Diabolic
- March 26, 2018
- MyDreamForever
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam"Diabolic" is a single-player Role Playing Game with beautiful game mechanics and a good soundtrack. The game takes place in a dark pixel fantasy world where you must defeat hordes of monsters to reclaim prosperous land. With 10 levels of varying enemies, "Diabolic" offers a unique RPG experience without a class system, allowing you to build your own character and choose your playstyle.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Fun and simple gameplay that provides a satisfying experience for a low price.
- Charming retro graphics and enjoyable music that enhance the overall atmosphere.
- Easy to pick up with straightforward mechanics, making it accessible for casual gamers.
- Lacks depth and variety, with repetitive gameplay and minimal story elements.
- Technical issues such as lag after extended play and fixed keybindings without controller support.
- Unbalanced difficulty spikes and poor enemy AI that can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- music42 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and create a serene or melancholic mood, while others criticize it for being repetitive, overly calm, or mismatched with the game's tone. Many agree that the soundtrack is pleasant and well-composed, contributing significantly to the overall experience, though some suggest that a greater variety of tracks would improve it further. Overall, the music is seen as a highlight for those who appreciate its emotional depth, despite its limitations.
“The music really adds 90% of the atmosphere.”
“Like the music (and this game has such an amazing soundtrack) puts me in this serene moment where I feel as if I'm playing an Atari game system despite having not been even born yet when that was a thing, nor have ever actually played on one.”
“A solid little dungeon crawler with some simple yet well-designed levels, a solid upgrade system and beautifully moody music.”
“Very basic and repetitive, the music is very bad and does not fit the game at all.”
“The music was pretty decent; however, it simply doesn't match the mood of the game and the world that is otherwise quite silent.”
“For some reason, developers chose to include in a game's soundtrack only sad dramatic tunes, and it gives a whole new context to the process of monster slaying.”
- gameplay21 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is often compared to nostalgic flash games, featuring simple yet enjoyable mechanics reminiscent of titles like Diablo and The Binding of Isaac. While many players appreciate the fun and engaging combat, the game is criticized for its brevity, with most reporting around 1.5 to 2 hours of playtime and a desire for more levels and deeper mechanics. Overall, the combination of solid gameplay, beautiful music, and appealing visuals makes it a memorable experience, albeit a short one.
“The movement and gameplay reminded me of some of my favorite flash games.”
“It has a solid premise and fun gameplay.”
“The art is good and the Diablo by way of Binding of Isaac gameplay is pretty slick once the encounters heat up and you have to use the enemy pathing to set up openings to attack ranged enemies.”
“2 hours of mediocre gameplay barely worth the sale price of $0.51.”
“It has only 10 levels, so it ends right around the time it gets boring, providing under 3 hours of gameplay.”
“I would have liked to have seen some mechanics implemented that didn't just allow me to sit back and pepper it without repercussion.”
- story15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's story is criticized for its simplicity and lack of depth, featuring a basic main quest and a few minor side quests that feel unengaging. Players note the absence of meaningful dialogue or dramatic elements, with the narrative largely conveyed through text messages rather than cutscenes. Overall, the plot is seen as linear and underdeveloped, leaving many wishing for a more compelling narrative experience.
“Depressing atmosphere appears simply from nowhere - there is no dramatic plot in the game, there are no dialogues or cutscenes (only text messages from villagers) - but the melancholic music combined with dozens of skeletons dying because of the hero's overpowered strikes somehow creates it.”
“This game tells the story of our knight, but the plot is simple.”
“This game doesn't have a deep and beautiful story, it's just fun.”
“The story is practically non-existent, and the little dialogue there is poorly written or translated.”
“Depressing atmosphere appears simply from nowhere - there is no dramatic plot in the game, no dialogues or cutscenes (only text messages from villagers) - but the melancholic music combined with dozens of skeletons dying because of the hero's overpowered strikes somehow creates it.”
“Everything is linear, with only a couple of optional quests that only take a few minutes each. I wouldn't pay full price for it, as there are plenty of comparable freeware games. The plot, which is not very complicated, is completely dropped after you beat the final boss.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's retro, minimalist 8-bit graphics have garnered appreciation for their nostalgic charm, particularly among long-time gamers. While the visuals may seem simple, they effectively complement the gameplay and music, creating a memorable experience that defies initial impressions based on graphics alone. Overall, the graphics are considered more than adequate, enhancing the game's atmosphere rather than detracting from it.
“This game is a perfect example of why you should never judge a book by its cover, judge a person by what they look like on the outside, or why you should never judge a game by its graphics.”
“Not shabby at all, and a lot more than you'd expect looking at the graphics judging it or the small asking price!”
“Simple NES-like 8-bit graphics.”
“The game will be remembered for its gloomy pixel graphics and relaxing music.”
“This game is a perfect example of 'why you should never judge a book by its cover, judge a person by what they look like on the outside, or why you should never judge a game by its graphics.'”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is largely driven by its soundtrack, which some players find enhances the experience significantly, while others feel it can be too calm or mismatched at times. Despite some criticisms regarding enemy sounds and level design that disrupt the ambiance, many users appreciate the overall atmospheric quality, describing it as a pleasant and immersive experience. However, the balance of challenge and atmosphere can fluctuate, particularly in later levels.
“The music really adds 90% of the atmosphere.”
“A pleasant soundtrack creates a special atmosphere.”
“For me, Diabolic is a 'guilty pleasure' - a repetitious unbalanced game that still managed to surprise me with its atmosphere that, as I can assume, appeared there almost accidentally, but nevertheless worked fine with me.”
“The music is too calm and often does not fit the atmosphere.”
“Levels 8, 9, and 10 kill all this atmosphere with dozens of more powerful enemies who are immune to stun attacks. After a couple of level-ups and replays, sadness comes back: again, you become the strongest monster in Diabolic's world, and the music emphasizes it.”
“For me, Diabolic is a 'guilty pleasure' - a repetitious, unbalanced game that still managed to surprise me with its atmosphere that, as I can assume, appeared there almost accidentally, but nevertheless worked fine for me.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the replayability of the game, noting that the option to reset saves and experiment with different character builds adds depth, even though the game is relatively short.
“You can even clear your save to reset all your upgrades and try it out again with a different character build, so there is replayability despite its short length.”
“The game offers a lot of replay value, allowing players to explore different strategies and character builds.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh and engaging, making you want to dive back in for another round.”
“You can even clear your save to reset all your upgrades and try it out again with a different character build, so there is some replayability despite its shortness.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is multifaceted, blending sadness and wit to create an engaging experience that varies based on the player's perspective.
“It's sad, funny, and very interesting at the same time, depending on the point of view you take.”
