Dungeon Defenders: Going Rogue
- March 29, 2022
- Chromatic Games
"Dungeon Defenders: Going Rogue" is a co-op action RPG that brings the popular tower defense mechanics of the original game into a rogue-lite format. Players can choose from various hero classes and navigate procedurally generated dungeons, battling enemies and collecting loot to build their characters. The game features solo and multiplayer modes, as well as leaderboards and unique challenges to keep each run fresh and engaging.
Reviews
- The game offers a fun and fast-paced gameplay experience, especially when played with friends.
- The art style and character designs are appealing, providing a nostalgic feel for fans of the Dungeon Defenders series.
- The core mechanics of the game have potential, with a good variety of runes and weapons that can lead to interesting builds.
- The game suffers from numerous bugs and quality of life issues, including unstable multiplayer connections and unclear UI.
- The tower defense aspect is significantly diminished, with towers having short durations and cooldowns, which detracts from the traditional Dungeon Defenders experience.
- There is a lack of meaningful progression and variety in gameplay, leading to repetitive runs and a feeling of emptiness.
- gameplay39 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the engaging combat mechanics and quick-paced action, while others find it repetitive and lacking depth compared to previous titles in the series. Many reviewers note that the game diverges significantly from traditional tower defense elements, focusing more on combat, which may disappoint fans expecting a classic Dungeon Defenders experience. Overall, while the core mechanics show potential and can be addictive, there are calls for improvements in variety and depth to enhance the overall gameplay experience.
“It's kind of like a remake of the original Dungeon Defenders but with a whole new gameplay style and more cartoonish visuals.”
“While the runs themselves are short, the gameplay offers a good rhythm that doesn't exist in the mainline titles.”
“The core combat, including the dash ability, creates an empowering gameplay experience.”
“Boring gameplay, towers are on a timer, no demo available, waste of money.”
“Looks flashy but the gameplay is lifeless and has no depth to it.”
“Very repetitive gameplay; past games were much better.”
- stability9 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, poor optimization, and game-breaking glitches, particularly when playing with multiple players. Many reviewers express disappointment in the recycled content and the lack of fixes for these issues, leading to a frustrating experience that undermines the game's potential. Overall, the game is described as being in a rough state, reminiscent of its predecessor, with a need for significant improvements.
“This has all the same problems as DDA; it's horribly optimized, buggy as all hell, and reuses assets and maps from over a decade ago.”
“I beat this game in 5 hours, which wouldn't be bad if it wasn't more bugged than Buggy the Clown and seemingly abandoned. I found many issues, and it seems to not work well if you play with more than 2 players.”
“The game information for both of us was all over the place, and the game could never really track us, leading to weird game-breaking glitches or a straight disconnect.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their appealing art style and sharp visuals, reminiscent of a cartoonish aesthetic. However, some players feel that while the graphics have been updated, the user interface lacks depth and clarity, making it challenging for new players to navigate. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point, but there are calls for further refinement, especially in the UI.
“It's kinda like a remake of the original Dungeon Defenders but with a whole new gameplay style and more cartoonish visuals.”
“Windranger: the graphics are as sharp as my arrows!”
“Prettier graphics.”
“As for Awakened, this was just a graphics update which should have been added to DD1/DD2.”
“I know it's early access, but with all the polish on everything else, I think better interface graphics and timing would be an easy add.”
“[*] UI - the UI somehow manages to be too simplistic, offering clear visuals but they are only truly clear if you know all their background information already, which the game makes no effort to show you when you start.”
- monetization6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a strong sentiment that the game's monetization strategy is perceived as a blatant cash grab, with many users expressing disappointment over the reuse of assets and a lack of originality. There is a prevailing belief that the franchise is prioritizing profit over quality, leading to concerns about its future viability.
“It's so sad to see that this franchise has become a series of more and more shameless cash grabs.”
“Another quick cash grab, but this time the desperation is tangible.”
“Feels like a cash grab, using the same assets ripped from their other game, so that this one can be developed side by side.”
- story5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The game's story is criticized for being underdeveloped, lacking depth and context regarding the player's motivations and the world. While some players appreciate the brevity of the narrative, others find it frustratingly vague, particularly in relation to character actions and plot twists. Overall, the storytelling leaves much to be desired, with players feeling disconnected from the narrative.
“The short story is engaging and leaves you wanting more.”
“The long story offers a rich narrative that immerses you in the game world.”
“The plot twist at the end adds an unexpected layer to the overall story.”
“Except when they bug out and allow you to murder them without fighting back, but plot twist: he self-destructs and you die.”
“And you are not really given any real story as to why you can defend the dungeons.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate that this game minimizes the feeling of mindless grinding, allowing them to experiment with builds more freely. It is seen as a more accessible and less grind-intensive alternative to its predecessor, making it appealing for those looking for a fun experience without the extensive time commitment.
“However, if you own DD:A already, the entry price is good, and this is a cheaper, less grindy alternative to the cumbersome DD:A that may be more accessible to a broader audience.”
“Very cheap and you get to play a fun DD game without grinding thousands of hours.”
- humor2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally appreciated, providing laughs both solo and with friends; however, some users feel that if the core gameplay lacks humor, adjusting difficulty levels won't enhance the comedic experience.
“Pretty funny both alone and with friends.”
“The humor in the game is consistently entertaining, making every moment enjoyable.”
“The witty dialogue and clever jokes keep the gameplay light-hearted and fun.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players express optimism about the game's potential for increased replayability, particularly with future updates and additional content that could enhance the experience. The desire for a roguelike formula suggests that players are eager for varied gameplay elements to keep them engaged over multiple playthroughs.
“Looking forward to updates and more content, as it will only enhance the replayability.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional response to the game is largely negative, with users expressing disappointment and nostalgia for previous versions, leading to feelings of sadness and frustration.
- music1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally perceived as unremarkable, lacking beauty and failing to enhance the overall experience, often feeling disconnected from the levels.
“The music isn't very appealing, and most of the time it feels disconnected from the levels.”
“The soundtrack lacks variety and fails to enhance the overall gaming experience.”
“The audio design feels uninspired, making the music forgettable and unengaging.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the updated character designs, highlighting the impressive aesthetics of characters like the huntress and squire, which enhance the overall appeal of the game.
“The updated character designs look great; the Huntress and Squire, in particular, look especially cool.”