Diorama Dungeoncrawl
- September 19, 2019
- Tales of the Renegade Sector
Get on SteamDiorama Dungeoncrawl is a low-poly 3D action game inspired by classic 16-bit titles. Battle through a Living Castle filled with skeletons, bats, goblins, and traps. Your mission: defeat the Necromancer who controls it all. Run, jump, and swing your hammer to triumph in this nostalgic dungeon crawler.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features a charming art style with great environmental design and character aesthetics, particularly in the inner sanctum and enemy designs.
- The soundtrack includes some standout tracks that enhance the overall experience, contributing to the game's nostalgic feel.
- The gameplay offers a challenging experience reminiscent of classic NES titles, with engaging platforming and combat mechanics that can be satisfying once mastered.
- Depth perception issues and awkward camera angles make platforming difficult, leading to frustrating falls and cheap deaths.
- The difficulty spikes significantly in later levels, often relying on unfair enemy placements and a lack of checkpoints, which can lead to tedious backtracking.
- Combat mechanics can feel janky and unresponsive, with many attacks missing due to poor hit detection, making encounters feel more frustrating than rewarding.
- music5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received positive feedback, with several standout tracks praised for their catchiness and charm. Reviewers appreciate how the soundtrack complements the game's appealing art style, enhancing the overall experience.
“The art is so good throughout, the music is great, and it has lots of charm and character.”
“Short and sweet with a charming art style and some catchy music.”
“I'm totally in love with the art style and music, so this is a yes for me.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of Renegade Sector Games are highly praised for their charming low-poly aesthetic, reminiscent of classic games, and are complemented by catchy music. Reviewers appreciate the blend of retro design with modern 3D adaptations, creating a visually appealing experience that resonates with fans of traditional gaming styles.
“I really love the graphics in everything by Renegade Sector Games.”
“In much the same way as Super Mario 3D World finally gave us a taste of what traditional 2D Mario design would look like in a 3D environment, Renegade Sector is creating 3D adaptations of other classic games using a beautiful and charming low-poly aesthetic.”
“Retro challenge with a kickass retro-3D aesthetic.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a need to exploit mechanics for progression due to ineffective combat systems, drawing inspiration from classic titles like Castlevania and Ghosts 'n Goblins. It features a slow-paced, deliberate movement style that challenges players against numerous horror-themed enemies, while special attacks offer minimal impact and are lost upon death.
“Diorama dungeoncrawl is a 3D take on the gameplay of classic Castlevania and Ghosts 'n Goblins, with its slow-paced deliberate movement challenging you against hordes of horror-themed monsters.”
“It legitimately requires you to exploit the mechanics to progress because the intended combat isn't functional.”
“You can find special attacks that enhance your charge attack, and those cost points to use, but have very little impact on gameplay and are lost on death anyway.”
“The tales of the renegade sector games style, but in a different gameplay formula.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by the amusing design of the main character and the distinctively funny traits of certain enemies, contributing to an overall lighthearted and entertaining experience.
“The design of your main character is hilarious, and some of the enemies really stand out in a positive way.”
“The humor in the dialogue is clever and keeps you engaged throughout the game.”
“I love how the game uses absurd situations to create laugh-out-loud moments.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's stability is criticized for issues such as bosses continuing to attack after defeat, freezing moments after their demise, and awkward hanging during falls, which can lead to unintended damage from enemies while in midair.
“Sometimes the bosses still attack you after they die, and sometimes the game just freezes after they die, forcing you to beat them again! When you fall off a cliff, the game hangs for a few seconds awkwardly, and enemies can even still hurt you while you're hovering in midair, waiting to die.”
“The game frequently crashes during critical moments, making it frustrating to progress.”
“I've experienced multiple instances where the game just freezes, requiring a restart and losing all my progress.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is noted for its short length and limited replayability, but it provides a rewarding challenge and a unique take on adapting old-school 2D design into 3D, making it a worthwhile experience for its price.
