Haunted Dungeons: Hyakki Castle
- November 14, 2017
- Happinet
If you're looking to do some dungeon crawling and battling against creepy monsters from Japanese folklore book your trip to Hyakki Castle.
A fantastical world based on ancient Japanese folklore. Hyakki Castle, a mysterious castle built in a land of exile. This castle is brimming with mysteries and fantasy... Slay the Lord of Hyakki Castle! New strategies and puzzle solving by dividing parties... By Asakusa Studios, based in Tokyo, Japan a new evolution of real-time dungeon RPGs!
Reviews
- Ishin no Ofuda split mechanic creates an interesting puzzle-solving tool.
- Creepy setting and unique Japanese folklore monsters provide a distinct experience.
- Fast leveling and character progression keep players engaged.
- Hunger mechanic penalizes exploration and can become annoying.
- Cumbersome controls and a tiny UI detract from the overall experience.
- Repetitive design and lack of strategic depth lead to tedious combat.
- gameplay5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Haunted Dungeons: Hyakki Castle" features an intriguing split mechanic and elements inspired by classic Japanese mythology, which initially engage players. However, the experience is marred by a cumbersome menu system, slow movement, and a penalizing hunger mechanic that detracts from exploration, leading to repetitive and uninspired dungeon design. Overall, while there are fun mechanics and classes, the gameplay ultimately suffers from rigidity and lack of variety.
“The split mechanic in Ishin no Ofuda creates an interesting puzzle-solving tool, showcasing a faithfulness to classic Japanese mythology.”
“Hyakki Castle is a solid dungeon crawler with fun classes, engaging mechanics, and amazing monsters that keep drawing players into the labyrinth.”
“Haunted Dungeons: Hyakki Castle features interesting elements, particularly its team-splitting mechanic and use of classical Japanese folklore.”
“The hunger mechanic penalizes exploration, slow movement makes combat tedious, and the menu system is cumbersome.”
“Haunted dungeons: Hyakki Castle certainly has some interesting elements - most notably its team-splitting mechanic and use of classical Japanese folklore - but thanks to the rigidity of its first-person dungeon crawling design, it soon loses steam and you’re left exploring a vast castle full of dangerous yokai and unimaginative level design.”
“The two-part split mechanic is heavily under-utilized, making the dungeons bland and repetitive.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game frustrating due to the hunger mechanic that discourages exploration, slow movement that makes combat feel tedious, and a cumbersome menu system that complicates gameplay.
“The hunger mechanic penalizes exploration, making it feel like a chore rather than an adventure.”
“Slow movement makes combat tedious and frustrating, turning encounters into a drag.”
“The cumbersome menu system adds to the grind, making it difficult to manage resources efficiently.”
- music1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The music in the game is often criticized for its absence, with players noting that the lack of background music can become noticeable and detract from the overall experience. Additionally, the gameplay's hunger system and lack of strategic advantages contribute to prolonged fights, further diminishing the impact of the music.
“The lack of background music can become noticeable at times, making the gameplay feel empty.”
“The absence of a strategic advantage in the music aspect causes fights to drag on.”
“The hunger system gets annoying, and the music does little to enhance the overall experience.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a stunning ukiyo-e inspired art style that enhances its incredibly creepy and immersive ambiance, creating a unique blend of beauty and unease.
“The beautiful ukiyo-e inspired art style creates an incredibly creepy and ambient atmosphere.”
“The beautiful ukiyo-e inspired art style is overshadowed by an incredibly creepy and ambient atmosphere that feels more unsettling than immersive.”
“While the visuals are stunning, the atmosphere lacks the depth needed to truly engage players, leaving it feeling flat and uninspired.”
“The game attempts to create a haunting atmosphere, but it often falls short, resulting in moments that feel more awkward than eerie.”
- graphics1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a stunning ukiyo-e inspired art style that enhances its incredibly creepy and ambient atmosphere, creating a visually captivating experience.
“The beautiful ukiyo-e inspired art style creates an incredibly creepy and ambient atmosphere.”
“The graphics are stunning, with vibrant colors and intricate details that bring the world to life.”
“The visual design is breathtaking, seamlessly blending realism with artistic flair.”
Critic Reviews
Haunted Dungeon - Hyakki Castle (Switch) Review
If you're looking to do some dungeon crawling and battling against creepy monsters from Japanese folklore book your trip to Hyakki Castle.
75%Hyakki Castle (PC) Review
Hyakki Castle is a solid dungeon crawler with some fun classes, mechanics, and amazing monsters to keep drawing players into the labyrinth.
75%Haunted Dungeons: Hyakki Castle Review
Deep within the walls of the yokai-infested Hyakki Castle, I expected to find horror.
60%