Hail to the King: Deathbat
- October 30, 2014
- Subscience Studios
Get on Steam"Hail to the King: Deathbat" is a 3rd person action-adventure RPG, inspired by classic games, with a metal music theme. As the resurrected King of the Underworld, Andronikos, players must reclaim the lands of Haides and defeat the despotic Dark Andronikos. The game features brutal melee combat, projectile magic attacks, puzzle-solving, and beautifully designed landscapes inspired by Avenged Sevenfold's discography. Classic Avenged Sevenfold tracks are included in the game.
iPad
iPhone
PC
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Windows
Android
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- Great soundtrack featuring instrumental versions of Avenged Sevenfold's songs, enhancing the gameplay experience.
- Fun for fans of A7X, with numerous references to the band's music and lore throughout the game.
- Nostalgic gameplay reminiscent of classic dungeon crawlers like Zelda and Diablo, providing a simple yet enjoyable experience.
- The game suffers from poor controls and mechanics, making combat feel repetitive and unengaging.
- As a mobile port, it lacks depth and features, with no significant graphical options or customization available.
- Pressing the ESC key exits the game without warning, leading to potential loss of progress and frustration.
- music212 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game, primarily featuring a mix of Avenged Sevenfold's tracks and original compositions, is widely praised for its quality and integration into gameplay, with each level themed around specific songs. Fans of the band will particularly enjoy the clever references and remixes, although some players noted that the repetitive use of certain tracks, like "Unholy Confessions," can detract from the experience. Overall, while the soundtrack is a standout feature, the game's other aspects may not appeal to everyone, especially those unfamiliar with the band's music.
“The soundtrack was great and the bosses were based off of their discography.”
“The music in the game is very enjoyable.”
“The soundtrack is superb, and you'll have to play the game to appreciate it; not much I can say to do justice to an awesome band writing a video game soundtrack that melds 8-bit music with modern instruments perfectly.”
“No amount of song references and A7X related humor can save it.”
“The music behind every miniboss fight is always 'Unholy Confessions', and while I enjoy the song on its own, it quickly became repetitive the more I played, as every level has at least two mini-bosses.”
“Let's get this clear - I do enjoy listening to Avenged Sevenfold and the music in the game is definitely a huge pro for the game itself, but other than that, it's really poorly designed in terms of everything.”
- graphics104 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many noting that they resemble older console styles, such as those from the PS1 and N64 eras, which may not appeal to modern gamers. While some players appreciate the charming art style and colorful aesthetics, others criticize the visuals as outdated and lacking in quality, especially for a PC version. Overall, the graphics are seen as fitting for a mobile port, but many feel they could have been improved for a better gaming experience.
“Pretty good game, amazing graphics.”
“The graphics are well done for the style the guys of A7X were wanting to do them in.”
“I love the music in the game, I love the gameplay, the graphics aren't like 100% modern day, but I think they go very well with the game.”
“There's better PS1 games with better graphics.”
“It's a far too obvious port from a mobile game, it's clunky, and the graphics look like they're from Warcraft III.”
“Music is alright, gameplay is simple and dull, and the graphics belong on the PSone.”
- gameplay81 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been criticized for its lack of depth, simplistic mechanics, and repetitive combat, often feeling more suited for a mobile platform than a PC. While some players appreciate the smooth movement and fun elements tied to the soundtrack, many find the overall experience dull and frustrating due to poorly designed mechanics and clumsy controls. Casual gamers may enjoy the straightforward nature, but those seeking complexity and variety are likely to be disappointed.
“The gameplay is really smooth when it comes to movement.”
“I love the music in the game, I love the gameplay; the graphics aren't like 100% modern day, but I think they go very well with the game.”
“The game is a great game for a port from the mobile platforms; gameplay gets a little intense and a lot of it leaves you with little more than hit and move fighting to stay alive.”
“As a casual gamer, there are several things wrong with the game; the gameplay is linear and the combat gets repetitive. There could be much more variety for the 'RPG' it's passed off as, and the story is decent but pretty generic.”
“The gameplay in all honesty is lackluster.”
“The incredibly simple and obvious mobile port type gameplay is not something that can be overlooked, and leaves this as a very boring and occasionally frustrating game.”
- story60 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally viewed as decent but often criticized for being generic and lacking depth, with many reviewers noting that it may appeal more to fans of the band it is based on. While some find the narrative interesting and enjoyable, others describe it as half-baked, requiring excessive reading, and not particularly memorable. Overall, the story is seen as a mixed bag, with some praising its themes and others finding it dull or difficult to follow.
“The storyline is very awesome.”
“Love Avenged Sevenfold and it was a really cool story arc!”
“Nice game, with a nice story and a brilliant soundtrack; if you are a fan of A7X, you will love the game. It's a short one but good.”
“Beyond that, there is nothing else worth mentioning because it is a slog of an experience since the story is half-baked and all the other previously mentioned problems don't help.”
“The main character is supposed to come off as a cool and care-free badass, with cheesy one-liners included, which almost directly conflicts with the story, and makes him completely one-dimensional.”
“The game's story is decidedly lackluster and the only time the game's music gets good is when an instrumental version of 'Unholy Confessions' plays during the boss battles.”
- grinding10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
Players describe the grinding aspect of the game as extensive, often requiring 60 to 100 hours to achieve significant progress. While some find the repetitive nature of grinding tedious, it can be rewarding for those who enjoy the challenge and are motivated by achievements, as it allows for the acquisition of better weapons and resources. Overall, grinding is seen as a necessary but not overly critical part of the gameplay experience.
“Grindy (60 - 100 hours)”
“If you enjoy tedious gameplay and/or enjoy the music of Avenged Sevenfold, I say go for it.”
“I find myself running out of lives from time to time, or occasionally grinding for coins so I can buy a better weapon, but it's not that necessary to progress through the game.”
- stability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- -12 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with most players reporting minimal glitches and bugs. However, there is mention of a significant glitch during the "Babylon" level that could disrupt gameplay. Despite some initial troubleshooting challenges for a few users, the majority have found the game to be largely bug-free.
“The game is completely bug-free, providing a smooth and enjoyable experience.”
“I haven't encountered any bugs, which makes the gameplay incredibly stable.”
“The stability of the game is impressive; it's completely free of bugs.”
“I hardly encountered any glitches or hiccups, except for one almost game-breaking glitch during the level, Babylon.”
“I don't know how many others took a lot of troubleshooting to get it to work from the start (to the point where I gave up and it now collects dust in my Steam library).”
“I haven't found any glitches or bugs that break the game, and I enjoy seeing that for once as well.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has limited replayability, with many players noting that once levels are completed, there is little incentive to revisit them. The lack of RPG elements, such as armor and character customization, further diminishes the game's dynamic nature, leading to a consensus rating of around 5/10 for replayability. Additionally, certain powerful weapons can disrupt game balance, making subsequent playthroughs feel less engaging.
“There is no replayability in levels after you beat them.”
“There's not much replayability because *slight spoiler* the rev's sword makes you overpowered and breaks the game.”
“There are a couple of good weapons to start with, but there's no heavy RPG elements, like armor or character customization, that make the game dynamic and replayable.”
- monetization6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game is criticized as a cash grab, reflecting its origins as a mobile game, with the absence of in-app purchases on Steam. While it previously featured microtransactions, these have been removed, leaving players without options to buy additional content like swords or extra lives.
“You can tell this is both a cash grab and a PC port of a mobile game when just playing the first level.”
“Steam has no in-app purchases like mobile games, so you can't actually buy these swords, extra lives, or extra gold.”
“Oh, and it used to have microtransactions, though those are not in here anymore.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is well-optimized, providing a smooth experience even on lower-end hardware, such as older laptops. While some players feel the character designs are underwhelming compared to their live performances, the port from mobile devices is executed without noticeable issues, indicating a careful development process rather than a rushed release.
“It does not feel like they rushed the port to make a deadline, because it is well optimized.”
“This game is a nice port from mobile devices (iOS and Android), running smoothly without a problem on my crappy laptop.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised, with many players noting its strong references that resonate with seasoned fans, creating an immersive experience. Despite the linear gameplay, the overall vibe and fantasy elements contribute significantly to the enjoyment, making it a standout feature for players.
“It's all about atmosphere; there are several references to the band that a seasoned fan understands. Even though the gameplay is linear, it's still easy to understand, and the overall vibe makes up for it.”
“On the good side, I love the game's atmosphere; it's everything I could ever want in a fantasy game.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users find the humor in the game's soundtrack, noting its unexpected and amusing qualities. The unique choice of songs adds a lighthearted touch to the overall experience.
“The soundtrack is a bit funny; I never thought they would make such a song.”
