Pocket Rogues
- October 25, 2018
- EtherGaming
- 4h median play time
"Pocket Rogues" is an action-RPG Roguelike game where players fight through hordes of monsters in unique, randomly generated dungeons. With multiple classes and specializations, players can approach boss battles in different ways and develop heroes with upgrades. Traditional RPG components, such as character progression and exploration, ensure an engaging and varied experience. * Number of words: 148 * Number of characters: 1006
Reviews
- The game offers a fun and addictive dungeon crawling experience with a variety of classes and upgrades.
- The retro graphics and gameplay mechanics evoke nostalgia, reminiscent of classic RPGs.
- The game is free to play with no intrusive ads, allowing for a smooth gaming experience.
- The controls can be clunky and unresponsive, making gameplay frustrating at times.
- Players often lose all their equipment upon death, which can be discouraging and lead to repetitive grinding.
- The English translation is poor, leading to confusion in understanding game mechanics and dialogue.
- gameplay130 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its fun mechanics, smooth controls, and engaging combat, with many players appreciating the depth and variety it offers. However, several reviews highlight issues such as bugs, repetitive elements, and a lack of enemy diversity that can detract from the overall experience. While the game has a solid foundation and potential for hours of enjoyment, some players express frustration with certain mechanics and the need for improvements in controls and graphics.
“The gameplay is fun, and the difficulty is just right.”
“Great game, addictive with great mechanics and a surprisingly large amount of gameplay for a mobile game.”
“The combat mechanics are very concise, fluid, and make sense for the game's genre.”
“I also think that there are a few bugs and mechanics that should be looked at and reworked to ensure the game functions fluidly without issues.”
“Gameplay is repetitive, garbage map layout, garbage mobs.”
“The intro was boring, gameplay is stale, the UI between games is confusing and the art style feels off.”
- graphics79 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the retro pixel art style and smooth animations, while others criticize the quality as subpar or worse than expected, describing them as pixelated and lacking detail. Many appreciate the nostalgic appeal of old-school graphics, but there are frequent calls for improvements and graphical overhauls to enhance the overall experience. Overall, the graphics are seen as a significant aspect of the game, with opinions varying widely among players.
“If you're looking for a great, free roguelike with smooth movements, classic graphics, and is easy to get into, then Pocket Rogues deserves a place in your heart and in your library.”
“I enjoy the game's sense of humor, and the graphics are relatively simple but pleasing and well-executed.”
“Great graphics, fun progression system, and entertaining interpretation of old school roguelike games like Ancient Domains of Mystery.”
“Also the gameplay and music is extremely good but graphics extremely poor.”
“These graphics are so terrible that they make the game undesirable to play.”
“These aren't your 'old-school graphics', they're much worse - the backgrounds are pixelated to a degree that is markedly worse than even games made in the 1980's.”
- monetization46 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 48 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its lack of ads, providing a seamless experience that is rare in mobile gaming. While it offers optional microtransactions, players generally find them unnecessary for progression, with many expressing satisfaction that the game does not feel pay-to-win. Overall, the monetization model is viewed positively, contributing to an enjoyable and engaging gameplay experience.
“At the start, I was fascinated how there were no ads, which is rare in mobile games, but made me feel like it wasn't a quick cash grab, and the content really speaks for itself.”
“Microtransactions are absolutely unnecessary but available if desired.”
“The in-game purchases are completely unnecessary as you can earn the secondary currency by defeating elite monsters and bosses, which is another praise to the game.”
“I don’t know why the save option and the other classes are blocked behind a paywall when you have crystals as microtransactions.”
“Its eh it's ok but it slams microtransactions down your throat and is pay-to-win (PTW) but has a lot of potential if it balances it out correctly.”
“Very well done would buy if there weren't microtransactions.”
- story39 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is often described as lacking depth and engagement, with many players expressing a desire for a more developed narrative and clearer mission guidance. While some enjoy the gameplay mechanics and find the game fun and addictive, they feel that the storyline is underwhelming and could benefit from additional lore and improved dialogue. Overall, players appreciate the game's potential but wish for a more substantial story to enhance their experience.
“Good story antics.”
“A good story plus these controls and art would make an amazing game.”
“For the basic game it is, the story seems to be what makes it more interesting.”
“If the story develops at all, it happens later in the game.”
“Sure do wish it had more depth to it such as a small storyline or missions that the player can accept.”
“Great, but the dialogue on the story is terrible.”
- grinding34 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a mixed reception towards the grinding aspect of the game. While many players appreciate the sense of progression and find the grinding enjoyable and rewarding, others feel it can be excessive and lead to boredom, especially in the early stages. Overall, the game is characterized as grind-heavy, appealing primarily to those who enjoy this gameplay style, but potentially frustrating for players seeking a more streamlined experience.
“I'm just kind of disappointed that I lost months of grinding in the game!”
“Good game, but too much grinding for me!”
“Too much grinding with very little reward.”
- stability17 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is notably problematic, with frequent glitches such as freezing, getting stuck in walls, and issues during gameplay like soft locks and unresponsive controls. Players have reported various bugs affecting both combat and the user interface, which detracts from the overall experience. While some users still find enjoyment despite these issues, the consensus is that significant attention is needed to address the numerous stability concerns.
“Sometimes the aiming glitches out.”
“There's a bug when you break a chest; the game freezes in place, but you can still hear the sounds when pressing the buttons.”
“There's a problem with the game where it freezes and crashes.”
- music16 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall experience with adventurous soundtracks that fit the gameplay. However, some players note that the music can be repetitive and suggest the inclusion of more tracks or alternate music options. Overall, the sound design contributes positively to the game's immersive environment, despite some minor issues with track looping.
“This game has amazing soundtracks.”
“Soundtrack is adventurous and catchy.”
“Levels are uniquely atmospheric, and the great soundtrack only adds to it, although some tracks tend to cut off quite quickly, hopefully the devs could make them loop a bit better.”
“The music is quite repetitive, and the lack of gems is annoying.”
“The soundtrack is adventurous and catchy, but it doesn't stand out.”
“While the atmosphere is dark and humorous, the music and sound effects could use more variety.”
- replayability16 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
Overall, the game boasts high replayability due to its unique leveling system, diverse classes, and randomly generated dungeons, which keep gameplay fresh and engaging. Many players appreciate the absence of intrusive microtransactions, allowing for a more enjoyable experience. However, some criticisms regarding balance and controls suggest that improvements could enhance the replay value further.
“I love this game for a few reasons: simple but fun design, appealing lighting, and the ability to play offline. There's no clutter, I'm not hounded by ads or a bunch of useless cosmetic stuff to buy, which is such a relief. The replayability is incredible; the leveling system is unique but not overly complicated. It's nice and easy to grind, and rewarding to do so. This is just a fantastic game all around.”
“Bro, this game is absolutely amazing! For a mobile game, the amount of replayability and skills you can unlock, along with various classes and universal stat upgrades, makes this game hands down one of the best I've played. I plan on getting it on Steam as well. I definitely recommend getting this if you want to kill time and just love a good dungeon crawling game. Also, microtransactions are completely unnecessary; you can buy them if you wish, but you really don't need them to progress at all.”
“The randomly generated floors give the game great replayability, while the different classes provide players with a choice for their style of play.”
“It's impressive how bad the game is, the aiming system is awful, the balance is awful, the skills are useless, the hitboxes are terrible, zero replayability, decent art though.”
“Pretty fun, but the game could use some balancing to make it more playable.”
“Extreme replayability.”
- humor14 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is widely praised, featuring funny dialogue, self-aware comedic elements, and amusing translations that enhance the experience. Players appreciate the blend of humor with engaging gameplay, making it both entertaining and addictive. Overall, the lighthearted tone and clever writing contribute significantly to the game's appeal.
“From the freshly detailed pixel art to the self-aware, comedic (and hilariously translated) dialogue, the game shines like a beacon in the sea of bad Google Play games.”
“Funny dialogue during the tutorial, and the tutorial introduces the game elements very well, making it quick and easy to learn.”
“The controls are fluid, the atmosphere is dark but humorous, the music and sound effects add to the experience.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players experiencing frustrating performance issues and decreased frame rates, while others report smooth gameplay even on lower-end devices. Overall, there is a consensus that the game requires further optimization to enhance performance, despite its enjoyable gameplay and graphics.
“Glad to see it run smoothly too with decent graphics on a potato phone like mine”
“Game runs smoothly, easy controls, good challenge”
“Cool dungeon RPG, nice artwork, runs smoothly”
“The performance issues are really frustrating. It surprises me why the game has gotten worse FPS from the last time I played it. I used to play it at 50 FPS, but now it's down to 30 FPS.”
“This game is good, but the only problem is that it runs with a bit of lag. I think this game needs more optimization, but I recommend it for people who love RPG games.”
“Worst optimization ever.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- -40 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its unique and dark yet humorous tone, enhanced by a great soundtrack that, while occasionally abrupt, contributes significantly to the overall experience. Players appreciate the fluid controls and the immersive levels, highlighting the combination of engaging gameplay and a captivating ambiance.
“Levels are uniquely atmospheric, and the great soundtrack only adds to it, although some tracks tend to cut off quite quickly; hopefully the devs could make them loop a bit better.”
“The controls are fluid, the atmosphere is dark but humorous, and the music and sound effects add to the experience.”
“Just great ... great gameplay and atmosphere ... even regular updates and bug fixes.”
“The atmosphere is dark but lacks depth, making it feel more like a gimmick than an immersive experience.”
“While the music and sound effects are decent, they do little to enhance the overall atmosphere, which feels flat and uninspired.”
“The game tries to create a tense atmosphere, but it often falls short, leaving players feeling disconnected from the environment.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features strong character development and impressive character design, though players suggest the addition of a combining feature to enhance gameplay by allowing the merging of items to create more advanced versions.
“Good character development.”
“I liked this game a lot; amazing character design. The only thing I would suggest is a combining feature so you could combine two items of the same level to create an item of the next level. For example, combining two arrows could make one sharp arrow.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the absence of ads in the game, which enhances their emotional connection and suggests a genuine investment in quality content rather than a focus on profit. This fosters a sense of trust and engagement, allowing the game's narrative and experience to resonate more deeply.
“The game beautifully captures the essence of human emotions, making every decision feel impactful and personal.”
“I was deeply moved by the character development; their struggles and triumphs resonated with me on a profound level.”
“The storytelling is so immersive that I found myself emotionally invested in the characters' journeys, feeling their pain and joy as if it were my own.”