DKO: Divine Knockout
- December 5, 2022
- Red Beard Games
- 15h median play time
"DKO: Divine Knockout is a fantasy fighting game that offers 2-player co-op and multiplayer modes, set in a stylized world of Gods and Mythology. Engage in 3v3 game modes like King of the Hall and Oddball or intense 1v1 duels, utilizing masterful game mechanics for a thrilling experience."
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game offers a fun and chaotic experience, especially when played with friends, reminiscent of Super Smash Bros but in 3D.
- The mechanics are engaging and rewarding, with a variety of characters that provide unique playstyles and abilities.
- The visuals and audio are appealing, creating an enjoyable atmosphere that enhances the overall gameplay experience.
- Matchmaking is poorly balanced, often pairing new players with highly skilled opponents, leading to frustrating experiences.
- The game suffers from connectivity issues and bugs, including inconsistent hit registration and frequent crashes during matches.
- There are concerns about the monetization model, with in-game purchases and character unlocks creating a perception of pay-to-win elements.
- gameplay33 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
Gameplay in this game is a mixed bag, with many players praising its fun and chaotic nature, smooth mechanics, and variety of modes, particularly in 3v3 matches. However, issues such as slow updates, unbalanced characters, and a frustrating progression system detract from the overall experience. While the core mechanics are engaging, players express a desire for better balance and deeper gameplay, especially for those familiar with similar titles like Smash.
“The game is amazing, very good mechanics.”
“The games are fast and can be chaotic, movement and mechanics feel satisfying, and I appreciate the variety of game modes.”
“Combines MOBA and platform fighting, with simple to pick up mechanics, but room for mind-games and depth.”
“The mechanics feel complicated despite there only being 3 keys to press.”
“There are a lot of mechanics that work very unreliably or not at all.”
“Progression in this game is an absolute slog, where it can and will take you 8 hours to unlock a single character without paying for it, and 12-15 hours of gameplay on a single character to unlock their entire loadout, some of which feature passive abilities that are fundamental to a character's gameplan as late into the reward track as 10+ hours of gameplay.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics received mixed feedback, with some players appreciating the vibrant chibi art style and its appeal, while others felt it was less impressive compared to other titles like Smite. Overall, the visuals are seen as enjoyable and fitting for the game's fun and chaotic brawling gameplay.
“I also like the graphics and the chibi appearance.”
“I like how you actually need to learn mechanics from every different god and the graphics are amazing :)”
“Art style is a little eh compared to Smite proper but the brawling gameplay is fun and chaotic.”
“The art style is a little lackluster compared to Smite proper, but the brawling gameplay is fun and chaotic.”
“The graphics are mediocre at best.”
“The graphics leave much to be desired.”
- monetization6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The monetization in the game is heavily criticized for its reliance on microtransactions, particularly for cosmetics and unlocks, leading to a perception that it should be entirely free-to-play. Players express frustration with the grind required for progression and suggest that a model focused solely on cosmetic purchases would enhance the experience. Overall, while the game has potential and is enjoyable, the current monetization strategy detracts from its appeal.
“Edit: this game should be free and it also has in-game purchases... it has a lot of potential and it's incredibly fun once you know how to counter your opponents.”
“There are many microtransactions in the game that lead it to be a mobile-style store with cosmetics and unlocks.”
“Just make it completely free-to-play with monetization being cosmetics only.”
“Whether it's the balancing, the process in which gods are unlocked, and the general monetization of the game, plus other such aspects; I just can't give this game a positive review yet.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has been widely criticized for its poor stability, with numerous reports of bugs, frequent crashes, and unbalanced gameplay. Many users find the pricing unjustifiable given the game's lack of polish and the limited character roster, which exacerbates the issues.
“This game is nowhere near presentable, and charging $10-25 (plus $5 per character) for a buggy, shallow mess is questionable.”
“The most unbalanced, buggy experience I've ever encountered.”
“The game is buggy and crashes frequently; there are only 10 characters, some of which crash the game when using their ultimate abilities.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Users note that while the game's balance allows for different playstyles, certain gods are better suited for specific modes, which can affect overall replayability. Despite this, players find that all characters can still be used in less optimal modes, contributing to a varied experience. However, the game's replayability is rated relatively low, with a score of 4 out of 14.
“The balance doesn't seem so bad, except the fact that some gods are clearly designed with 1v1 in mind while others excel in AOE 3v3 chaos, but either of these can be played in their 'weak gamemode'.”
“The game offers a great balance between different playstyles, enhancing its replayability.”
“The variety of characters and strategies keeps the game fresh and encourages multiple playthroughs.”
“The balance doesn't seem so bad, except the fact that some gods are clearly designed for 1v1 play while others excel in chaotic 3v3 scenarios, making them less viable in their 'weak gamemode'.”
“The game offers limited replayability, as the experience feels repetitive after a few matches.”
“With only a few game modes available, the replayability factor is significantly diminished.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players note that while the demo offers a taste of the game, accessing the full experience requires either a $25 purchase or significant grinding. The grinding aspect is emphasized as necessary for maximizing character builds, particularly in competitive modes like 2v2 and 1v1, highlighting both the potential for diverse strategies and the time investment required.
“You're playing the demo (literally half of the game) for free... if you want the full package, then spend the $25 or get grinding.”
“There's a lot of grinding to max out the gods, which can be tedious despite the potential for different builds in 2v2 or 1v1.”
“The grinding feels excessive and detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is praised for its appealing design and balance, making it enjoyable and accessible for beginners. Regular updates contribute to a dynamic experience, enhancing overall gameplay.
“The character design is nice and balanced, making it really fun to play. Regular updates keep the experience fresh and engaging, especially for beginners.”
- music1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game features engaging soundtracks that enhance the gameplay experience, offering various modes for both solo and multiplayer enjoyment.
“The game features an amazing soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, whether you're playing solo or with friends.”
“There are cool soundtracks and various modes to enjoy, making it perfect for both solo play and multiplayer sessions.”
“The music in the game is fantastic, providing a vibrant atmosphere that keeps you engaged throughout your gameplay.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, indicating that it has captivated them to the extent that they are unlikely to engage with other fighting games until they fully explore this one.
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game performs adequately but has room for improvement in optimization to enhance the user experience.
“The game runs smoothly, but there's definitely room for optimization.”
“Overall performance is solid, though some areas could benefit from further optimization.”
“While the gameplay is enjoyable, optimizing certain features would enhance the experience even more.”
“Runs pretty well, could use a little optimization.”
