Plunge
- August 23, 2019
- SpookyBunsGames
"Plunge" is a turn-based dungeon crawler featuring Billie, the billionth prisoner of a comical medieval megaprison, who must navigate deeper into the prison to find freedom. With unique puzzles and a variety of quirky characters, players must dodge, dash, and defeat guards, creatures, and otherworldly beings to progress. Nominated for multiple awards, "Plunge" offers a fresh take on puzzle and roguelike genres, with each floor presenting a new challenge.
Reviews
- The game features a fantastic art style and engaging gameplay that combines puzzle mechanics with roguelike elements, making it visually appealing and fun to play.
- Players appreciate the clear enemy action indicators and the feeling of control, as deaths are often attributed to player mistakes rather than random chance.
- The game offers a variety of unlockable characters and abilities, enhancing replayability and providing a unique experience with each run.
- Some players find the last unlockable character frustrating due to its mechanics, which can lead to unfair damage situations and a lack of fun in gameplay.
- There are reports of bugs, such as enemies skipping turns and issues with potions, which can disrupt the flow of the game and lead to unexpected deaths.
- The game can feel repetitive over time, especially since players may end up spending most of their time in the third zone after unlocking it, leading to a lack of variety in gameplay.
- gameplay66 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Plunge is characterized by its unique blend of simple mechanics and engaging puzzle elements, allowing players to navigate through levels using cardinal direction movements. While some find the gameplay loop repetitive, many appreciate the elegant mechanics and the satisfying challenge of optimizing moves in a turn-based format. The game is visually appealing and introduces new mechanics progressively, enhancing the overall experience despite some critiques about its depth and occasional bugs.
“What makes Plunge unique is how it uses familiar gameplay in an unfamiliar way.”
“Plunge is an absolutely lovely game - the visual aesthetic and the music are instantly charming, and the mechanics are simultaneously elegant and so, so fun to play with.”
“The game combines puzzle games and turn-based RPG gameplay pretty well as you try and figure out the optimum direction to slide and stay three steps ahead so you're not cornered or sliding into danger.”
“I don't get how people can play this for hours when it's the same simplistic gameplay loop over and over.”
“This makes the gameplay become relatively stagnant as you attempt to beat the game with more characters.”
“Only complaint I have is that the mechanics are a little bit too basic.”
- graphics44 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and captivating art style, described as a blend of mid-90s MTV and a "Dr. Seuss meets cyberpunk" aesthetic. The predominantly black-and-white visuals, accented with bright colors, enhance the puzzle-like gameplay and create an engaging atmosphere. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
“However, it’s the predominantly black-and-white aesthetic featuring cartoon graphics and splashes of bright color that really draws you in and complements the puzzle-like feel.”
“The gameplay is simple but satisfying, yet the game shines most with its art style and character designs: colorful, cartoonish, and highly creative - the descriptor that I would use is 'Dr. Seuss meets cyberpunk.'”
“Plunge is an absolutely lovely game - the visual aesthetic and the music are instantly charming, and the mechanics are simultaneously elegant and so, so fun to play with.”
“Obviously, this was a guaranteed loss for me since the fight carried on despite the lack of visuals.”
“I'd say the one thing you'll love or hate is the aesthetic; it's very 'zine' feeling, reminiscent of the r.”
“It either works for you or doesn't and as someone with a gajillion hours of Isaac, I've dealt with worse aesthetics.”
- music20 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as pleasant and fitting, enhancing the overall aesthetic without being particularly memorable or standout. While some players appreciate the soundtrack and its contribution to the game's charm, others feel it lacks the appeal to listen to outside of gameplay. Overall, the music complements the unique art style and engaging mechanics, creating a cohesive experience.
“Plunge is an absolutely lovely game - the visual aesthetic and the music are instantly charming, and the mechanics are simultaneously elegant and so, *so* fun to play with.”
“Cute little indie game with fast pacing, excellent music and fun comic design (I love it!).”
“A very fun puzzle adventure game with a fantastic and punky art style, some chill background music, and an overall wonderful aesthetic.”
“While the music doesn’t stand out too much, the sound effects are pronounced and contribute to Plunge’s simplicity and brutality.”
“The music fits, but you'll eventually want to swap in something of your own while the art is spunky and the animation is lean without feeling skimpy.”
“While the music doesn’t stand out too much, the sound effects are pronounced and contribute to Plunge’s simplicity and brutality.”
- character development4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
While the game features vibrant and imaginative character designs reminiscent of a "Dr. Seuss meets cyberpunk" aesthetic, reviewers express a desire for deeper backstories and world-building to enhance character development. The unique visuals stand out, but the lack of narrative depth leaves players wanting more context about the characters and their environment.
“This didn't bother me much, but given how unique the character designs are, a little more backstory for them and the world they inhabit would have been welcome.”
- story4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story is largely considered minimal, with many users expressing a desire for more backstory to complement the unique character designs and the world they inhabit. While this lack of narrative depth did not significantly detract from the overall experience for some, it was noted as a missed opportunity for richer storytelling.
“The story is almost nonexistent.”
“This didn't bother me much, but given how unique the character designs are, a little more backstory for them and the world they inhabit would have been welcome.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game offers good replay value primarily through achievements that encourage players to complete it with different characters. This aspect adds depth and variety, motivating players to revisit the game for a more comprehensive experience.
“Good replay value.”
“If you want some replay value, you would have to rely on achievements for completing the game with different characters.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is described as toxic and suffocating, creating a pervasive sense of danger and unease throughout the environment. This oppressive ambiance significantly enhances the overall experience, immersing players in a world that feels both hostile and foreboding.
“The world oozes its poisonous atmosphere.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game exhibits significant stability issues, particularly freezing when players use a teleporter while the ghost potion is active, a problem confirmed in multiple instances.
“The game freezes when you use a teleporter while the ghost potion is active (confirmed in three separate runs).”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its effective use of humor, which is complemented by appealing artistic elements, creating an enjoyable and engaging experience for players.
“Good humor and art!”