Dungeon of Zolthan
- May 10, 2016
- Robert Alvarez
Get on Steam"Dungeon of Zolthan" is a first-person dungeon crawler game set in a dark fantasy world. The player must navigate through treacherous mazes, battling monsters and collecting loot to progress. With permadeath and randomly generated dungeons, each playthrough offers a new challenge.
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Mac OS
PC
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Windows
Mobile Platform
Xbox
Reviews
- Dungeon of Zolthan offers a fun and challenging retro-style platforming experience with tight controls and engaging boss battles.
- The game features a charming 8-bit aesthetic and a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic platformers, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
- At its low price point, the game provides a decent amount of gameplay, with opportunities for exploration and skill progression.
- The game is very short, often completed in under an hour, which may leave players wanting more content.
- Controls can be frustrating, particularly the double-tap dash mechanic, which can lead to accidental deaths and disrupt gameplay.
- The graphics and music are basic and repetitive, which may detract from the overall experience for some players.
- music30 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its repetitive nature and lack of variety, often describing it as grating after extended play. While some appreciate the retro 8-bit aesthetic and find it charming, others recommend muting the game in favor of personal playlists. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a fitting but flawed aspect of the game, with a few praising its nostalgic appeal despite its shortcomings.
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
“The music is odd but satisfying to some little pee bot of surprise!!!”
“I also love the retro music, especially for the final boss himself.”
“Every aspect from music to visuals to the basic controls feel like placeholders for assets that will be added later.”
“The music is awful, but it suits the retro aesthetic, and, again, the game doesn't last terribly long in general.”
“The music is very grating after the first few minutes of hearing a single track, and the lack of save points in certain areas is pretty frustrating.”
- gameplay30 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Dungeon of Zolthan" is characterized by its simplicity and nostalgic homage to classic platformers, featuring basic mechanics like running, jumping, and shooting. While the graphics are minimalistic and the challenges can be frustrating due to precise input requirements, the game successfully incorporates creative twists and engaging boss battles that evoke a retro feel. Overall, players find the gameplay enjoyable and intuitive, making it a fun, albeit short, experience reminiscent of old-school gaming.
“The gameplay is fairly simple: you run, jump, and shoot.”
“Most importantly, it does what old school games used to do right - it introduces a new mechanic then gives the player a challenge to overcome using that mechanic, then finally a boss battle where the player needs to use it in order to progress.”
“Gives off a great retro feel while also providing the player with enjoyable and difficult gameplay.”
“The platforming requires only the most basic of mechanical ability, the pitiful little gun you have can’t fire when there are three projectiles on the screen, and the enemies are just squares that move back and forth.”
“Most of the difficulty comes from the fact that the very simple gameplay requires very exact input, and there are a few oddities there related to interactions with walls.”
“Cons: fast gameplay, short game, ridiculously simple.”
- graphics29 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are predominantly described as basic and retro, often resembling placeholder art or a homage to classic titles like Super Mario Bros. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm of the simplistic visuals, others find them unappealing and lacking in detail, leading to mixed feelings about their overall quality. Despite the graphics being a point of contention, they are often seen as fitting for the game's retro aesthetic, though they may not meet the expectations of all players.
“This game caught my eye because of the graphic style alone.”
“Not to mention I loved the old arcade style graphics and sounds.”
“The graphics come in a clean, simple retro design.”
“Dungeon of Zolthan is a game with very basic graphics that is basically a homage to Bowser's dungeon levels in Super Mario Bros, including borrowed mechanics and aesthetic.”
“Every aspect from music to visuals to the basic controls feel like placeholders for assets that will be added later.”
“The basic graphics are basic to the point of just being bad; even as retro goes, these are just painful.”
- story8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely minimal or non-existent, with some players noting that while it lacks depth, it doesn't detract from the gameplay experience. A few reviews highlight a brief narrative that emphasizes perseverance, but overall, the focus seems to be more on gameplay mechanics than on storytelling.
“Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
“The story is short, but it is great, featuring 4 bosses including Zolthan.”
“A story is pretty much non-existent but would also be superfluous.”
“It has no story, the art is too simple, and the music is so plain.”
“You don't get a story.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be enjoyable and humorous, highlighting its comedic elements as a significant aspect of their experience.
“Great game with a lot of humor!”
“This game had me laughing out loud!”
“The humor in this game is top-notch!”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players often find grinding in the game to be tedious and occasionally unfair, leading to frustration in the overall experience.
“Grinding can feel tedious and unfair at times.”
