mixed reviews, with many players finding the experience tedious and repetitive, especially in the later stages where the difficulty ramps up without meaningful progression. While some appreciate the combat system and the potential for character development through grinding, the overwhelming consensus is that the game relies too heavily on grinding for gold and skills, leading to frustration and a lack of engagement. Overall, players suggest that the grinding can detract from the enjoyment, making it a less appealing experience for those who prefer more dynamic gameplay.
“Additionally, the game requires a lot of grinding in order to make the characters strong enough to withstand the harder, longer dungeons.”
“The bulk of the post-game is grinding pre-existing, 2-minute long dungeons for frustratingly rare drops and an endless dungeon that doesn't use any of the altered patterns or even half the bosses, leading to one of the most mind-numbing experiences I've ever had in a video game.”
“The grinding is frustrating and irritating, without any redeeming factors making it worth doing so.”
- humor19 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its lighthearted and sometimes sarcastic tone, complemented by amusing character animations and clever writing. While some feel the humor could be toned down for a more serious experience, others enjoy the balance it strikes, enhancing the overall gameplay without becoming overwhelming. The combination of funny item descriptions, engaging cutscenes, and a fitting retro art style contributes to a charming and entertaining atmosphere.
“Deep Dungeons of Doom has nice humor, amusing characters, a retro art style that I think felt right for it, fantastic music, simple-but-clever gameplay, and a few rogue-like elements that were mostly pretty fair and lenient.”
“Now on top of that, the game is pretty funny. It did not need to have a sense of humor, but it does. A lot of the cutscenes, item descriptions, encyclopedia, and NPC interactions display this humor. I highly recommend you get this game.”
“Just played it for about half an hour and immediately enjoyed the ridiculous humor, simple yet efficient gameplay, and fantastic pixel artwork and animation.”
- replayability15 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the variety offered by different classes and challenges, others find the need for grinding and repetitive missions detracts from the experience. Secrets and achievements add layers of engagement, but the limited storyline and class options may leave some players wanting more. Despite these drawbacks, many still enjoy the game as a fun time-waster with decent replay value.
“I was really pleasantly surprised at how interesting and replayable they made such a simple premise!”
“I've played this quite a few times and have found that it has pretty good replay value.”
“The actual storyline is really short (about 10 dungeons total) but once you account for the secrets and challenges in the game, the replay value is actually very high.”
“It's good for replayability, but bad because you have to grind to get everyone's skills up.”
“Secrets in missions that intend to increase replayability but fall flat, along with some other in-game challenges, which more or less make you play older missions again and again for pitiful amounts of gold and some other shield currency that is never explained or doesn't seem to be used at all.”
“There are also some items (you can have 1 weapon and one consumable at a time, which sucks a bit), secrets in missions which should increase replayability (they don't, in my opinion) and some other in-game challenges that give you gold and some other shield currency (whatever that is?).”
- monetization15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game is a port from mobile, originally featuring microtransactions, which have been removed in the PC version. However, the absence of these transactions has left the game feeling unbalanced, with progression and difficulty designed around the previous monetization model, leading to excessive grinding. Despite these issues, many reviewers find the game worth its price due to the lack of in-app purchases.
“Apparently it's a port of a mobile game, but there are no in-app purchases, so I would say it's worth a buy for its price.”
“It's simple, it's fun, it's addictive, and although I think that it is a game well suited to the mobile market, paying $5 for the full game with zero microtransactions is worth it.”
“I didn't realize this game was originally on mobile, but apparently it was, along with microtransactions.”
“Doesn't seem to have been re-balanced despite the removal of microtransactions.”
“Even worse, the port shows signs that the difficulty was steep to induce in-app purchases, which is not present here, but is obvious by how progression is designed.”
“They removed all the microtransactions and left an unbalanced game.”
- atmosphere9 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a blend of bleakness and coziness, enhanced by engaging pixel art and a retro-inspired soundtrack that adds depth to the experience. Reviewers appreciate the grim yet inviting vibe, noting that the narrative and monster design contribute significantly to the overall atmosphere, making it both fun and immersive despite its simplicity.
“The soundtrack is retro-awesome: brooding, doom inducing, dark, fantastical and adds to the atmosphere brilliantly.”
“The pixel art is beautiful and the retro sword and sorcery atmosphere is pleasant.”
“It has a very bleak atmosphere that feels kind of cozy, actually.”
“While that does mean you lose the atmosphere of actually going through the dungeon, it still has plenty of atmosphere in its narrative and actually excellent pixel design of the monsters and hero.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game is criticized for being a poorly optimized mobile port, with users expressing frustration over its performance issues and a higher price point.
“Sound like a broken record, but yet another unoptimized mobile port that has its price increased.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is criticized for lacking character development, with users noting that it does not focus on characters, making attempts to evoke emotional responses feel out of place.
“It has zero in the way of characters or character development.”
“But we didn't come here for the character development, which is why I find it weird that there's a point in the game where they try to turn on the feels.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report that the game's stability is lacking, with experiences marked by various bugs.
“My experience has been a bit buggy.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
“I encountered several glitches that disrupted my gameplay.”