Scarlett's Dungeon: Retro Action RPG Roguelite

63%
Game Brain Score Based on 32 reviews
  • graphics
  • music
  • gameplay
Scarlett's Dungeon: Retro Action RPG Roguelite Game Cover
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In "Scarlett's Dungeon," a 10-year-old girl named Scarlett embarks on a mission to rescue her family from a monster who has kidnapped them. The game is a tribute to the 8-bit/16-bit era, featuring pixel art visuals, retro soundtracks, and randomly generated dungeons. Gameplay consists of exploring 15 floors, fighting enemies, and finding your way to the final showdown with the God Lord.

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Reviews

63%
Audience ScoreBased on 32 reviews
graphics12 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • The game features charming pixel art visuals and a nostalgic retro soundtrack that appeals to fans of classic RPGs.
  • Gameplay is engaging with simple but fun combat mechanics, and the randomly generated dungeons add replayability.
  • The narrative is emotionally resonant, following Scarlett's quest to rescue her family, which keeps players invested in the story.
  • The game lacks basic features such as audio controls and customizable controls, making it frustrating for some players.
  • Many players find the game too short and simplistic, with repetitive level design and limited content.
  • There are concerns about the developer's history of asset flipping and the overall quality of the game, leading to skepticism about its value.
  • graphics25 mentions

    The graphics of "Scarlett's Dungeon" are characterized by charming retro pixel art that pays homage to classic RPGs, evoking nostalgia for players. While some reviews note the limitations of scaling up the simplistic 2D visuals, many praise the game's detailed pixel art and its ability to create an immersive atmosphere that complements the engaging soundtrack. Overall, the graphics are well-received, with a strong emphasis on their nostalgic appeal and visual satisfaction.

    • “With its compelling storyline, deep characters, and stunning graphics, it immerses you in its richly crafted world.”
    • “The standout feature of 'scarlett's dungeon' is its authentic 8-bit/16-bit visuals and soundscape.”
    • “The pixel art graphics capture the essence of classic gaming, immersing players in a world that feels like a blast from the past.”
    • “A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
    • “While there are options to change the resolution for the game, all this does is scale up the simplistic 2D art assets used to make the game, which makes little or no difference to the graphics quality.”
    • “Without any other substantial graphics tweaks, it's not possible for gamers to improve the lackluster 2D visuals.”
  • music16 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the nostalgic chiptune soundtracks that enhance the retro aesthetic and emotional experience, while others find the repetitive nature of the music grating, especially due to the lack of audio controls. Overall, the soundtrack is praised for its charm and ability to evoke fond memories of classic gaming, though it may become tiresome for some players after extended play.

    • “This has a retro look if you're a fan of nostalgic games, and it delivers right from the soundtracks to graphics.”
    • “Its stunning pixel art visuals, retro soundtracks, and emotionally resonant narrative make it a game worth experiencing.”
    • “The retro soundtracks in Scarlett's Dungeon are an absolute treat for the ears.”
    • “The music is driving me crazy after 30 minutes.”
    • “Bewilderingly, the game doesn't include proper audio controls, so you can't turn off the annoying sound/background music; you'll need to alt+tab out and stop it using the Windows sound mixer.”
    • “The soundtrack plays in a loop, but its 8-bit action-packed tune doesn't wear you out, and makes you wish it would stop.”
  • gameplay12 mentions

    The gameplay of "Scarlett's Dungeon" is a mixed bag; while it offers engaging combat mechanics and a satisfying balance of challenge and accessibility, some players criticize its reliance on repetitive procedural generation and simplistic level design. Despite these drawbacks, many appreciate the nostalgic elements and the unique challenges presented in each region, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience.

    • “This game offers a delightful blend of nostalgia, challenging gameplay, and a compelling narrative that captivates players from start to finish.”
    • “Scarlett's dungeon offers a gameplay experience that balances challenge and enjoyment.”
    • “The combat mechanics are responsive, and the learning curve strikes a satisfying balance between accessibility and challenge.”
    • “The game features no proper level design, as they opted to use repetitive procedural generation algorithms as a substitute for adding meaningful content to the game, avoiding the important job of level/map design and gameplay flow.”
    • “I find that the game is far too simple when it comes to the gameplay and both level and character designs, including bosses and every other enemy in the game.”
    • “Gameplay 6/10”
  • story9 mentions

    The game's story is praised for its compelling narrative and deep character development, particularly focusing on Scarlett's emotional quest to rescue her kidnapped family from a god lord. Players appreciate the immersive world and the abundance of side quests, although some feel the story could have been longer. Overall, the narrative effectively keeps players engaged and motivated throughout their journey.

    • “With its compelling storyline, deep characters, and stunning graphics, it immerses you in its richly crafted world.”
    • “Maybe the story could have been longer, but considering it was developed by one person, it's very surprising!”
    • “The game's premise, revolving around Scarlett's quest to rescue her kidnapped family from the God Lord, is emotionally resonant.”
    • “The unfolding story keeps players invested in Scarlett's journey, motivating them to push forward through the challenging dungeons and enemies.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    Scarlett's Dungeon is praised for its emotionally resonant narrative, focusing on a young girl's bravery and determination in her quest to rescue her kidnapped family. The combination of stunning pixel art, retro soundtracks, and a heartfelt story contributes to its standout emotional impact in the indie gaming scene.

    • “Scarlett's dungeon is a pixelated adventure that immerses you in the heartwarming tale of a young girl's bravery and determination.”
    • “Its stunning pixel art visuals, retro soundtracks, and emotionally resonant narrative make it a game worth experiencing.”
    • “The game's premise, revolving around Scarlett's quest to rescue her kidnapped family from the god lord, is emotionally resonant.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The procedural generation of dungeon floors significantly enhances replayability by introducing an element of surprise and keeping each playthrough fresh. However, reviewers note that there is potential for further creativity to create more diverse and complex layouts, which could elevate the replay value even more.

    • “While the procedural generation of dungeon floors adds replay value, there's room for further creativity in this aspect.”
    • “While this feature enhances replayability, it could have been taken further to create more diverse and complex dungeon layouts.”
    • “This feature adds an element of surprise and replayability to each playthrough, keeping the experience fresh and exciting.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its meticulous attention to detail in character design and environment, which enhances immersion. The harmonious blend of music and pixelated visuals further enriches the experience, while effective world-building captures the essence of the game's setting.

    • “The attention to detail in the character design and environment adds depth to the game's immersive atmosphere.”
    • “The tunes create an atmosphere that seamlessly blends with the pixelated visuals, immersing you further into the game's world.”
    • “Character designs and world-building have been executed well to capture the game's atmosphere.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Character development in the game is praised for its attention to detail in design and world-building, which enhances the immersive atmosphere. However, some users feel that the overall gameplay and character designs lack complexity, making them appear too simplistic.

    • “The attention to detail in the character design and environment adds depth to the game's immersive atmosphere.”
    • “Character designs and world-building have been executed well to capture the game's atmosphere.”
    • “I find that the game is far too simple when it comes to the gameplay and both level and character designs, including bosses and every other enemy in the game.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Reviews indicate that Gamemaker Studio is often associated with the creation of retro pixel games that are perceived as low-quality "shovelware" and cash grabs, suggesting a negative view of its monetization practices.

    • “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, prioritizing profit over player experience.”
    • “In-game purchases are heavily pushed, making it difficult to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
    • “The reliance on microtransactions detracts from the overall enjoyment and immersion of the game.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Overall, users report that the game is stable with minimal glitches, noting only a single issue related to enemy spawning in inaccessible areas.

    • “I haven't encountered many glitches except one, and that was only when an enemy spawned in the 'black zone' where the player can't reach.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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