Mines and Magic
- March 25, 2024
- Zolden Games
- 10h median play time
Get on Steam"Mines and Magic" is a nostalgic, turn-based dungeon crawler game with puzzle elements. Explore randomized dungeons, battle monsters, and collect resources to craft powerful items and upgrade your character. The game features permadeath and procedural generation, ensuring a fresh challenge in every playthrough.
Reviews
- The game offers a unique blend of RTS and tower defense mechanics, providing engaging and strategic gameplay.
- The single-player campaign is enjoyable and challenging, with a variety of strategies to explore and towers to unlock.
- The developer shows promise with ongoing updates and improvements, and the game has a lot of potential for future content.
- The game suffers from significant balance issues, particularly in the early levels, making it frustratingly difficult for many players.
- There is a lack of clarity in the game mechanics and user interface, which can lead to confusion and a steep learning curve.
- The game has been criticized for its limited content, with only a few levels available and a lack of multiplayer options.
- gameplay9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its core mechanics, offering a unique blend of strategic building and tower defense that is both easy to play and engaging. However, players note that the game is still in early access, leading to issues with user experience, bugs, and balance, particularly as the difficulty ramps up. While the "go" button feature enhances the pace of gameplay, some users express frustration with unclear mechanics and resource management as they progress.
“While clear it's early access, I absolutely adore the core gameplay.”
“The gameplay is fairly balanced and the enemies are getting harder and harder.”
“Unique gameplay with a balance between strategic building and tower defense.”
“The user interface is all over the place, and the game is quite buggy, mostly in terms of non-gameplay elements like menus and cutscenes.”
“The 5-10 hour gameplay mentioned is likely just to find the right map for gathering resources; if I want to upgrade to get resources, I'm stuck.”
“Past that, balance issues and lack of clarity in the game mechanics become more and more apparent.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The graphics have received mixed feedback, with some praising their coolness while others criticize the clunky user interface that can be overwhelming. As the game is still in early release, there are expectations for improvements in both graphics and UI design.
“The graphics are stunning and truly immersive, bringing the game world to life.”
“The visual design is breathtaking, with attention to detail that enhances the overall experience.”
“The art style is unique and captivating, making every scene a visual delight.”
“The UI and graphics are clunky; my eyes were flying all over the place, and I couldn't make heads or tails of much based on the UI itself.”
“It's still an early release, so the graphics and a few things are limited, and the interface could still use some work.”
- story2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is criticized for its lack of depth, with players noting that the randomness of mines detracts from the experience and that the tower defense format does not incorporate any lore or quests, which may be acceptable for this genre.
“The story feels completely absent; it's just a series of disconnected events without any real depth or character development.”
“There is no engaging narrative to pull you in; it feels more like a collection of gameplay mechanics than a cohesive story.”
“The lack of lore and quests makes the experience feel shallow and unfulfilling, leaving players wanting more substance.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's stability is criticized for its inconsistent user experience and numerous bugs, particularly affecting non-gameplay elements like menus and cutscenes.
“The user experience is all over the place, and the game is quite buggy, mostly in terms of non-gameplay elements like menus and cutscenes.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I encountered numerous glitches that disrupted my gameplay experience.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development is enhanced by distinctive character design, which helps make characters, particularly enemies, more identifiable. However, there are concerns that this aspect may be influenced by external factors, such as EA's involvement.
“The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character's unique story and growth.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making their journeys feel personal and impactful.”
“The depth of character backstories and their development arcs really enhance the overall experience, making every decision feel significant.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
“I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful choices that impact character growth throughout the game.”
“The characters seem one-dimensional, and their arcs don't evolve in a way that feels satisfying or engaging.”
