Dungeon Defenders: Going Rogue
- March 29, 2022
- Chromatic Games
Get on Steam"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.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game is fun and offers a unique take on the Dungeon Defenders franchise, blending roguelite mechanics with familiar characters.
- Multiplayer gameplay can be enjoyable, especially with friends, and the fast-paced action keeps players engaged.
- The art style and graphics are appealing, and the game has potential for future updates and improvements.
- The game suffers from numerous bugs and stability issues, particularly in multiplayer, leading to frequent disconnections and crashes.
- The tower defense mechanics are significantly diminished, with towers having short lifespans and cooldowns, which frustrates traditional fans of the series.
- Lack of content and variety in gameplay leads to repetitive experiences, and many players feel the game should have been an expansion rather than a standalone title.
- gameplay26 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the new Dungeon Defenders iteration has been described as a departure from the traditional style, focusing more on roguelite mechanics and fast-paced combat rather than the classic tower defense elements. While some players appreciate the engaging combat and cartoonish visuals, many criticize the gameplay for being shallow, lacking depth, and failing to effectively integrate tower defense with roguelike features. Overall, the game shows potential but requires significant improvements to satisfy fans of the original series.
“It's kinda 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 (three waves each on three maps, a well-known boss in their own dedicated arena, and repeat the process twice more), the gameplay offers a good rhythm that doesn't exist in the mainline titles.”
“The entire appeal of the series has always been combat mixed with the tower defense aspect, becoming a very unique kind of gameplay.”
“If you come into this expecting the next traditional Dungeon Defenders-style gameplay, you will be disappointed.”
“The gameplay itself is very bland and nothing like Dungeon Defenders 1. I don't think the tower defense genre meshes very well with roguelikes, but I can say the combat feels much nicer and more fluid.”
“Looks flashy but the gameplay is lifeless and has no depth to it.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their sharpness and appealing cartoonish art style, reminiscent of a remake of the original Dungeon Defenders. While the visuals are considered good-looking and show potential, some users feel that the user interface is overly simplistic and lacks necessary guidance for new players. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's aesthetic, despite some concerns about multiplayer functionality.
“It's kinda like a remake of the original Dungeon Defenders but with a whole new gameplay style and more cartoonish visuals.”
“The graphics are good looking and I see the potential.”
“Fun appealing art style.”
“As for Awakened, this was just a graphics update which should have been added to DD1/DD2.”
“[*] 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.”
“I love this game, the art style and the combat, but I can't recommend this game because the multiplayer, which should be the best aspect, works poorly; no matter how much I try, multiplayer games always crash randomly.”
- stability6 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 issues that arise particularly when playing with multiple players. Many players feel the game is unfinished and abandoned, citing placeholder items and inconsistent difficulty levels as additional concerns. Overall, the game is seen as buggy and lacking in polish, leading to a frustrating experience.
“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 like it if you play with more than 2 players.”
“I've lost faith in this company. Do not waste your money on the last two Dungeon Defenders games; they recycle content, are buggy, and won't fix it.”
“This has all the same problems as Dungeon Defenders: it's horribly optimized, buggy as all hell, and reuses assets and maps from over a decade ago.”
- 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 exploitative, with many users labeling it as a "cash grab." Critics express disappointment over the reuse of assets and a lack of innovation, suggesting that the franchise is prioritizing profit over quality and creativity. Overall, there is a palpable sense of desperation in the monetization approach, leading to concerns about the future of the franchise.
“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.”
- 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.”
“With this game, I don't feel like I'm just mindlessly grinding before I can try the builds I want to.”
- story2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The story is criticized for lacking depth and clarity, leaving players without a clear understanding of their motivations for defending the dungeons. Additionally, there are moments where gameplay mechanics disrupt the narrative, such as enemies failing to engage properly.
“The story lacks depth and fails to provide a compelling reason for why you are defending the dungeons.”
“The plot twists often feel forced and can lead to frustrating moments, such as when enemies bug out and allow you to defeat them without a fight, only for a sudden self-destruction to end your progress.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, providing an enjoyable experience both when playing solo and with friends.
“Pretty funny both alone and with friends.”
- 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.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users suggest that incorporating a feature wishlist could enhance the game's foundation and transform it into a roguelike, significantly increasing its replayability.
“The game offers a feature wishlist that transforms the foundation into a roguelike, significantly enhancing its replayability.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh and exciting, thanks to the diverse mechanics and random elements that keep you coming back for more.”
“With multiple paths and outcomes, the game encourages exploration and experimentation, making every run a unique experience.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users express strong emotional reactions to the game, with one reviewer feeling a deep sense of disappointment and nostalgia, indicating that it fails to meet their expectations compared to previous versions.
