Depths of Fear: Knossos

71%
Game Brain Score Based on 227 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
Depths of Fear: Knossos Game Cover
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In Depths of Fear: Knossos, become the Greek hero Theseus and navigate procedurally generated labyrinths filled with mythical creatures. Collect gold, build your armory, and seek out medallions to unlock the master sword. With ever-changing layouts, each stage is a unique challenge as you make your way to face the Minotaur and save Athens.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

71%
Audience ScoreBased on 227 reviews
gameplay11 positive mentions
stability22 negative mentions
  • Unique horror roguelike experience with a blend of Greek mythology and dungeon crawling.
  • Intense atmosphere enhanced by a great synth-wave soundtrack that adds to the tension.
  • Randomly generated levels provide replayability and keep the gameplay fresh.
  • Frequent bugs and glitches, including AI issues and getting stuck in the environment.
  • Combat mechanics feel clunky and unrefined, making encounters less satisfying.
  • Lighting issues make it difficult to navigate, often resulting in frustration due to darkness.
  • gameplay58 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, featuring diverse bosses and a blend of stealth and combat mechanics that can create tension, but is often marred by glitches, simplistic mechanics, and a lack of strategic depth. While some players appreciate the unique atmosphere and the engaging gameplay loop, others criticize the repetitive nature, poor AI, and inconsistent stealth mechanics, leading to a generally mediocre experience. Overall, the game offers a nostalgic feel with potential, but suffers from significant flaws that detract from its enjoyment.

    • “The bosses are diverse and interesting, and their inclusion in regular levels makes for more challenging and suspenseful gameplay. The money system doesn't feel grindy or pointless, and the stealth mechanics are surprisingly good for a 3D indie game.”
    • “Depths of Fear is a mix of stealth and combat-based gameplay, with elements of horror and Greek mythology, set in a labyrinth of procedurally generated dungeons.”
    • “The gameplay is satisfying, and playing the main game through to completion is a task that only takes a couple of hours.”
    • “The gameplay sucks, controls work but apparently only when they want to, there is no direction for the game whatsoever, and upon not so close inspection seems like it was made on the same engine as Doom.”
    • “The combat sucks, the stealth mechanics fall apart when discovered, and enemies either don't spawn, or hallways are filled with them for no reason.”
    • “The idea and premise of the game are cool, but the actual implementation and gameplay are poor, which makes me sad since this could have been something pretty damn cool.”
  • graphics58 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting their retro, simplistic, and often glitchy nature reminiscent of older titles. While some appreciate the nostalgic aesthetic and how it contributes to the game's atmosphere, others criticize the visuals as sub-par and amateurish, suggesting that they detract from the overall experience. Despite the graphical shortcomings, many agree that the gameplay and unique concepts can still provide an enjoyable experience for those willing to overlook these issues.

    • “You know how sometimes older games with simple graphics manage to be scarier because of how gritty and strange everything looks?”
    • “The graphics fit the setting perfectly, with standard to good animations (that don't really matter in that constant darkness).”
    • “The visuals themselves, while not having all the newest bells and whistles, actually harken back to the high contrast, solid color Italo films before the turn of the century and really work together with the stylings and music to create something one of a kind.”
    • “Visuals are terrible.”
    • “The graphics look like the game should be running on Windows 98, and the combat consists of just clicking mouse1 until you die, or the thing you are fighting dies.”
    • “The graphics are rough, the animation is janky.”
  • music46 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its nostalgic 80s synth-wave soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere and tension, reminiscent of cult horror films. Some players find the soundtrack to be both campy and immersive, while others feel it occasionally clashes with the game's darker themes. Overall, the music is seen as a significant aspect that contributes to the game's unique aesthetic, despite some criticisms regarding its fit and volume issues.

    • “The intense synth-wave soundtrack is also highly underrated, which you get for free with the game.”
    • “The music adds immensely to the feeling of tension in the levels and the calm yet anxious tone when you are in between floors.”
    • “The music is great, reminiscent of 80's cult horror movies; at least that is what it made me think of.”
    • “The music is terrible.”
    • “The music doesn't really fit.”
    • “The music is also all wrong for a game that should be scarier than what it is.”
  • atmosphere41 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, effectively creating tension through dark settings and compelling sound design. While some players note issues with gameplay mechanics and bugs, the unique blend of Greek mythology and a surreal, creepy ambiance makes the experience worthwhile. Overall, the atmosphere stands out as the game's strongest feature, drawing players into its unsettling world despite its imperfections.

    • “Surreal, unusual, and sometimes genuinely tense, Knossos manages to transcend its plethora of bugs and bizarre design decisions with a unique atmosphere and weirdly compelling gameplay loop.”
    • “The atmosphere is nice and this game has potential, but so far it seems far from achieving it.”
    • “It's not a pretty game, it's not a polished game, but it's definitely an enjoyable game - just pop on your headphones, play this in the dark, and take in the atmosphere.”
    • “Way way too dark, though it can set an atmosphere at times.”
    • “I get that this is a part of the game's atmosphere, but at times it just gets too dark that it's bothersome.”
    • “Twitchy controls, weird physics, and darkness create a surreal, daunting atmosphere.”
  • stability22 mentions

    The game is plagued by numerous glitches and mechanical issues, leading to a generally buggy experience that can hinder gameplay. While some players find enjoyment in its concept and potential, the frequent clipping, AI problems, and performance issues detract significantly from the overall stability. Despite these flaws, many users express hope for improvements in future updates or sequels.

    • “Game play is a buggy mess.”
    • “In order to 100% the game, you must complete a long arduous journey, which is only prolonged by irritating and game-ending glitches.”
    • “I want to love this game; it's like Amnesia with combat and based in my absolute favorite setting, but it's completely marred with glitches, clipping issues, horrible AI, and horrible combat.”
  • story10 mentions

    The story centers around Theseus, who must navigate various labyrinths to escape and win the hand of Ariadne, drawing inspiration from the classic Greek myth. While the premise is engaging, the execution is criticized for its simplicity and lack of depth, with minimal plot development and no voice acting. Overall, the narrative offers a nostalgic experience for fans of old-school horror survival games, but it may not satisfy those seeking a more complex storyline.

    • “You take on the role of Theseus, a name many may recognize from the Greek story, Theseus and the Minotaur.”
    • “Dof:k takes on a very similar premise to the story, being that you must fight your way through a labyrinth, or rather various ones in this case.”
    • “Engage in the story of Theseus as he tries to escape the labyrinth to gain the hand of Ariadne, the daughter of Minos, the dirtbag who threw you into this dump in the first place!”
    • “The story is simple.”
    • “There is no voice acting, the models are not as good as they could be, and there is little of a plot (granted, the source material does not have much either!).”
    • “If you like old school horror survival games you'll like this one just don't have high hopes on a story or more complex gameplay.”
  • humor5 mentions

    The humor in the game is noted for its quirky contrasts, such as the funky music accompanying intense boss chases, which adds a comedic element to the gameplay. Players find amusement in the absurdity of their character's deaths and the humorous design of monsters, though this novelty can wear off, leading to frustration with the game's overall execution. Overall, while some aspects are genuinely funny, the humor may not be enough to compensate for the game's shortcomings.

    • “I also love that even if some area bosses are relentless with their chase, the music is quite funky and doesn't fit, which makes it hilarious.”
    • “I did gain some fun out of getting killed in funny ways and recording it, but that eventually gets old and you just wish to be able to actually play the game as it was intended.”
    • “(The monster looked funny, by the way.)”
  • optimization5 mentions

    The game suffers from significant optimization issues, with players experiencing frequent frame drops and performance problems, even on low settings. While it has potential and can be enjoyable, the presence of bugs and inconsistent performance detracts from the overall experience.

    • “It has performance issues, but they are not unbearable and it has lots of bugs, but considering the price, it's a fun game, worth a try.”
    • “It's also poorly optimized; even with everything on low, I still get frame drops at times, anywhere from 20 fps to 4 fps.”
    • “Very good game, but not optimized as well as it could be.”
    • “The only problem this game has, as far as I could see, is the optimization.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    The game offers a mixed experience in terms of replayability, with some users noting it has great replay value despite mediocre graphics, while others find it lacking after the initial playthrough. The inclusion of an infinite dungeon mode enhances replayability, but overall, it is considered to have limited long-term engagement.

    • “It has mediocre graphics and great replay value.”
    • “Replay value: 7/10”
    • “Depths of Fear takes about 5 hours to finish, but it does have an infinite dungeon mode which adds to its replayability.”
    • “Low replayability.”
    • “Overall, it's a nice game to wind down to if you're up to nothing, but it has very little replay value once you beat it.”
    • “Depths of Fear takes about 5 hours to finish; it does have an infinite dungeon mode which adds to its replayability.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be manageable and rewarding, as the money system feels purposeful rather than tedious. While some grinding is necessary to acquire better equipment, such as the trident and shield, the diverse bosses and engaging stealth mechanics help maintain interest and challenge throughout the gameplay.

    • “Grinding by sneaking the map collecting maybe 5 gold max per level.”
    • “Spend a bit of time grinding even if you keep getting dead early on, I recommend saving for the trident followed by a shield, later bow.”
  • character development2 mentions

    The game lacks significant character development, which some players find disappointing, especially in a rogue-like context where progression is typically expected. While the existing system serves its purpose, there is a desire for better representation of collectible items to enhance the experience.

    • “Given that the game does not have any character development throughout, this system does fulfill its purpose, but it would still be nice to see a representation of the items you can find and collect.”
    • “Regarding the character development as a 'rogue-like'.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting that their affection for it stems primarily from its ability to evoke deep feelings.

    • “I actually love this game for purely emotional reasons.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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