Knights of Tartarus
- April 19, 2019
- Stello Hexis
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Knights of Tartarus" is a retro-style, dungeon crawler RPG with turn-based combat. Explore the cursed island of Tartarus, battling monsters, customizing your party, and uncovering the truth behind your team's mysterious past. With pixel art graphics and a haunting soundtrack, it offers a challenging and immersive experience.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- Knights of Tartarus captures a nostalgic retro feel reminiscent of classic RPGs, with engaging visuals and a good soundtrack.
- The game features a unique mechanic where spells are learned from defeating monsters, adding an interesting twist to character progression.
- The developer is active in addressing bugs and implementing community feedback, which enhances the overall experience.
- Character movement is awkward, with frequent pauses that disrupt gameplay, making traversal feel clunky.
- The RNG-based system for acquiring spells from enemies can be frustrating, as it often leads to prolonged grinding without guaranteed rewards.
- Dungeons and puzzles reset upon leaving, which can be tedious and lead to unnecessary backtracking, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
- gameplay18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a blend of simple mechanics and turn-based combat, incorporating Zelda-like puzzle elements and a minor crafting system for equipment upgrades. While some players appreciate the straightforward adventure RPG style and the ability to see enemy health bars after initial encounters, others find the simplicity and occasional bugs frustrating, particularly the reset of progress in dungeons. Overall, the gameplay is characterized by its accessibility but may lack depth for those seeking more complexity.
“That hope was soon answered as it didn't just have Zelda puzzle elements in dungeons, but also a turn-based gameplay style!”
“Let's start with the Zelda puzzle elements, which is basically item-based gameplay to solve obstacles.”
“I also liked the mechanic that if you've fought a monster once, the next time you fight them you can actually see their health bar.”
“It also keeps things a little too simple for my liking in terms of both mechanics and character advancement.”
“Well.. there are a few issues that make some of the gameplay absolutely aggravating.”
“Just basic adventure RPG gameplay with no strings attached, where the combat system is very simple.”
- music12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic retro feel, reminiscent of classic titles like The Legend of Zelda and Pokémon, enhancing the overall atmosphere and mysterious tone. Players appreciate the well-crafted soundtrack that complements the engaging puzzles and visuals, although some have experienced technical issues that disrupt gameplay. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's charm and personality.
“It has a nice retro feel (Game Boy Color), good soundtrack, and really reminds me of something between The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages/Seasons (dungeons, items, puzzles) and Pokémon Blue (battle screens and the overall feel of the town), but the game has its own personality.”
“Fun little retro RPG with well-made puzzles and sweet music.”
“The story thus far has been intriguing, and the sprite work and music have fit the sort of mysterious tone that the game presents you with early.”
“Basically the game stays open, the music keeps playing, etc. but all controls suddenly stop working and there's no way to exit without restarting my laptop.”
“Music nostalgic, controls should be more obviously displayed.”
- grinding10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some appreciate that it can be done relatively quickly, others feel that the low drop rates for desired items and the time between enemy spawns can make the process feel tedious and drawn out. Additionally, grinding is often necessary for progression, which may frustrate those who prefer a more streamlined experience. Overall, the need for grinding is acknowledged, but its execution varies in enjoyment among players.
“Which isn't bad by itself, but given the time between enemy spawns and the low chance that the enemy will actually drop a spell just causes the whole thing to drag if, say, you want to get a lightning spell for the first boss because merely grinding levels takes forever.”
“The challenge didn't give me an issue personally, but grinding at some points is almost a requirement, so do keep that in mind.”
“There's a crafting guide on the forums for this game, but unless you feel like grinding out multiple materials, you'd be wasting a lot of resources trying to figure it out yourself, especially if you made an item that wasn't really suited for your class or what you want in general.”
- story10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's story is simple yet intriguing, evoking nostalgia for classic JRPGs like Dragon Quest and Zelda, with a mysterious tone enhanced by charming sprite work and music. While the narrative lacks extensive dialogue, it effectively captures the essence of early RPGs, appealing to fans of the genre. Overall, the combination of engaging visuals and straightforward gameplay contributes to a nostalgic and enjoyable storytelling experience.
“The story thus far has been intriguing, and the sprite work and music have fit the sort of mysterious tone that the game presents you with early.”
“Anyone who is a fan of early JRPGs like Dragon Quest will immediately fall in love with the game's simple turn-based combat system.”
“The story is fairly simple, but there's not much dialogue within the game.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their gorgeous color tones and charming design, reminiscent of classic NES RPGs like "Karin no Tsurugi." Reviewers appreciate how well the visuals align with the game's overall aesthetic, contributing to an enjoyable experience. The simplicity of the battle system further enhances the appeal of the graphics.
“The graphics just fit what the game is going for, and there's plenty of enjoyment to be had.”
“First of all, I'm very obsessed with the graphics; the color tone is gorgeous. The character, monsters, and map design are just as cute as the NES RPG game: 'Karin no Tsurugi (Sword of Kalin)', and the battle system looks like 'Dragon Quest 1', but the commands are simpler. It's so easy to pick up!”
“Good visuals and some very good music.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is currently experiencing significant stability issues, with numerous bugs and glitches reported by users, making it somewhat unplayable. However, the developers are actively addressing these problems and making adjustments as needed.
“Unfortunately, it has proven to be very buggy so far, which, though expected during early access, has made it a little unplayable for now.”
“Unfortunately, it has proven to be very buggy so far, which, though expected during early access, has made it a little unplayable for now.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is reminiscent of Undertale, offering a similar vibe but is noted to be shorter and less ambitious in its execution.
“The game's atmosphere feels a little like Undertale, but it's shorter and less ambitious.”
- humor2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is sporadic, with NPCs offering limited but occasionally amusing dialogue. While the focus is more on puzzle-solving and challenges, the lighthearted moments provide a nice contrast to the gameplay. Overall, the humor adds a subtle charm to the experience, even if it isn't a central feature.
“During the game, the NPC doesn't have much dialogue to say, but sometimes the dialogue is quite funny. It's a challenge when you encounter puzzles that you have to solve by instinct and observation.”
“The humor in the game shines through the limited dialogue from NPCs, making the occasional funny line stand out even more amidst the challenging puzzles.”
“While the game presents a challenge with its puzzles, the humor sprinkled throughout the NPC interactions adds a delightful twist to the experience.”
