One Way Heroics

About

One Way Heroics is a single player role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Smoking WOLF and was released on February 28, 2014. It received very positive reviews from players.

"One Way Heroics Plus" is an indie pixel RPG where you play as an adventurer trying to stop the end of the world by defeating the Demon Lord. The screen's left side is constantly consumed by darkness, forcing you to move right and confront various creatures and obstacles. With multiple classes to unlock and an endless supply of procedurally generated worlds, the game offers nearly infinite replayability. The "Plus" DLC adds even more content, including new classes, enemies, and features.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+16

Skip User Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,792 reviews

gameplay324 positive mentions

grinding40 negative mentions

Unique gameplay mechanic of constantly moving right adds urgency and strategy.
High replayability with randomly generated worlds and multiple classes to unlock.
Charming graphics and soundtrack enhance the overall experience.

Can feel repetitive after multiple playthroughs.
Some classes are noticeably weaker than others, affecting balance.
User interface can be cluttered and confusing for new players.

gameplay
982 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
63%
4%
The gameplay of this game is characterized by its unique mechanics, including a constant forward movement driven by an encroaching darkness, which adds urgency and strategic depth to the experience. Players appreciate the blend of simple controls with complex tactical decisions, allowing for a variety of playstyles and replayability through random generation and character progression. While the mechanics are straightforward, they offer a surprising amount of depth, making the game engaging for both casual and hardcore players, despite some initial learning curves and occasional repetitiveness.
- “The combination of RPG and strategy elements, random level generation, and compelling gameplay make it an engaging and entertaining experience for any fan of the genre.”
- “Addicting gameplay loop, amazing music, surprisingly deep amount of freedom and flexibility to play how you want.”
- “The gameplay mechanics are relatively straightforward, with players needing to gather resources, upgrade their equipment, and manage their health and stamina as they progress.”
- “It was shoddy enough that it kept preventing me from getting into the swing of the mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is very simple, there's not much of interest in terms of character development, and the constant pressure from the encroaching darkness leaves little time for exploration, even at times when there's actually something to explore.”
- “The gameplay gets a little repetitive, especially considering that an unlucky run might run 5-20 minutes.”
story
602 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
71%
3%
The game's story is a mix of simplicity and surprising depth, revolving around a quest to stop a darkness consuming the world, with multiple endings and character backstories that unfold through gameplay. While some players find the narrative lacking in complexity, many appreciate the engaging character interactions and the emotional weight of the plot, which can evoke strong feelings despite its straightforward premise. Overall, the story enhances the roguelike experience, offering enough intrigue to keep players invested across multiple runs.
- “The game's plot centers around a world that is being consumed by darkness, and the player must journey through various environments to reach the 'last demon king' and stop the spread of darkness.”
- “The story is surprisingly deep and well-written (with party member plotlines and NPC dialog helping reinforce the overall theme).”
- “There are tons of different endings and a rather compelling story which only truly unfolds as you unlock the different epilogues.”
- “The story is not particularly deep (and upon further inspection is actually kind of stupid) but I still enjoyed how the plot subverted expectations in ways I did not think possible.”
- “There's very little story, so it's no big deal if you put it down for weeks, months, or even years; it's easy to pick up for fifteen minutes or a few hours.”
- “You have no fancy story, complicated plot, etc. it's fairly simple; the land is being consumed by darkness, and you must run away from it until you find the evil demon lord and slay him.”
music
580 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
40%
1%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its great variety and quality, effectively enhancing the overall experience and fitting seamlessly into various game scenarios. Many players appreciate the nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic JRPGs, with some tracks being so enjoyable that they find themselves listening to them outside of gameplay. However, a few reviews mention that the limited number of tracks can lead to repetitiveness over extended play sessions, though the overall sentiment remains that the soundtrack significantly contributes to the game's charm and enjoyment.
- “The game also features a fantastic soundtrack that really helps to set the mood and create a sense of urgency and danger.”
- “I adore the music, it's reminiscent of older Final Fantasy titles while maintaining its own identity and substance.”
- “The music is beautiful and outstanding, reminiscing of the SNES era.”
- “It's extremely bland and the music makes everything even more dreary than it should.”
- “The music is ear-bleedingly bad and manages to sound repetitive without actually being repetitive.”
- “Music while what little there is is serviceable but I do wish there was more as it becomes quite repetitive.”
replayability
532 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
51%
1%
The game boasts exceptionally high replayability, with players praising its diverse paths, randomly generated worlds, and numerous unlockable classes and endings. Many reviews highlight the game's roguelike elements, which encourage repeated playthroughs and experimentation, making it a compelling choice for those who enjoy challenging gameplay and exploration. Overall, the replay value is considered immense, often described as nearly infinite, especially given its low price point.
- “Expect to die, a lot, but with so much replay value, you can find yourself playing again and again.”
- “The cool part is that it has massive amounts of replayability everywhere, including in the dialogue between followers.”
- “The game costs $3.50, and there is enough replayability for several hundred hours.”
- “The only disappointing part is the limited amount of unlockables (easily obtainable by about 3 hours of play), but One Way Heroics makes up for this with the large amount of replayability.”
- “While the combat system is not incredibly complex, the different ability choices between the classes and the plethora of equipment available in a given run give the game enough replayability to make it as far as I have, and further if you're truly up for a grind and lots of self-inflicted punishment.”
- “Short, sweet, and some replayability, but once you hit a certain level of meta knowledge and beat it a few times it gets stale.”
graphics
410 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
65%
6%
The graphics of the game are primarily retro-style pixel art, evoking nostalgia for classic JRPGs, with a mix of simplistic yet charming visuals that some players find appealing. While many appreciate the cohesive aesthetic and the clear, distinguishable graphics, others feel that the visuals are dated and could benefit from upgrades, particularly in animation. Overall, the graphics serve the gameplay well, but opinions vary widely on their quality and appeal, with some players loving the nostalgic feel while others find them lacking.
- “The graphics blend well with the old-school RPG feeling of the game and controls work well.”
- “The graphics are simple enough and give it a classic RPG feel that allows me to relive the days of early Final Fantasy.”
- “The graphics are very nostalgic and amazing.”
- “Short and generic story, ugly design and graphics, even for that kind of game.”
- “Graphics/ui feel very outdated, the gameplay is fun but repetitive, but for such a cheap price you'll definitely get your money's worth out of it.”
- “The graphics are the only 'lacking' component.”
humor
108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "One Way Heroics" is widely praised for its lightheartedness and quirky charm, featuring a mix of funny dialogue, unexpected interactions, and lewd undertones that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the game's ability to surprise them with humorous character backstories and scenarios, making it both entertaining and engaging. The blend of classic RPG elements with a comedic twist, along with a playful art style, contributes to its addictive nature and replayability.
- “Some of the dialogue made me bust out laughing; other times it was weird and unexpected. Either side is offered by pretty much every character you speak to.”
- “It's funny that the concept of 'only move right' would be a core gameplay mechanic, but it works so perfectly into the game.”
- “If that sounds too stressful for you, don't worry, it isn't. The game doesn't take itself too seriously, with cutesy anime graphics everywhere, and your hilarious little fairy companion that you might get a dialogue prompt asking to 'equip' (lol!).”
grinding
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
8%
80%
Reviews on grinding in the game are mixed; some players find it tedious and repetitive, particularly due to movement mechanics and the need to constantly progress. However, many others appreciate the engaging and rewarding nature of grinding for gear and upgrades, noting that the game avoids the pitfalls of traditional RPG grinding by offering fresh experiences and incremental progress. Overall, while some aspects may feel grindy, the game successfully maintains a fun and dynamic gameplay loop that keeps players invested.
- “I never thought I would love grinding this much :)”
- “Unlocking new content as you play isn't tedious, especially since none of it is required to win a playthrough.”
- “-ui is not really tedious”
- “The diagonal movement and positioning is tedious.”
- “I think this game has some interesting concepts but it is quite tedious and boring.”
- “As a roguelike game it fails because it is much too grindy to be any fun and as an RPG it fails because other than having your hero level up, it is missing any other RPG elements.”
emotional
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players noting its ability to evoke strong feelings through touching stories, lovable characters, and impactful music. Many reviewers mention experiencing deep emotional connections, leading to moments of joy and sadness, including tears during pivotal story moments and endings. Overall, the game is described as wholesome and addictive, fostering a significant emotional attachment to both characters and gameplay elements.
- “The strategy, the music, the art (which I freaking love) and the lovable characters just make this game somewhat perfect, without talking about the endings that are straight-up emotional rocks thrown at my face.”
- “The game balance is very well done, gameplay is fun, music makes me want to cry, and the story actually made me cry.”
- “This game has an incredibly touching story and nearly infinite, if not infinite, gameplay.”
optimization
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
75%
11%
The game's optimization has seen significant improvements post-launch, addressing initial performance issues and poor porting, which were highlighted in early reviews. Players appreciate the meta-progression system that rewards performance with "hero points" for unlocking new classes and perks, enhancing replayability and encouraging strategic play. Overall, while some technical challenges remain, the game runs smoothly on various platforms, including mobile, and offers a rewarding experience for those who enjoy optimization and performance-based gameplay.
- “Your performance will be rated and you will get an amount of hero points based on how well you did.”
- “It isn't as good as this game, but still great, despite its bad reviews on Steam (the majority of them being related to performance issues, poor porting, and bad design decisions that were mostly mended after launch).”
- “At the end of each play, you are awarded hero points that depend on your performance in the game (lower levels, monsters killed, dungeons explored increase your points) and those are used to purchase perks and classes, which gives you a reason to challenge yourself while playing.”
- “Every playthrough allows you the chance to purchase perks and transfer items with your hero points (how much you gain depends on your performance).”
character development
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
Character development in the game is generally viewed as limited, with few options for customization and a streamlined combat system that detracts from depth. While the versatile character design allows for some class tweaking, the constant pressure of gameplay leaves little room for exploration and meaningful growth. However, the game does reward players with points for character development after failed attempts, allowing for some progression in subsequent runs.
- “Versatile character design lets you tweak any class.”
- “Even a failed adventure yields points to put towards overall character development for subsequent runs, which you may or may not choose to use.”
- “The character design and great humor guarantees some good laughs and is quite refreshing.”
- “The gameplay is very simple; there's not much of interest in terms of character development, and the constant pressure from the encroaching darkness leaves little time for exploration, even at times when there's actually something to explore.”
- “The one downside to this game I'll mention is the character design.”
- “With comparatively few options for character development, streamlined combat, and limited variety to be found even in the mix-and-match biomes of the extremely linear maps, One Way Heroics doesn't run quite as deep as the games it seeks to emulate.”
atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a blend of challenging terrain mechanics and a slightly dark tone, enhanced by well-composed midi soundtracks that complement the visuals and gameplay. This creates a unique and immersive experience that pays homage to classic JRPGs while evoking a sense of pressure and melancholy. Overall, the combination of music, visuals, and gameplay mechanics effectively establishes a memorable and engaging atmosphere.
- “The game has a slightly dark atmosphere; the MIDI soundtracks are majestically composed and every bit memorable. The graphical user interface is both appealing and simple, giving the game a unique presentation.”
- “Game sets a nice atmosphere with music and visuals (if you don't mind the style) and pays homage to older JRPGs.”
- “The game has a slightly dark atmosphere; the MIDI soundtracks are majestically composed and every bit memorable. The graphical user interface is both appealing and simple, and it does the job of giving the game a unique presentation.”
- “The music is also extremely well-done; it contributes to the atmosphere without distracting.”
- “That small sense of sadness coming from them fits very well with the atmosphere and the plot of the game.”
monetization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
49%
38%
The game features no in-game purchases or microtransactions, which users appreciate as it allows them to pay a low upfront cost without ongoing financial commitments. Players feel that the price reflects good value, especially for a roguelike title, emphasizing a straightforward purchase model.
- “It means no microtransactions, no extra bells and whistles tugging at your wallet, what you pay for is what you get, while at a mere $3.50 it might as well be free!”
- “Wtf DLC, this is 2016! I don't want microtransactions!”
- “Honestly, I didn't expect much for my $0.87, especially from something advertising itself as a roguelike, which is usually code for a badly disguised roguelite.”
- “It means no microtransactions, no extra bells and whistles tugging at your wallet. What you pay for is what you get; at a mere $3.50, it might as well be free!”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the game is highly inconsistent, with some players reporting a smooth experience free of bugs, while others experience frequent crashes and significant performance issues, rendering the game unplayable for them. Overall, user feedback highlights a divide between enjoyment and frustration due to stability problems.
- “They're all either people complaining about it being 'too hard and frustrating' or complaining that it crashes and is buggy.”
- “This buggy mess has not been able to run for more than two minutes without crashing, do not buy.”
- “This game has frequent crashes and is riddled with bugs, making it nearly unplayable.”