King Lucas

About

"King Lucas is a whimsical indie game where you play as a knight seeking the lost princesses in a randomly generated castle. With each successful rescue, the castle becomes larger and more challenging. Acquire upgrades, weapons, and items to aid your quest, but beware: the castle's full 1,000-room expanse is not for the faint-hearted."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

+10

54%

Audience ScoreBased on 46 reviews

graphics7 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

The game features charming 2.5D graphics and a colorful art style that many players find appealing.
There is a sense of humor in the dialogue and character interactions that adds to the overall experience.
The procedural generation of levels provides a unique exploration experience, making each playthrough feel different.

The controls and combat mechanics are clunky and unresponsive, leading to a frustrating gameplay experience.
The game suffers from repetitiveness and lacks depth, making it feel tedious after a short period of play.
There are significant design flaws, such as a lack of keys and poor inventory management, which hinder progress and enjoyment.

graphics
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
33%
20%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the high-quality 2.5D visuals, unique art style, and smooth animations that enhance the overall aesthetic. However, some players find the art style to be dull or childish, and there are minor criticisms regarding clunky movement and combat mechanics. Overall, the visuals are considered appealing, especially for those who enjoy cartoonish designs.
- “Really positive sides of King Lucas are a little cute humor and great 2.5D graphics which make this price worthwhile.”
- “High quality graphics and optimization for such types of games.”
- “The overall aesthetic of the game is really good and the way the animations are handled is really top notch.”
- “The art style is boring.”
- “I don't really care if the graphics are dull and childish; that is fine if the game itself is fun to play, but this game really doesn't feel like it's complete.”
- “Okay, the graphics are a little bit too plain for my taste.”
gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
57%
21%
The gameplay has been widely criticized for being janky, unsatisfying, and lacking polish, with many reviewers noting issues with handling and responsiveness. Players find the mechanics simplistic and repetitive, often comparing it unfavorably to better-executed titles, while the overall experience is deemed too easy and shallow, making it more suitable for younger audiences. Additionally, the integration of metroidvania and roguelike elements is seen as unsuccessful, further detracting from the gameplay experience.
- “Cool music, neat graphics, and unique gameplay.”
- “As for the gameplay, it's not just another example of the 'same', which is the common rule of most platformers.”
- “Was expecting gameplay and controls at least as polished as Rogue Legacy.”
- “It's janky and unsatisfying to play... and any experienced gamer will tell you, the handling, responsiveness, and general gameplay feel of the control scheme must be well polished for this kind of game to succeed.”
- “Unfortunately, this is something the developer seems to have phoned in, with little to no apparent gameplay testing.”
- “The simplistic and shallow gameplay would be acceptable in a student project, but really isn't worth paying money for.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
33%
25%
The music in the game is generally described as decent and fitting, complementing the visually appealing graphics. However, players express frustration with the inconsistent playback, particularly when transitioning to the map or inventory screens, which disrupts the immersive experience. Some reviewers suggest that the soundtrack could be improved, with a few even recommending muting it in favor of personal music.
- “With a melodious tune on which you can bob your head, the soundtrack really complements its gorgeous 3D environments.”
- “The music is fitting.”
- “Nice graphics and music.”
- “It should just play the level music throughout unless the game is paused.”
- “Sometimes after accessing the map or inventory screen, you'll go back to the game but there's no music and it won't start playing until some seconds later.”
- “The music also leaves much to be desired and at times even sounds like it was procedurally generated.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, especially after the initial levels, as it often leads to boredom while searching for coins and keys. While some enjoy the blend of adventure and puzzle elements alongside the grinding, others recommend avoiding the game if they dislike repetitive gameplay, particularly as the castle expands significantly.
- “It gets really boring after the first two levels because of the grinding for coins and keys.”
- “If you do not enjoy grinding through lots of levels in search of one thing, I would stay away from this.”
- “You could probably get a few hours of enjoyment out of this; however, I am not sure how tedious it would be once the castle expands to 500+ rooms.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag; while some characters provide genuinely funny and kid-friendly interactions, many NPCs deliver cringeworthy jokes that feel forced and awkward, often relying on poorly placed cultural references. Overall, the comedic elements can be hit or miss, with some moments shining amidst the less successful attempts.
- “It's something that's funny yet small.”
- “+ kid-friendly humor”
- “In the middle of various rooms, you come across interesting characters who are really humorous to talk to.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's story is described as a loose and inconsequential narrative that unfolds through character interactions, primarily involving blacksmiths and witches who offer equipment and quests. While the characters are engaging, the overall emphasis on story is minimal, limiting its impact on the gameplay experience.
- “Although the game provides a loose narrative that is slowly revealed through a few of these conversations, the story is inconsequential and provides little added value.”
- “But good characters can only carry a game so far which doesn’t emphasize the story.”
- “Some of them are blacksmiths and witches who give you new equipment and spells in exchange for gold, while some are just there to give you quests and talk.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Replayability is considered limited, with players noting that by level 10, rooms begin to repeat or exhibit similar designs, reducing the incentive to replay the game.
- “Replayability is limited; by level 10, I noticed that rooms started to repeat or look similar.”
- “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to go back and play again.”
- “The game lacks variety in its missions, making it feel repetitive after just a few playthroughs.”